CAMILLA It felt like we had been walking and talking for ages since I stepped foot into this function.Braden was mostly the one doing all the talking but still, all these relentless activities seemed so tiring and it was really wearing me out. People crowded us at every corner and side, Braden was not even given a break to even stop and get his breath before the next line of elite individuals would approach us.Fuck. Did Braden really bring me here to follow him about like a fly and listen non stop to the unending praises of the people who would not let me and him have a break? I could have literally been sleeping peacefully at home rather than being here with him. Right now I was so pissed off at Braden for taking me along though I masked it. If he had left me home, I swear I would not have escaped to be fucking honest.How could I escape again after the hullabaloo that occurred as a result of my attempt to flee from his life and this mansion? Braden literally told me he wo
BRADENThe cool morning wind swept through the windows and pushed the curtains apart to ventilate the room thoroughly. The sun illuminated it's sharp rays into the room through the blown apart curtains.I struggled to to peel open my eyes as my body gradually rose to consciousnesses. My head began to pound profusely with each second that went by.Fuck! Why does my head hurt so much. The minute I became fully conscious of my self, I pushed my weak body up and my eyes fell on Nicholas sitting very close to bed. His eyes weighed with so much worry and anxiety."You're awake" he stood, walked towards me and laid a hand of his on my shoulder. "What happened?" I asked. The last thing I remember was been at the function, how did I end up on my bed with this terrible headache?"Thank goodness you're awake, what got into you last night?" he chided me with a raised brow. I was both speechless and confused, did something happen to me last night? I do not recall much. The memories of last night
CAMILLA The wind blew softly into my room, swaying my curtains apart as the breeze whistled in its direction. It was evening, the thin stripes of the pink horizon cloud set a golden glow across the mansion. I slumped on the bed and my mind took a walk down memory lane. It was up to week now that Braden and I shared a kiss.Why did he kiss me? That I do not know.And more importantly, why did I give in to the kiss?My mind was screaming no but my body and my entire being was urging me to go on.For some reason I could not fight the temptation. I saw Braden at his weakest point and I felt something stirr within me.It is so strange how he does not remember a thing that happened days ago. I'm also saddled with the facade of pretending that nothing went on between us. It was for the better. But truthfully, things have actually changed ever since that event.I and Braden rarely spoke neither do we see. He leaves for work way too early and comes back too late. And when we do speak,
CAMILLA"What!?" It was my turn to flare up at him.Braden downcasted his head and let out a dark chuckle."You know how much you need this money so why are you yelling? You want the money right? Fine. I will give it you. But you have to work for it"I stared at this man as he spoke with absolute disgust for him written all over my face. "Braden I am not a commodity! My body is not for sale" I lashed out at him."But you did this sort of work back in college didn't you!?" Braden retorted back.Why must he always do this? Why must he always remind me of my ugly past?"I was helpless. Why must you always remind me of my ill fated past?" I asked with tears streaming down my cheeks, downcasting my head."Oh really? What got you so helpless that you decided to dump me and leave me for men old enough to be your father? You could not be a maid or a cook or a waiter but a stripper and a prostitute!" Braden thundered."I am not a prostitute!" I yelled back at him.Braden gave off a throaty lau
CAMILLA For a moment, it felt like I could not hear any thing except the heavy pounding of my heart the minute Braden threw those wicked words at me.Did I just hear him right or were my ears playing tricks on me?Bullet sweat beads coated my skin, my brows were creased and wrinkled and my lips stood parted as I stared at Braden in bewilderment. "I do not understand you Braden. I mean you said....." I had barely even started the sentence when Braden rudely interrupted me."What is there not to understand Miss Camilla Ross? You wanted money and I said I will give you money but for a price. You agreed and we had sex and now I want to give you your money" Braden bluntly said to me in a monotone. "Yes I agreed to it but now you are saying you want to give me half of what I asked for. I do not get you Braden. That was not part of the deal we made" I spoke out my mind, frustration settling within me. Braden held my stare with a dubious and crooked smile before speaking. "Oh please.
