The Kidnapped Bride

It was the same morning when Charles started the day earlier than usual. Without wasting any time, he arrived at the restaurant where the meeting was scheduled to happen.

Since the clients of his were from foreign, he didn't want them to feel discomfort in their meeting room. To solve this, he decided to go their way and that was to show up at the restaurant in one of their newly opened malls.

Charles was currently sitting in the restaurant when the deal just got fixed. The other party left and then his eyes traveled to see the time, 'It's already two in the afternoon..'

'Need to have lunch very soon..' since he has been working since morning he missed his breakfast too early. 

Lifting his gaze he looked at the two people who accompanied him, "You guys can take the time off and have your lunch now.. I will be heading back to some other place."

"Hmm sure, sir. But what about your lunch? Why don't we all have lunch too?" One of his employees asked, who knows how hard their superior was working nowadays.

Shooking his head, Charles had no intention to even snatch their peace, "No Worries. You guys carry one to have your meal. I have some other work with myself.." with this, he left them alone.

It was a standard fact that they can't relax in his presence and he has no wish to make them feel more stuffed even during lunch. 

Coming out of the restaurants, Charles was ready to walk through the lift when out of the blue, his sight caught the eye of someone... someone he wasn't expecting at all.

"Si.." was all that he muttered when he lifted his eyes in the direction to see a lady buying ice cream for her children. She wore high-waisted jeans with a black top, pairing it with round earrings.

It was simple but classic to wear but his gaze never tore from that face. The face which haunted him for so long in the past.

"What are you even doing here?" Those words left his mouth when he saw her loving her kids when she handed them the scope of ice cream, 'So they are your children...hm…'

The view was mesmerizing to see that she has become a mother. But on second thought, it was breaking his heart into pieces. It shattered him just while standing in one place.

Was this the day he was waiting for? The day when he will face her after years and knowingly, he knows that it will only bring back the bad memories of theirs...

On the other hand, Noah nudged his sister Ailey, "Sister, finally, mommy is agreeing to give us ice cream treats. What do you think? Is she going to ask us something?"

Surveying their mother, Ailey had her own doubts too, "Hmm. Mommy is clever. Maybe she is treating us for something? Otherwise, having ice cream? with such a big smile of hers? It looks odd.."

Both the siblings conversed in between their whispers when Sierra turned around with one ice cream in her hand too, "So babies, now we have to eat something to fill our tummy as well!"

"Mommy, why don't we go to any shop?" Ailey nodded her head, signaling that it will be a great idea! Noah suggested when he found his mother's mood slightly improved

For some time, Sierra gave it a thought, and looking at the ice cream in their hands she finally agreed. "Alright. Let us go now. Ailey, Noah, l come after me."

"But which shop mom? Do you know any of these?" Ailey asked innocently when she saw the size of the entire mall. "As you know I have lived here before marriage, so I will bring you both to one of my favorite shops. Let us go there! That.. in that way.." 

Sierra's eyes glowed when she saw the same shop that was here even after years. It held sentimental values in her heart and she won't deny that it was the key to the old memories as well. "Let Us go inside.."

When Sierra brought both her children to their respective shops and made them sit, Charles simply stood at the place where he saw them talking. His eyes were stagnant in the direction where he saw them leaving.

'I should cooperate and leave... if we face each other.. that will be too awkward..' awkward moment with her was the last thing he would like at this point..

Even though going through the same thought thousands of times, his legs weren't able to hear what his brain said. Instead, whatever that his heart craved for, was overpowering his entire body.

'No-No! Following her will be a bad idea!' His face crumpled at the conflicting things but in the end, he knew that he couldn't hold. It was way too much of his league.

He ended up entering the same shop where Sierra stepped in. But before that, he ensured to remove his lavish suit and the two pieces. Sticking with one white shirt and black trousers zipped, he looked like any other person who had been accompanied in this mall.

'Wait.. isn't that the same place..' the rumors floated in his mind but he managed to control them. The main aim was to hide from Sierra's eyes which he did too,  when he successfully took the table that was in front of hers, however, he never faced her.

His back was facing Sierra and her children but it was at a certain distance to make him listen all over the talks. 'Such a right thing.. children will neve speak slowly..'

"Ailey! Eat slowly and properly. Wait let me use the tissue." Sierra took the nearby napkin and cleaned the spot that was there on her cheek, and a piece of the ice cream that fell on her shirt. 

While cleaning the shirt of her daughter, Noah was confused. Licking his ice cream, a question arose in the middle which rolled out of his lips, "Mommy,  we have arrived here but it has been so many days already. When will daddy come now?"