Dalmi rushed towards the hallway and forcibly closed the door, turning the lock on as she rested her back against the hardwood, her hand patting her chest as she tried to calm her heartbeats down. It was as if someone was chasing after her that she was catching her breath.
With deep sighs, she turned towards her vanity and slump. In front of her was her large mirror. She put her palms on her cheeks, tapping them as if the redness would vanish.
After parking her car, Dalmi unbuckled her seat belts and reached for her bag to get her lipstick, and glide in lightly on her lips. She sprayed some perfume on her wrist and neck before opening her car's door.In her hand were two cups of coffee and on the other was her handbag. With her two-inched scarpin heels, she strides the way to the tower's lobby."Good Afternoon, Mrs. Thompson!"
"Come again?" Carden furrowed his brows and put down his coffee, pouring all his attention to his wife.Dalmi, in her crossed arms and a straight face, repeated. "I want to work in your company.""Yeah, I heard that! I mean, why did you suddenly decided about this? I didn't expect it from you since–"
"Girl, why are you here?" Jackie, in his fake, annoyed expression, spoke. He was standing right in front of Dalmi, the door of the bar behind him, and his hand holding the steel knob."Why do you sound like you aren't pleased upon seeing me?" Dalmi retorted."You didn't even call me, so why would I be pleased?" he rolled his eyes and opened the glass door for her.Dalmi glanced at the glass, catching a glimpse at the tranquil and gorgeous sky.The sun was still up, but the red and yellow hues of clouds started to create the golden hour. Dalmi would've enjoyed this view in their penthouse's veranda, but she was here.The entire place would've been silent, only if her best friend didn't nag much about her surprise visit.She slumped on a high stool on the bar counter and combed her hair using her fingers."You've got nothing to do with this place, girl. Why'd you bother to go?" Jackie sneered. "And where is your husband? I will be beyon
"You can just ask him to do it with you, Dalmi! No need to exert a lot of effort to seduce Carden." Jackie acted like he was flipping his hair and sat in front of Dalmi."No! You don't understand! We have been married for a month. If he wants to do it, he would! It would be embarrassing if I would initiate it!" Dalmi drank another shot, pouring all her frustrations on it as she thinks of how to seduce her husband.She closed her eyes. Why did she suddenly think of those things? She was sure she doesn't like him. As far as she could remember, she stuck on her mind not to be involved with that man's life.Carden was way too far from his brother. Casimir was better than the older, and if only she wasn't married to him, she would still come after that man. Now that he talks to him and smiles at him, it would be more comfortable.But with Carden...she feels different. Every time he was around, and their skin would touch, she feels something burning. Her heart
Carden's gaze swiveled to the whole room. The bland walls of the waiting area added to the coldness he could feel from his fingertips. He bit his lips and closed his eyes, gently rubbing his palms on his knees as he silently prayed for the result of his tests.The calmness of the air inside the room and the awkward noise coming from the air-conditioner and ultrasound machine slowly brought fear in his veins, making his breathing ragged as he began to chant in whispers.
