"I love you, Dylan. Why can't you love me back?" asked Charity again while they had gone out for lunch."Charity, you are beautiful. So many of her men will love you if you give them a chance. As for me, I have someone else I love."Dylan was trying his best to remain calm. But this woman was getting on his nerves.She and his bloody grandfather had drugged him and they were acting normal like nothing had happened. Well, he'll play along with their games till he gets married."Is it because of the woman of that day? Do you know her?""Yes, I do. And we're getting married.""What? Married? Are you joking?""I'm not."Charity let out a loud throaty laughter that earned them the looks and stares of others in the restaurant.This was another thing he disliked about Charity. She was too loud and embarrassing, even when they were in a public place.He didn't even know why she had asked him to meet her in this cheap restaurant which had many people, rather than the expensive restaurant with
Ariel knocked on Maddie's door for the fifth time, and there was still no response. Yet she knew her best friend was around and was indoors. She tried the doorbell again to see if it would work this time, but it didn't."Shit. Maddie should have changed this fucking doorbell. Maddie! We're going to be late for work! I'm not getting scolded by the boss anymore because of you!" she called.There was no answer.Maddie was a new friend she had made at work. She had become a very close friend of hers when she discovered they lived next door to each other.Ariel and Maddie usually went to work together. Ariel would always come to Maddie's house with her son Paul, and they would leave in Maddie's car and drive to his school.After they dropped him off at school, they'd drive to their office, which was a minute's walk from Paul's school.Now it was three minutes past eight, and the class usually started at eight-thirty, yet Maddie, whom Ariel knew was inside because of the light reflecting fr
Ariel sighed heavily after checking her time again as she sat on her friend's bed.She looked at Maddie, annoyed.“Maddie, we’re going to be late for work. And my kid's going to be mate to his daycare center. We were already late by the time I came here.”“Just give me a few minutes, Bestie. A girl's always got to smell nice and fresh.”Maddie finished dressing, and they hurried outside with Paul. Then they drove to Paul's school.It was a daycare, not far from where Ariel worked. She had made sure he enrolled in a place that wasn't far from where she worked so she could conveniently drop and pick him up.Paul's teacher was waiting at the gate to usher the kids in. She was a woman with strawberry blond hair and soft features- the perfect look for someone who loves children. She was Penelope and Paul's favorite teacher. Paul's eyes widened when he saw Penelope standing by the gate, waving to her vigorously. “Aunty! Aunty!”Penelope turned to look in his direction and was equally happ
As if that was not enough, every time, the following day, Ariel and Paul had to leave very early to prepare for work and school and would not see each other till night or the following day. So Ariel could not bond with Paul.She hoped Paul would not grow up to hate her and that he would understand she was working so much to care for him.She had also promised herself Paul would go to college as she couldn't. She would not let him end up like her.The reason why she had to work so many jobs was also because she did not go to college and, therefore, could not secure a nice-paying job.A tear fell from Ariel's eyes as she got to her workplace.Ariel and Maddie arrived at their work and got to office duties. Ariel, working as a sales clerk, was very diligent in her work and was one of the best workers in her department.She spent all her time working, and she did not have many friends at work.Tomorrow was a Saturday, the only she was free. On Sunday, she had another part-time job she did
“I'm so sorry I don't spend enough time with you. I…I don't play with you enough. It's just work. I have to work so much, honey. I don't want you to lack anything just because you don't have a father,” she said, not knowing if he even understood what she was saying.“Why is Mommy crying?” Paul asked.Ariel said nothing and continued to cry. Her poor son did not deserve such a useless mother. But then he has a father. Wait, he has a father now.Ariel raised her head and held her son's face.“Paul, would you like to meet your daddy?”“My daddy? I have Daddy?”“Yes, you have a Daddy. You will meet your Daddy! Your Daddy wants to meet you too!” Ariel said, the realization hitting her.Ariel had not let Dylan see Paul yet as she did not trust him. He had sent her child support – a hefty sum last week and she had not spent any part of it, hoping to save it for his future education. But now that she was getting married to his actual father and his father was loaded…It meant her son
Dylan eyed Esther, Ariel’s mother closely.This was his future mother-in-law. He had to charm her.“Good morning Mrs. Esther. I'm Dylan, your future son-in-law.”“What?!” Esther and Ariel shouted in unison. “What does he mean by that?” Esther asked her daughter.Before Ariel could speak, Dylan said;“I and your daughter are getting married.”Esther was shocked. “Ariel, is this true?”“Well…”Ariel glared at Dylan. This idiot! Why did he have to say that? She had not even told her mom anything!Dylan looked at her with an expression that said 'You can't deny it now can you?'“Yes, I and Dylan are getting married. He's the father of my child and we intend for us to be a complete family” she finally said, earning the grin of Dylan and the gasp of Esther.“What? Why didn'Do you tell me? Your own mother?”“It's not like that…”“I know we have not always been on good terms, my daughter. But, I thought you had at least warmed up to me. You could at least tell me.”‘They had not always bee
