“Will you guys open the door right now?”Nathan, who stood by the door with the phone in his hand, exhaled one last time at his mother's words and then turned the knob gently.He pulled the door open and Elena entered the room gently, and then dropped her hands on her waist.“What is going on?”“With?” Nathan grinned.Her brows drew together and she collected the phone from him.“What were you doing with my phone and why did you lie that it was not here?” She asked as she browsed through her phone with the hope of finding out what they were up to.“Uhm…” Nathan scratched his forehead.“The thing is…!” Natalie jumped up and rushed to her.“I remember you saying that you downloaded a game on your phone so I wanted to show Nathan.”Elena pressed her lips together and stared at her kids unsurely. “I don’t trust you two,” she shook her head and then turned to leave the room.As soon as she walked out of the room, she turned to look at the door that her kids slammed shut instantly.Those t
Ryan shook his legs vigorously as he kept his eyes plastered on the screen of his phone. He had been on her INSTA page since forever and had been looking at her pictures all day.Every day, she crossed his mind, and every time, he refrained from reaching out to her because of Zeke.When Ryan remembered the incident that happened some years back, he knew it was his cue to not trespass.He knew a person who married his friend’s sister and right there, Zeke had shown his disgust at it.“How could my friend fall for my sister? That is messy!”He had laughed it off, even though at that time he was developing feelings for Chloe already.But since he had thought it was just something casual and would leave in a short time, he agreed with his friend to his face.But, many years had passed, and his feelings for Chloe had only grown more.The woman established her business about three to four years ago, and she has been topping the chart in the fashion industry.He loved that for her and he wis
“What, what?!” Ryan asked and snatched the phone from him.His brows snapped together as he read it, he raised his head to look at Zeke who had already covered his face with his palms.“Who is this?!” Ryan asked.“S… someone. Fuck Ryan, Not Elena and the kids!” He yelled.“I honestly do not understand what is going on,” Ryan shook his head.Zeke swallowed hard, snatched his phone from Ryan, and then browsed through it.Ryan watched as he typed on the keyboard, leaned towards him rather impatiently, and then creased his brows at what Zeke was doing.“Find the whereabouts of this man in the next twenty-four hours. Forty-eight hours maximum.”With a picture attached, he sent the message.“You just broadcasted it?” Ryan asked.Zeke nodded his head and sniffed. At least, a hundred of his informants across the world would receive that message and then work on it immediately.“What is going on?”Zeke stared at Ryan for a few seconds and then narrated everything to him without missing a part.
“W… what? Who is on the Internet?” Zeke stuttered and snatched the phone from Ryan.It was the pictures Ethan had sent to him a while ago. It was the picture of the kids in front of their school and the one at the cafe which clearly captured Elena too.It meant one thing; Ethan had sent it to the press.The headline stated: BILLIONAIRE EX-WIFE MADE APPEARANCE WITH THEIR CHILDREN.Zeke could feel his heart burning and his head banging as he read the article. They talked as if they were sure about everything they were saying.They said he was their father.They said he probably denied the babies which was what led to the divorce.Or that she didn’t know she was pregnant till she left the house.Zeke knew that it was only a matter of time before the podcasters began a field day on their matter.He closed his eyes, his grip tightened around the phone and then swallowed hard.“Y… You have kids?”Jeremy’s voice made him open his eyes and then swallow hard.“Elena has children?” He asked aga
It took almost a full minute before Elena composed herself, sniffed, and then rested her hands on her waist. “Take it down, Zeke. You never should have exposed them that way,” her voice was low, but he knew she still wanted nothing more than to scream again.Zeke clasped his hands together and then exhaled, “I did not do it, Elena I did not make that post and I never would have! You… you think I would do something so horrible to my kids… my children…! Even after knowing what mess it would be for them!”Elena stared at him as the rage in her eyes slowly loosened up.She knew when he was lying, and she knew when he meant his words, to some extent, that is. And right now, it didn’t seem like he was lying.“I know you hate me. I know I have wronged you… and the twins, but… that? I would not do that to them, and you! I know what sort of pest the press are so why would I go to such length?”“Who knows? You might be in such a hurry to tell the world that you have children.”Zeke nodded his h
Elena took a last glance at her wristwatch and then unfastened her seat belt. It was almost closing time so she knew she had to go pick up her children.“Should I come with you?” Zeke asked as she placed her hand on the car door handle.She turned around gently with furrowed brows and then smacked her tongue. “I am going to kill you if you get out of the car, Zeke,” Elena threatened and Zeke laughed.“See, my brother is right there. We passed a message already, didn’t we?” He asked.When Elena didn’t answer and only shot him a dead stare, he waved his hand and said, “Alright, alright. Just hold on. Let me drive closer to the school. The reporters will catch up with you if you get out here,” he said and she nodded her head.As the car stopped away from the other car which belonged to Jeremy, Elena pushed the door open and instantly, the security men rushed to her before the reporters did.They guarded her to the gate, and when she got there, she knocked, and the door opened almost imme
