Dalia’s POV“What’s wrong?” I asked my Dad and Stephanie.Stephanie shook her head out of her frozen state. “You simply look stunning...”Dad still stared. Then his gaze narrowed down on my baby bump. “I hope the baby is fine.”Is that all they have to say? “Is that all?” I asked incredulously. If that is all they have to say, I am going to change this outfit.Stephanie sighs, picking up a broom to sweep the mess Dad made with his carrots. “You look different. Not the Dalia I know.”I wondered if it was the bad kind of different or the good type of different. “Dad?” I am a bit disappointed at their reactions. I expected my Dad to tell me I look dashing or something! But all I see on his face is a shadow and Stephanie's shock and confusion? No matter how they try to cover it. “Go Dalia. What was I expecting you to wear for a fashion show?” he cleared his throat and I frowned deeper.Any more than this will cause my makeup to crack. I know these people won’t want that. “I have a feeling
Eros’ POVI smiled at the happy faces beneath me. I can see the love sick look in the ladies eyes and the envy in the men’s eyes. They should be looking at me this way. There is no one who can revive a company in three days. I owe Dalia a debt.But the way she is looking at me...I don’t like it. I can see the hatred in her eyes and there is nothing I can do to quench the fire behind it. She must have been confused when the lights shone on her. She would never prepare for the surprise I have for her.“There she is,” I smile and the crowd cheers her up. The moment she stepped out of the white sleek car I sent, I nearly drooled at her revealing dress.I know I had been naughty, choosing such a dress for a pregnant woman. But Dalia doesn’t look shabby as a pregnant woman. She glowed. I could see how embarrassed she was when the paparazzi followed us. At some point, she tried to adjust the bralet.I had to stop her before she made a fool of herself. Even now, she is trying to hide hersel
“And you,” Dalia heard suddenly. It was none other than her soon to be mother in law.“What did he offer you huh? Wealth? Fame?” Gaia asked with a condescending tone. She was practically eating Dalia up with her eyes. It wasn’t in a good way.There we go again... Dalia thought. “He didn’t offer me anything.” She glanced at Eros who was paying attention. He left me for the wolves... “We love each other.”That caught the attention of his siblings as the one with brown hair chuckled. “Bullshit! Eros loves no one but himself. He is a selfish man and we are used to it already.” Then she went back to her phone.“Echo, the kids are here! How many times have I told you never to use swear words...” The lady who stood beside the man began to rebuke but the brown haired woman, Echo? Snorted.“Oh please. Tell that to those kids right there.” She huffed before tapping furiously on her phone.“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Does it?” The handsome man in tuxedo chirped in.“Know your plac
Eros’ POV“She wishes to speak with you.” Betty whispered in my ears. I don’t know why she is behaving like this but I guess that’s how ladies do.I hope she isn’t jealous. Our relationship was just hanging loose by a thread but now I have forgiven her...I think we are good and she knows that.I turned to Dalia and I could see the hurt in her eyes. She is trying to hide it so much but I can tell by the way she is looking at me.I can’t choose her over my friend. Or maybe I don’t want to. I give her a nod and leave. It’s been fun with her. I laughed as hard as I could before I left her presence. Not even Betty can make me the happiest.Thirty years of hard work and hard love made me into who I am today.Dalia is slowly breaking the hard shells. I can’t say that I like those changes. I don’t hate it either. It took a second for Betty to remind me that Dalia and I weren't in the same league. These were my thoughts as I allowed Betty to lead the way.She was already used to my being popu
Eros’ POVI clear my throat to hide my surprise. Brewery company? What has she been up to these days? I glare at her with knowing eyes. She doesn’t even look at me. This catches Mrs. Lacoste’s attention as she looks from me to Betty.“Alright. Tell me about it.” She simply walks off and Betty runs after her. She subtly turns to me with a wink and I give her thumbs up.Mrs. Lacoste seems to find what she is looking for. I would speak to her later but now, my mysterious sister awaits me.I stepped into the private elevator that led to Hera’s room. As part of the family, she had access to any of the rooms. She never agrees to stay for free.What a show off. I huff as the elevator doors open and I see the guards at the hallway.Just great. What secret does she want to leak now?“Knock on her door three times and she will open.” One of the guards throws at me. He points at the deep brown mahogany door and I sigh.Why do Hera love making me obey her command before getting to her? She must e
She was the mysterious and weird one among the others. If I could choose the sister I loved the most? It would be Hera. Although she doesn't need to hear it from me. And she must have an idea it is her which is why she derives pleasure in messing with me."I've seen your wife. She is pretty. We didn't have time to talk as Mother once again took the spotlight." She sighs gently. I barely heard anything as she gracefully sat on the three seater opposite me. "Dalia? Yeah.. she is pretty.." I trailed off as a flash of her disappointed face ran through my mind. I should apologise to her later. Hera snaps her fingers, bringing me back to her. "You like her! I thought the things you said was for show,"I shook my head. "They weren't for show. I truly admire her..""..and like her." Hera completed for me in amusement. "Mother hates her already and father? I am sure he is already scheming something wicked."I subtly shuddered at Hera's words. She was right. Father would be plotting something
