Dressed in a tailored charcoal gray suit that accentuated my sturdy frame. My crisp white shirt peeked out from beneath the jacket, the collar fastened neatly with a silver tie clip. On my wrist, a gold watch adorned and my cufflinks gleamed subtly. Then I had a black coat of fine fur hang loosely over my broad shoulders.Sitting in the dimly lit balcony, surrounded by murmur of voices, loud music and the haze of smoke, I watched as my den thrived before me.From the way the half naked strippers with masks on, swayed gracefully around poles, their movements hypnotic as they entertained the eager crowd. Men huddled around tables, their faces illuminated by the flicker of cards, their laughter mingling with the clink of chips. People made money. Many others lost. Some were even killed.In the corners, shadowy figures exchanged whispers, their eyes darting around suspiciously as they indulged in their vices. But amidst it all, I remained still, my gaze unwavering as I surveyed my kingd
Kamilles POVAt the break of dawn, I was jolted awake by Royer's gentle shaking, his voice filled with a pitiful cry. "Mom, wake up." He tapped me again. "I feel fine and I want to go to school with Reon, Torin and Tyris today," he insisted, his eyes pleading with me to understand.Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I couldn't help but smile at his eagerness. "Hold on, Royer. Let's wait for the doctor to give the final word," I replied, my voice soft but firm.Already awakened by Royer, I freshened him up and got him dressed. His excitement was beautiful to watch as chattered animatedly about his plans for the day. Despite my lingering worries, his infectious enthusiasm brought a smile to my face.Once Royer was ready, I took him to the mini kitchen in the private ward and prepared a simple breakfast for the two of us. After breakfast, I made my way to the doctor's office. Royer's hand was clasped firmly in mine as I approached the receptionist, "Excuse me, could I speak to Dr. John abo
Kamilles POV“Are you okay, Belle?” I asked clearly worried. My kids heard me say Belle and started asking to speak to her her.“Mummy, mummy, Aunty Belle.” Tyris said and she scrambled with her seatbelt behind.“Stay put Tyris. You'll talk to Aunty Belle once you're back from school.” I urged and Belle chuckled from the other end of the line.“How are the kids?” She asked. Her voice was heavy with emotion and it got me worried and I momentarily forgot my kids scrambling to unlatch their seatbelts.“They are fine Belle, but are you?” I asked slowly.“Please Kam, don't worry about me. I'm in my pms window so I have been having series of emotions but I will be fine.” She replied. I could feel her smile sadly.I knew she normally had severe pms symptoms, and Amanda always teased her about it. But this time, we were worried it could be more than that. I sighed.“Alright love. Let's meet up soon. You, Amy and I. There's a lot we need to catch up on.” I said calmly oblivious to the chaos go
Kamilles POV“Are you okay Chris?” I asked, noticing his mood was gradually changing.His expression had shifted from concern to anger, the lines of his face drawn tight with tension. My heart clenched with worry as I watched him, wondering what had sparked such intense emotion in him.He forced a tight-lipped smile, but his eyes betrayed his smile as they were already darkened by rage. “I'm fine, Kamille,” he replied, his tone strained. “I'm just... uhh…. I'm trying to process everything.”I nodded, though his words did little to calm my unease. Something was clearly bothering him.“What do you mean?” I asked, furrowing my brow in confusion.For a moment, Chris hesitated, his gaze flickering away before returning to meet mine. “It's just... I can't help but wonder what Zeke's part in all of this is.” He admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.My heart skipped a beat at his words, a knot forming in the pit of my stomach. What the hell is he saying?“What are you saying, Chris?” I
Zeke's POVI did not go to work today, nor did I go to the hospital. I was still not sure of Kamille's state of heart. But I would stop by in the evening nonetheless.I decided to go to my study to finish up some paperwork. As I was preparing to leave my room, my phone suddenly rang, jolting me from my thoughts. I picked up the call and waited for him to speak.“What do you mean the kids were in an accident?” I asked, my voice tinged with shock and anger.The security personnel on the other end of the line struggled to explain the situation, his words were rushed and frantic. “Sir, they were chased by a black mini van. We ran to check the plate number but it was non-existent.” he explained urgently. “And where the hell were you? How did this happen? Where are the kids now?” I demanded, my tone sharp.The security personnel hesitated before responding, his voice heavy with regret. “Sir, the kids left the hospital with their mother to school.” he explained.“Kamille and Royer were in
Kamilles POVTears streamed down my face, unchecked and raw, as I finally allowed myself to release the flood of emotions that had been building inside me.“Why?” I asked slowly, my voice cracking with anguish. “What were you aiming at Zeke?”Zeke stared at me in shock, his hand pressed to his stinging cheek. “Kamille, I-”I didn't let him finish. The words spilled from my lips in a torrent of pain and anger, each one laced with the bitter taste of betrayal. “Was everything you did for me just a façade?” I demanded, my voice rising with each word. “Did you only come to my rescue because you knew something like this would happen? Were you just playing the hero all along?”Zeke's expression softened, his eyes pleading with me to understand. “No, Kamille, that's now-”But I cut him off again, unable to bear the thought of his excuses. “If that's true, then I want nothing to do with you,” I declared. “And I told you already, we can't be together again.Zeke's face had fallen and he stood
