Chapter 24: Chapter 24

I was feeling a strong pull on my head and winced. I struggled to open my eyes amidst hearing voices somewhere not so far from the hall. I waited for some time and tried opening my eyes again before I heard a familiar voice. I listened.

“I'm so scared. I didn't mean for this to happen what am I going to do? A baby?” that was Cameron and what baby are they talking about?

“Dad, it's nothing. You're overthinking everything. I thought you always wanted a baby” that was Samuel. Wait. Is Mandy pregnant? I knew it! That wretched bastard! She has finally gotten pregnant. Maybe her twig legs would ultimately rest at a place. Wench!

“What if she wants to remove it? You know how hot-headed she can be...and she's still in college. Her parents.” Cameron sounds very worried. Is he the father? Is he__Oh, my God. I need to breathe. He got her pregnant!

That wench got pregnant for my man! Ha, he is worried about her parents. They would certainly be happy that she had laid her claws on a rich Lord. My rich lord. I hate Mandy so much. What did I do to deserve this treatment from her? Knowing Mandy, there is no way she would want to lose that child and she would use it to taunt me for the rest of my miserable life. I would have to change school. There is no way I will remain in Ohio, knowing my best friend betrayed me and got pregnant with my man’s child.

No wonder Samuel is happy. He wouldn't let me rest henceforth. He would gloat about the place on how he warned me. To hell with him. To them all. By the way, where am I? Why is everywhere looking so dark? I tried my eyes open again and this time, bright lights flooded my Irish orbs nearly blinding me.

“Fuck!” I groaned and covered my eyes. I heard their footsteps come near my bed and eased away my hand from my face.

“Kittie cat?” I heard Cameron’s worried voice hover over me. Why is he worried? This lecherous deceitful man. Does he think I don't know what he had done?. He got my best friend pregnant and now my heart is finally shattered.

A tear slid from my eyes and I wiped at it furiously. There was no way I was going to let him see me weak. He has taken away every dignity I had. Not my pride.

I looked around the place, my eyes landing on Samuel whose victorious face broadened in a grin. Not like his usual lopsided grin, this time, in a full grin. It looked genuine. But that is not my concern. His father betrayed my trust and that is all that matters right now. Why are they looking at me in that fashion? Is it now a crime to wake up from a baby's sleep?

I made to sit up but Cameron halted my movement. Wait. This place is strange. Did he relocate and did I not__

Fuck! I remember now. I had been coming back from school and had crashed against a coming truck! I had hit my head on the stirring and had felt this intense pain and just when___

I snapped my face to Cameron “Where am I? What happened to me? My phone Jesus. How long have I been sleeping? Am I okay?” I hushed out so many questions all at once.

He sat on the bed and held my shoulders to tame me down. “Calm down baby. You are perfectly okay, let's just say. You had a really nice nap for a few days” my eyes widened. A few days like...

“How many days precisely?”

“Five days ___”

“Holy fuck! Five fucken days? Have you called my mum? my sister? Oh my god. They're going to have my head.” I looked around for my phone.

“Baby, we already handled all that. We called your parents and assured them you are alright. Though your sis was a bit too hard but then, she relented after we promised her you would call her immediately you're back online”

I shook my head “I need to talk to her, please. She is going through a lot and the last thing I want is for her to be worried about me. She worries too much about me. Please” I begged tears almost falling from my eyes.

He shared a look with Samuel who nodded and went out of the room.

Why is he being this nice to me? and why is Samuel leaving? Does he want to break the news to me? My heart was thumping. I couldn't lose Cameron. I think I'm in love with him, in fact I know I'm in love with him and it scares the shit out of me because I know he doesn't feel the same way.

“Is there any problem?” I asked him noticing how his posterior changed and he became more guarded and withdrawn. But at the same time, I could see fear in his eyes.

“Val, I have something to tell you,” he said in a low tone.

I shifted becoming pissed that he would even dare to tell me in the place “I know. You got her pregnant, didn't you? You betrayed me and got my best friend pregnant. I heard it all. How could you Cameron? I gave you my body and was willing to be your pet. You said it all. You said if I would call you Daddy I would be your baby. But you disappointed me. I don't want to see you again or hear anything from you just leave me alone” I wept.

Flopping back on the bed, I cried my heart out. I listened for any footstep that connotes he was leaving but he didn't. Instead, it wasn't long, before Samuel came back in and dialed my sister's number.

I took the phone and waited until she picked up, needing her now more than ever. When the call came, it was my mum who picked up. Are they together? “Baby,” she shrilled over the phone. I didn't know why but the euphoria of hearing her voice for a long time, suddenly made me break down. I couldn't do this. I have never felt this way for anyone before and it was frightening. I just want to be with my family right now.