They spotted a stand where they were selling cute headbands. Dylan purchased a rabbit-eared one that Paul liked and a matching one for himself. He wanted to buy one for Ariel too but she refused.Dylan and Paul wore the headbands on their heads. Ariel took one look at Dylan and burst out laughing.“Why are you laughing?” he asked.“You look so funny with that on your head. It's such a contrast.”Dylan smiled at her words but said nothing, still holding Paul in his hands.“What about me, Mummy? Do I look good?” Paul piped.Ariel pinched Paul's cheek playfully. “You look very cute, my love. Like a prince!”“Yay!!!!”Dylan spotted an empty chair near where they were and suggested they go to it.“Here, let's sit,” Dylan said, gesturing to an empty bench right in front of the spinning group of ponies.“Thank you,”Ariel looked around, observing the events of the day. She and Dylan did not talk. They sat silently, watching the events unfold while eating the beef and chips. Paul on the othe
But the carnival was soon over, and she had to go.Dylan drove her back to her apartment. It was 3:00 AM.They stepped out of the car. Paul was asleep in Dylan's arms.“He's so adorable even when he’s asleep,” Dylan said, looking lovingly at his son.Ariel smiled.“Yes. He looks just like you.”“Oh.”Ariel looked at Dylan for a long time before saying.“Thank you. For everything.”Dylan nodded and smiled, handing her Paul as gently as he could so as not to wake him up.“It's okay. Don't forget to show up for our wedding next week.”“I will.”They looked at each other for a minute longer, and then Ariel exited the car and walked into her house, carrying a sleeping Paul.Dylan watched her walk away from his car until she was no longer in sight. Then he drove away.The next day, Ariel went to work on her Sunday job and spent a few hours there before going to her friend's house, Kira.Yes, she and Kira had maintained contact all these years and were still best friends.However, Kira sudde
Ariel stood at the door of the mansion watching Dylan button up his suits again, his bodyguards waiting patiently for him by my car.He came towards her."How do I look?" he asked, smiling.She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips.He chuckled."I don't need you to say any words. Your actions have confirmed to me that you think I do look good."" Yes. Actions speak louder than words."He turned to leave to go, but Ariel held his arm and pulled him back. Then she wrapped her arms around his firm waist and pouted at him.He chuckled again."Baby, I know you don't want me to leave, but this trip is necessary. I have to close a deal with a multinational company. It is for the betterment of the company. I hope you will understand.""I know the trip is necessary, Yet I do not want to let you go."Ariel still held onto him."I don't want you to go. Must you go yourself? Can't you send someone else?""I can't," I said, gently removing her hands from my waist.Dylan took her fa
'I should have brought more,' Ariel thought when she saw how the things she brought were almost finished and how so many others had not collected any food or blankets.She immediately phoned her guards and ordered them to bring more food and clothing.She was also planning to get these homeless people a new building so they would not have to stay on the streets. Dylan on the other hand supported her in the way he could. He told her often that he was proud of her efforts and sometimes showed up at her fundraising events to make more people come and invest as well, given his popularity."Thank you so much!" the homeless people said to Ariel and Maggie.They were all so grateful.One older woman held her hand and prayed for her. Another homeless person, a young boy, gave her a flower she was sure he had seen at the side of the road."A beautiful flower for a beautiful woman," he said, looking at her with awe. He could not have been more than two years older than Paul."Awww. Thank you so
Ariel and Maggie were out in the streets together when she received Dylan's call.They had been in the streets to do some work.Earlier that day, Maggie had come into the house to pick Ariel up.Dylan on the other hand had left to go see his mother."Ariel! Where are you?! Must you be late everywhere?!" Maggie, cried one Wednesday Afternoon."Coming!"Maggie and Ariel had both attended the same high school and even college. Yet, they had never been friends and they had only become friends when they met again at work!The company where Ariel worked, after receiving a lot of investment from Ariel who now had access to her father's wealth, became more successful. Ariel had become a Director of a company. No one saw that coming.Ariel became a shareholder of the company and made her friend Maggie, a manager.The click-clack of Ariel's stiletto heels filled up the hallways as she walked. All the people in the hallways turned their heads to see who was making so much noise."Good morning Dir
