The Arranged Bride

Nick's POV

I was getting tensed by then. It had been fifteen minutes since she had been to the washroom and I was waiting there. I turned to look inside the car. Ethan was sleeping in the backseat. I called her number but it was switched off.

When it was around twenty minutes I was done waiting. I opened the car door and picked Ethan up. Putting his head on my shoulder, he kept sleeping. Locking the car , I walked towards the restaurant.

She wasn't at the entrance, nor in front of the reception. I eventually was in front of the washroom. There was a waitress standing at a corner.

" Can you please check if there is a lady in green dress inside the washroom? It had been a pretty long time since she walked in." My voice came out impatient.

" Sure Sir." She went in but came out a little later .

" No Sir , no one's there." I was expecting or let's say hoping for a positive answer. Never in my life had I been so disappointed with anything.

I swiftly walked over to the reception. As soon as the receptionist saw me approaching, she stood up.

" How may I-"

" Did you see my wife walking out of here in a green dress?" I didn't have the time for formalities. My patience was running thin. She looked a bit baffled at the sudden question and then after pondering over it a while, spoke up.

" Yes , I saw a lady, a brunette in green dress leave from here." I felt my anxiety rise at her words. She said a brunette in green dress. Obviously it's her. She left !? Then where was she ? Why didn't she come back to the car?

the entrance, now." Knowing of what I could do with a snap of my fingers , they

in front of the screen and the footage of around the time we left , was played.

a few minutes I saw her stepping out. I was scared of what I was going to see. She took a few steps before a hand was placed on her mouth and another around her waist. I couldn't make out anything of the man's appearance as he was completely dressed

in his hold and I saw him drag her out of

got kidnapped. It had been ten minutes that she was taken away. But where ? And by whom? I didn't know a single thing about her current location. I didn't know the number of the car in

my eyes shut in pain.

could I be so fucking careless? The familiar feeling of guilt hit

fist on the table. This startled the workers who looked frightened of my outburst but I couldn't care less. The sound woke Ethan up. He rubbed his eyes before taking in

my eyes and took deep breaths to calm myself but nothing seemed to work. I could only

before trying to get into a comfortable position in my hold once again. But suddenly as if remembering something , he jerked

know how to reply . Putting on a relaxed facade on

for a few days . Why don't I drop you off at Grandpa's house? You can stay there until Mom returns?" I

He has to

you about her because they hadn't met in ages. Even I came to know about her today itself." I ended with a nervous chuckle. At this point I didn't know if I made sense or not but I wanted nothing more than to start my search for Sophia , which needed convincing Ethan to stay with Dad and Mom. So I was hoping that my lame excuse of a

very happy . Instead a gloomy expression covered his face. I knew what was going on

worry , your Mom won't leave you. She is going to come back." I was assuring him but I realized that somewhere I was trying to find a bit of comfort in my own words. I wanted to believe that she is going to come back to me , to us, unharmed

a soft nod

.........

I signaled them not to ask anything in front of Ethan and they agreed. Mom took away Ethan