Chapter 62Zeke's POVPlease, Zeke. Don't. Kamille's words kept replaying in my head as I left the hospital garden. My emotions roared inside me like a stormy sea but I could not show it.My demeanor became very cold and aloof wrapping around my heart like an icy grip. Anger coursed through me as I kept thinking of what had just happened. Hurt and pain gnawed at my insides, a deep ache that seemed to consume me from within.Each step I took felt heavy, weighed down by the burden of my emotions. My jaw shut tightly, teeth grinding together with suppressed frustration. My fists clenched at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I fought to contain the turmoil raging within me.I walked back into the hospital. The nurses scurried past me. My face bore no warmth and my expression was grim till I arrived at Doctor John's office.As I approached the office, I opened the door to meet him scribbling down something on a patient’s folder. “Release them,” I said dryly.The doctor had stopped
Ellen's POVFather had said by noon today we would have received the news of his instruction for Zeke's children. He ordered their car be rammed into causing an accident that would leave the kids dead.His men had decided to attack when they felt the security personnel was less on Zeke's part, so they attacked the kids on their way to school.Since that information, we were yet to receive any feedback from them and dusk was soon approaching. I could not help but feel something was off, something was definitely not right and the thought of it made me nauseous.What the hell must have happened?Father and I sat in anticipation, looking at the TV in the living room for any news involving any of Zeke's cars but nothing was aired of that sort. My father's brow furrowed in worry, his eyes fixed on his phone as we awaited the crucial update from Mr. Finley.Ring! Ring! Father hurried and picked up the call. “What took you so long?” He roared into the phone.“I'm sorry Sir, but we have been
Belle's POV The sun was warm on my skin, the breeze gentle and soothing as it drifted through the open patio where we all sat, the laughter of our loved ones filling the air. It was a picture-perfect moment—the kind of moment I used to dream about but never truly believed would come. We were all gathered around the long, sun-dappled table, the warmth of the day reflecting the joy that radiated from everyone’s faces. Zane was sitting beside me, his hand resting comfortably on my leg, our twins, Sean and Clara, gurgling happily in their bassinet close by. The twins were the center of attention today, as they were most days. Kamille’s kids, Reon, Torin, Tyris, Royer, and little Phoebe, were running around the patio, shrieking in delight as they chased each other. I glanced at Kamille and Zeke, who were sitting across from us, laughing and chatting while keeping a watchful eye on their children. Amanda, was helping prepare the meal, occasionally smiling in our direction as the kids d
Zane's POVI stood there, fists clenched, staring Dave Scott down. Every fiber of my being wanted to lunge at him, to make him pay for everything he’d done. But I couldn’t—at least, not yet. The recorder in my pocket was still running, capturing every damning word that fell from his mouth. I could feel it, a tiny weight pressing against my ribs, reminding me that I had to play this smart. For Belle. For Kelly. For justice.Dave, on the other hand, was as smug as ever, leaning back with that infuriating smirk plastered across his face. He had no idea that his time was running out.“You think you can just waltz in here and act like you own the place?” Dave sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. “You’re nothing, Zane. A nobody playing hero in a game that’s way beyond your league.”I bit back my anger, forcing myself to remain calm. His words didn’t matter. Not when I had the truth on my side. I took a deep breath, my fingers brushing against the stop button on the recorder hidden
Belle's POVWalking into the living room wasn’t easy. My legs felt heavy, like I was dragging weights with each step. The air in the mansion was suffocating, thick with tension and unspoken fears. My heart raced, a wild, chaotic rhythm that matched the pounding of my thoughts. I could still hear my mother’s frantic voice behind me, begging, pleading for me to stay with them, to hide, to escape into the secret bunker.“Belle, you don’t have to do this!” she cried, reaching out as if she could physically hold me back. Her eyes were wide with fear, her voice trembling. “Come with us. We can hide. We can survive this.”I stopped, my hand resting on the doorframe, my back to her. I couldn’t turn around. I couldn’t let her see the turmoil etched on my face, the way my hands trembled from the weight of what I was about to do. My family was scared—terrified, really—but the idea of running, of leaving Zane behind to face this monster alone, felt like a betrayal I wasn’t willing to commit.“W