Eros' PoV"What? What suffering?" She muttered in a low voice. "You don't know anything, Eros. I don't need you to tell me about my flaws like you did in the last meeting. Besides, how did that go for you? You had better watch your back and…" she continued to ramble on. I could see her trying to hide her trembling fingers."Shut up and let me finish." I snap at her talkativeness. She must be trying to get me angry so that I would stop. "I remember everything now, Hera. At least you tried your best." I smile sadly. "You didn't like the way we were going and the only thing you could do was cry. Hence your nickname."Hera audibly swallowed. "I didn't do anything. Don't praise me for nothing.."I raise my hands up to stop her. She has to forgive me for talking to her this way but, "You tried to and father nearly chipped your lips off. I saw it."Her eyes widened in surprise. "You-you saw?" She stuttered in confusion. "Is that why you threw my ice pack away and.." Her eyes glistened with u
“Right under our noses! How dare you?” Another screamed and Dalia covered her ears. She wondered where the security guards were. Her thoughts were cut short as her bralet was tugged upon.They were hell bent on disgracing her.Dalia could only do one thing. She placed both hands on her belly as if to shield the baby from physical abuse.“What gutter did you come out from? I can’t find anything about you online. Who are you?” A woman in red asked curiously. She didn’t join the others to lay her hand on Dalia because of Eros.She has tasted first hand of how revengeful Eros can be. Her brother told her all about it. Up till today, she can’t get her brother to tell her who it was that caused this. But this woman must be the one.She must be the one Eros West is protecting.Dalia winced as her bralet was tugged. She too was struggling but she still found a way to glare at the woman. “I am Dalia Thompson. I have always been Dalia Thompson, nothing more and nothing
Dalia's POVThe days went by pretty fast. One afternoon, I was in the hospital, and the next, we were on our way to the West mansion. Eros didn't have to send a message like he usually did."You didn't leave the baby in the house, did you?" I asked Eros who looked better than he did a month ago. He barked out a laugh. "What? I already tucked her in."I sighed in relief. It happened sometimes because we were too preoccupied with each other. If Emily learns of this, she will take the baby from us permanently. I smiled at the thought.We were still in the first paragraph of the chapter. It was beautiful, just like I had always wanted. One time, I heard the maids discussing Betty. What she did when I wasn't around was nasty.Why would she seduce Eros? It was there that I learned that Eros had slept with her one drunken night. My heart sank at the discovery, but it was a long time ago. A long time, yet Eros hasn't said anything about it. Hold on a minute. I don't go about telling him abou
He had received the divorce papers, but they weren't signed. Good.Eros jumped at the vibration of his phone. He hoped it was good news. Then he frowned when he saw Emily plastered across the screen. He picked it up immediately. She hasn't spoken to him in a long time. He knew the reason."Dalia got into an accident. I will send you the address." She hung up and Eros panicked. He tried the number again, but it went straight to voicemail. Then the message came in. She was in Spain! He didn't mind. He would meet her anywhere. All he wanted was for her and the baby to be fine.The maids watched with hands folded as he turned the house upside down while preparing for the journey.They no longer saw Bethany Woods because they overheard Eros rejecting her during a heated moment. He said he loved Dalia and she was his wife. Betty had left with anger. Now, she has lost Eros as a friend too.***********It was a drunken mistake. Nick had swerved right into an upcoming truck. She had been lucky
It was a month until Thanksgiving. It's been two months since Dalia left the house. She didn't even take her belongings except for her phone.She had left his black card on the bed.Eros was a mess. He had gotten thinner. His eyes sank in. He was a shadow of himself. He didn't think she would take his words seriously and disappear for two months. There were no pictures, no news, nothing!His phone vibrated. It was the officer who caught the burglar months ago. Adkins. "Have you found her?""No." came his disappointing reply.It has been like that. Every call was disappointing.When Eros arrived at the office, he didn't know that all eyes were on him, watching his every mood. His staff avoided him like the plague. Not because he was angry, but because of how tired he sounded and looked."Jeez." Sara muttered under her breath. She was consoling Tracy. Her boss won't be coming to the office forever! Or so she thought. "I don't know what to do." She was thinking of calling Jeffrey, but it