CAMILLA Nothing was right. Everything was totally wrong and messed up.My heart beat drummed in my ears that the only thing I could hear was the heavy pounding of my heart.The wind whipped at my face at all sides, slapping my cheeks and swaying my hair around as I ran as fast as my legs could carry me. I had not seen any taxi so far in this secluded mansion of Braden's and waiting for a taxi was a waste of time so running until I spotted one seemed like the best idea to me.Sweat stuck to me like a second skin and my eyesight was so blurry with tears.I could barely see but I had to keep on going. It was all for my brother.I could hear the wind howling against my ears as I sprinted so fast into the streets with only the streetlights providing light to my paths. I can not believe Braden would cheat me like that. We made a fair deal and I gave him my body even though I did not want. But yet what I did I get in return? Half of the amount I asked for.Heavens please! My tear
CAMILLA Hope, faith, a determination to triumph against all odds; a triumph of doggedness and most importantly believe in God is probably all we need to succeed in all our endeavours. Hope they say is a fire in our hearts, it keeps our faith and determination alive. It strengthens our believe in ourselves and God so that we can have a firm reassurance that one day eveything will be alright. Looking at the calm features of my sleeping brother, I am rejuvenated and filled up with gratitude to the fact that my brother is still alive with me. The operation literally started for almost twenty four hours and I was not my self throughout those trying hours.Hell I could not even sleep or eat or think. I was so frightened that if I shut my eye, I would never see my brother again. I remained awake and my body pushed me to keep alert. Nicholas tried his best to keep my restless and anxious worries at bay but I could not for even a second relax.God bless Nicholas. I do not know wh
"Where are you coming from!?" Braden's vexed tone yelled at Camilla as he angrily seized her expression with a terrible glare.She had not been around for close to two days and just the very thought of it all got a grenade exploding in Braden's head. "Are you fucking deaf!?" Braden added watching her from where he stood by the edge of the stairs. His orbs trailed to an expressionless Nicholas and then back to Camilla who had a scowl plastered on her face."Nicholas, uhm once again thank you ok. I deeply appreciate it. If you need anything from me please let me know..." Camilla laughed hearing her self speak.She purposely ignored Braden's question with a roll of her eyes."I know I can not offer you quarter of what you have done for me but you can still let me know if you need my help in any way"Camilla smiled at Nicholas."Camilla you have to really stop thanking me. I am your friend aren't I? I am just doing what a friend would do. I really care for you ok. Always remember that"
CAMILLASIX MONTHS LATER The church bells rang loudly, creating such a peaceful ambience the moment we drove in. It has been six months since the entire saga we had with Ophelia. It was really not easy for I and Braden to try and overlook everything that had happened between us but thankfully we managed to do so.And our relationship blossomed more than ever. I loved this man so much. Looking back at everything that had happened between us, there was no doubt that I and Braden were fated lovers. We were a match made in heaven. I feel like a teenager in love once again. I feel so nostalgic seeing how everything is turning out; how in love we are is just like when we were back in college. Tears welled up in my eyes but I blinked them away. "Camilla it is way too early to start crying" Mr Harold, the elderly doctor who helped in treating my bother when he needed his surgery for his heart said to me with a hearty smile. I faced him and let out a chuckle. Today was my wedding day
Two weeks Later Camilla speedily picked out all her outfits from her closet and stacked them without even sparing a second to breathe.She was completely fed up and tired of the tribulations and mayhem that caused her heart to break all the time.This wasn't the first, second, third, or even fourth time that she had to face something detrimental to her mental health or emotions.Braden and everyone related to him brought nothing but pain to her. She was finally free from the mansion but a bigger part of her was broken.The sweet memories she had with Braden, in and out of the mansion lurked around her heart.Being free from the mansion wasn't just a reason to celebrate but a reason to mourn because she was now going to be far from the man she loved."I'm just a third wheel in Braden's love life, I was just there to hold him tight because his wife was no longer there and now that she's back he has gone back to her. My time here is over so I need to walk out of his life for the secon
Nicholas burst open the doors and sprinted into the mansion. His gaze immediately fell upon Braden seated on the dinning table and he was endlessly sculling down countless bottles of liquor. They were arrayed before him like numerous trophy prizes. He did not even mind the fact that Nicholas was in his house but instead his entire attention was focused on the alcohol that he kept on drowning himself in. The sight was pitiful. What had come over Braden too?Ever since Camilla left, he had turned into an alcoholic.Camilla on the other hand had become so malnourished and bony. Coming closer to Braden, the strong scent of alcohol hit him at all corners.It was nauseating even for him.Was this the real effect of their conspiracies on both Braden's and Camilla's life? They were miserable without each other and they were both killing themselves with each passing day. Oh God. Nicholas felt like crying on seeing how miserable his friend had become but he held himself together."Braden
