Thirty five
Zeke’s POV
Walking in after Kamille into the room, we saw the kids still playing with themselves despite their tired selves.
“We tried to talk them out of it.” Kamille’s friend said.
That should be Amanda.
“It’s fine Amy. They’ll be staying at Zeke’s penthouse not too far from here. I trust you guys to take care of them for me?” She asked, wearing a smile.
“Hmm.” They both nodded in response. “We got this.” The other friend concurred.
“Thank you Belle.” Kamille replied.
As Belle and Amanda prepared to take Roen, Tyris, and Torin to my penthouse, the kids protested, insisting they wanted to stay with Royer. “But Royer needs us.” Torin pleaded, his voice trembling with worry.NôvelDrama.Org owns this text.
“And I just want to be with Royer!” Tyris squealed.
“Mum, can we not just stay here?” Reon asked with no drama.
Before Kamille could respond, I knelt down, meeting their gaze with understanding. “I know you want to be with Royer, but he needs rest right now. My penthouse is just a few steps away from the hospital, only 10 feet. You’ll be able to visit him whenever you want, and he’ll be okay.”
The kids exchanged hesitant glances before finally nodding in reluctant agreement. “Don’t worry mummy will be here.” Kamille added.
They gave Kamille and Royer tight hugs and showered them with kisses, promising to return soon before Belle and Amanda led them away.
Once the kids had left, I swiftly ordered for an extra bed to be brought into Royer’s private ward. I made sure it was arranged exactly to Kamille’s liking, with soft, freshly laundered sheets and extra pillows for comfort.
After Kamille tucker Royer in and he slept off, I excused her for a moment. As we stepped outside, she glanced up at me with exhaustion. “Where will you sleep?” She asked, her voice tinged with concern. “They only allow one person in here.”
I chuckled softly, brushing off her worries. “I’d love to see them try to push me out of MY hospital.” I replied with a playful grin. Kamille rolled her eyes, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Whatever.” She muttered teasingly.
I leaned closer, my expression turning earnest. “I just want to be here in case you need anything.” I assured her, my gaze unwavering. Despite her protests, I was determined to stay by her side, offering whatever support and comfort I could in her time of need.
Kamille’s tone also shifted to a serious one. “I really do not want to come between you and your wife.” She began. “I mean, I appreciate all you’ve done, but you should really stop now. I’ll be fine. I have been fine for four years, so I’ll be fine now. I forgive you for all you did to me back then, but as for ‘we,’ there will never be a ‘we’ anymore.”
Her words hit me with the force of a hurricane, stirring up a whirlwind of conflicting emotions within me. On one hand, there was a sweet sense of relief at her forgiveness, yet it was accompanied by a profound sadness at her bluntness.
As Kamille turned to leave, I felt a sense of urgency wash over me.
I was not married to the conniving bitch anymore!
I couldn’t let her walk away without knowing the truth, without understanding the real reason behind my actions. “Kamille, wait.” I called out, my voice tinged with desperation. “You should know that Ellen and I are divorced.”
Her reaction was immediate and unexpected. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening in disbelief. “What?!” She exclaimed, her voice tinged with shock and anger.
I took a step forward, reaching out to her, but she recoiled, her expression hardening with each passing second. “It’s true.” I insisted, my voice barely above a whisper. “Ellen and I are no longer together. We haven’t been for quite some time now.”
For a moment, there was silence between us, broken only by the sound of our ragged breathing. Kamille’s eyes bore into mine, searching for any sign of deceit or falsehood. And as she gazed at me, I knew that she could see the truth written plainly across my face.
But before I could say another word, before I could try to explain the reasons behind my failed marriage, Kamille turned on her heel and stormed back into the room.
Damn it! I cursed inwardly.
As I stormed out of the private ward area, frustration and regret coursing through my veins, I sought solace on the balcony nearby. The cool evening air offered a brief respite from the turmoil raging within me, but I knew that no amount of fresh air could ease the burden I carried.
Lost in my thoughts, I was startled when a familiar voice called out my name. I turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows.
“Zeke.” He greeted me with a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine affection. He was tall and lean, with dark hair that was beginning to show streaks of gray at the temples. His white lab coat billowed slightly in the breeze.
“Jonathan.” I replied, returning his smile with a sense of relief. Jonathan was more than just a doctor in the hospital; he was a childhood friend. Unlike Zane and Fletcher, Jonathan was from the orphanage.
He had been brought under the wing of the Reid Foundation and had received a scholarship that had paved the way for his career in medicine.
I recalled how, during our school days, Jonathan had expressed his dream of working at my family’s hospital. He had poured his heart and soul into his studies, determined to become the best cardiologist he could be.
And now, standing before me, it was clear that he had surpassed even his own lofty ambitions, earning a reputation as one of the finest cardiologists not just in the hospital, but in all of London.
“Last time I saw you, you were doing your residency, right?” I asked, breaking away from the arm hug.
“Yeah, it feels like a lifetime ago.” Jonathan replied with a wistful smile. “But I made it through, thanks to the support of people like you.”
I nodded, grateful for the bond that had endured despite the passage of time. But as Jonathan’s gaze turned to me, his expression grew serious.
“How about you, bro?” He asked, his tone tinged with concern. “You’ve been so busy lately, and you’ve been scarce. Everything okay?”
I felt a twinge of guilt at his words, “I’m sorry.” I replied, my voice tinged with regret. “Things have been hectic, but that’s no excuse for not keeping in touch.”
Jonathan shook his head, his expression softening with understanding. “People who don’t know you might think you’re deliberately ignoring them for some reason.” He observed.
I couldn’t help but chuckle at his insight. “Don’t worry about that.” I assured him with a wry smile. “I’m used to it.”
Suddenly, Jonathan’s face lit up with excitement. “I’m so happy that you’re here.” He exclaimed. “And it’s perfect timing because I’m on night shift. Care to join me at my office?”
I hesitated for a moment, weighing the offer in my mind. I looked back in the direction of the private ward and sighed. “Okay.” I agreed with a nod. “Lead the way.”
As we made our way to Jonathan’s office, conversation flowed easily between us, easing the tension that had settled over me. But as we reached our destination and stepped inside, Jonathan’s words caught me off guard.
“Congratulations Zeke!” He exclaimed, his eyes widening with genuine surprise. “I didn’t know you had kids.”
I felt a knot form in my stomach as confusion washed over me, and I furrowed my brow in bewilderment. “Kids?” I repeated, my mind racing to make sense of his words. “What are you talking about?”