The Billionaires Crush

Episode 8

"Your presence here only reopens wounds I've tried so hard to heal. I've moved on in a direction, and I don't want to look back, I... I have built a new life myself, " Zelia continued, her tone unwavering yet with pain evident in her voice.

Ernest felt a lump in his throat, realizing the gravity of his actions. "I never meant to hurt you that way, Lia. I didn't even know I had hurt you to begin with. If there's anything I can do to make amends—"

Zelia raised her hand to stop him. "No, Mr. Anderson. No... shaking her head, she continued "There's nothing you can do for me now. Your apologies won't erase the past and the pain. I've worked hard to create a safe and stable environment, away from the shadows of that night. Please.." her eyes were glistening with tears unshed.

Ernest nodded, acknowledging the depth of the pain he had caused. "I won't disturb your life, Lia. I just needed you to know the truth. I hope you know I will be there for you. Alway. "

"You've said your piece. Now, leave Ernest. I want to be alone," Zelia stated, firmly shaking her head. Being near him was awakening emotions she thought she had buried within, and she was afraid he would notice it.

...........

"What was that about?" Sandra, who had been eying them while keeping an eye on the children, asked immediately Ernest left. "He came to apologise, claiming he didn't know I was the one that night. He even said he had liked me then and still does." Zelia scoffed and allowed the tears to flow freely now. Sandra nodded, deep in thought.

"He may be right, you know. Thinking back, would he have ever spoken to you that way? From the way you described him and the memories you created together, He didn't seem like someone who would do that. That has been the one thing that has bothered me ever since I got to hear about you two, but listening to his explanation from you now, he may have been drugged as well. What do you think? You said the next day, you could still smell the lingering traces of alcohol on him, right?" Zelia was now deep in thought. She had been too angry to listen to his explanations.

"Moreover, he mentioned thinking it was your friend Julia, the same one who informed your parents of your pregnancy. Don't you find that fishy?"

"You are right. I haven't thought much of the incident then. How did I get drugged when all I took that day was juice? How I ended up with Ernest is still a mystery. You know, when I realised I had lost the one thing precious to me, I was shivering and afraid but then I woke up earlier and saw his beautiful face lying beside me. I was relieved because I always thought of losing my virginity to him. but ..... hmmm." Zelia stopped and was now in deep thoughts. The kids who were not too far away had heard the conversation between the adults. Having gained insight into their parent's problems, they gathered in their room in the night. In the hotel, they were staying in one room and did not have separate rooms like in Japekrom but they were fine with the arrangement since they used to stay in the basement before moving to the main house.

"What do we do?" Eliana asked her elder siblings. "What are we supposed to do? Nothing." Ethan responded. "Come on. You just heard them. Dad did not abandon Mum like we all thought, and this was planned by an evil person. Mum still likes Daddy, considering she keeps up to date with him through the media. His pictures are almost everywhere, yet she thinks she hides it well enough. She has cried herself to sleep a lot of times, which we all have witnessed.". Layla said that after analysing the situation,

"Fine! We can go talk to him tomorrow and see what he thinks of us. Based on that we will decide on our next move. Until then, this matter has been put to rest." Ethan said to which the siblings agreed.

.......................

Ernest, on the other hand, had arrived at his apartment and was so lost in thoughts. The weight of the past was heavy on his mind. He couldn't shake off the remorse and pain. He had thought of their reunion several times and what they would do together. He had gone as far plan for their wedding and children, but this was unexpected Despite his sincere apologies, he knew that words alone wouldn't undo the pain he had caused and it seemed she wasn't willing to forgive him which he quite understood looking at the fact that she had given birth to his children all by herself. "Yes, his children," he sighed.

As he stared blankly at the wall in his room, memories of Zelia came to his mind. Zelia had always been quiet when he met her in school. As part of their joint mock exams, one of his colleagues had asked Zelia to help him out with the answers. Zelia was sitting right in front of him, and he wanted them to switch papers, which Zelia refused to do. Rumours had already spread that Zelia was the most intelligent student from Roses International. After their exams, the guy, alongside his friends, cornered Zelia in an attempt to bully her, and by sharing an opportunity, he was passing by and saw them. He stepped up to defend her, and since people feared being on his bad side, no one bothered Zelia again. Since then, Zelia became the bubbly girl around him again whenever they met on the school compound, which was a stark contrast to what others knew. Everyone in the school knew of their friendship, and despite people trying to take advantage, Zelia never gave in except for that friend of hers who is now a thorn in his flesh... "JULIA!" he sighed again.

