Coming To Camp?

Chapter 47

Coming To Camp?

Lyla Atelo.

I came home with a stupid smile on my face. Sage had made my entire evening and I was just smiling like a fool.

“You're back," my husband appeared from the corner of the doorway leading to the kitchen. He wore an apron which suggested that he was cooking.

I frowned slightly at the sight of that, while waiting for him to complain that I had come home late.

“I'm back, yes.” I smiled a little at him.

“And in high spirits as well.” He noted that part, “I hope you had a great day at work.”

“I did. How about you?” I shrugged off my shoulder bag which was beginning to get heavy and set it on the table, taking in a deep breath of what he was cooking.

“I made dinner. Would you like some?” He noted the actions of my nose before asking, but I shook my head immediately.

I knew my husband by now. I could guess what he wanted from me, but I waited for him to say it. Michael never did any nice things for me unless he wanted something in return, and this wasn't going to be an exception.

“I'm quite full. I had dinner with my colleagues, so,” I shrugged my shoulders, opening up my arms.

He pursed his lips as if contemplating something.

“Is there a problem?” I felt compelled to ask. “Do you need something?”

His eyes met mine under the low lights of the living room, and he sighed and stepped out of the dinning room and fully into the living room.

“Is it that obvious?”

“Glaring.” I replied tersely. “You want some money?”

He bowed his head as if he was ashamed to admit it. “Yes, Lyla. And I'm really sorry that I have to keep dragging you into all my company, no, our company's mess, but I promise you that…”

I had already zeroed my ears from his words. They were still going to be the same thing……that he would make a triple of it and repay me soon. But soon never came.

“How much do you need this time?” I asked him, trying to make a mental calculation of how much I had left from my grandmother's savings.

“It's quite a lot.” He came even closer to me, trying to gather my hands in his.

I carefully extracted myself from him and stepped away from him, not caring about the displeased expression on his face. Of course the money had always been a lot. When has it ever been little? Still, I bit my tongue from lashing out at him while listening to him.

“How much, Michael?” I asked him again, getting tired of our back and forth questions.

He sighed heavily. “The company is opening a new branch at San Francisco after the unfortunate fire incident,” I knew he was referring to having The Dominics burning down his former company, “We lost a lot of files and important blue prints that were supposed to...”

“Michael, please. Spare me with the details. How much do you want?” I repeated tiredly. “I have school tomorrow, and I need to wash up and rest, okay?”

He was quiet for a while before his voice went down to a whisper. “Six million dollars?”

I almost gasped in shock. “Six? Million? Dollars? How much do you think I have left after all I've given to you? You want me to give you the remaining savings to dump on a company that I've never enjoyed any returns from? Huh?”

I didn't expect myself to raise my voice that way, but I was surprised by just thinking about it. Six million dollars was the remaining money in my account, and I couldn't bear to touch it.

“Fine. Fine. I'm sorry. Five hundred thousand would do.” He reduced the price drastically. “I'll just loan the rest of it from the bank. I know how hard it is for you, but you should know that I'm doing this for the wellbeing of our family. Of us. I'm working so hard because of the children we're going to bring to life soon, or even adopt.”

The last word sent chills down my spine. Adopt? Did he know? Did Kendra tell him I couldn't conceive?

“Excuse me?” I asked to be sure if I had heard him well, and his eyes never left mine.

“You've always wanted us to be a big family, haven't you? It has always been your dream. We'd give birth to five children, and adopt five children too. Isn't that what you've always wanted? I'm working hard to make that happen, Lyla. And I know it doesn't seem like much at the moment, but I swear to you that my hard work will pay off, and you will soon begin to enjoy the fruit of our labours.”

He sounded so genuine and believable that I almost fell for his words. But I knew better. Michael had always been good with words. That was how he was able to convince my father to marry me off to him, and make me believe that I was the center of his universe. What did I know? I was just sixteen when he came, in need of love, homeschooled all my life, being treated by my father and uncles as if I were a burden. My brothers didn't look at me twice because I was a girl, and where I come from, girls were never taken seriously or prioritized. I lacked parental love and care, that was why I was very eager to elope with him.

My grandmother was against the marriage, of course, but I was strong-headed because I fell in love. Then, as her final parting gift to me when she saw that my father and brothers were eager to sell me off, she gave me her entire savings. A week after my marriage to Michael, I heard that she had passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Guilt still clawed in my chest because even after everything she had done for me, I never went for her funeral. I sighed at the bitter memories and turned back to my husband who was still looking expectantly at me.

“I'm sorry, Michael. I can only spare ten thousand dollars at the moment.” I told him. “I’ve used most of the money for something else, and I'm not expecting returns anytime soon.”

“You used the money without consulting me first?” He looked at me in shock and disbelief.

I was taken aback. “I didn't realize that I had to consult you on how to use my money. The money my grandmother slaved her years for before putting it all in my hands.” I pointed the last one out.

“I thought our family meant something to you."

“It does.” It sounded weird in my mouth because even I didn't believe it.

“You do? But you cheated at the first chance you got, didn't you?” He spat out acidly with hatred filled eyes.

I was stunned, and I didn't reply. My heart wasn't pounding. I was just calm. It took a while for me to realize that I actually didn't care about what he thought anymore. I didn't care if he used the cheating against me. I didn't care about him anymore. When he saw my unreactive face, his face fell immediately.

“I'm sorry, Lyla. I didn't mean it that way. I just, I'm just overwhelmed with everything… I'm really sorry for lashing out at you.” He tried to close the distance between us, but I was quick to walk past him, heading towards the stairs. “Look, next week is our anniversary. We could go out, talk things out. I don't like the strain in our relationship.”

“I'm sorry, I can't. I have a camp I'm officiating in school throughout next week.” I said as I climbed the stairs, heading towards the room. I was tired of listening to him. Sage just made my day, and I wouldn't let Michael ruin it for me.

Speaking of Sage, a smile crept up my face as I took out my phone to text him.

“Would you be coming for camp next week?”

His reply came almost instantly. A cold and hard one-word response.

“No.”