My Ex Next Door

Ken and Novie drove for almost eight hours. It was exhausting but fun. They gradually stop to take pictures and enjoy the view of the mountains.

When they finally arrived in the penthouse Ken rented, Novie was mesmerized with the scenery while Ken went to the caretaker to inform them for the food and clothes they needed for the weekend.

When everything was settled, Novie went straight to the bedroom and looked for a phone. She wanted to call Daniella and inform her about the triplets whereabouts but, before she could call Ken entered the room and asked if she needed anything.

"Nope, I am fine. Do you know Daniella's number? I left my phone in the apartment." she asked.

Ken cleared his throat and avoided her eyes, "No," he replied short and left the room.

Novie clicked her tongue and looked around. Through the glass wall, she could see the lake and all the swans and ducks swimming around.

She finds it odd that the triplets suddenly had someone to look after them but, she realized that Ken must have planned everything. She blows a sighed and decided to follow him.

She found him sitting on the bench near the lake. He's staring at the lake so deep in his thought.

"Are you all right?" she asked and sat next to him.

Ken snaked an arm around her waist but, his eyes remained staring at the lake.

"It's nice to be here with you. I hope we can do this every weekend. it's peaceful" he spoke in a melodious tone.

Novie smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

"We can go here again next week, and the week after that, but we should bring the triplets and maybe even Daniella" she offered.

"Novie, didn't you heard me when I said peaceful?" he asked.

Novie giggled and slapped his leg, "Why? don't you want to be around Daniella and her kids?" she asked.

Ken sighed before replying, "She just… always busy leaving her kids with someone. I grew up without my mom and my father barely cares about me. So I know how they felt and she and Evan seem to not care. Why are they so busy?" he replied.

Novie fell in silent. She knows the reason why and, it's all because she doesn't want to take the throne. Daniella had explained everything to her. She knows it's selfish of her to not help but, she couldn't take a huge responsibility such us ruling the country.

"Ken, remember the night my parents told me the truth?" she spoke in a serious tone while her hand reached to his.

"What about it?" he asked.

"Daniella was in the room that night, she told me everything including the past memory she'd seen in your eyes." she hesitated and weight his reaction.

When Ken didn't respond she continued.

"Daniella and Evan are in Aldovia right now. She said there's an organization that wants her and Danny but, she couldn't find where they are or their purpose." she continued.

"What is the connection between you and her enemy? She made a lot of people angry. If she didn't dismantle my organization, then we will have extra protection but, no. She has a trust issue which made it hard for us to hire someone." Ken scoffed in disbelief.

"I know, she told me that. That's why she didn't tell you that she got everything out of her control. I am not sure if you are aware but, there are people in Aldovia who wants me and my family dead. And those same people and the organization who was after Daniella somehow teamed up and she has been trying to find their location and connection. She said it was too hard for her so she asked me if I can get the throne and use the resources to find them" she sighed and buried her face to her hand.

"I know she needs that power but, I don't want. I want a simple life and when she said it's fine I felt guilty." her voice cracked down. She has been holding it for some time, even though Daniella said it was all right, she knows it is not.

"You mean?" Ken lifted her face and looked at her. His eyes swayed with emotion she could not explain. Those emotions, it's full of confusion and fear, but she knows it's not for her, those eyes were worried for Daniella's sake.

"Yes, Ken. Daniella was busy because of me. Because I refused to help her" She started sobbing but, at the same time she felt relief that everything finally got out of her chest.

"That crazy short-legged woman. I want to kill her for being so stupid" Ken gnashed his jaw, rage flowed in his body.

"Why does she do this? Why can't she be a normal freaking housewife" he was confused and guilty. If he had only known that Daniella was not around her kids because of him, he shouldn't have asked Selena to put the triplets in the orphanage.

He got up with both hands clenched in anger, "I made a mistake Novie, I put the triplets in the orphanage. We need to go and get them back" he was about to leave when Novie pulled his hand.

"You did… what?" Novie was speechless. She knew something was off when Ken told him about the triplets. During the travel, Ken avoided the triplets topic and now she knows why.

"I am sorry. It was a mistake. I didn't know that Daniella and Evan..." Ken was interrupted when Novie turned her back.

"Ken, let's go back. We need to get the triplets before Daniella finds out. Oh my God! she'll be heartbroken" Novie marched to the penthouse leaving Ken behind.

Minutes later, they got into the car and drove their way back to the city in silence. There was no funny conversation or anything unlike earlier. Just the sound of the car and the radio playing a song.