He tried again to recall what happened that night. He recalled the confusion and disorientation he felt upon waking up, the vague recollection of consuming excessive alcohol, and the shock of finding himself in the same room as Julia, which now turned out to be Zelia. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, but there were still gaps in his memory that needed to be filled. There was a blank. he could recall the night fully, which was odd because he had an exceptional memory.

Deep down, Ernest knew that there was more to the story than met the eye. Julia pretended to be the one whenever they met, and this raised suspicions in his mind. He couldn't shake off the feeling that there was someone behind the scenes orchestrating everything, manipulating the events of that night for their own sinister motives, and he going to get to the bottom of it

Lost in thought, Ernest pondered his next course of action... He sent a message to the group chat, which consisted of all his friends. He needed help with his emotions, and he believed they could guide him since they had experience at least.

Ernest: "She wants nothing to do with me. Absolutely nada. "

Aiden: "And who is the she... Wait? you've finally met her? Where? When? How?

Henry: "Cut it out, man. How do you expect him to answer if you keep asking questions?

Aiden: "So back to the questions I asked... Fill us in."

Ernest: "She turned out to be the one I slept with during our graduation party...

Aiden: WHAT?

Henry: Really!!

Philemon: Isn't that supposed to be some good news to you?

Henry: Phil...

Philemon: Sorry, but I mean it. He has been looking for her as long as we can remember, and even when we asked you to lose up,

you kept saying you were waiting for her. In that case, it's a good thing. You are still ranked the most eligible pure bachelor. No bad rumours, all that was so you could be with her. So, having had a taste of her already isn't that bad."

Ernest kept observing the chat while sipping his wine, which he had opened. He knew his friends were not going to leave

Nattalie: I sometimes want to enter all your brains and see how it function. Didn't you all notice anything odd with what he said?

Aiden: Right... How did she become the one? wasn't it supposed to be that Smith girl your parents keep forcing on your neck?

Nattalie: :) A wise man indeed?. I hate that girl... I don't want her with you.

Philemon: Well, I also make a valid point, though. @Nattie, why don't you be with him then? His parents will be happy with the swap.

Henry: Guys... guys... that's enough @ernest how did that happen... Give us all the gist, and don't leave anything out this time around

Ernest: I honestly don't know how she ended up in my bed that night, but it is the truth, and the evidence is the children she gave birth to all along. Before you go asking silly questions, I have confirmed they are mind, although I didn't need to because of the way they look. "PHOTO?" Attached.. He had sent pictures he had received from Mark through the surveillance, which featured all three kids.

ALL: WOW?....

Ernest watched as his friends reacted to the photo he had attached. The group chat buzzed with excitement and curiosity, but Ernest

couldn't shake off the lingering unease in his chest. Despite the initial shock of discovering he had children, he couldn't deny the surge of emotions that flooded through him at the sight of their faces.

Aiden: "They look just like you, Ernest! Wow, this is incredible news!"

Henry: "Congratulations, man! This changes everything."

Philemon: "I told you it's not all bad! You've got beautiful kids, bro!"

Nattalie: "They're adorable! But wait... how did you not know about them until now?"

Ernest took a deep breath, preparing himself to share the truth with his friends. He typed out his response carefully, wanting to explain the situation as clearly as possible.

Ernest: "It's a long story, guys. I only found out about them recently. You all know I just found her, and that too was through the kids. The circumstances are complicated, and there's still a lot I don't understand. But I'm determined to be there for them and make things right. The question is how?"

Aiden: "We're here for you, Ernest. Whatever you need, just let us know."

Henry: "Absolutely, man. We've got your back."

Philemon: "You're not alone in this, bro. We'll help you figure it out."

Nattalie: "I'm glad you finally found them, Ernest. They're lucky to have you as their dad."

Ernest felt a surge of gratitude wash over him as he read his friends' supportive messages. Despite the uncertainty of his situation, he knew he could count on them for guidance and encouragement. With their help, he felt a glimmer of hope for the future, knowing that he wasn't facing his challenges alone.

As the conversation continued, Ernest found himself opening up to his friends, sharing his fears, doubts and hopes for the road ahead. With each message exchanged, he felt a sense of reassurance and strength, knowing that he had a support system he could rely on.

Lost in the warmth of his friends' camaraderie, Ernest felt a renewed sense of determination to navigate the complexities of his newfound fatherhood. With their unwavering support by his side, he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. As the night wore on, the group chat buzzed with laughter, jokes, and words of encouragement, serving as a beacon of light in the midst of uncertainty.