“I just need you right now more than ever mum” I hunched on the bed and cried.

“ Babe we are on our way to the airport baby. He told us everything. Your sister took a week's leave so don't worry we would soon be there”

I shared a skeptical look with Cameron with my vision looking blurry due to the tears. “Okay mom”

The phone went dead. “Airport? Where am I?”

“Baby, we are in Italy”

What! Italy. I've never been to Italy before and I had to come in unconsciousness. “Why Italy?”

“Let's just say it's a story for another day baby. I'm glad you are awake” I was still riddled. I just lay there still feeling very weak. A doctor later came in and did my check-up. I was feeling very drowsy and didn't get what he said. But I had heard him say something about pregnancy symptoms before darkness fell upon my consciousness.

When I woke up sometime later, I was still on the bed with Cameron sitting on a couch, with his hand to his head in sleep. I watched him keenly while he slept. He had no iota of hair out of place. He was still as gorgeous as he always is when awake. How am I expected to leave something this precious? And he was so caring.

I shifted on the bed and sat up to take water. My throat was feeling very dry and I needed to quench my thirst. I stretched my hand to pick the bottle of water from the desk but it shifted and fell to the ground rousing him from his sleep.

“Sorry. I wanted to __”

“It's okay, I will get it,” he grumbled and bent to pick the water from the ground which he handed to me. I thanked him and took the water, after which I sat up, not knowing what to do.

“I have to tell you something Valeria and listen! to me” he halted me when I wanted to say something “Mandy is not pregnant” I was shocked by that induction and also, felt relief wash over me. Then who was?

He hesitated for some time his eyes still skimming over me. I spotted that fear I had seen before, this time it was very prevalent. “Who is? Say something” I was growing very impatient with this suspense.

“You” is just one word, yet it held a heavy connotation.

“Me? How?” instinctively I held my stomach and looked up at him, my countenance changing instantly to one of terror and alarm. I can't be pregnant. That is not possible. Not now.

“Stop joking with me. You know I hate games” I eyed him and waved off his comment.

He slid off his bed and joined me on the bed, his eyes darkening now. He looked serious. “I'm serious Val. We have a baby”

“But I can't. It's not supposed to be. How could you? Oh, my God. My parents are on their way. They are going to kill me” I was visibly shaking now. What would I say to my mum? My sister.

“I already told them” What!

Crack!

I slapped him. What! oh, my God. I didn't mean to. “Oh, my God, Cameron I'm very sorry I didn't mean___What is wrong with me?. But, You shouldn't have told them. My mum would develop a heart attack”

He went down on his knees. What is happening? Why is he smiling sheepishly? I just smacked his face and my handprint is even visible on his face.

“I never knew I would fall in love again after I lost my wife. So many things have happened that have made me question my resolution since I met you. At first, I was scared especially after my son started making advances at you. But then, you didn't fall for his youthfulness, even after I messed up. I love you so much, Valeria Briggs. This is not the conventional meeting and courting scenario regardless,” he chuckled.

“I've thought about this for a long, and a certain someone helped me realize maybe taking the bold step is all I needed. So here I am imploring that you take pity on this rusty man and marry me”

Tears were already pouring from my eyes. I was speechless. I lacked words to express what was going on in my heart right then. Everything was weird but somehow deep down, this feels perfectly right. I can't think of this more than I already have. Here I was thinking I was going to lose him meanwhile he has been mine ever since.

“Say yes!” I looked up and saw my excited sister at the door with my mum and dad looking at me in encouragement. I saw Samuel too and he had this look of uncertainty but he gave me a thumbs-up before turning around and leaving.

“Yes!” I screamed and flung my hand around him “Yes, Cameron. You don't know how much this means to me. I love you so much and have always done right from the first day I set my eyes on you. Yes I will marry you”

“I love you too, Kittie Cat. You have made me a happy man indeed.” He closed up and kissed me before bending to kiss my still flat tummy.

“Harriet! Mum, Dad!” I called out to them. They rushed in and hugged me before turning to Cameron to do the same. Dad shook hands with him and they sauntered off to talk.

I looked at the glittering ring he had inserted in my finger and showed it to them. Mum was close to tears while Harriet just held on to me.

“I'm happy for you cupcake. To say I will be planning my both children’s wedding at once. Isn't that amazing? “ I looked at Harriet and she nodded showing me the carat gold on her finger.

Oh. My God. This is super amazing. I was for once feeling awkward that Harriet might feel bad that I'm getting married before her. But now, I'm perfectly okay.