Eighteen
Kamille’s POV
I woke up to Amanda and Belle’s messages. They were coming to visit. I had prepared a lot of biscuits, cakes and juices in anticipation of their arrival.
It was also the first time my kids would be receiving visitors since we arrived London. Tyris was particularly excited to meet my friends.
At about eleven am, the doorbell struck. I hurried down the steps to answer.
“Hey bestie!” Both of them greeted with excitement. Both took turns to give me warm hugs and pecks on both cheeks.
I led them inside the house. They came laden with gifts for the kids.
“Come here my little darlings.” They both said with arms wide open and my kids fell into them. I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of joy and gratitude.
They gave each of my children gifts and Tyris was in love with the pretty doll that they gave her. The boys all got toy cars, games and building bricks. They soon forgot about us and became engrossed with their gifts.
I guided them to the dining room where we could have some privacy.
“Damn Kamille! The kids are sooooo adorable, I want to take them home!.” Amanda squealed joyfully.
“I second that observation Kam. Very beautiful and precious gems you have there.” Belle added.
“Thank you so much, besties. They mean the whole world to me.” I smiled and stared at them playing around..
“Meanwhile, how have you been coping alone with them all these years?” Belle asked.
“Well, it hasn’t been easy.” I admitted, wearing a warm smile. “But we’re doing just fine.”This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.
“Doing just fine? With four kids?” Amanda raised an eyebrow, her tone filled with concern.
“Yeah, I mean, kids can be a handful, but I am doing okay,” I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.
“Okay Kam. But how do you plan on hiding them away from Zeke?” Amanda asked. I was surprised she noticed the semblance.
“Yeah. Don’t think we couldn’t have noticed. Staring at Roen, I felt I was staring at Zeke, only that Roen’s eyes are warmer.” Belle added.
“Well, I do not want him to know about them. I do not want any drama from him.” I replied.
“What the hell do you mean by drama?” Amanda asked.
“What if he’s in on all this with my family? What if he tries to take my kids away? Zeke has so much influence and I could be silenced like a fly with little effort.” I responded.
“I cannot bear to be separated from my kids. Not by Zeke, not by my family, not by anyone.” I replied firmly.
Belle was about to say something when we were distracted by the sound of my phone ringing. But it was in the living room, so I excused myself.
As I approached the living room, I heard Tyris beg her brothers allow her take the phone. She picked the call.
The speaker on the other end spoke but Tyris’s response made me stop dead in track.
“Hello? Daddy? Is that you, daddy?” She exclaimed, her innocent voice echoing through the room.
Before I could react, Tyris had already handed me the phone, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Tyris, honey, you can’t just answer the phone like that,” I scolded gently, trying to hide my own astonishment.
“But mummy is that our daddy? Is he also coming to see us soon?” She asked, blinking her pretty doe eyes filled with expectations.
“Don’t worry baby. Daddy will come around soon okay.” I responded, my heart melting into a puddle as I sent her off to play. It broke my heart to see my kids yearn for their Father, but I could not allow it. Not now. There was a lot at stake already.
Taking a deep breath, I answered the call, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Kamille?” Zeke’s voice sounded hesitant, almost unsure.
I think my heart fucking skipped a beat. Damned heart.
“Yeah, it’s me, but who am I speaking with?” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. I could not allow him know I recognized his voice.
“Oh. I’m sorry it’s me Zeke. I just wanted to speak with you and check on….” he said, his words tinged with concern but I cut him off before he could complete his sentence.
“I… I can’t talk right now,” I stuttered, my mind racing. “I’ll call you later.” I replied then ended the call abruptly.
I felt a pair of eyes on me and turned to see Roen staring intently at me.
When did he grow up so much?
I smiled at him, then I went back to my friends. “Sorry about that.” I muttered, avoiding their curious gazes.
“Kamille, what’s going on?” Belle’s voice was filled with genuine concern as she reached out to touch my arm.
“It’s nothing.” I insisted, forcing a weak smile. “Just… a wrong number.”
But even as I tried to dismiss their worries, I knew they could see right through me. The fear of Zeke discovering the truth about the kids lingered like a dark cloud, threatening to sweep me away in its storm.
“You know you can’t hide them from him forever right?” Amanda made a point of reminder.
“I know but I cannot tell him now.” I responded.
“If Zeke found out about them from another person, it would be more catastrophic, Kam.” Belle said.
“I know. That’s why I will tell him. But only at the right time. I still have a lot on my plate right now. I still need to find who sent me my grandma’s will, the mysterious helper who rescued me and I still have to bring down the Manors. I cannot afford a Zeke kind of distraction at the moment.” I spoke without a pause.
“I don’t trust anyone except for both of you and myself.” I added feeling a little calmer.
“Oh dear Kam. We will always be here for you.” Belle said and reached out for my hands. I forced a smile.
Just then, my phone buzzed with a new message, and I felt my heart sink. Glancing down, I saw a message flash on the screen.
Hey Kamille,
I just want to meet up with you and talk things out. Pick the time and venue. I’ll be there.
Zeke.
What does he think he is doing? How on earth did he even get my number? I clearly did not give him my number when we met at the airport. The next time I met him was at the bar.
Fuck you Zeke!
He must have gotten it then. I was drunk and vulnerable. He could have taken the number then. Either before his home or while at his home. A soft hue crept up my cheeks as I briefly remembered the events of that night.
“He still has that effect on you, doesn’t he?” Amanda’s voice broke through my thoughts, her eyes filled with knowing.
I nodded unconsciously.
“I thought as much, you still have feelings for him don’t you?” Amanda asked and this time I was back to reality.
“Wait, what are you talking about?” I asked.
Belle laughed, “He really does still have an effect on you Kam. Whether you are willing to accept it or not, the facts are glaring.”
“Seven years down the line and it still feels the same. I cannot allow any man have such hold over me.” Amanda added, shaking her head pitifully.
“Hey, it’s called Love. And it’s a beautiful experience.” Belle fired back playfully.
I smiled silently at their banter, unable to find the words to express the whirlwind of emotions raging inside me.
Despite my best efforts to move on, Zeke still held a powerful grip on my heart, a fact that both terrified and infuriated me.