Dylan and his mom had coffee together, where they discussed many things."I have breast cancer."The moment she said that his heart burst into pieces.'No, no, I just got her back.'"Are you saying you have cancer, Mom?" Dylan asked.Denise started to cry again."Yes, my son. I have cancer, and the doctor told me I have only a few months to live."His chest felt tight, and he suddenly could not breathe."So why are you here? You should be receiving treatment in the hospital!" he exclaimed, grabbing her hand.She smiled so sweetly at him his heart melted."Dylan, I want to spend my last days with you. That is why I'm here. I don't want to die without at least spending my last months with my son."Tears rose in his eyes. His dad was dead. He could not let his mom die as well."Don't cry, son. Such is life.""Mom, if there's anything I can do. Is there anything that I can do at all? Isn't there any?""Yes, there is something you can do. You can borrow me some money to begin the treatment
The weekend was over, and Dylan was back to work. So it meant double work and more extended hours in the office.Because of the issues with his brother and Charity, he has been away from work for a long time. Now that he was back, he had so much to do.The uproar that the public had had as a result of their discovering the truth about his grandfather and other families involved in the drug trade had begun to die down. Yet it still caused a bit of negative press towards the company. Many partners had even pulled out from the company so as not to be associated with a corporation his grandfather had used to traffic drugs and launder money.Dylan sighed heavily as he realized he had to do it all himself.None of his family members who were even still mad at him for exposing their grandfather helped in running the company.Another thing that was being talked about the most was that Dylan was now the real face of the Grey family. With his grandfather in jail and his brother dead, he was now
Dylan was enraged."I can kill you here and now!" he threatened.Charity laughed in his face."You and I know you can't try it. If you do, you will never see your beloved wench again. So tread carefully."Dylan let her go after that."Goodbye, my love," Charity said mockingly and got into a cab she had flagged down.Dylan watched her drive away, clenching his jaw.When the car was out of sight, Dylan brought out the tracking app his tech friends had installed on his phone. He had attacked Charity simply to put a GPS tracker on her.He watched Charity's location move to a site on the outskirts of town. It seemed that was where she was hiding Ariel. He brought out his second cell phone and called his men."Hello, boys. It's been a long, but I have a job for you."Ariel woke up in a dark place, her throat parched.She sat up, unable to fathom what was going on. It felt like she was in an enclosed space, and she did not know how to get out."How did I get here?" she asked herself.She cou
But if you keep your mouth shut and act like nothing happened, your secret is safe with me. At least for now. Do we have a deal?"Charity nodded. Ariel laughed.Then she pushed Charity back to the floor and left the apartment. Charity sobbed as she left, hoping she would not return. She didn't know Ariel was this crazy.Ariel laughed as she walked out of the house. Charity is stupid enough to think she would just let her go after killing her mother. That is very funny of her.This was just the beginning. She was going to get her revenge on all of them. They made her and her son and husband miserable and she was no longer going to sit back and watch them continue to take. She held out the card Cole had given her and wondered what to do with it.Dylan and Rhodes finally found Marcus. He was hiding in an old office in another city while the police were looking all over for him."I can't believe this fucker is still hiding in the country. Where did he get that many resources to hide so pe
Ariel recalled the sound of her mother's laughter, like a melody that could lift even the heaviest hearts. She described her love for nature, recounting memoriesThe room was filled with tears and bittersweet smiles - a tapestry of emotions woven together by memories of a woman who had touched many lives.As Ariel finished speaking, she looked at the mournful faces before her, each person united in their grief and love for Mom. She saw her mother's friends and a few relatives she had kept in touch with, their tears flowing freely as they nodded in understanding. She noticed her husband's family's slumped shoulders and sad looks, and she was a bit confused about whether they were sincere or just fake.Through it all, she felt the support and presence of the community that had rallied around them throughout their long goodbye.As the memorial service drew to a close, Ariel invited anyone who wished to share their memories of Mom to come forward. One by one, family members and friends st
Not even when Ariel's closest friends- Kira and Maggie wanted to talk did she agree to discuss Mom.Kira encouraged her to speak about her."It will help you in your grief," she said.But Ariel said nothing. It was as if speaking about her dying was admitting that her mother had truly died. That she was truly gone. She could not accept that she'd never see her again.So she said nothing.It was only one rainy morning that she finally spoke of Mom.She was in her kitchen trying to make some breakfast for myself- an omelet.She was cooking the egg with too much force, and it fell to the floor. She hurried to pick it up, but it had some dirt smeared.The omelet falling on the floor reminded her of a scene from years ago when she had wanted to learn how to make an omelet.After making the omelet, Ariel rushed to her mom to show her but slipped and fell. The omelet fell to the ground."Sorry about this," Ariel apologized about the egg."Oh…It is okay," Mom replied, "I don't think you can s