Thirty nine
Kamille’s POV
As I walked back into the hospital room, memories of the past flooded my mind, each one more bittersweet than the last. I couldn’t help but think back to the early days of the Reid Children Foundation, when Zeke and I had just started the organization together.
I remembered the excitement and anticipation we had felt as we worked tirelessly to gather the first set of drugs and supplies for the foundation’s inauguration. Despite my confusion over why the foundation had been started after our marriage, I had obediently followed Zeke’s lead.
But even as we worked side by side, there had always been a distance between us, a coldness in Zeke’s demeanor that I couldn’t quite understand. Our arranged marriage had never been based on love, and the rumors that had circulated about us in the blogosphere only served to deepen the divide between us.
Now, as I lay down on the bed and pulled the covers tightly around me, I couldn’t shake the feeling of loneliness that enveloped me like a heavy blanket. Despite having Zeke by my side, I had never truly felt like I belonged, like I was a part of something greater than myself.
In those early days of our marriage, I had been practically invisible to him, a mere shadow lingering in the background as he pursued his own interests and ambitions.
I had learned everything there was to know about him, from his favorite foods to his habits and preferences. I knew that he loved hot Cheetos when he was working in his study, and that he had a penchant for spicy soup when he got drunk with his friends.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.
I even knew that he was always forgetting his umbrella, a fact that I had begrudgingly learned after countless instances of rushing to his aid with a spare one in hand.
As a weather forecaster, I had a knack for predicting the days it would rain, and sometimes I could even gauge the weather by simply perceiving the air around me.
But despite my efforts to anticipate his needs and desires, I had always felt like an outsider in his world, a mere accessory to be used when convenient and discarded when not.
Even during our visits to the hospital, where his parents were warm and receptive, Zeke remained indifferent, his aloof demeanor a constant source of frustration and disappointment.
Posing for pictures was like a boring chore for him and I felt like I was there as his punishment.
“Move a bit closer Sir.” “Could you smile a little bit Sir?” ” Could you look into her eyes Sir?”…
The list continued for as many times as I took pictures with Zeke. We never had our pictures perfect.
I had tried to bridge the gap between us, to connect with him on some level, but he had always remained cold and distant, as if determined to keep me at arm’s length.
There were moments when I wondered if it would have been easier for him to simply admit that he hated me, to shout at me and express his anger openly, rather than subjecting me to the silent treatment that left me feeling invisible and insignificant.
But despite the pain and heartache, I couldn’t bring myself to leave the marriage. My grandmother’s wishes weighed heavily on my mind, and I couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing her by abandoning the man I had to marry.
And somewhere along the way, amidst the turmoil and uncertainty, I had developed feelings for Zeke, however misguided they may have been.
He was the only person I had ever truly loved, and even though our marriage was far from perfect, I couldn’t imagine my life without him.
So I remained by his side, hoping against hope that someday he would see me for who I truly was, and that we could find a way to bridge the chasm that separated us.
But as I thought of my family, of my children who depended on me for support and guidance, a sense of determination welled up within me. I knew that I had to bring down those who had wronged me, who had exploited my trust and manipulated my life for their own gain.
Gabriel was the next on my list. I couldn’t afford to delay any longer. It was time to take a stand, to fight back.
I sighed and closed my eyes, allowing sleep take me.
Zeke’s POV
“I didn’t know Mr Reid had the time to be here.” Chris remarked, his tone laced with a hint of smugness.
I clenched my jaw, struggling to maintain my composure in the face of his arrogance. “It’s Reid Hospital. So it’s normal for me to be here.” I retorted, my voice tight with restrained anger.
Chris’s response was dismissive, his confidence unwavering. “Is it? The owner of the hospital being here at such an odd hour is definitely not normal.” He countered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
I fought the urge to lash out. “There’s nothing off about that.” I replied evenly, though my fists clenched at my sides in frustration.
“By the way, who’s Kamille to you?” I inquired.
“Oh Miss Kamille? It is not about who she is, but a matter of who she will be.” He replied, his voice filled with a confidence that grated against me like sandpaper.
I felt my blood boil at his audacious question, my hand clenching involuntarily at my side. How dare he pry into Kamille’s personal life with such casual disregard?
Before I could stop myself, the words tumbled out of my mouth, each one dripping with venom. “Kamille is my wife.” I declared.
Chris’s response was swift and cutting, his words like a dagger through the heart. “Ex-wife, I presume.” He retorted, a triumphant gleam in his eyes.
I felt as if the ground had been pulled out from beneath me, a sense of disbelief washing over me at his words. Kamille would never mention her divorce to anyone.
Or did she? Just how close was she to Chris?
But there was no time to dwell on my own shock and confusion. Chris’s triumphant smirk only served to fuel my anger, sending a surge of adrenaline coursing through me like wildfire.
With a piercing glare, I locked eyes with Chris, my voice cold and controlled. “About the property, why that location?” I demanded, my tone brooking no argument.
Chris’s response was as flippant as ever, his confidence unwavering in the face of my interrogation. “I already told you Mr Reid, it’s close to the school. And I’d like to make the school bigger and more convenient.” He replied, his tone smug and self-assured.
I stared at him, my gaze unwavering as I assessed his every move. There definitely is something sinister about this son of a bitch.