The Mysterious Prince

35. Ghosts of the pasts

35.

𝕬𝖉𝖊𝖑𝖆𝖎𝖉𝖊 𝕯𝖑𝖆𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖎

It's been months now, and my sister is finally coparenting with Nathan. I love this for her as much as I'm always thinking of Nathan kidnapping the babies when it's his turn to have them. They exchange months since the twins are still young. They know Angie as their mom now, and it's always a struggle when their nanny from France picks them up. We'll definitely get there, and I'm secretly hoping that as they grow up, they would refuse to go to France. As their aunt,I'll be here to corrupt their little minds.

I still remember the day we met with Nathan like it was yesterday. Aiden decided to sit the meeting out, leaving me with Qhawe,Angie, and our dad. He came alone with his stinking arrogance, but thanks to my dad, who made it clear he's not afraid of him and me. As a lawyer, we ended up convincing him otherwise. We've put all this matter behind us,for now.

"Hey, Mrs Not-Laurent-Anymore." I find Angie sitting down on the couch, watching TV as I walk to the kitchen. I open the fridge and take out a bottle of Nutella. I'm not your typical Nutella lover, but it's all I've been eating lately. I crave it even in the middle of the night.

I walk back to the lounge and join my sister on the couch.

"It feels good to be Angel Dlamini again. This is the only surname I've known since I was a kid." Yup,they have divorced. They married out of a community of property, but Nathan gave Angie some money. I didn't ask how much it was, and honestly, I don't want to know.

"I can't relate. I've always been Adelaide Dlamini. Last time i tried to attach a man's surname to mine? He ditched me at the altar." I continue eating my Nutella. After I give birth to this baby,I'll never eat Nutella again.

"Qhawe is not the same. When are you guys getting married? He paid the damages and lobola." I look around the house searching for my other family members, and when I don't find one, I turn to Angie.

"Promise not to tell anyone, but I'm getting married tomorrow." I whisper. She stares at me like I'm crazy.

"No, you're not. There's still so much we have to prepare."

"It's a secret wedding for a reason. The lesser people at the wedding,the less the embarrassment when the groom decides otherwise."

"Addy,I don't think you've healed from Luyolo."

"Believe me, I've healed. It's been a year now. He can go to hell." Luyolo is no longer a factor in my life.

"Are you serious about the wedding?" I nod repeatedly.

"I need you as my bridesmaid and witness. Everything is being arranged." I'm being for real. When Qhawe asked me what would be my perfect wedding,I told him the location should only be known by us, and it would just be the two of us and the priest along with our witnesses. He took me serious because tomorrow we are getting married.

"What about our family and friends? They'll want to come. You can't do this to mom."

"I'm about to be a mom myself,the only person that matters is Junior. Besides, nobody attended yours as well." She stands up.

"Oh wow. Throw it at my face, sister." She walks away. I'm not going to apologize.

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One thing about my relationship with Angie is that no matter how deep we go with words,we'll always forgive each other. She's the only sister I have left and the only person who will always have my back on this world.

"You look amazing with that baby bump, runaway bride." She compliments. She's also looking amazing in that champagne dress that compliments her skin. Her babies are in France. They'll only return in a week,that's if Nathan decide to bring them back. He's a nutcase and you can never be too sure with him.

"Thank you boo." I stare myself in the mirror again. I think I look adorable. I'm wearing an off shoulder wedding dress. The design of the dress looks just basic, but when you stare at the gemstones trailing down the dress,you realize it's not. I wonder how much it cost.

"Time to go." She says, staring at her wristwatch. She helps me stand up. At eight months and three weeks pregnant,I'm already feeling tired and ready to pop this baby out. It's like the pregnancy is only showing off right now.

We walk out of the dressing room into the SUV that's waiting for us outside. Just in case you're wondering where we are,we are in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I haven't had enough time to explore the place, but this is a beautiful honeymoon place before we leave for the Elephant Kingdom in a week for the birth of the baby. A prince can't be born outside the kingdom and honestly,I've made peace with that. I need a healthy baby and I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize that.

We finally reach our destination and we find a red carpet already rolled for us with the cameraman available. He start capturing every moment as I follow the trail of white roses on the carpet with my sister holding my hand.

My heart leaps in joy when I find Qhawe standing with his brother at the end. The band start playing A Thousand Years by Christina Perri as we approach the two men. This song is not just a wedding song,it holds memories.

My sister handshake Qhawe before giving him my hand. I hand her the bouquet of red roses before standing besides Qhawe.

"You didn't run away." I say and he shakes his head smiling.

"I didn't run away." That's all the assurance I need. God gave me a man who's loving me how much I deserve to be loved.

"We are gathered here today to witness the—" The priest start but I interrupt him.

"Can you skip all that to the vows?" Honestly it's just the five of us here,his speech is unnecessary. I just want to be Mrs Elephant and no,it's not desperation,it's a need.

"Someone is in a rush." Qhawe says low enough for me to hear him only.

"Yes right. Did you write your own vows?" The priest ask and we both nod. I couldn't miss the opportunity to tell this man how much I love him.

"I don't know how to start really..." I chuckle as his brother hand me a ring.

"...but I'll start anyway. I never fantasized about my dream wedding. I never fantasized about my dream husband. I've always been a rebellious person,a feminist who wanted to oppose the society's expectations of what makes a woman. A marriage doesn't make a woman,really but all those feminism norms flies out of the window the day you meet a man who loves you right. A man who chooses you and you involuntarily wants to take his last name." I wipe my tears with my hand and Angie hands me a tissue.

"I can stand here all day and talk about the reasons why I love you but I just want to talk about the reasons why you should love me after the wedding. There's only one,I won't stop loving you Qhawe Elephant because I'm madly,deeply in love with you and I want you as my husband for as long as I breathe." He pulls me closer to him and hugs me. I hug him back.

"Okay that's enough hugging,put on the ring." His brother,Christian says. We let go of each other and he wipes my tears before offering me his hand. I put on the ring. Angie hands him the ring as well.

"I don't always have a lot to say and honestly what should a guy say after such a speech?" I chuckle. We'll I've always had something to say.

"Just say you'll die for me." I'm pushing it but he should always be ready to die for me because I won't. I'm pregnant afterall.

"That's out of the question,tell me a reason why I should live if you die?"

"You should live for Azibo." And I mean it. If something happens to me then he should always live for our baby.

"I love you Adelaide. I don't think I can ever love another woman the way I love you. Sometimes I don't think you're normal but you've put up with me despite all the baggage I come with and for that,you'll always be my heart." Hey,I'm normal aren't I?

He pulls my hand and put on the beautiful emerald green ring with small diamonds around it on my finger. Guess who's finally Mrs Elephant? Yay!

I hear some shuffling from the entrance and when I look I see a man pushing a woman on a wheelchairWait...that is Nkosinathi fuckin' Mhlongo. What is he doing here?

As he comes near with the woman on the wheelchair,I realize that the woman looks familiar. No...it can't be. The shock travels straight to my belly because my water breaks.