31| A stranger

It's Monday morning. Specially school public holidays for my kids. They're home and I have to take care of all their issues, stress and blah, blah, blah.

May God almighty not allow them to kill me.

Like seriously, this kids are a pain in my ass. Please if anyone is interested, just DM me and I'll hand them over to you for a lifetime.

Geez, my back and whole body aches. They had me making varieties of dishes for them today. And I've done that already. If you ask me what happened to the others, well, they went out this morning to watch a new Netflix film in cinema. And am just left here alone with the kids and their problems.

Just these few past days, I've been having strange symptoms. Sleeping too much, fatigue, dizziness and a bit lazy. Sometimes, I feel like throwing up. I seriously don't know what my problem is, but whatever it may be, I hope it's good for me. The only time I feel this signs are when am pregnant but—wait, wait, wait, before your mind start thinking double. There's no fucking way I'm going to keep a baby if for instance I'm pregnant.

Let's just assume it will never happen, because if it does, I swear before God and Man, I'll terminate the pregnancy. Tell me who wants to risk her soul here?

Though, I still miss my man. We just finished our lovely sweet conversation on the video call where he'd talked with the kids and I.

I just hope he returns on time so I can hug the hell out of him. His absence is killing me. Finally, he has gotten his way of making me his addiction. I slept all alone on his bed, feeling like the only living human being standing in the middle of the earth.

I really want to see my love. A phone call is never the medication for my addiction. Now I remember why Billie eilish sang the song strange addiction. There's no way a doctor can explain my kinda sickness right now, except for the little fever I'm having which I believe it'll die soon out of me.

I've finished serving my kids their breakfast. I can't believe I just made the last selection of their choices. And they're busy rushing it in the dinning room.

What an opportunity for me. I used that moment to run back to the kitchen to wash the dirty plates, knowing that I've succeeded in satisfying their needs this morning. Maybe later in the day, I'll order something nice for them for lunch. I can't go and kill myself. Life is still too precious.

In no time, I was done with the dishes. I cleaned the counter, fridge and everywhere in the loft. Cleanliness is very close to godliness. I hate dirt's when I see them hanging around on every corner. I removed the cobwebs—Belinda traveled to her town after I gave her the permission and would be back tomorrow morning. She was so scared to tell her boss about her leave but it's still a little secret between us.

After sweeping, cleaning and mopping everywhere, I took a cool bath, put on something nicer and tied my hair into a neat bun. Dexter usually likes it when I let my hair fall to my shoulders but he's not around now and if I do it that way, who am I impressing?

Just a pair of bunny slippers, black beige t-shirt and pink floral short to go, I head downstairs.

What in the name of heaven are they still doing here?

If you're talking about sluggishness, my kids are the number one. Infact, I think they deserve a nomination award. You still won't believe that they're still stuck in the dinning room, playing with their food since. I did all the chores, and went to bath, yet they're still eating, chatting and laughing while eating. One of my most avoided table manners.

"Seriously," My hands on my hips. "How long does it take you guys to finish up? You have homeworks to do, remember?"

"You promised to do mine for me." Becca dramatically flicked a strand behind her ear and made her hand a bit of 'Duh uh' sign on the air.

"Oh yeah?" Hilarious. "Just wait and see if I'm still very interested." This kids won't kill me. Oh shit, my phone is upstairs. I'll go get it.

I was still in Dexter's bedroom, picking up my phone from the bed when I heard the door bell ringing from downstairs. "Billy, do you mind helping me check the door?"

"Ouch, think you have to do it yourself. I'm still eating." Since morning? Anyway, it's fine. I'll go get it myself. Still, I don't believe it's my boyfriend or any of my family members. If not, they'd have just walked in quietly.

The doorbell rang for the second time when I was descending down the stairs. "Am coming." My hair I had tied into a neat bun has loosen. I re-tied it again because I was in a hurry but this time, it's a messy one. "Who's it?" I reach out to the doorknob though no one answered from the outside but I still know that this neighborhood doesn't have hoodlums.

Immediately I twisted the doorknob and pushed the door opened, a pair of grey eyes met with mine. The body so huge and tall like a blockage to the reflection of the sun coming my way. His hair silky and messy, making me to think I could touch and smell. He's on casual and sneakers. A big black satchel bag sat its handle on his shoulder and a medium size black luggage he's holding at his left hand side.

My eyes had ran all over him within a second but that didn't change the strange look on my face. My mouth is parted open a bit at the sight of his handsomeness. He only reminds me of someone familiar.

Dexter. Still, it's not him. But for a while, I thought I was seeing his clone or other self. Same 7 feet tall and facial features. At the same time, I know he's not my boyfriend. But there's still a resemblance of comparison.

Firstly, he cleared his throat. His brow corked upwards like a question mark [?] "May I come in?"

Who is this guy? And why is he asking me if he should come in? I don't even know him and he haven't explained himself to me. I was so stupid to part the door open and moved aside for him to step him.

