CHAPTER NINETY NINE.
Mirabelle’s pov.
The tension in the air was suffocating. I stood in the hallway, heart pounding as the muffled voices of the children from the living room filtered through my thoughts.
Why would Ken suddenly show up in my house? What was all this about? I thought as I walked towards him. It didn’t feel right, my ex-husband in the house of my present husband.
It felt so wrong.
Before I could get to Ken, my children got to him first, and I froze. Oh my goodness, I was still thinking about what I would introduce him as, but now. I might not even get an opportunity to introduce them.
“Who are you?” Tyler asked Ken, folding his arms together as if Ken was a threat.
Ken cleared his throat. I was sure he felt awkward at the encounter with the kids, and I was supposed to move and stop whatever was about to happen, but unfortunately, my foot stayed rooted to the ground.
“I’m a friend of your mum’s.” He said calmly. The frown on Tyler’s face only worsened.
“My mum only has one friend.” He replied smartly.
“She does?” Ken asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, and that is Daddy,” Mika replied, and I facepalmed.
Oh God.
“Mummy is here. Mummy, tell him you have only one friend, and that is daddy.” Mika brought me out of reverie as she pointed at Ken.
They all stood straight before him as if they could take him on.
“That is no way to treat a visitor Tyler.” I scolded softly, and he shook his head.
“You’re only allowed to have female friends, though.” He said with a pout.
“And why is that?” I asked as I walked towards them.
“Daddy said so.” They all chorused together, and I couldn’t help but scoff.
“Your daddy said that?” I asked them, and they all nodded.
“That is not true and right. Okay, how about we have this conversation after our visitor leaves?” I asked them gently.
“I’ll have to tell Daddy about this when he comes,” Tyler said as he turned to leave, and his sisters did the same.
I shook my head and watched them leave the room.
“They love their father.” Ken pointed out, and I nodded.
“Yes, they do.”
“That’s cute, I guess. It’s nice that I’m meeting them for the first time. I wish I didn’t screw up those-”
“Forget about it; just let us forget,” I told him and sighed.
“Ken, you should have called before you showed up like this,” I told him.
“I know, and I’m sorry. I was worried about you; I didn’t know what else to do. You were not picking up my calls. I was trying to ensure it wasn’t because I kissed you the last time you were at my place. I don’t want you to think I took advantage of you, I am…..”
I cut him off.
“Stop it, Ken. Please stop it; my kids and my husband’s grandfather are around. You can’t say things like that here; I didn’t pick up your calls because I have to sort my shit out. Are you happy?” I asked, and he just looked sad.
The Ken I knew now and then was totally different; what if he was acting just like Noah was doing? After all, almost all men were mad.
“I’m sorry for showing up unannounced, I….”
“It’s fine, Ken, but you need to start going,” I said and stood up.
“But I….”
“There’s no but Ken. I have things to do, and you are not welcome here.” I told him I needed to ensure he knew he wasn’t welcome here.
This was my home, not anywhere he could show up.
“I need to….”
“Mummy, I want to see daddy.” Mika’s voice came out from nowhere.
I looked towards the entrance into the hallway, and there stood my three children, hands akimbo, determination marred their faces, and I knew they weren’t going to leave until I answered them.
“You heard them. My children need to see their father, and you must leave.” I faced Ken again and told him.
“I’m s…”
“Ken,” I called out, frustrated; I ran my hands through the curls of my waist-length hair.
He sighed and, without saying anything else, started seeing himself out. I sighed that he was finally gone and faced my children.
“Okay, let’s go see Daddy,” I told them, and they all made happy noises.
Once I set up the laptop for them, I left the screen, and Tyler frowned.
“Mum, are you and Dad fighting?” He suddenly asked, and my heart dropped.
“Why do you ask baby?”
“Because you weren’t there the last three times we FaceTimed Daddy.” He said, and I sighed.
“No baby, your daddy and I are good; I just need to sort some things out.”
“Well, come join us; Daddy said he missed you each time we called him. So he’ll want to see you.” Mika said.
It was the way they were soldiers for their father; it was like I gave birth to them only to love their father; though they loved me, they were so fond of their father, especially Mika.
“Come on, mummy, come here,” Sophia said.
I sighed in defeat as I made my way to meet them; I sat in their middle and dialed his number. I needed to put the differences we had aside for the sake of my kids. I wouldn’t want them to know what was going on between us.
