Since I’m not ready to face Aunt Carissa, for now, I agreed to stay with Pyke at the hotel. I still owe them my life even my father’s lawyer paid her to take care of me since birth.
I’m still flabbergasted until this moment. I’m in between overwhelmed in finding out the truth about my father and a heartbroken that Aunt Carissa is not related to me by blood. Kill is not my cousin, but my heart says he is to me.
“Babe, I let someone bring you some clothes. You’re freezing, I think you need a hot shower.” Pyke cups my face to give me a quick kiss. I can’t help but close my eyes and feel his warm skin on my face that gives me relief.
I nod glumly, sighing shakily. “Thanks for being here. I really don’t know what to do if you didn’t come to follow me.” I take his hand, squeeze it, and rub his knuckles.
“I promise you that I will never leave you alone, Camila. I know this is still shocking to you, but I’m so glad that you are still talking regardless of what happened to you days ago and earlier. Just take it one at a time and let your brain process everything slowly.”
“Yeah. I don’t know how am I still sane after what happened,” I let out a nervous chuckle.
“Because you’re a strong woman, Babe. I know that the first time we met, and that’s one thing that drew me to you. Nobody hit me like that in the first place.” He barks into laughter, then shakes his head.
“That’s not the best memory to reminisce, you know,” I scowl.
“Honestly, I wasn’t mad at you for marking my face. You amused me, Camila. You’re really something.” He smiles genuinely and walks to the door when a soft knock interrupts us.
I walk closer to the door to my left, probably the bathroom. I’m glad that he invited me to stay with him because I can’t afford a hotel room like this for a night. I’d end up spending a night at the cheap motel full of bugs before driving back to the city in the morning.
I strip off my sweater and my jeans when the door squeaks open. Pyke gets in the bathroom with two paper bags on his hand.
“l asked Dad’s driver to pick something for you. It has toiletries and some clothes for you.”
I grab the bags from his hand and give him a timid smile. “Thanks, Pyke. I’ll pay for this.”
“I don’t accept money as payment, Camila.” He grins, his eyes glimmer with mischief.
“You’re leaving me no choice, aren’t you?”
“Just take a shower or you might want to soak in a tub, Babe. No Twinkle to disturb you this time.”
“I’ll just take a shower. I badly need one,” I announce. My muscles are still sore of what we did last night. My face heats just thinking about it.
“What do you want for dinner?”
“Anything, Love-” I stiffen, my hand covers my mouth instantly while my gaze locks his in surprise. My heart somersaults in my chest.
Did I just call him love again? How did I even call him love last night? I’ve no idea. It just slipped, I guess.
Pyke smirks then grins. He’s having fun seeing me embarrassed in front of him.
“I like that, that’s the third time.”
“Shut up and get out!” I snap, glaring at him. “Lock the door behind you.”
“You sure you don’t want me to join you?” He smiles mischievously. I know he’s just trying to lighten up my mood, and it helps somehow.
“Out, Pyke! Now!”
“Yes, Babe.”
I quickly take something inside the bag and ball it to throw when the door slams behind him, then a faint of laughter erupts outside the door.
I squeeze a good amount of coconut and wild orchids shampoo to my hand and lather it to my hair evenly and let the hot shower massage my scalp and my shoulder to ease the tension in my muscles.
“Who’s my father?”
My aunt looks at the man in front of me for approval. Then the man nods.
“Cameron Leighton King II,” my aunt answers.
My brows knit. “Cameron King?”
“Yes, honey.” Aunt Issa nods for confirmation.
“Cameron King who?” His name sounds familiar but I can’t quite place where I heard his name.
“The Cam King your Levi always mentioned to you. Who owned the number 45 car.”
My voice echoes in the kitchen as I laugh with absurdity.
“You’re kidding, right?” I face her. My tears start pouring down my face as I shake my head repeatedly to deny the fact.
“Because his name is not written on my birth certificate,” I smile bitterly as I look at them through blurry vision. “And of course, I didn’t even ask what’s my father’s name it’s because I was busy loathing at the sperm donor to even think about him. Bravo!” I say sarcastically as I clap my hands for my stupidity.
“I’m so sorry for hiding this from you, Camila. I made a promise to your father to take care of you, away from the public scrutiny. His legacy will be thrown out of the window if the media found out that Cameron died in an accident because he was drunk and got someone pregnant,” Mr. Paul Hughes as he introduces himself explains.