Dave's POVI had been waiting for over an hour, sitting there, staring at the doors leading to the rooms, expecting Belle and Zane to finally step out. It wasn’t like them to hide this long, especially Zane. But instead of the two people I was dying to confront, what I got was the Perri family, practically groveling before me. Pathetic.The Perri patriarch, Mr. Perri, stood in front of me with a forced smile, his hands clasped in front of him as though in prayer. His wife hovered behind him, wringing her hands nervously. “Please, David,” her father began, his voice trembling. “We don’t want any trouble. Just… drop the lawsuit. We’ll leave quietly, I swear. We won’t cause any problems.”I couldn’t help the smirk that stretched across my face. They were so desperate, so weak. This was the kind of power I craved, watching them squirm, knowing I held all the cards. “You won’t cause any trouble?” I repeated, mocking his words as if they were a joke. “Oh, trust me, you wouldn’t be able
Zane's POVBelle’s tears were too much for me to handle. The way her shoulders shook, the soft sniffles she tried to hide—it broke something inside me. I couldn’t stand seeing her like this. Without thinking, I reached out, pulling her into my arms once more, holding her as tightly as I dared.“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, my lips brushing against her hair. “I swear to you, Belle, this will all end today. I’ll make sure of it.”She pulled back slightly, her wide, tear-filled eyes meeting mine. There was a small, hopeful smile on her lips, but I could see the doubt lingering beneath it. It killed me to know that she still didn’t fully believe everything would be fine, that she didn’t fully believe in me. But I didn’t blame her. After everything that had happened, after all the lies, how could she?God! I needed her to trust me.I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips again, my hand cupping her cheek gently. When I pulled away, her eyes fluttered open, and I saw a leve
Belle's POV“I’m scared, Zane,” I confessed. My voice trembled, and my arms tightened instinctively around my belly. I felt so vulnerable, standing there in front of him, exposed and raw. How was I supposed to face Dave? What would he say? What would he do?Zane hugged me tighter. His warmth, his strength—it was like a lifeline, grounding me in the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. He pressed a soft kiss to my hair, his lips lingering there for a moment before he spoke.“You don’t have to be scared,” he murmured into my hair, his voice gentle yet filled with quiet resolve. “I’m here. No one is going to hurt you. Not Dave. Not anyone.”I closed my eyes, leaning into his chest, letting his heartbeat steady mine. His words were soothing, like a balm to my frayed nerves. Dave had always had a way of getting under my skin, and now… with everything that had happened…“Go get refreshed,” Zane said, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes. His fingers brushed a loose strand o
Zane's POVI cursed under my breath as we broke the kiss. I let her take a while to arrange her silk gown. I moved a bit from her as my mind played over what happened the night before.Belle couldn’t sleep all night; I could tell from the way she kept shifting in bed, her body tense beneath the silk sheets. I lay beside her, watching her.I thought back to earlier that night when I walked into the Perri mansion, my mind filled with chaos, only to be confronted by an entirely different reality. I remember the way Belle’s mother was yelling, her voice shrill with rage, but none of that mattered the second I saw Belle. She stood there, so fragile and strong all at once, and without thinking, I crossed the room and pulled her into my arms. Her soft, warm body pressed against mine, grounding me in the middle of the madness. She was everything. The only thing that made sense. The world could be burning down around us, and I wouldn’t care, as long as I had her.Belle’s mother, however, didn
Belle's POVI hadn’t moved from my spot on the bed. Not an inch. I sat there, staring blankly at the wall across from me, my mind heavy with thoughts, swirling memories of last night that I couldn’t quite shake. Everything felt so distant yet so vivid, playing over and over again in my mind. The weight of it all bore down on me, rendering me numb.Opposite me, Zane sat with his back against the headboard, his eyes wide open, just watching. He had been watching me all night. He hadn’t said much, but I could feel his presence, steady and unwavering, like a tether keeping me from completely unraveling. His gaze hadn’t left me, and for some reason, I found comfort in that. My thoughts drifted back to the moment it all came crashing down. The nausea that hit me like a brick after the shouting match with my mother, the way she had followed me into the bathroom after I threw up, concern etched across her face despite the earlier anger.“Belle, are you alright?” she’d asked, her voice surp
Dave's POVThe sun was barely up, casting a dull, gray light over the city, but the weight on my chest was already heavier than the day before. The shipment I had been waiting for was just a few hours away. The timing couldn’t have been worse, not with Belle out there and Zane still breathing. I needed to tie up loose ends, and fast.I sat on the brown leather swivel chair in my study, my hands running over my face as I tried to think. I needed to find a way to get the attention of the drug enforcement agency off my back before the shipment arrived. Every second counted, and I knew that one wrong move could bring it all crashing down.I reached for my phone, my fingers tapping rapidly as I sent out a message to my men. It was time to surround the Perri mansion. We need to bring Belle's family to their limit. Once that was done, they would bring out Belle. Or rather, she would bring forth herself. Then that nosy Zane Caruso will come for her and I get to silence him forever."Surrou