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"Good morning Mama," Camilla said, walking into Costanza's bedroom with a pile of washed clothes in her hands. She'd been at the back of the house, washing and planting her favorite flowers, tulips.

"Morning, how was your night?" Her mother asked as she smiled before placing the clothes on the stack. "Of course, am so happy you're home. I was so worried at the hospital. Mom, can I ask you a question?" she asked, turning to look at her mother.

Costanza's eyes raised in inquisition as Camilla took in a deep breath. "What happened? And how did you get to the kitchen?" she asked and noticed the way Costanza's lips thinned. Her face went pale and she suddenly stopped breathing.

"Mama, mama?" she called, walking over to the bed, her heart thudding loudly in her chest as she got a glass of water. "Mama!" she screamed this time as the older woman jerked back to life.

"Here, take this," she said, pushing the cup to Costanza's lips. "He, they were here," she started, recalling the incident.

*flashback*

A loud thud of footsteps outside the house made her wonder who that could be. The door began to rattle and this time, she needed no one to tell her they were burglars. Fear gripped her and she began wheeling herself to a hiding place but it was too late.

The door burst open and three fierce, harmful-looking men walked in, looking armed. Her eyes dilated as they threw the center table and sauntered towards her.

"Where's she? Your daughter?" one asked while the others made their way up the stairs. Tears pooled in her eyes because she didn't know who exactly had offended them. While Carina was a fighter, Camilla was as cool as anything but today, confusion held her captive.

"M_my daughter?" she stuttered as he chuckled.

"Oh am sorry, your whore, how about that?" he asked as she shivered. "My daughter is not a whore__"

The iron grip on her hair erupted a loud scream from her lips as he chuckled. "You're still arrogant, even in death!" he sneered, taking his eyes to his approaching partners.

"All cleared up, nowhere in sight," they informed as he applied pressure to his grip on her hair. "We will just teach you a lesson and leave your darling daughter a message.

They practically dragged her to the kitchen as her breathing became erratic." I think we should let her be. No one's gonna notice. She'd probably die in this condition. "they backed out of the kitchen just before she blacked out.

*flashback-ends*

" And you didn't see the need to let me know?"Camilla asked, sighing loudly." I was so scared, i_i didn't __"

"Just let it slide. I'll let the police know, we have to take caution before they attack again," she replied before kissing Costanza's cheek and walking out.

"Did you get it?" Malcom asked, puffing the cigarette and tapping his foot lightly on the floor. "We only got this, am sure we'd be able to get something from it," Tom replied as Malcom growled.

"I said__" Hard footsteps sounded at the entrance as Malcom chuckled. "Look who we have here." he taunted, laughing as Carina walked defiantly up to him.

"What's the meaning of that? Stalking my mother, making her fall sick, barging into my sister's bedroom?" she snickered, rolling her eyes at him.

She knows the reason why he's doing all this, it's mainly because of her blunt rejection. "Let my family be or I will make sure you pay dearly for your crimes, you'll be six feet under in no time."

He chuckled, staring at her in amazement. "Because you're riding his cOck? Or because __"

"Shut it, Malcom! She yelled, shooting into the air." You don't want to try me, do you? "she asked, looking into his eyes cynically.

"Don't test my patience, I'll be back."

Monica smiled to herself as she rolled her eyes. She'd been so bored so she decided to follow her father's girlfriend. The name left a soured taste on her tongue but she swallowed it.

But what could she be doing in there? She asked herself as gunshot rippled through the air. Her hands gripped the steering tightly as she scanned the area.

In no time, Carina walked out of the building, her hoodie in place as she got into the car. Monica snickered, clicking her tongue as she frowned.

Monica is definitely hiding something and she'd find out, maybe not now, but she'd definitely do it!

*

*

Camilla looked at her flat stomach, wondering how she'd come up with a lie about the pregnancy. "Are you ready?" Becca asked, smiling as she made Camilla lay properly on the bed.

"yeah," she replied as Becca nodded.

"Nervous?" she asked and Camilla nodded.

"Mothers are never scared of anything and you'd become a mother in a few months, it's not a nice feeling to be scared." She said, setting her tubes on the table next to her.

"Be strong." Becca finally whispered and got to work.

"She came out clean," Pablo said, walking into the office as Rooney nodded. "She's probably wiped off all her data or better still, she's under a facade." He replied as Pablo nodded.

"Continue with the search, I'll try getting more information from her, I know she's not to be trusted and we can't put everyone in danger," Rooney replied as Pablo nodded before taking his leave.

Rooney rubbed his temple, trying to relieve the stress from his body but he knew it wasn't gonna work. A good sleep would definitely do the work.

His mind drifted back to Juliana as he closed his eyes. All this is because of her. He'd make sure she never gets to suffer in all her life and the next one to come.

"Are you okay__?" Becca asked, wiping Camilla's stomach as she finished with what she was doing. "Yes, I am. So how do I__"

"Know when you're pregnant?" Becca cut in as Camilla nodded. "Yes, how do I know?" Camilla asked, sitting up and looking around.

Her heart was practically jumping in her chest. She could not fathom what her mother would say if she eventually found out what she was up to.

"You'll have to come back here in two weeks, come on the attorney will be here very soon," Becca said, walking over to the sink as she rinsed her hands.

"Why an attorney?" Camilla asked, sliding into her dress as Becca turned to look at her for a while.

"You live with your mom." Becca started and Camilla nodded. "Yeah__'

"Am guessing she's not aware," Becca said, chuckling. "I cannot tell her, she'd freak out." She replied, picking her bag up.

"It's normal. It's normal for her to freak out. You're really lucky to have a mother who cares for you." Becca added before tapping her lightly on the shoulder.

An hour later, Camilla walked into the quiet home, looking around as she sighed. "You're home," Constanza said, walking slowly down the stairs as Camilla smiled.

"Yeah mama, how are you feeling?" She asked, still dazed about what she'd just found out from the attorney.

"Am okay my child. Do you have any information on Carina, I mean__"

"Mama, don't you see she doesn't care about us? She's living her life like she cares." Camilla replied as her mother sighed.

Walking into her bedroom, she plopped herself on the bed, thinking and rethinking about the offer, not the deal she made with the unknown father of her unborn baby.

She placed her hands on her flat stomach, closing her eyes as she imagined carrying a baby in it. It seems surreal.

Her thoughts went back to Carina as she shrugged.

She chose the way she wanted, and now her only concern is how to tell her mother about the growing seed in her if ever it becomes fertile.