My heart was beating so fast, like it would drop. Even regardless of the hatred I wanted to have for Noah, it didn’t stop the way my heart would rapidly pound anytime I saw him or the relief I felt anytime I saw him.
He picked up on the third ring with a big smile.
“My little pumpkins.” He beamed with a happy wide smile on his lips at the sight of the kids on the screen.
“Daddy Daddy Daddy!! ” They all screamed and started touching the screen.
Mika started crying, and her siblings held her hand and patted her back.
“I miss you so much, daddy.” She cried, and the sad look on Noah’s face broke my heart.
His eyes looked red, tears welled up in it for a second, and I wanted to comfort him but no, I couldn’t melt this way.
“I miss you all too, my pumpkins. I just need to finish something here in Shanghai. I was on my way this morning, but something came up, and I couldn’t leave. I promise I’ll always come back to you guys, okay?” He explained to them, and Mika cleaned her eyes.
“Promise, Daddy?” She said, and he nodded.
“I promise, baby. Now, let me say hi to mummy.” He said, and butterflies started dancing around in my tummy while I tried to maintain the stoic look on my face.
“Hey, kitten.” His sharp blue eyes settled on me, and I started looking everywhere else but him.
I couldn’t forget what I heard over the phone, the same way my body still reacted to him.
“Hey,” I said, trying not to look suspicious to the children.
He looked away from me and to the children.
“How is Grandpa Ed?” He asked.
“He’s taking a nap, Daddy,” Mika replied.
“Okay, that’s good; any updates, pumpkins?” He asked them.
“Daddy, a man came here today; he said he’s mummy’s friend, and we told him that mummy only has one friend, and that’s you. Plus he looks so much like you but we knew he wasn’t you,” Mika reported, and I sighed.
These children.
“Yes, Daddy. He truly look like you. He was the same man we saw at the party who wanted to throw mummy out, remember? Also, we made him know you’re only mummy’s friend,” Tyler said, and Mika nodded.
“I see,” Noah hummed, darting his gaze to me, a suspicious look in his icy eyes and I had to look away immediately. He smiled. “I’ll get you guys a present on my way back, okay? You’ve been pretty good,” He told them, and Mika squealed, while Tyler clapped happily and Skyler smiled softly.
“Okay, Daddy.”
“Can I talk to your mum alone? I’ll call on you when we are done.” He said.
“Promise?” Mika said with tear-filled eyes.
“I promise you, my princess.” He said, and they all stood up and went into their rooms.
Once they were all gone, my eyes focused on Noah’s.
“Do you want to kill me?” Noah asked me, and for a second, I was confused.
“What do you mean?” I asked him in a shaky breath.
“Do you know how many times I’ve called you, how many voicemails and texts I left? I’m going crazy here, Mira, and I only need you, but you don’t want to talk to me. Did I do something wrong?” He asked, his voice broken. For a moment, I forgot what I had heard over the phone.
“I need you too,” I whispered subconsciously, but the memories came flashing back and my guard went straight back up.
“I was already inside the plane this morning, Mira; I needed to see you. But things happened, and I’ll tell you once I get home.” He said, and I didn’t do or say anything.
“Mira? You’re killing me. Talk to me.”
“You don’t need me to talk to you; after all, you’re about to leave me, right?” I said with so much hatred in my voice that I forgot that I shouldn’t have said that.
Fuck.
“I’m sorry, what?” He asked, looking so confused, but he was a good actor. He might be shocked at how I got to know.
“You know what, don’t worry. I’ll call your kids back here to speak to you.” I said.
“I don’t know what you’re saying, Mira. who came over today?” he asked.
I took a moment to contemplate. I was already sure he knew that it was ken.
“Ken,” I said, and all life left his eyes.
“Wwhy? Why did you let him c-come,” I saw the look in his eyes. Insecure and heartbroken. I broke his trust but well, he did the same to me too.
“I’ll call the kids for you and stop telling them to monitor me,” I cut in, standing up from the chair.
“Mirabelle, please dont leave. We need to talk.”
He was squeezing my heart in his hands right now. He never called me Mirabelle except he was hurt, and his voice sounded broken.
“Kids, your daddy and I are done. Come say bye to him.” I shouted and they all ran back out of their room in a rush then dashed into mine.
“Yay,” Mika said.
I didn’t wait to hear the rest of the conversation.
The moment the door of my room closed behind me, I burst into tears.