It was a month until Thanksgiving. It's been two months since Dalia left the house. She didn't even take her belongings except for her phone.She had left his black card on the bed.Eros was a mess. He had gotten thinner. His eyes sank in. He was a shadow of himself. He didn't think she would take his words seriously and disappear for two months. There were no pictures, no news, nothing!His phone vibrated. It was the officer who caught the burglar months ago. Adkins. "Have you found her?""No." came his disappointing reply.It has been like that. Every call was disappointing.When Eros arrived at the office, he didn't know that all eyes were on him, watching his every mood. His staff avoided him like the plague. Not because he was angry, but because of how tired he sounded and looked."Jeez." Sara muttered under her breath. She was consoling Tracy. Her boss won't be coming to the office forever! Or so she thought. "I don't know what to do." She was thinking of calling Jeffrey, but it
The letters! Dalia mentally facepalmed. She should have kept it well. Away from Betty's hideous eyes. She thought she had them hidden.Eros' face was ashen in color and when he didn't say anything in reply, it occurred to Dalia that he already knew about it. Her heart sank deeper. She didn't think about telling him because it was nothing. Maybe when they went to the office the next-day, she would have told him about Nick. Only if he asked!A loud knock on the door pulled Dalia out of her thoughts. Eros sighed, making his way upstairs. "They are here again. Increasing by the minute all because of my foolish wife."'he called me his wife' Dalia realized with sadness. It was at that moment she knew that she fucked up. Now she has Eros in a tight spot. He may not look like it but Eros was enraged. It's just that he just apologized to her yesterday so it seemed like he was tired instead."I am sorry!" Dalia cried out. She didn't know what to say that would soothe him.Eros paused on the se
Dalia paced the room up and down. She was restless and could not place her butt somewhere. "Pick up, Emily!" She gritted out. How did it happen? Nick only grabbed her because she was about to leave! They were not doing anything like whosoever that took the picture was suggesting!Emily picked up at the third ring. "What the hell? Dalia!""Emily! What should I do? I know everyone has seen the picture. I don't think Eros should see it.""Eros should never see it. Go and see for yourself and make sure he doesn't have his phone around him."Dalia nodded, opening her door. She was down the stairs in a flash. "What should I do if he has already seen the picture?""I don't know. You love him, I don't." Emily's downcast voice dampened Dalia's spirit.Dalia could imagine her friend shrugging in helplessness. "I swear, it was a mistake!" She was still explaining to her dearest friend when she saw Eros with his phone. He wasn't looking at it but beyond it. He was looking at her. He knew about th
Dalia's POv.The next morning…I arrived just in time to see Tracy drop another letter on my desk. What is it this time around?! The letters were getting frequent! I am not in the mood for his pranks and silly antiques.I dismissed her quickly, snatching up the letter.I tore it open expecting to find cheesy lines, but I didn't see any."Come to the park by 7:00 p.m.; I have a surprise for you." Why would Eros ask me to come to the pack when he snubbed me on his way to work this morning. What surprise does he have for me? I folded the piece of paper in anger, dumping it into the trash bin.Tracy walked in with a cup of coffee. Just what I needed for my already puffy eyes. "Not in the mood? I have got just the right thing for you." She subtly eyed the dark shades sitting on my nose.I have nothing to say to her.I left work early because, I mean, who can stop me from leaving whenever I want to? Not even Eros, because I am pissed at him.The park was almost empty. It was evening, and
Dalia's POVShe was always right.My dear Emily.Why is she friends with someone as daft as me? She told me to confront Eros about Betty because she was biting more than she could chew. I have decided to take the bull by the horn today.I need to hear from his mouth whether he loves her or not. If he says he loves her, I will move out of the way, give birth to my baby, and divorce him. The baby won't have to live his life thinking he was born out of wedlock. When it comes to custody of the child, I won't allow him to get away with his misdeeds.The drive home was quiet as usual as I mused over the things Emily told me that afternoon. She expressed her anger for Betty and wished she met the bitch one more time. Her words, not mine.I entered the house to see Eros in aprons. He greeted me with a small smile, which made me confused. He has never smiled like this at me. The last time I saw him smile, only in a bigger version, was with Betty! My mood was already sour and damp."Your food m
Dalia's pOV. I found Emily later that afternoon slurping down her lunch. She had consumed two bowls already. It was noodles and boiled egg. Rosalind's Diner was an old Korean diner that specializes in homemade noodles. I almost snorted when she raised her messy face. A noodle got stuck at the side of her chin. Today she was putting on a blue belly blouse that revealed her smooth arms and palazzo jeans. From where I stood, I could see her belly button and her shaved armpit when she drank from the plate. "Eating lunch without me." Emily paused only to look at me before going back to her meal. "That's why I suggested this place." She said with mouth full. She looked wicked whenever she did that. "And I foolishly agreed with you." I turned to the woman sitting behind the counter. "A bowl of noodles and fried egg. Add extra spring onions, and chili." At the look of her confused face, I pointed at my baby bump. A look of realization clouded the form