Her Immortal Husband

Chapter 4. Unpleasant News

Leah knows going home now is not the wisest thing to do. Her sister is probably fuming with anger after Duncan came looking for Leah instead of her.

She decides to go and visit Faith, the only friend she has in the world.

She and Faith met during the time she lived with her father in Cairo city.

Faith is a member of the Royal family. Leah was shocked to discover later in their friendship that the well-respected king Martin was her friend's uncle.

Coming from royalty and wealth, Faith attended a more expensive school than the local one Leah used to go to. It was when they had both been chosen by their schools to compete in an interschool science quiz that they got to know each other.

Knowing Faith is the best thing that ever happened in Leah's life because she is the only person, aside from Leah's little brother, to ever make Leah feel important and loved, always doing whatever is in her power to make Leah's life a little better.

When Leah moved from Cairo to go and live with her mother, Faith decided to move to her aunt's house who lived in the same city as Leah's mother just so she could be with her.

Just as Leah reaches the park gates, she sees her eight-year-old little half-brother, Kevin, running towards her.

"Leah!" he pants as he reaches her.

"Kevin, has anything happened at home?" Leah asks, forehead creased with worry.

"Nothing happened at home I just missed you, Leah. I didn't find you in your room when I came back from school. I knew you had to be here." He grabs her arm and starts dragging her towards home.

Why does everyone keep saying that? Leah thinks.

"Kevin, I could be at college or my friend's house. Don't make it sound like I only have here to go," Leah says with a pout.

"Yes but you like coming here more than any other place. You like to be alone. Let's go now," Kevin continues dragging her.

Leah smiles.

Perhaps it is because of Kevin being young and innocent or because she likes telling him stories, she doesn't know, but Kevin doesn't follow the whole family's habit of hating and mistreating Leah.

He likes her more than he does anyone else in the family. Understandably, Kevin is the only person that Leah likes in the whole family, too. The rest all treat her like sh*t, including her parents.

As the little boy continues pulling her arm, Leah says,

"Kevin, I am not going home now, you go on. I will find you later, okay?"

"Where are you going?"

"To visit Faith".

Kevin looks up at her face for a moment.

" Can I come with you?" he asks.

"Sure. But did you tell anyone where you were going? they might start worrying."

"Yes, I told Mavis I was coming to look for you."

"Okay then, race you?"

Squealing with laughter, they take off running to her friend's house, Leah taking care to let the little boy win the race.

However, she is disappointed when they arrive at the house only to be told by the housekeeper that Faith and the rest of the family have gone to Cairo.

"But why couldn't she call to let me know she was leaving?" Leah asks the elderly woman.

The woman hesitats.

"I... I am sure it was an emergency. She must have forgotten to even call to let you know."

The woman hastens to close the door, leaving Leah and her brother standing outside.

Leah thinks the woman is acting quite strange. She can't help feeling something must be off.

Kevin looks up at his sister worriedly.

"What should we do now, Leah?" he asks.

"Let's go home."

Leah takes out her phone and calls Faith. She picks up on the second ring.

"Hello?"

"Faith, why did you leave so suddenly without telling me? did I do something wrong to offend you?"

"Oh, dear, I am so sorry. But don't think too much, okay? you didn't do anything to offend me, you.....you're not the reason why I am here."

Leah senses something is not right.

"Fe, is everything alright? You don't sound okay."

On the other end of the line, Faith takes a deep breath.

"Leah the....," She suddenly starts crying. "The king has died."

"What? no, how can King Martin die so suddenly? was he sick? I mean... I don't understand. he was healthy when I left that place two years ago." How stupid, Leah scolds herself. Two years is enough for someone to deteriorate.

"Faith, I am sorry for your loss. It is my loss too since he used to be my king, but it is harder for you because you are related to him. I wish I could be there to comfort you."

"You will be here soon, don't worry. I have to go now, talk to you later Leah," Faith sobs, then cuts the call.

"What does she mean I will be there soon?" Leah asks herself.

Kevin pulls at her hand, trying to get her attention.

"Leah, you look so worried. Is your friend in trouble?"

"No, no one is in trouble, Kevin. Come on, let's go home, it is getting late."

Leah forces a smile on her face and scoops the little boy in her arms, carrying him all the way home.

By the time they get home, Kevin is sleeping in Leah's arms.

Entering the house through the back door, she intends to quietly take Kevin to sleep in his bedroom then go to her room when she comes across her mother. She has already come back from work.

"There you are. Have you heard your useless father has died?"

Just like that?

She throws the terrible news to her face as if she is announcing the opening of a new mall in the area.

Leah is at a loss for words. Although her father never loved her, he never actively showed it to her the way her mother does. She has also lived with her father longer than she has with her mother.

So if it came to a choice between the two of them, she would choose her father.

Now he has gone? leaving her in the world with the worst parent of the pair of them.

Now Leah understands why Faith said she would go to Cairo soon too.