“Eh, mama? Tell us. Tell us,” Nathan kept asking as he hit the back of her chair.“Nathan, keep it down!” Elena snapped.“Daddy, why did you come to pick us up? Is something happening? Or… are you back together with mummy?”Elena was forced to look back and sucked her teeth with a frown. “What are you saying? He is not your…!” She stopped talking and then took a glance at Zeke who kept his eyes on the road even though he looked unsettled.Elena could read the expression on his face. He looked pained like he was being deprived of his right.“Oh, come on mama. We know he is our daddy, right, daddy?” Natalie groaned.“Have you two come back together? That would be so nice to have our daddy and you together again. Did the television people…”“Jesus, we are not back together!” Elena hollered and everywhere went silent.Nathan tugged his lips to a knowing smile and then turned to look at his sister. “She just agreed that they used to be together, right?”Natalie nodded her head in agreemen
The car stopped in front of the mansion, and Zeke breathed out in relief as there were no reporters in sight.Since their mansion was quite secluded, it was possible that they could not find their way there.Elena got out of the car, opened the car for her kids, and then watched as they got out gently.“Let me hold your backpack for you,” she extended her hand at her kids who were sulking.“Never mind,” Nathan brushed her hand away gently, picked up Natalie’s hand, and then walked to the gate with her.Zeke got down from the car, rested on the car, and then watched them as they waited by the gate.Elena hurried to them, rang the bell, and then placed her face on the security camera that was under the gatekeeper’s jurisdiction.The gate opened instantly, and she motioned to her kids to enter.Instead, they both turned around to face their father and then waved their hands at him gently.“Get back safely, Da…” Nathan picked on his finger and swallowed.“Uncle,” he said, raised his eyes
Zeke got down from the car after he got to the location on the map, looked around, and then sighed.He removed his phone from his pocket and then dialed the number again.Hearing it ring just away from him, he looked around again and then began to trace where it was coming from.As he got under a big tree, he stopped walking and looked down at the kids who sat on the floor and then raised their heads to look at him.He ended the call, returned the phone to his pocket, and then rested his hands on his waist before he breathed out.“God.”As he looked at them, he knew it was taking everything in them to not rush at him and hug him, but instead, they chose to sit there, looking as though he had betrayed them.“Will you hug Daddy, please?” He spread his arms wide.Finally, Nathan stood up and then helped his sister up, and helped her to adjust her head warmer before they moved over to him.He went on his knees and when they got to him, and wrapped his arms around them.“Oh, my dear.”When
“What have you done to yourself, Ramon?” Ray asked the man in a whisper, bewildered at the sudden change in his behavior“What have I done to myself? You truly ask that of me, father?”“I do! What the hell is going through your head?!”“Why do all of you disregard me this way too?!” He screamed out.Elena drew her brows together as she stared at him.Was there something else included that she was not aware of?This man was acting like a total psycho!“For the last four years, I took this family as my own! I ate on the same plate as you! I took you two as my parents. I love Elena and you know that! I took her children as mine but… but how could you all turn against me because of Zeke?!”“What are you say—”“I know she plans on reconsidering that mother fucker!” He cut the man short.“Ariana who used to like me before…”“Don’t say my name one more time!” She snapped him shut.One thing she was good at was switching on people. Not in the wrong way, though.She knew when to pull back and
“Help me, Mateo.”Ramon breathed heavily and waited for his brother to respond to him from the other end but he did not.“I am fucking tired… and I am losing my patience.”“I feel like… I… I could kill him.”“Who do you wanna kill?” Mateo finally asked, chuckling.“Zeke, of course, Zeke!”“You wanna kill your cousin?” Mateo burst into laughter.Ramon needed not to be told that the man was being sarcastic at the moment. “Spare me that shit. He ain’t my brother.”“Why are you suddenly losing your patience? I thought it was going well.”“Elena has wavered totally and at this point, I can never get her!”“And you want to kill Zeke because of that? Wait, you don’t believe she would come to you if you did that, do you?”“She has found solace in me before, she can again. Or better still, if I can’t have her, he can’t have her too. I can’t stand them together!” He hollered.“Chill, Tiger, chill.”“Let me in on your plans. You and your father are not telling me anything. Besides, when do you