Her heart was punctured, torn to pieces and damaged so severely.There comes a stage in life when tears can not even express the severity of grief, pain and heartache you are feeling. That moment in one's life when the ability to cry and shed tears has been taken away from you totally. You want to cry to your heart's content but no. You just can not cry again no matter how hard you try to.Because your body, mind and soul is weak. Your eyes are reddenned, covered with dark spots and swollen. It has no more tears left to give.The pain is too much to bear that even your body can no longer express the type of grief you are experiencing. It is a terrible feeling. And what is more even terrible is when this immense pain is caused by 'heartbreak'. Heartbreak is like a mini death, your heart shuts down your ability to function propely and engage in your daily activities.Even eating may seem so strenuous to you. Depression subdues your thought and you just can not quickly move on no m
CAMILLAMy heart heaved like the weight of a dumbbell as the excruciating pain brewed up in my chest continuously.My heart shattering into a million pieces was an understatement of what I was feeling. I felt like drowning myself to death.I felt my existence disappearing into thin air.I thought we were developing a strong love for each other again but it turns out that I was just been used because I was easy to sway.I feel so foolish for letting myself into his life again, he used me and went back to his wife after promising to never go back to her.What was I expecting? For Braden to leave the woman who he took an oath with on the altar and choose his mere maid? Now it sounds ridiculous.Ophelia did warn me, she said she made it clear to me that Braden is hers no matter what I did and this proves it all. I can not believe I confidently retorted back at her and told her that her plans would never work.Now I see the marital bbond between Braden and Ophelia, it is unbreakable no mat
CAMILLA I arrived back from Olga's place a little earlier than I planned to. I wanted to surprise Braden because earlier yesterday before leaving, I had told him I would be back late in the evening. I told him that to see his reaction and if he would still let me leave but to my utmost shock, he still gave me open doors to leave and go enjoy being with my family. I came back earlier this morning and steathily tiptoed up the stairs with giggles trying to escape my lips. I pressed back my sudden eagerness to see Braden which was coated all over my face when I had begun approaching Braden's room and the faraway sound of two people talking hit my ear walls. As I approached further, the sound grew louder till I had gotten to Braden's door.I could fully recognise the voices now. It was Braden and Ophelia. From the outside, one could tell that the conversation was heated and intense with the intonation of their voices. My curiousity was piqued and a sudden restlessness overwhelmed
The soft rays emitting from the sun through the transparent linen curtain hit Braden's face, toning his skin in the process. He pinched his eyes tight shut before turning his head away from the sun's glistening rays but it was off no use any more.His sleep had been interrupted and he could not sleep back.Slowly, his eyes fluttered open and a yawn escaped his peach lips. Stirring up from his deep slumber, Braden flew his eyes open in an instant only to be hit by a severe banging pain that seemed to almost shatter his skull. Letting out a hiss in pain, he trailed a finger to his temples, massaging everywhere in hopes of calming down the skull shattering ache that throbbed all over his head. It seemed to be as painful as a migraine but it was not. It was affecting all sides of his head. His vision was very much blurry and hazy causing him to close his eyes tight shut in a bid to try and readjust his sight. Opening his eyes once more again, Braden could now see but not ful
The heart they say is deadly, the desires of the heart exerts a powerful influence in the actions of an individual. It could either be good or bad. But in dire cases, when the heart can not get what it wants, the person then goes to extreme measures to get their hearts desire be it a good or bad one. Love they say is another weapon that could be used for either good or bad. Healthy love is like medicine to the body.It heals you even without you realising.That type of love is the love that makes you understand that you actually can not control how people feel about you.You might love someone with your whole heart but if the person is not interested in being with you, you can not hold the person accountable for it.Healthy love makes one understand that in life, some people may never reciprocate how we feel about them no matter how genuine and true it is.So instead of sulking and killing your mental stability with depression, you do yourself a big favour by just letting go of the
CAMILLA With a rush of excitement building in me, I knocked on Olga's front door as I patiently waited for a response.In a split second, the door opened up to reveal the elderly but beautiful face of Olga in a blue long dress standing with a surprised look plastered on her face."Camilla?!" Olga articulated gleefully. With a beaming smile, she rushed to give me a very tight hug. "Olga," I responded calmly as I gave into the warm embrace. I was so happy to see Olga after all these months of staying in Braden's house.She was also very happy to see me, that bright smile and high-pitched voice of hers were enough to know."Jason!! your sister is here!" Olga turned and yelled into the quiet house.Loud footsteps of someone running met my ears immediately, Jason jumped out of nowhere and exclaimed happilythe minute he noticed me and I squealed for joy as well."Camilla!" he cheerfully called out."Jason" Euphoria pulsated through my veins as my eyes landed on his healthy orbs.I felt so