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 shook his hand, and smiled, “Yes, I'm Ariel. How did you know?”“Well, Kira told me her best friend would be around, and with the way she describes you, I know it's you. You’re beautiful just like she said. How are you doing?” Marcus said, staring into her eyes with his piercing gaze.“I'm fine,” Ariel said, trying to break the handshake but Marcus clung to her hand.“Can you let go of my hand, sir?”“Oh sorry, my bad,” Marcus said, taking his hands off hers.The way he was looking at Ariel made her feel uneasy and she knew he had held onto her hand deliberately.Ariel looked at him again. He had a lot of resemblance to someone she knew but she could not quite place a finger on who the person was.Daisy looked at them with anger, jealous that he was giving Ariel.“Maybe you were not the one who saved me then,” Daisy said to Max, “You might look like him. But anyway, it's still nice to meet you! Kira has told me so much about you!”Kira looked at Daisy, confused.“Have I?”Daisy
This was his every-event routine now. Since he was appointed CEO, he has always had to answer all questions about the company. Of course, he sometimes didn't have the time, but more often than not, he did.Dylan's mother had abandoned him at birth, so he was raised solely by his father. Even though he often wished for a mother, he never felt her absence. After all, there were more than enough people to keep him company. His father had more than enough domestic servants, and being a rich kid in school, he always had a lot of friends.He often wondered where his mother was, what she looked like, why she had abandoned him. He was curious, yet he never asked his father. He knew Cirrus was trying his best already and that he had enough things to worry about.His father was a businessman and a prominent state member, so he was busy most of the time. Dylan always complained about this, so his father found a way to make it up to him. He would take him to amusement parks, the beach, and someti
Ariel woke up late in the morning, to the chirping of birds on the huge coconut tree that stood beside her bedside window.She stretched and yawned, her bones aching. Last night she had stayed up late and worked all through, hoping to finish her projects on time. Sitting in one position, writing, and typing, must have been what was making her body ache this much.She left the bed and stretched, then went into the shower room to have her shower. She stepped out a few minutes later, dressed up, and went down the stairs.She could smell the sweet smell of her favorite meal before even getting to the dining table. She was hungry, but she was late for work, she was not sure she could wait to have breakfast with her Mom this morning.She spotted her Mom laying dishes on the table for breakfast. Paul was playing with a toy airplane Dylan had bought for him.He had bought a lot of toys for him. Dylan now visited his son regularly. After the day they spent at the amusement park, he had visited
Marcus, Dylan's stepbrother, walked into the fancy mansion of his grandfather. Grandfather Grey was in the sitting room, a newspaper on his lap, looking out of the window. He looked despaired.“Grandfather?”“Marcus? What are you doing here?”“Why? Can't I come to visit my beloved grandfather again?”Grandpa Grey chuckled bitterly.“I know you want something. Or do you have something to tell me?”Marcus laughed, taking the seat opposite his grandfather and crossing his legs.“I didn't say you could sit,” Grandpa Grey said sternly.“You wouldn’t say the same thing to Dylan.”Grandpa Grey rubbed his hands on his forehead, frustrated.“Please don't start. If you are going to start whining about how I always favor Dylan above you and that I should give you the company, don't do it. I've had enough of hearing that for over two decades.”Marcus tightened his fists, hurt by Grandpa Grey's words but he held back himself and forced a smile.“As much as I would like to say that. I'm here for s
Dylan sat in his office, working on his laptop. He had some deadlines to meet that he had put off for too long. He would have given this work to his assistant but he could not trust anyone else with it. He checked his watch. It was half past four. An hour more and he would be done with it. Afterward, he would go see Paul and Ariel. A smile crept over his face.The thought of seeing his son and his mother again made him feel giddy and excited, one emotion he had not felt in a long time. He had come to love spending time with them, and having the experience of a loving father, helped him relate with his son more.He also thought about Ariel. He wanted to see her again. Though they didn't talk much, they still had a fun time discussing with each other.Lately, he has been enjoying their conversations. Ariel was very eloquent and she articulated her ideas well whenever she spoke with him. The way she opened her mouth and how her eyes brightened when she spoke about the topics she loved, m
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