Kamille’s POV
Settling down in a new place had to be the worst job I had tried in my entire life. It wasn't as fun as it sounded afterall. Looking at the beautifully arranged and decorated house, I smiled in satisfaction. Now I just had one more thing to do to make settling in complete. I moved to the living room, sat on a sofa close to the window where I can admire the beautiful orchids growing wild up the terrace. After a few rings, a voice came on the other end of the line, “Hello, Miss Smith on the line. How may I help you?” The voice was warm and welcoming. I smiled. “I would like to hire a nanny for my kids.” She asked a couple of other questions before our call came to an end. My children deserved the best nanny since I was going to be busy here in London. I had no plans of exposing them to dirt I had to clean up. Darkness clouded the skies in no time. I went up to the children's room. The boys stayed together in separate beds, while Tyris had a room of her own pretty close to mine. “Time to go to bed kids.” I said interrupting their play. I was expecting the grumbling that came after the announcement every other night but none came. I tucked the boys in and picked up Tyris. I sat in the rocking chair close to the beds and began singing them a lullaby. White glows the Lillie's, Red glows the rose, Here lies my babies, I'm watching how they glow.. Early on in my marriage to Zeke, I always sang it to him. The thought brought back memories that I didn’t want to entertain. I smiled in pains as my children fell asleep. I sang for them every night. My eyes hurt. I rose up and took Tyris to her room. As soon as I closed the door, my eyes gave way to tears. I hurried back into my room and cried a little more. Shit! I had to do something. Fuck Zeke! I wiped my tears and left the room. I went down to the basement where I was yet to unpack a few boxes. I searched till I found my phone book tucked away in one of my bags. I smiled. I started running my eyes through the pages, followed by my index finger through every line till I found the numbers I was looking for right on the same page; one next to the other. Amanda and Belle, the only persons I can rely on in London unlike people I called Family. I quickly typed out the first number and just as I was about to hit the call button, I paused. This was it. This call would set the pace for what's about to hit my family and Zeke. I realeased a heavy breath I didn't realize I was holding, then I hit the call button. “Hello, this is Amanda, how may I help you?” she responded loud enough for me to hear. Loud music, DJ's mixtape, party cheers and loud chatters, she was at the club! Amanda was still the same free spirited young lady I knew. An excellent content creator with beautiful ideas. “Hello, who am I speaking with?” She asked jerking me back from my thoughts. “It's me, Kamille.” I replied with calm. No response and gradually the background noises became distant. “Now you fucking listen to me. I don't know what stupid games you're playing but if you decide to impersonate my friend, you'll wish it was actually you in the grave!” She yelled. My heart melted at her words of defense. I smiled and blinked away the tears that was forming at the corners of my eyes. “Oh Amanda, It is really me. I am alive and well. I am currently in London.” I replied in a calm tone. “I’m giving you one more chance to stop spitting lies from your mouth.” She replied still not convinced. I took a deep breath, “I know everyone thinks I died that day in the car accident but I didn’t. Well, I mean I almost did, but a good samaritan saved me. After the news went out that I was dead, I decided to leave the country and build a new life away from the challenges I was going through.” I explained. “Wait, Kamille, is this really you?” She asked calmly. “Yes, it is,” I responded. No response, then a little sniff from her end. “I'm sorry it's just so hard to believe that it is really you Kamille. It's been four fucking years!” She screamed. “I know and I'm sorry I'm only reaching out now.” I replied as I fiddled with the hem of my blouse. “Oh dear Kamille. How I missed you. I cried for so long. I want to see you. No, I need to feel you. Where are you?” She asked, her voice laced with too many emotions than words could fathom. I missed them too much more than I thought I did. I quickly texted her an address. With a strengthened resolve, I rang Belle’s home line. After a few rings she picked and greeted. “Hi, Belle, it’s Kamille, your friend,” I replied and awaited her response. She gasped, “Kamille, the dead Kamille?”. She was quite the opposite of Amanda; She is calm and composed. She was a dermatologist and had her life organized just like her response. “Yes,” I replied. “I mean, no. I didn’t die. I was saved and I had to travel out to the US after the news of my death spread.” I explained. She was too calm and collected. I didn't know if she believed it was me. Sighs. “Kamille, I don't know what to say. I mean I don't even know how to react to this.” She replied. “How about we meet? You, Amanda and myself at the spot I will text you now. Can you meet me there?” I asked. “Now? Why not? I will be on my way as soon as I get the text.” “Okay.” I replied, then the line went dead. I dropped the phone book and headed back to my room. I took a cold shower, thereafter I put on a pair of black leather jacket and pants with a black camisole, and put on a pair of boot heels. satisfied with how I looked, I left the room. Ding Dang! I got to the door to check who it was and I met an elderly lady with a warm smile. “Hello Miss Manor. I'm Nanny Dona. I was sent by the agency you called requesting for the nanny.” She said, “Oh, come in.” I invited her in and offered her a seat. I was surprised the agency allowed elderly people to work. I needed someone older but I believe I wasn't expecting her to be this elderly. I engaged her in a question-and-answer session so I could get to know her better. I checked her portfolio over again. Contrary to my expectation, she passed the credibility check but I wasn't sure about it. Sensing my doubts, she said, “You need not worry Miss Manor. Your children will be safe with me. I mothered seven children and took care of them alone.” I saw the pride in her eyes as she spoke which made me relaxed. I gave her the job and showed her around the house. “I’m stepping out now Nanny Dona. I won’t be long so I will return to relieve you in a short while.” I told her and she nodded in response. Let's do this Kamille! I Left the house.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