He’s a total photocopy of Pyke, the only difference is his the older version with a grey hair tracing at the side of his head and a serious looking-intimidating guy compares to a happy go lucky Pyke.
“Your mom totally lied to your aunt about your father disclaiming you. She manipulated Issa after her labor and told her that your father doesn’t want you that he paid her to remove the baby. Your father’s lawyer paid her expenses during her pregnancy and gave her two hundred grand after your birth with an NDA. That’s what she agreed upon to keep the baby from abortion.”
I wipe my tears and listen to him as he continues. Auntie Carissa is also crying with me.
“It was all my fault, Camila-the reasons why he died,” he admits as guilt flashes on his face.
“I helped him build his career as a race car driver and he was so goddamn good at that. He made his own name in less than two years. He worked hard and determined to achieve his dream. Then, suddenly your mom came to me claiming that she was pregnant with Cameron’s baby. She asked for hefty money if she didn’t want to destroy your father’s career. Because of my impulsive decisions, I told her to abort the baby and gave her money to shut up. I was selfish that I made a decision for him. I wasn’t aware Cameron was listening outside the door. He was furious that I decided for him. He chose to keep you, but your mother was not happy with that idea.”
“Then, he stormed out of my office and God knows what he did. He got drunk which was prohibited a night before his race. Two hours after he left, someone called me to turn on the television. Your father’s car flashed on the TV screen. He didn’t die right away, he was able to talk to me and his lawyer. Your mother came to his wake and made a scene-that’s how his family found out about the pregnancy, but they didn’t believe her claim.”
“How did my aunt get into this?”
“I worked with your dad as his PA. When he died, Paul took me in and let me worked in his company. Paul needed someone trustworthy to take care of you and made sure you will not go to an adoption agency. I was paid, Camila but I assure you I love you like my own daughter.” Auntie continues crying. “Kyland treats you as his own sister and my late husband treated you like his own. Your uncle Levi loved you until his last breath.”
“Why did he not tell me I’m his niece?”
“He found out about you when you were in high school and he was already on treatment. He worked at the shop because he wanted to get near to you. He treasured the last years he was with you, Cam. He chose to spend with you than his family because he thought he owed you something since his family didn’t recognize you as one of the Kings.”
“Your father had a record when she used Mr. Seb Hughes to get the media attention once. That’s why nobody believed her and they were still mourning your father’s death. The last time I saw your mother was when you turned two-she came and asked me if I could ask your father’s lawyer for another money. I found out she continued drinking and became a drug addict. I told her to get help, but she got angry and threatened me to take you away from me. I called the lawyer immediately, he said, your she won’t bother me again. She never came back until today.”
“Why didn’t you tell me the truth about my parents?”
“Because I signed an NDA, Cam. I can’t let you dig around about your parents, not until you reach twenty-one.”
“So, you lied to me about them, instead.”
“Babe?”
A loud bang rattling the glass door brings me back to the present. I feel my skin hot and raw at how much longer I’m under the shower. The mist covers the entire shower glass walls.
“Babe?”
“I’m coming!”
“Yes, Babe, come for me!”
I roll my eyes when I hear the laughter in his voice. I close the shower and grab the towel, wrapping it tightly around my body.
I open the foggy glass door to see Pyke crossing his arms over his chest. “I see, you survive without me. I’m totally jealous of the shower right now. How could you spend an hour there alone?” His voice is playful.
“I’m hungry, Love,” I say sarcastically.
“Start stripping me then.”
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Pyke.”
He laughs at my retort and always makes me forget my problems. He’s like a drug that relieves every pain I feel in my body.
“The food arrives that’s why I knock on the door before it gets cold. Sorry to cut your shower short. Change to something before I loosen the towel and take you back to the shower room and make you come there, Camila. I’m already tempted enough with my mind imagining you while you’re in there.”
“Do you always think about sex all the time?”
“Sex with you? Yeah.” He smirks when he notices my reaction.
I clench the towel tighter when I feel my face heats against his intense stare, raking me from head to toe. I’m sure I’m crimson red right now adding to the longest shower I did a moment ago.
“Anyway, Dad called me up. He wants to meet us tomorrow with your father’s lawyer.”
My eyes widen. “Why would your dad want to meet me? And how about that lawyer?”
“Don’t you think your father has no bank account? He’s a famous race car driver, Camila. You are the only legitimate to have his fortune. Now, I get it why you love cars because it runs in the blood.”