The dining hall was devoid of human voices,only the sounds of knives and forks scratching against the plate filled the air.
Maybe he should've waited until they had finished their dinner before dropping the news about Nolan.He had to say something to ease the tension. Jonathan gulped then cleared his throat.
"I know it's bad manners to talk at the dining table but you guys don't have to turn this meal into the last supper"
Catherine chuckled struggling to hold in her laughter.
Lovely...at least the psychopath finds this funny . Jonathan grimaced.
"Is something funny ,Cat?" Gina asked
"Nothing..." She pouted
"Nothing?....you just laughed,is there a clown here?" Gina put her fork down, her hands were about to fail her as she was raked up with fear and anger.
"I mean-" She took her napkin and dabbed on the corners of her mouth ,then placed it down gently
"-it's funny how you'll drop charges against a criminal, considering how he tried to kill me and all"
Gina opened her mouth to say something but Jonathan interrupted her.
"But you're alive , aren't you?-"
Seeing that she didn't respond he added.
"-then that settles it.Excuse me" He got up and left the room.
Please keep this family ,Lord . I hope we're not making a mistake.
**. **. **.
After Jonathan left, the rest of them excused themselves one by one leaving Catherine at the table , she looked like she'd been struck by lightning .
She looked around, when she saw there was no one at the dining table except her, she smiled.
"Fools..."She muttered to herself and proceeded to eating the leftovers on everyone's plate.
She had always felt like she could know a person by the warmth and taste of their food. A truly disgusting habit!.
She ate till there was no more room for more food.She belched and went to her room.
"Climbing up that stairs was a struggle" She sat on the edge of her bed,just then her phone rang.
The caller ID was "Davina".Davina was one of Gonzo's sex workers and a good friend of hers, the only one who knows so much about her.
"Vinny,heyy"Catherine smiled
"Mother Cat, how's the vacation at those swines mansion" Davina chuckled from the other end of the line
" I could get used to it....but i'd have to get rid of Nolly to enjoy this for a long time"
"Why??"
"They want to drop the charges, demons acting like saints.Spinless pigs"She scoffed
"They triflin'.....but getting rid of Nolly would mean you would unalive yer own brother. "
She sat up and pondered about it for no fewer than some seconds.
"Meh...he isn't of any use to me anymore,he had one job and he blew it and i went over and beyond to get him to connect with that Toby dude ,he messed it up. I should be with lil Mr Saudi and my son not that gold digger "
"Aye...but ain't you a gold digger too?" Davina chuckled
"That i a-"
Noise from outside her door interuppted her
"I'll call you back... something's happening" She hung up, and made her way downstairs.
What was happening?....it had better be worth her time.She thought to herself
It was worth her time....truly, Catherine stifled a laugh...." So that's where my gummies are"
*. *. *.
Beatrice was holding Rosaline as tears were pouring out of her eyes and snot running down her nose.
Shaan tried to calm Kayid. Gina was trying to make him drink water as he was giggling and foam was pouring from his mouth.
"I've got the keys" Noah ran down the stairs.
He and Shaan hurried to rush Kayid to the hospital..
"I...i...don.." She started crying again.
"Calm down ,baby..... what happened?"Sean pulled her into his embrace.
"I don't know, i found a pack of gummies in my bag , i knew it wasn't mine. Then Zoe called, I must've forgotten that i left it-oh God, what have i done,please don't let my son die-"
"-he took it when i wasn't paying attention,i should've thrown it away. Dad, I'm scared"
Sean hugged her again.
"He's going to be fine...." Jonathan hoped he sounded hopeful because hope was one of the things he didn't possess at the time.
After an few hours of crying and blaming herself, Renee took pity on Rosaline and decided to call Noah and ask if they were okay....since she was too scared to call them herself.
"I've got news"
Rosaline jumped from her seat "is Kayid okay... how's Shaan?"
"He's fine, said the gummy was either laced with some narcotics or it was made with it, but they already fixed it.... they'll be home by tomorrow "
"Tomorrow?" Her eyes widened
"Yes, tomorrow "
"Can i go to them now,....how is Shaan doing?"
Renee looked at sister who was in no condition to be worrying about someone else.
"He's fine"
"Is that all, did you hear his v-voice
...did he sound fine?"
"I spoke to Noah "
"This won't do..." She rushed to get her phone on the table and dialed Shaan's number.
"Calm down, you'll hurt yourself "
"I won't "
"You don't have to call, let him focus"
"You said Kayid is fine, if they're waiting there's nothing to focus on"
"Its 1 o'clock in the morning...chill out, you'll give yourself an heart attack. It's just a guy that you happened to marry and his son anyways" Renee yelled.
