The Arranged Bride

Chapter - 39

Nick's POV

" Four days , four days since she got kidnapped , since I last saw her, Dad. Nobody is able to trace her . I-I don't know what to do anymore." I put my head in my hands. I didn't remember when I had last felt so helpless . My patience was running thin , I was randomly lashing out at anyone and everyone. Sleep , had as if left me. I was now desperately praying for a clue to reach her.

The police didn't find anything suspicious about Clara. Her mobile was tracked and it showed nothing unnatural.

" I know my consolation isn't going to do shit but I strongly believe that we will find her. Don't loose hope." Putting a hand on my shoulder , he gently squeezed it.

" When ? When will I find her? I don't even know in what conditions is Sophia living. Where is she Dad ? " I spoke without looking at him. I knew I was being pessimistic but I couldn't help the fear that was bubbling inside me.

" M-Mom le-left ?" I heard a wobbly voice. My head immediately shot up to look at Ethan's face. His face looked broken and tears slipped off his eyes. I rushed to the stair case where he was standing and crouched down in front of him.

" I'm sorry, he sneaked out." I saw Mom guiltily looking at us.

" She left, d-didn't she?" Ethan asked looking at me. I was confused of what I should say to him. Taking that as a confirmation he went on speaking.

" She promised to not leave me. " He was now whispering while tears flowed down his cheeks freely.

" Ethan-"

" I didn't do anything bad , I tried being a good kid , then why did she leave? Why do everyone leave me? Nobody lo-loves me." His sad dejected voice was piercing my heart. I pulled his small body towards mine and embraced him tightly.

" Of course you're are a good kid and Sophia loves you. She loves you a lot." I tried assuring him.

" No you're lying. She doesn't love me. She left." He was shouting all of a sudden. If it was any other time that he had raised his voice like this , I would have been stern with him but I could understand his inner turmoil. He was frustrated with everyone leaving him behind. He thought that I was lying to him and nobody could ever love him . I gently cupped his face and wiped away the tears. Taking a deep breath, I spoke.

" She didn't leave. Some bad people took her with them." I wished I didn't have to tell him this but I had no other option. If I hadn't told him, he would have believed that she had left him . This would have done nothing more than breaking his self-confidence and drifting him and Sophia apart.

" What do you mean? Bad people? She didn't leave me?" I shook my head in response to his question. His eyes widened at that and fear replaced the sadness in them.

" Bad people took Mom , what will happen now? Where is she?" Fresh set of tears made way out of his eyes , this time out of fear.

" I don't know where she is. " Saying my son that I don't know where his Mom is , made me feel like an absolute failure.

" Dad , you will find her right ? You- you will bring h-her to me ?" I hugged him once again. Even I wanted to cry , to vent out my frustrations but I knew better than that. I couldn't, at least not in front of him.

" I will. "

............

Sophia's POV

I didn't realise for how long I had been here but it had been three days since I had first met my captor. The past two days have been absolute hell. The only thing I constantly feel is pain. Every part of my body hurts.

I have realised that Christina needs serious psychological help. She visits and looks for reasons to beat me up. Last day, when she saw that the bread was untouched , she started slapping and punching me. The day before that , I had zoned out and didn't hear what she was saying. I was broken from my trance when she started delivering kicks to my stomach.These two were instances when I had actually done something . From what I had observed from the bathroom mirror is that I had a busted lip , black swollen eyes and bruised cheeks. There are dark purple bruises on my stomach from those kicks. The dry pieces of bread couldn't provide me enough energy to bear those beatings. I wondered in what state Dad and Mom were after knowing that I was missing. I so wanted to be in my Dad's arm when he would gently pat my head and I would feel better. I knew I was getting weaker as days passed but I wanted to live and be strong because I believed that Nick would come for me .I desperately hoped that I would get to hug Mom and Dad, that I would once again be with my son and Nick, at our home, bake cookies together, have movie nights, cuddle to sleep... just be with them.

.........

Nick's POV

I just came out of the shower when I saw my phone ringing. The screen showed the name of my private investigator. Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

" Found anything?" I was too impatient to exchange pleasantries.

" Sir , I have found something unusual about your ex- girlfriend Christina. "

" Go on."

" Sir , she has been seen leaving the house very early in the morning and coming back extremely late. We had tried tracking her phone but it seems she leaves her phone back at home. " He paused giving me time to process the information.

" Following her , we have found a small house in the outskirts of the city. But there were many guards at the house . "

" We'll be leaving in an hour. I'll call you back."

" Ok, Sir."

How stupid was I ? I suspected Clara but I didn't even think of Christina.

Christina! If she had dare taken her I will kill her with my bare hands.

Sophia, hang on. We are coming.