“Sis,” Ariana entered the room, glancing around.“Did something happen? Ramon didn’t look… good,” she said, pointing her hand to her face to make a gesture.“Did he leave?”“He didn’t even talk to anyone. He said his goodbye in a very quick way. What happened?”“Nothing,” Elena rolled her eyes and then settled on her bed.Pulling the duvet over her body, she let out a hiss again.Convinced that something was going on, Ariana rushed over to the bed, pulled the cover away from her sister, and then settled on the bed, purposely inconveniencing her.“Tell me.”“Ariana, leave. I’m so pissed right now.”“Tell me, come on!”Elena sat up, blew the strands of hair that fell over her face away, and hissed. “That man had the audacity to tell me that no one will tolerate my kids.”“Wait… really?”“He said, I am quoting, “no one will be so willing to take in kids that do not belong to them.”“No, no way!” Ariana widened her eyes.“He fucking did.”“Wait, why? I can’t believe that!”“Apparently, he
“I said I do not…!”“It is me, Elena. Ramon.”He said hurriedly and waited as a short silence ensued before he heard the creaking sound of the door.The door pushed open and Elena held the door for him to enter which he did instantly.“I didn’t know it was you,” she pressed her lips together after she locked the door and then returned to the bed.She settled on it while he sat on the couch away from her.“What’s wrong? You seem to be mad at everyone in the house.”“I am not,” she shook her head.“They think you are, though. See, locking yourself away is proof on its own.”“They know what happened, Ramon.”He nodded his head and clasped his hands together hoping she would venture into the topic fully but she didn’t, rather she looked away in silence too.“Are you still mad at me?” She shook her head in response and he breathed out.Things had gotten pretty awkward between the two of them and he hated that.“You are, Elena, I know you.”“I am not, really. I just do not see the need to
“Would you accept if she agrees to return to him? If you would ask me, I would say that she looked like she could,” Ariana her parents.Ramon stood still in a corner as he listened to the conversation between the family.“I have said before and I will repeat, I will support whatever decision she makes,” Karina said.Oh, how much he disliked this woman!She was a huge preacher of ‘going with the flow.’One time in Australia, she wanted him for her because of how he was good to her and how Elena seemed to find comfort in him too. She had said to him on two or more occasions that she would wish for Elena to consider him too… but, she can’t force her daughter to do a thing.At first, it didn’t seem like a problem to him. He didn’t give it any meaning at all.But, now when she still says the same thing? Even when it was certain that Elena could return to Zeke…Could she not be different for once?“I don’t want that,” Ray shook his head.Finally, the only person in the family who wanted h
Entering the living room fully, there was only Nathan and Natalie watching an animated show on the television, and Ramon entered fully, walking over to them.“Hi, guys!” He drawled and clasped his hands together.They both turned to look at him and then smiled gently before they returned to drop their eyes on the TV again.If he was asked, he would say that smile was nothing closer to being genuine.Regardless, he wore a larger smile and then dropped his hand on Nathan’s shoulder.“Where is your mommy? She is not picking up her calls. Is she upstairs… or out?”“In her room,” Nathan groaned as if he was forced to answer.Ramon nodded his head, moved his hand, and then turned away.“Uncle!”Nathan’s voice stopped him and he turned to look at the boy and raised his brows.“I have been trying to understand something since,” he started.Ramon’s eyes darted to Natalie who was pulling the tip of Nathan’s clothing like he was warning him to not talk.Then, he knew he had to brace himself for
While Zeke sat in silence at the back of the car, his head out of the window, Chloe and Ryan sang through to the music while Ryan drove. “But I, I think I like this little lifeeee!” Chloe sang the chorus of the song so loudly that Ryan laughed. “This little life!” Ryan sang back. “Can you two just shut the fuck up for a second?” Zeke finally hissed and asked. “What exactly is fun about this life?” He asked, angered. The couple went mute for a while and then Chloe turned to look at her brother with a sneer, “Why are bittered, brother? There are a lot of things to love in this life.” Ryan nudged her gently to not say anything as the man was apparently not in a good mood, but she didn’t listen, instead, she asked again. “Or, do you not like your life?” “Shut up, Chloe, and end that song too. Enough of the noise.” Ryan stopped the music instantly and Chloe turned to look at him, “Why? I was listening to it.” “We will listen to it after we drop him at his place,” he whispered to
When Ryan and Chloe entered and saw the atmosphere of the room as it was, they turned to look at each other and almost retreated from the room.When they had arrived at the living room downstairs and didn’t meet anyone, they rushed to ascend the stairs with the fear that Zeke was yet to regain consciousness but with the noise coming from the other end of the hall, they rushed over there, only to see everyone in the room.“That is not happening, Natalie, and I have…”“Mommy!” The twins cut her short.“You and Daddy will live together with us and we will live like a happy family, that is our opinion!”“Your opinion…” she swallowed.If she told them that it did not matter, they would probably never forgive her.“If you do not agree, Natalie and I will run away from home,” Nathan blurted.Natalie moved over to him, held his hand in support, and then whispered in his ear gently. “We will?”“Play along,” he whispered back.“We will run away and you will never find us again.”“Are you two… m