Second realization didn't hit me if he was a bad guy but everything I was just thinking about was his handsomeness. He used it to charm me so he can come in uninvited. He shut the door behind him after stepping in and the next thing I saw him do, was the only thing that made me my brows push upwards in shock.

"Food!" He rushed to the dinning table like the return of flash—no, maybe Godspeed. Digging into the meal without breakpoints.

My kids sat with the expression like they just finished watching 'Count down' movie. I stood still at the same position where I were, staring at this guy as he eats up like a monster.

Is he? Or did he just got released from prison? Who knows? I assume he has been looking for food and shelter and found here as the only surviving grace. I guess.

Without pouring the juice into the martini glass, he took the jug and gulped it to half. My kids gasped like Artemis fowl is coming live in front of them.

I was eager to take my kids from the dinning room and hid them under my arms for preservation against this unknown monster guy who just finished the bowl and now took theirs too. But same time, I was too scared to move from where I was standing.

After set are done, he remembered where he was and all the drama he had acted. Then, he sat upright, looking like a child who just did something bad.

Silence was in the atmosphere for a while which seem to be long enough to be called minutes.

"Sorry, I wrecked your meal." He took another gulp from the jug of peach juice, still not pouring it into the glass. And I and my kids just watched him as he do the explanation. "I've been on the flight for hours. My ass hurt from sitting too long and my belly yearns for anything eatable." A shameless belch escaped his mouth and greeted us. "Sorry again." He patted his chest after Bella said gross with her hand waving by her nose. "What they had in the plane was rubbish. Trust me, even a psychopath would reject the offer."

"Okay now, please cut it out and tell me who the hell you are." I cut him off, leaving my furiousness to take absolute control of my anger. "Barged into my boyfriend's apartment just like that without defending yourself?"

I expected him to say 'Hello? Isn't it your fault you allowed a stranger into your man's house's? But he just went the other way to say "Am sorry," And I was touched how politely he said it.

My anger dissipated and my furiousness left me alone to suffer my guilty conscience.

Before I could say anything, Billy gasped, chiming in. "Wow, are you an actor or a footballer?" I expected his words to be 'Are you a monster or a jungle boy?'

This strange guy bursted into laughter, patting Billy's shoulder. And I hated him for touching my son. He came down to his height and said, "No, big guy. I'm just a CEO banker and the Grand Duke of shoony, Denmark."

What! The! Hell?!

My eyes greeted me 'Trouble!'

Hope I never said anything offensive to him? How would I have known that he was part of Dexter's colony? You need to see this guy in reality. He isn't dressed like a royal priesthood or someone related to royalty. He's just too different and innocent to be fake.

My kids gasped and Becca went to give him a hug. Bella followed but she has one bad habit. Such a big mouth like her great-grandmother. "You know, my new daddy is a prince too."

Oops!

"He's not a Prince. He's a Duke too, miss Cheetos." Thank you for the nasty correction, Becca.

"Duh uh, I was going to say that." Bella rolled her eyes dramatically.

He chuckled at the girls put up drama and later look up to me. Good thing to know that I wasn't lost in the scenario. "Sorry, I didn't introduced myself at first. I'm Dave, directly born before your boyfriend." I know Dexter is the youngest of all the seven male children according to how Georgina told me. "Maybe he told you about my coming—"

"No, he didn't." I sounded like am a bit mad. But wait first of all. Who am I mad at? It's absolutely no one but my man. He didn't tell me about his brother coming over. When realization hit me to remember who am dealing with, I quickly refrain. "I mean, he never mentioned you in our conversation thirty minutes ago."

"Oh, I see, he's not back yet?"

Hmm. I shook my head. Breaking the awkwardness, I called my kids to myself, "Billy, Becca, Bella, please go upstairs for now. Snowball is lonely."

Billy jumped and gasped, "Snowball."

"I nearly forgot about him."

"Forgive us, snowball. We're on our way coming to your rescue."

Thank God I managed to dash them off. When they were completely out of sight, I pack up the empty plates from the table, "I'll just wash these." I excused myself without waiting for him to give response to my words. And he just shook his head.

The first thing I did when I got to the kitchen was taking a deep breath. Whew! What was that? What if one day I just wake up and meet his entire family, monarch, standing before my big eyes.

Jesus.

I quickly turn on the faucet, brushing away those negativity thoughts outta my head. I started washing the dishes grumpily like they were my worse enemies. If Dexter had told me his brother was coming, I'd have had a better preparation than how I am now.

"You forgot to take these too."

"Ah!" That sudden deep baritone voice like my boyfriend's, made me to jolt on my feet. The spoon I was holding fell off my grasp. And I place the soapy hand on my chest. "Geez, you scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry if I did." He bend down to pick up the spoon. "Let me have that," He took the sponge from me, nudging me to move aside. "Even the future duchesses are not met to touch things like this. My brother is the youngest but most powerful man in the family after my dad. He'll kill me if he finds out you were doing the dishes yourself while am around."

