Barren Heiress Returns With Quadruplet

Kamille’s POV

“Reon?” I called out as I heard his voice echo in the wind.

“Mummy,” I turned at the sound of Tyris’s voice, but I did not see any of them.

“Tyris baby, come on out to mama,” I pleaded, but my pleas fell on deaf ears .

The same went on for Royer and Torin and no matter how much I pleaded, they were unresponsive.

Then I sat down and began to cry on the floor and all four of them began running in my direction, but as they got closer to me, they were intercepted by a giant thrice as tall as I was.

“Be gone, if you want to see them alive!” The voice roared.

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I jerked awake from bed to meet the beautiful morning light that filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over my room. I lay in bed, my body heavy with the weight of worry and despair. It had been two weeks since my children were taken, and I felt like I was living in a nightmare.

So many freaking nightmares! The days blurred together in a haze of fear and hopelessness. Still in bed, silent tears rolled down my eyes as the nightmare I just encountered in the dream.

A soft knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, but I didn’t respond. The knock came again, more insistent this time. I still didn’t say anything. The door opened slightly, and Zeke’s head came into view.

“Kamille?” he asked gently. “How are you feeling?”

I didn’t reply. What was there to say? I felt numb, empty. All I wanted was to get my children back.

Zeke stepped into the room, his eyes filled with concern. He sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to touch my hand. “We’re doing everything we can to find them,” he said softly. “You have to believe that.”

I turned my head away, unable to look at him. “I just want them back, Zeke,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“I know,” he said, his voice breaking slightly. “I know.” His hands caressed my arms softly and lightly.

“Have you…” I got interrupted by another knock on the door.

“Come on in,” Zeke called out for them to come in. Belle entered, her face etched with worry.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Hey, Kamille,” she said softly, coming to sit on the other side of the bed. “How are you holding up?”

I didn’t respond. The words seemed meaningless. Belle and Zeke exchanged a worried glance.

“Kamille,” Belle continued, “We’re all here for you. We’ll get through this together.”

I closed my eyes, wishing I could believe them. The ache in my heart was almost unbearable.

Belle sighed, then said, “Zane, Fletcher, and Amanda are here. I’ve made breakfast. You should come down and eat something.”

“How can I eat when I don’t know if my kids have eaten?” I asked, my voice cracking.

Zeke squeezed my hand gently. “You need to keep your strength up, Kamille. Your kids will need you to be strong when they come home.”

So easy for him to say. Although they are his fucking kids, I was still the only one who raised them for four years.

I took a deep breath, trying to find some semblance of strength within me. “Okay,” I said finally. “I’ll try.”

Zeke helped me to my feet, and I made my way to the bathroom. The hot water from the shower felt good on my skin, washing away some of the grime and exhaustion that had built up over the past two weeks. I dressed in a simple shirt and jeans, then made my way downstairs.

The smell of coffee and pancakes greeted me as I entered the kitchen. Zane and Fletcher were at the table, talking animatedly while Amanda set plates in front of them. Belle was at the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease.

“There she is,” Zane said with a smile. “Good morning, Kamille.”

I managed a weak smile in return. “Morning.”

“Come sit,” Fletcher said, pulling out a chair for me. “We saved you a spot.”

I sat down, feeling a bit like a ghost in my own home. The light banter between Zane and Belle filled the air, a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me.

“So, Zane,” Belle said with a grin, “how’s the new job going?”

Zane rolled his eyes. “It’s fine. Just a lot of paperwork. You know how it is.”

Fletcher laughed. “Yeah, Zane’s never been one for paperwork.”

“Oh, shut up,” Zane retorted, throwing a piece of pancake at Fletcher, who dodged it easily.

I couldn’t help but smile at their antics, though it was a small, fleeting thing. I wished my kids were here to join in the laughter, to fill the missing piece in this picture of normalcy.

Zeke sat beside me, his presence a comforting anchor. He had been visiting more often, trying to lift my spirits. Belle practically lived with me now, only leaving for work. Amanda visited and left, while Zane stopped by frequently. Fletcher had come once, completing the circle of support around me.

After breakfast, I stood and offered to help with the dishes. “Let me join you in the kitchen,” I said to Belle and Amanda. “I need to keep my mind occupied.”

Amanda smiled, her eyes warm. “Anything to keep your spirit up.”

Belle handed me a dish towel. “Here, you can dry while I wash.”

We worked together in comfortable silence for a while, the routine of domestic chores providing a small measure of solace. As I dried the dishes, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt. My children were out there, somewhere, and I was here, trying to pretend everything was okay.

“Kamille,” Belle said softly, breaking into my thoughts, “we’re going to find them. You have to believe that.”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “I know. I just… I feel so helpless.”

Amanda put a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You’re not helpless. You’re doing everything you can. And so are we.”

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I blinked them back. “Thank you,” I whispered. “I don’t know what I’d do without you all.”

“We’re family,” Zeke said from the doorway. “And family stick together, no matter what.”

I smiled through my tears, feeling a glimmer of hope. It was fragile, like a flickering candle in the dark, but it was there.