Eleven
Zeke’s POV
I had felt pain before but that which gripped my heart at the moment was excruciating. I could not bear the sight before me. Why was she drinking all alone at the bar?
I moved a little closer. Her eyes were red and puffy. Was she crying?
What have I done?
Looking at her beautiful face stained with tears, I reminisce on how we used to be when were married. She was always there, always loving, very kind, very thoughtful and very patient. She was almost flawless. I caused her all the pain she is in right now.
If only I had not allow Ellen poison my mind. If only I learned to love her better. If only I had known a bit earlier what she went through in the hands of her family. If only I had been there.
I have failed you Kamille.
Lost in thoughts, my mind wandered back to how I unraveled the malicious lies and scheming of the Manors against Kamille. I had visited their ancestral home few weeks after I got married to Ellen. She said she had missed the view of where she grew up and decided we paid a visit.
Roaming the magnificent mansion with beautiful antiques and sculptures, I stumbled on the ugliest part of it. The room was bare, with no single furniture except for a single old and creaky bed. It didn’t suit the elegant structure I was in.
“What are you doing staring at this eyesore of a room?” Ellen had said sneaking up behind me.
“Uhh, nothing. Why have a servant’s room so ugly as this inside the main hall? It is evil.” I said with slight humour.
Just maybe I meant it. It felt so inhumane.
“Servant? I wish she was one.” Ellen laughed. “Our servants sleep in decent rooms. This belong to someone who got what she deserved.” She added with a smirk.
“This belonged to Kamille?” I asked with concern etched across my face.
“Yes. So don’t get worked up over it, she liked it anyways. Now let us go see my room.” She replied nonchalantly and dragged me with her.
I was awestruck when we got to Ellen’s room. Silk bedsheets, coloured curtains, 3D wall painting, figurines, a nice closet, beautiful view of the gardens and a soft, furry foot mat. Now this luxury belonged to this mansion.
That was when I began suspecting something was off. No matter the hate, she did not deserve to be treated like a beggar. I felt it was worse though. I began investigation and discovered the hell Kamille went through.
My thoughts gradually reeled me back to reality. I looked up. I could tell She had had too much too drink from the way her eyes were now drowsy and her composure a bit disoriented. I smiled sadly.
I wanted to go up to her, but I was not so sure considering she had asked me to stay away from her. But just then, I saw a miserable looking man approach her table. A cold glint flashed through my eyes.
My legs moved faster than my mind and soon I was at her table. The man looked up at me. “Who are you Mister?” He asked.
I gave him the coldest stare I could muster up. He shuddered. “Okay miss, some other time.” He said and left in a hurry.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.
“There will be no other time motherfucker!” She yelled at the man’s retreating back. She looked at me, “You again.” She said uninterestedly.
Yeah. Me again.
“What are you doing out here alone?” I asked, helping myself into a seat beside her.
“Fuck off Zeke. It’s none of your business.” She replied and poured herself a drink. I saw three bottles.
“Did you drink all these by yourself?” I asked in surprise.
“None of your business.” She replied again. I sighed. I looked at her face again. She was a beautiful woman who used to be so happy and full of life. I took that away from her.
“At least you should ring your husband. He might be worried.” I insisted.
“Oh Zeke, you should know better now that husbands don’t worry about their wives that much. You were one yourself. Oh sorry, you ARE one yourself.” She replied and gulped down her drink.
Ouch!
“You need to get home.” I said ignoring the hurt in my heart.
“Make me daddy.” She said with a pout, then began laughing. My heart skipped a beat when she called me daddy. But the adrenaline rush halted when I remembered the vodka bottles. She was drunk.
Negotiating with her was useless at this point because she could not even coordinate her own movement properly and there was no one around who came with her.
“Get up. Let’s get you home.” I said making to help her up from the chair.
“No, noo, no. I don’t neeeed your help Zeke. I just want you to staaay awaaay from me.” She spoke with slurry words.
“Why are you being so stubborn?” I asked slightly agigated.
“Your act is really sickening Zeke. You act like you care about me but you don’t! Go back to your fucking wife! I have a rider coming to pick me up so you can drop the stupid and unprofessional act.” She replied. “My babies can do better.” She mumbled in low tones.
I paused. She thought I was still married to Ellen. I didn’t dispute with her, I did not feel the need to. “Can you call the rider?” I asked in defeat.
She rolled her eyes at me and searched for her phone in her purse. “Fuck!” She cursed as she dropped the phone on the table.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. No response. I reached for her phone, it was dead. “You can’t access a rider on a dead phone or can you?” I asked getting my confidence back. No response. ” I will drop you off first.” I added and got up.
“No need Zeke. You are the last person I want around.” She replied and poured herself another drink.
I was slowly becoming angry. I looked at the hungry wolves in men clothing who filled the bar. They would not hesitate to pounce on her. “Well, you can hate me all you want but I’m not leaving you here.” I grabbed her arm gently, lifted her purse and guided her through the door.
She struggled and began hitting at my chest. “Let me go you son of a bitch! You cannot hurt me all those years and only show up now acting like you care! You don’t deserve the pleasure of helping me out!” She yelled till she became weak and succumbed to the drowsy effect of the alcohol.
I’m sorry Kamille but I can’t leave you here.
I carefully placed her in the car, and threw her purse behind. I ensured she was well buckled to the seat before going over to the driver’s seat. I glanced over at her to ensure she was okay before I turned the ignition on. The engine roared to life and I drove off.
“Why are you doing this Zeke? I don’t need you coming into my life and disrupting it. My kids and I are okay the way we are.” She murmured as her eyes began to close.
“I just want to get you home safely.” I glanced at her again. If she truly was in London to introduce her kids to their Father, then why didn’t he show up at the airport to pick them? Could there be a possibility that she wasn’t married to their Father?
Either ways, she mothered the children with another man.
I hit the brakes. How would her children react seeing her disoriented state? This was not what I planned, but I reversed and headed in the direction of my house. The least thing her children needed was to have their mum home drunk just as they arrived in London.
As soon as I got to my house, I carefully took her out of the car and carried her inside. Although just the housekeepers and a few security personnels stayed on the ground floor, I couldn’t allow her to be discovered as word could spread. No one is to know she was alive and back in London. I got to my room and laid her on the bed. I helped her out of her coat and boots. The movements caused her to stir and her eyes fluttered open.
Moving up to help rest her head properly, I feel her lean into my arms. “Kamille?” I call out in whispers. No response. Instead, with sad stricken eyes she stared at me with so much longing, it felt mutual. I let her stare.
What are you doing Kamille?
I gently pushed her back on the bed. Better safe than sorry.