Barren Heiress Returns With Quadruplet

Ellen’s POV

Finally! Something hopeful to start the fucking day.

The housekeeper at Zeke’s house, Martha or whatever the hell her name, sent me a text in the wee hours of the morning saying she found something valuable to give to me. She said it belonged to the sneaky lady she saw at Zeke’s place.

I had no choice than to go meet her. I don’t trust anyone enough to send on such matters.

I strode down the sidewalk, my designer heels clicking against the pavement. My meticulously styled hair bounced with each step. I arrived at the sleek SUV parked in front of my condo, Max, my Chief security personnel and Ava stood waiting.

Max opened the car and I got in, Ava sat some distance away from me and Max took the front seat beside the driver.

Coursing through the bustling streets of London, I juggled a flurry of phone calls, while Ava was busy responding to the pending mails.

“Canceled? But why?” My voice was sharp with disbelief as I listened to yet another cancellation from a musician scheduled to perform at my upcoming concert.

What the fuck was wrong with these people?!

The news hit me like a punch to the gut, they were leaving because my family was being persecuted and it wasn’t good business for them to be associated with it.

I cursed before ending the call, my frustration simmering beneath the surface. They kept calling in and sending mails of their withdrawal, with each cancellation, building blocks of anger in my heart.

I had invested so much into this concert. Why wouldn’t they just let me host it in peace? The financial strain on my family’s already precarious situation could not allow me ask them for help and the sales from my boutique was already plummeting leaving me feeling utterly helpless.

“Put me on a call with the organizer of the weekly orchestra performances.” I barked at Ava.

She quickly fumbled with the phone and once the line went through, she put me on the line.

“What the hell is going on?” I yelled into the phone.

“Calm down Miss Manor. We tried to do some damage control but it was futile. All the musicians pulled out.” The man on the other end said.

“So what I’m I supposed to do then? I had invested so much into this event!” I screamed. The car was heated up by my anger.

“I’m sorry Miss but maybe at this point, what you can do is lobby for public sympathy through a charity service.” The man replied.

I hung up in anger.

Why should I have to suffer so much because of my family? Then I remembered that Liz had a fight by weekend. I would use that to my advantage.

Thinking about the situation, the Manor business had been in existence for so many generations and it wasn’t a first time to be faced with such crisis.

If we overcame similar crisis in the past, then we can overcome it again.

I sighed inaudibly. If only I was still with Zeke, then things would not have gone so wrong without an intervention from him.

The reality of our fractured relationship hung heavy in the air, a painful reminder of what once was and what could have been. But I was not going to allow him to leave me. He belonged to me and no one else.

Lost in thought, I barely registered the sights and sounds of the city around me as the car wove through traffic leaving the main town.

Arriving at a small restaurants downtown, I stepped out of the car and marched into the small restaurant to meet with Martha, the housekeeper.

As I stepped inside the restaurant, a wave of disgust washed over me. The place reeked of stale grease and cheap perfume, and the dim lighting did little to hide the grime clinging to the walls. Spotting the housekeeper, I suppressed a shudder of revulsion and forced myself to approach her.

Sitting at the table with her, I pretended to peruse the menu, though I had no intention of ordering anything. The thought of consuming anything from this dingy establishment churned my stomach.

“Welcome Ma’am.” Martha greeted, her voice oily with false sincerity.

I plastered on a grim smile, masking my disdain. “I need you to take care of a little matter for me.” I replied, keeping my tone clipped and businesslike.

The housekeeper nodded, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Of course Ma’am. Just tell me what you need.”

I leaned in closer and slid an envelope across the table towards her and she did the same.

She took the envelope with a nod of understanding, her fingers lingering on the edges for a moment too long. “Thank you Ma’am.” She said with a sly smile.

I forced myself to maintain my composure, though every fiber of my being screamed to flee this wretched place.

As the housekeeper thanked me, I made my hasty exit. I couldn’t shake the nauseous feeling that clung to me like a foul odor. I hurried out of the restaurant, desperate to put as much distance between myself and that cesspool of filth as possible.

But as I stormed towards my car, my mind consumed with thoughts of escape, I collided with someone in my path. “Watch where you’re going!” I snapped, my voice sharp with irritation.

The person stumbled back, muttering an apology, but I paid them no attention. I was already halfway to my car.

As I neared the car, Max opened the door and I went in. Finally in a safe space, I quickly sanitized my hands and let the scent of milk and honey waft into my nostrils.

How do people survive in such places?

“Get me out of here.” I ordered and with a flick of the ignition, we peeled out of the parking lot, leaving the restaurant.

Inside the car, I fumbled to open the envelope. I had just gotten my nails done and was careful not to damage it.

Beautifully manicured nails was a vanity I adored.

“What is this?” My voice was barely above a whisper as I stared dowm at the tiny photograph in my hands. My mind racing with a million questions. But the answers remained elusive, leaving me feeling more confused and conflicted than ever before.

Then I took the photograph closer to my face when I saw four little kids in it.

“What the fuck?!” I screamed causing the driver to abruptly step on the brakes.

“Are you okay Ma’am?” Max asked from the front. Ava was too scared to say anything but her eyes bore the same question.

“What? Can you not mind your damn business?” I yelled.

Max observed for awhile before signalling the driver to continue driving.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

I stared at the photograph. My eyes glimmering with hate. The picture had three boys and a female.

Looking at the boys felt like I was looking at Zeke’s younger self. One could not doubt that these boys were his.

Fuck! How could I have missed this?

My eyes shifted over to the little girl’s innocent face. There was this familiar look in her eyes that made my belly churn.

Whose kids were this? Was it that lady’s? If they were Zeke’s kids, then he must have had them before we got married, from how the kids looked like they were about three to four years old. Did Zeke know? What was going on?

“Max can I get a private detective who is reliable and efficient to carry out a task for me?” I asked.

“Yes Ma’am. Mr. Finley is well versed with private detectives who are reliable and efficient.” He responded, looking at me through the rear mirror.

Mr Finley was my father’s right hand man and trusted confidant. He would definitely know about that. I would ask him about it.

Whoever these kids were, I would make sure, they never see another day when I get a hold of them.

As I considered my next move, a message from our family’s butler, Mr George came in. My parents were summoning us home for a compulsory family dinner. The timing couldn’t have been worse.

Of course I’ll be there. I muttered under my breath.