"It's my husband and son you're talking about....i cannot be calm and I won't hurt myself"
"It's all contractual anyway.... why are you so worked up, look at you.... you're heavily pregnant, you cried so much I can't even see your eyes anymore and you're as white as sheet, you guys have been playing pretend family for so long it must've gotten to your head-"
Rosaline started to defend herself but Renee kept talking
"Can't you see that they're playing you, Catherine and Shaan. There's no denying it , She's Kayid's mother let her worry about her son"
"If you insist i wil-" Catherine started to say.
"I'm not doing anything for you and your miserable self...i just don't want my sister to get hurt "
"Is that how you see me?" Shaan came in carrying Kayid.
"I thought....you guys weren't coming until tomorrow"
"I asked a question Miss Renee"
"It's Mrs Campbell to you-" Renee said
"-tell her how you've been sneaking around the staircase with Catherine, whispering into each other's ears... holding hands passionately"
"I'm afraid , I don't understand what you're talking about"
"It's simple Mr Shaan...did you or did you not meet and talk with Catherine on the stairs discreetly the day you came here?"
"I have no obligation to answer to your sick speculations Ms Renee"
"Mrs Campbell.... don't make the same mistake twice-" Noah said.
"-Answer the question,man"Noah turned to face Shaan.
"What do you think Ros?"Ignoring Noah, he stared at Rosaline who was quiet and her head was down.
Rosaline looked up ,they locked eyes. Tears filled her eyes as it did his.
"D-d-did you...um-meet her?"
The light that was in Shaan's eyes vanished in an instant, his gaze grew dark.
"I see" He straightened Kayid's cloth and took stiff steps towards the stairs.
"Where'd you think you're going?"Beatrice blocked his path
"You cannot avoid the question ...i was giving you all that talk about you being my son only for you to have plans of breaking her heart?....No, sir, you won't avoid this question" She added.
"What's wrong..."cat"got your tongue now??"Renee scoffed
Gina held Shaan's arm "If you never had such intentions , you can just say it...just be honest"She said softly.
"Tell them , what we are hiding my love?"Catherine chuckled and moaned seductively.
That burnt a fuse in Shaan's head,he was going to walk away and hope everyone would come back to their senses but he couldn't let her milk the situation.
"Tell them what exactly?....that your entitled ass is out to destroy me... or that you've done a lot and might be planning something worse?.
Then what?... everybody would be on their toes again , thinking of how to solve the problem,looking at you like you're some monster, hell,Inti mukhtalla for goodness sake....and to think i tried so hard to do what family would do, that is accepting you the way you are and hoping there's still good in you so your actual family can pick up what's left of your rotten soul and try to make you see the light...but i guess they are also far from the light. This only proves what I've been too scared to admit to myself....i was never considered a part of this family and for that you have my thanks "
Everyone was silent, even Catherine who always had something to say said nothing
He went up to pack his things, he deliberately took some time hoping she'd come up and tell him she was sorry or maybe he should apologize to her instead, he could've just cleared the doubt without dragging it...but he wanted so much for her to trust him. She was still in the past and she didn't want to move on, it didn't matter how much love he was willing to give, she had to sort out herself and as it is he wasn't feeling like what she needed.
"Turns out , blind trust can only be given to God" Shaan chuckled.
He sighed "What're you doing?"He asked himself, he got up , carried Kayid in one hand and their luggages in the other. Thankfully, it was just a box and one bag.
When he got downstairs,they were still there, seated. It was silent, void, empty.
"Um, Congratulations on your wedding man" He handed the gift he had prepared to Noah, who was about to refuse the gift but he handed it to him anyways.
Then he knelt in front of Rosaline,her head was down,beads of tears dropped on her hand.
"Take care, mi cielo. I love you" He kissed her.
"Pleas-please don't go , I'm sorry" She whispered
The words he wanted to hear...but that was just the guilt speaking,she loved him, that much he could tell. But she wasn't ready to love him.
"I want to stay too , but this is the best for us , for you. Promise me, whoever you come to love with all of your self ,make sure he loves you back the same way"
"But..... i love you"
"I know and i will always and forever love you" he kissed her belly.
He took heavy steps to his car, after he put Kayid in the convertible. He turned and took one last look at the Campbell's mansion.
"This will all be history now" He sighed, got into the car and left.
Rosaline watched from the window....she couldn't see clearly but she felt it.
Why didn't she run after him and tell him she was ready to leave everything behind??
But then she would always think about everything that Nolan did to her or remember everything that Catherine has been saying...
More so.....she couldn't leave the Campbell's when they were at their lowest,she owed it to them. They're like family....why was it so easy to leave this family of hers when she was with Toby?
She was ready to give up anything and everything because she loved him deeply and how did that end?
And because of that today she lost her friend,her family and the one she loved. She could've had it all if she was sure she could love him without harboring any doubt.