Twenty Six
Ellen’s POV
Despite the array of food displayed before us, no one seemed to have any appetite. I raised my head to look at my Father who was waiting for a response to his question.
“All the musicians are pulling out.” I responded, my voice tinged with annoyance. “And I can’t control what they do. No one wants to be associated with our family’s persecution.”
But my father was unfazed, his disappointment morphing into anger as he laid bare his frustrations. “You had one job, one fucking job Ellen!” He seethed, his voice dripping with contempt. “All you had to do was marry and STAY MARRIED to Ezekiel Reid but you couldn’t do that right. You just went in and messed things up with your bratty attitude!”
“Dad!” I screamed in shock and hurt. “Can you stop talking to me like that?”
“Dad is actually right though.” I turned to hear Gabriel say as he pick some berries into his mouth.
What is with this good for nothing weasel?
I rolled my eyes and ignored him but he continued, “You literally ruined the only chance we had to get out of this.”
Before I could give him a fitting response, father spoke up, “That would have been the only way. Now this event, I know how much we’ve spent and invested but you cannot even do it well either.” His eyes were dark with disappointment.
“She’s too busy harassing her workers.” Gabriel sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. “No wonder no one wants to work with her.”NôvelDrama.Org content.
Enraged by his audacity, I lashed out, my words a venomous retort to his petty insults. “Shut the fuck up, Gabriel!” I spat, my voice trembling with rage. “You’re nothing but a useless waste of space! Go get a life for your damned self before talking to me!”
“Can you both just shut the fuck up!” Thankfully, Liz intervened once more, silencing our squabbling with a stern glance.
Turning to our parents, she urged us to focus on the matter at hand, our family’s future hanging in the balance. “Please dad can you continue? We don’t have all the time in the world.”
It was then that our mother finally spoke up, her voice calm and tired. “Ellen, you need to do whatever it takes to win Zeke back.” She implored, her words tinged with desperation. “Our family’s future depends on it. We need you to get him back no matter what it takes.”
“Do you think I’m not trying? Do you know what I have gone through in the past few months?” I struggled to articulate a response.
“But news flash everyone, Ezekiel Reid fucking has Four damned kids!” The truth spilled from my lips like poison, staining the air with its bitter taste.
As the weight of my revelation hung heavy in the air, I watched as the expressions of shock and disbelief danced across the faces of my family. It was a moment frozen in time, each of them grappling with the gravity of the truth I had just spilled, leaving only the echoing silence of shock in its wake.
That was not part of the plan though.
Unable to bear the weight of their stares and the heavy silence that enveloped us, I knew I had to do something to break the tension. My hands trembled slightly as I reached for my purse, fingers fumbling with the clasp as I retrieved the photograph hidden within.
With a deep breath, I held out the photograph for them to see, the faces of four children staring back at us. “Take a look for yourselves. Three boys, unmistakably bearing a resemblance to Zeke. Then the young girl, her features hauntingly familiar yet elusive in their recognition. I don’t know who the mother is but I’m damn right sure they belong to Zeke.”
“Where did you get this from?” Mother asked, her gaze fixed on the tiny photograph.
“From Zeke’s room.” I replied, not wanting to give out more information.
Confusion clouded their expressions as they studied the image, searching for answers that remained frustratingly out of reach. My father was the second to speak, his voice heavy with disbelief. “This can’t be Kamille’s.” He asserted, his words a feeble attempt to grasp at a semblance of normalcy.
My mother interjected with a sobering observation. “Kamille has been dead for years.” She reminded us all. “Does this mean Zeke was cheating on you all the while?”
“I guess so, Mom.” I admitted. “Uhh dad, I actually wanted to talk to you about getting one of your private detectives to look into it for me.” I said turning to my dad.
“Yes. We’ll definitely need to look into this immediately.” He declared, his voice firm and unwavering. He reached for the bell ring and pressed it.
In less than a minute, Mr Finley arrived. A brief man with a sturdy build. He has been my father’s right hand man for as long as I can remember. “Sir.” He bowed to greet my father.
“Contact our investigator and have him start digging now!” My dad said, stretching the photograph to Mr Finley. The urgency in his tone was unmistakable.
“What will you do when you find the children?” Liz asked curiously.
After her question, a silence stretched out like an infinite expanse, enveloping us in its weighty embrace.
I’ll make sure they regret ever existing!
“They’ll not see the light of another day.” I replied, my voice cold and resolute. It was a chilling admission, one born of desperation and despair, but one that spoke to the depths of my anguish and pain.
“Ohhhh, I’m so scared.” Liz recoiled at my words, feigning fear. Her eyes were dancing in mischief as she added. “You should take over from Dad.”
I chuckled, “Of course Liz. Who else would be better than I am.” I said, staring at Gabriel with disdain.
Angered by my stares and words, Gabriel interjected, his voice tinged with indignation. “What are you even saying, Liz?” He exclaimed, his frustration evident in every syllable. “The company belongs to me after Dad. I’m the only male heir of the family after all.”
“Male heir?” I scoffed. “I think you should stick to the clubhouse and your lowlife ladies. That’s the perfect role for a useless son like you!”
“What the heck?!” Gabriel yelled and stood to his feet.
“Mom, dad. Are you both just going to sit here and watch her insult me like this?”
“Maybe cutting down on your expenses and of course the ladies would not give her much to jab about.” Liz said, finally paying attention to the steak in front of her.
“I wish I was only bluffing, but some truths cannot be hidden.” I laughed and joined Liz to indulge in the juicy steak in front of me.
“Why do…” Gabriel was to further defend himself, but our father silenced our squabbling with a stern rebuke. “You all must shut up.” He declared, his voice commanding obedience. “We have more pressing matters to attend to.”
Gabriel had no other choice than to sit down but he passed me icy glares and I reciprocated with a sly grin.
Turning to me, father issued a solemn decree that left no room for negotiation. “If we help you find the children, you will do whatever it takes to ensure that you are back with Zeke and you have cleaned up after your mess.” He stated, his words laden with expectation.
I nodded, a silent vow to honor his decree and uphold the integrity of our family name. “I’ll do my very best this time.” I vowed, my voice tinged with determination. “You have my word.”
And as the weight of our collective resolve settled upon us like a heavy shroud, I couldn’t help but wonder what lay in store for us on the other side of the truth. But one thing was certain: no matter the cost, justice would be served, and our family’s legacy would endure.
And Zeke would be mine again.