Chapter Thirty Four

I wasn't only flogged, I'd say tortured. He also checked if I'd been touched by another man except him. That horrid act, the root cause of all my bleedings. He also restricted my movement for a week, so I didn't have to go to school. I was locked up in my room. I had time to read my mum's book. She really was original. I couldn't help but compare myself with her. She acknowledged her toddler in the acknowledgement session, it was me. I have no memory left of it. The book only gave me a sense of her. 

I wasn't bothered about myself. I just feared for Damien. Andra asked me to protect him. I failed. My dad now knows about him and who knows? He'll be watching Damien's every move by now.

I had the phone with me but I could not reply to Damien's messages, for some reason I just wanted to forget about him. Or I wanted him to forget about me. I avoided my window too, because I knew he'd be there. Damien didn't stop there, he visited my house again. Unfortunately, Jude's security men didn't let him in. He dropped a message with them anyway, the message that released me from my one-week bondage. Our final exams had commenced. Then, my dad had no other choice. Though I heard the story of my life. Why is he sending me to school? How he would blike me to head his company when he dies? How I'm trying to take the path my mother took. How bad of a whore I was. And his threat: how much I should stay away from Damien if I don't want him to get hurt. I didn't quite understand his words. Really, I wish I had read between the lines. Or maybe I shouldn't. I didn't. Damien was my life and I had no plan to stay away from him. We'll be together forever, one day, and then I'd be free from Jude Kam.

Then, my days of using pregnancy pills will be over.

*

It was obvious how much he missed me. We didn't have much time to talk until our exams were over. It was the first time I wrote an exam with my brain. I felt a sudden sense of fulfilment. There was no other thing I wanted in life than being able to defend what I have, being responsible for my grades.

"Hey girl."He grabbed my waist as we walked out of the hall. "I deserve a hug, don't I?"

He didn't have to ask. I embraced him.

"What happened?"

"Nothing. I just took some days off."I smiled.

"That's a lie."He said. "You deserted me. Ignored my messages. Does it have something to do with..."

"No. Seriously. I was just a little sick."

"You're okay now?"

I nodded. We sat in the cafeteria to eat. We were unusually quiet. He was staring at me and I could not help but wonder what he was thinking. I knew my dad would be watching us, at least through his spies, so I was glad we weren't talking much, though it was all too awkward.

"Why are you staring?"I later asked.

"Cause I missed you."He smiled at me. "So much. "

I blushed.

"Annabelle Steele married a Kam. I read her biography. She had a kid too."

I almost choked on my food. "Really?!" He helped me with a cup of water.

"Calm down, huh?"

"Thanks,"I said. "You really like that woman."

"Her originality, everything about her."He boasted. "It means she married one of your uncle's brothers, isn't it?"

"What?... You... Why..."I didn't know what to say. "Come on Damien! We're not the only Kam in the country."

"I did my research. It's the billionaire Kam, the CEO of New Age Tech, the company your uncle runs. Although they later divorced."

I was speechless. Was my family all publicized?! If so, then why is Jude hiding his identity as my dad now?

"I have no idea."

"You should think more. You must have met her before."

"No. Isn't she dead, long ago?"

"She died in a plane crash with her six-year-old. That's what I saw on the net."

I was shocked. Things became clearer to me. My mother isn't dead! All these things were made up. For sure, I'm the kid who Jude now hides from the public by calling me his niece. I didn't know how long I had kept quiet, lost in my own thoughts but that got Damien also thinking.

"Lost in thought?" He asked."Do you know her?"

"Damien."I whispered, my throat already dry from shock. "Change the topic."

"Why? Are you okay?"

I frowned. "That's the fiftieth time you're asking that."

"Hm sorry."He smiled.

"Did your parents die in that plane crash too?"

"I don't know."I chewed on my words.

"Annabelle Steele, she's your mother, isn't she?"

This time I choked. I coughed and coughed. Water wouldn't work. He noticed that attention was being drawn to us, so he helped me out of the cafeteria. We had a few minutes to close school for that day, so we just stayed at the back of the school. Where I could get the fresh air I needed.

"I'm sorry."He apologized for the tenth time.

"It's okay. I'm fine now."I said.

"Is it what I said..."

"No, I had a lot on my mind. What was your question again?"

I saw him stifle a laughter. I didn't know what to make of that. I just smiled, a fake one.

"I don't want you to choke again. Never mind."

" I thought it was my fault you were home."

"Why did you think that?"

"Your uncle."He said. "His expressions that day. He's always been like that though. Even at the principal's office. Did he ask you to stay away from school?"

This guy and his broad imagination.

"You're thinking too much,"I hissed. "Jude Kam is a good man. He can be arrogant sometimes, but he can't ask me to stay away from school. I was sick. Period."

"Paige?" He said. "He yelled at you. I heard that."

"So?!"I yelled.

"Are you sure he didn't hurt you?"

"Do you really think that gentle businessman would have the time and energy to hurt me?"

I didn't know exactly why I was defending my dad but I couldn't help it. I had a secret. A secret I intend to keep buried forever. But like all secrets, it begged to be told. Especially to Damien.

It's a secret that I am scared of. If told, I could lose a life, Damien's life. Jude's exact threat. I shouldn't underestimate him.

 On the other hand, if revealed, could it possibly bring a sense of peace to my soul? 

Or would I be doing a trial and error game with the love of my life?