Seriously?

What if he heard that I've been the only one doing the house chores, especially today which is my day off at work?

"I remember this use to be Belinda's duty. Where is she?" He asked with his eyes not leaving the dishes he was scrubbing. When I didn't answer, he turned to my direction. "Triana?" And that one shocked me without being told.

"How-the-fuck-did-you-know-my-name?" I counted the words out. Knowing I never mentioned it to him before.

He smug, scrubbing the empty glasses. "You're my brother's woman, it shouldn't sound strange to you if I tell you that your presence in his life is already known to the entire monarchy."

Oh really? Is that true?

"Listen, let me tell you something." He continued, rising the plates while I helped him wipe them with the dry napkin. "Dex, is madly in love with you. I believe you haven't met my parents yet—you might have heard about the great empire of Zeltron of Denmark that fought seventy thousand hefty men in a war and took all their heads off in front of the battlefield."

Wow, what a victory. I gasped inwardly. Now I know where Dexter got the strength he used to diminish that animal.

"My parents already knew you, but I don't think you know them yet, right?" I shook my head at his question. "Don't be surprised when the empire call to see you." He says and I just lifted my head to him. Eyes wide open like a scary element. Chucky! "What?" He chuckled, turning on the faucet. "Are you shocked? It's nothing. Just a simple introduction. I promise you'll get to like everyone in the family."

My God, the empire himself? What has Dexter done to me?

"You know, when my brother showed me a sweet photo of you two, I just imagine myself with my first love." He paused for a moment, staring through the tiniest hole I imagined on the wall.

Something tells me, he's not in line with the woman again. "You had a lover?" I'm pushing him to spill it out.

He sighed, clenching onto the edge of the sink and I just imagine his pain. "Yes," His veins flexed. After a while, he added, still staring at the invisible hole. Eyes narrowed. "She broke my heart by having an affair with one of my bodyguard."

Whoa. What a slut!

Damn her, Dave!

I frowned grumpily, inwardly.

"So sorry about that." I sympathized.

"No, it's alright." He exhaled, letting it all go. "That was years ago. Then, we were still in highschool. I engaged her. I wanted to marry her and show her to my family. Tsk, it turned out she's not the one life choose for me."

I leaned on the counter, rubbing the side of my arm as I listen to his tragedy story.

"But still, I loved her. Even when she cheated, I still had strong feelings for her but it hurt me if I'd stick with that kinda person for the rest of my life. Who knows if she'd chest on me again with my brothers?" He faced me. Waiting for a response.

My eyes glimmered down like grey skies. Who would still love a slutty woman? If I was to be a man, I'd have done same thing too. "Life goes on." That's all I can say? Well, yes. I've also seen things too. "My late ex-husband, the biological father of my kids, cheated on me with another woman. Even though, I wanted to stay in the marriage and cover up for it for years." I shrugged when he gave me attention.

"And you lived with him till he died?"

"Of course no. When Dexter came to my rescue, my life began to bring out some colourful flowers, that was when I knew how much life has ahead for me."

He smiled. The least I expected. "Your kids are as beautiful as you."

I rolled my eyes, but inwardly I'd be lying if I say I didn't blush. "Oh please. I'm not fine. Up till today till tomorrow, am still wondering what Dexter liked in me that made him choose me—a single mother with three kids to be his girlfriend."

"Yes, I can imagine that." He chuckled, wiping his hands with the napkin. "Believe it or not, my brother has never introduced a woman to this family like he did for you. One time, I wondered if he was gay. Infact, we all in the family did. That is why my dad would like to meet you in person to discover if truly you're his son's girlfriend or not."

I bit my finger, recalling the mention of his father gives me body heat. "Does he knows..... I'm a single mother—?"

"Triana? Honey, where are you?" That sounds like my boyfriend's voice.

"Speaking of the thug himself," Dave quietly said.

"Hon—here you are—ouch!" Before he could complete his statements, I pounced into his embrace. Hugging him tightly to myself.

My eyes glitter sparkling stars. My baby boo is back. "I missed you so much."

"Aww" Dave dramatically sighed.

"I missed you too." I felt his warm kiss on the top of my head.

"I was busy telling Triana here, how lucky you where to find her." Dave stated and I placed my head on Dexter's chest, smiling as I catch every sound of his pulse. "If you weren't fast about shooting your shot, maybe I would have gotten her."

"Really?" Dexter chuckled, sheepishly.

I shook my head helplessly, watching the two brothers laughed. Dexter left me and walked to his brother, giving him a tight brotherly hug. "I missed you too, man."

"You know mobile communication is just a drag." Dave nastily said.

"Precisely." Dexter supported him.

I stood there, watching the two brothers exchange pleasantries. It was good knowing that these siblings don't have complicated issues unlike I'd have with my father's children.

But when the night came........

Just turn with me to the next chapter and see for yourself.