“Carden, do you want to sleep with me?” Dalmi’s sultry voice rang in the man’s ear. She pulled herself up and stood in front of Carden, tilting her head as she tries to take a peek at his husband’s reaction.“Why was it so hot? My skin felt itchy.” Dalmi trailed her fingers on her arms, her other hand reached for the hem of her dress to pull it upwards when Carden stopped her.He held her hand. A faint light coming from the small gap between the door and wall gave the woman a chance to see his expression. His bloodshot eyes felt like a knife piercing through her. It was too sharp, it could almost throw daggers at her. His prominent jaw was clenching hard and tight, his low breaths telling her he didn’t like what she said.“Why? I want to remove it, it’s uncomfortable,” she said and tries to remove his hand from her, but he pushed her at the edge of the bed, making her sit as he stood in front of h
Ever since he realized he was already a man and he could take any woman, he said to himself he would never take advantage of a drunk woman, no matter who she is.The image of a woman standing inches away from him, with her slow breaths and sultry eyes made his throat go dry, but he couldn’t even respond to what she just said.With Dalmi’s soft hand and small touches, Carden could feel his body temperature rising. He was sobber, and he was also sure he didn’t take any alcohol before going to that bar to take this woman home, but he felt so drunk with her blue pair of orbs. Her eyes seemed so clear, like a mirror where he could see what he feels.He wanted to embrace her. The moment her lips brushed on his earlier, he wanted to make it deeper. He wanted more, but he swore to himself not to break any promises.“You asked what you should do to make me stop...” Dalmi stood on her heels and played with the ha
The morning light shot through Carden’s face, waking him up from his deep slumber. The first golden rays of sunlight stained the calm blue clouds, peeking through his room as he rubbed his eyes.He wanted to stretch his arm, but just when he was about to raise it, he realized there was a weight lying above it. Carden glanced at his left and saw Dalmi’s resting face. Some of her hair strands were scattered along her face, and her breathing was low.Carden smiled and moved his face forward, maintaining some inches apart but enough for him to see her face clearly. His fingers, with a mind of their own, tucked her hair behind her ear and cupped her face.Dalmi looked like a baby when she sleeps. Her eyelashes were thick and long, her nose was straight with freckles complementing its bridge and some areas of her cheeks. Her lips were also pinker than what he could remember.Although Carden wanted to hold her waist and hug her, he was afraid he would wake h
Hi. This is the end of the story. Thank you for reading!EpilogueCarden Thompson’s POV“And the winner of this competition is….” the drum rolls made my heart thump fast. My eyes were too focused on the contestants that lined up on the stage as I watched how Cadmus Thompson waved his arm while holding a trophy by his hand.Holding my wife’s hand beside me, I dragged her towards the stage and stood beside my little boy as the official photographer’s camera flashed multiple times. The flashes were shocking, but endurable enough.We are inside Cadmus’ school in Chicago and he joined a poster making contest. I hadn’t thought about it much, but out of all the talents he could have
Chapter 143: When They Thought Things were fixed “This is why I don’t trust you, Carden. I don’t want my child to marry someone as incompetent as you.” The way the old lady said it to him felt like it was a dagger sent to his chest. To hear his wife’s mother those words were too painful to swallow, and his mind couldn't accept. “You...don’t trust me? Auntie, I was just worried about my son!” “Because you know you cannot protect him! You know you can’t protect your family because you are incompetent! I already knew you are that kind of man when I met you!” Carden had never thought that Dalmi’s mother could be like this. Never in his entire life, he had imagined for one of the
Chapter 142: I Didn’t Know You Can Do ThatDalmi’s whole body froze. Cold sweat numbed her fingers, and her heart hammered fast.“D-Denver is w-what?” as if she suddenly became deaf, she tapped her ears with her hands.“D-Denver is missing, Dalmi-”“How the hell would that happen, Carden? You were with him!” she yelled when it dawned on her. She was expecting the man to deny it, or to say that he was just joking and would laugh, but she was wrong!Her eyes turned sharp, and her cheeks burned in anger. “Tell me you are joking right now, Carden! Bring him to me or you’ll never want to experience my anger!&rd
Chapter 141: Where is He?“Mommy! When will Daddy come to pick us up?” Denver pouted his lips and forcibly leaned his back on the couch. It was a Saturday morning and Carden was promised to bring him to the mall and play.It has been a month since that night, and everything was going smoothly. She thought the man was just joking and that he only said it to her because they finished making love, but after a week, with a velvet box and diamond ring in his hand, he proposed to her.It was the second time that they will get married but at that very moment, it felt like it was the first...and it really was. Because they started at a forced marriage and although they had an engagement, there was no love and meaning behind it compared to how it was at that time.Until now, she couldn't believe that she would once again marry Carden Thompson. In a span of a week, the preparations started. The first week became busier than she thought, for it was the t
Chapter 140Carden crossed his arms as he leaned his back at the wall. It was past eleven, and Denver and Dalmi were already in a deep slumber; however, he still couldn’t get himself to sleep.He was standing on Dalmi’s veranda, his back leaning on the wall and his eyes gazing at the deep, night sky. His disheveled hair kept on dancing with the cold wind as if it was upbeat music that won’t stop his hair from moving sideways, but he didn’t mind, for the only thing he wanted right now was to enjoy the peacefulness of the night.Up until now, he still couldn't believe that everything was falling into their right places. Denver accepted him as his father, he and Dalmi were fine...and they’re gonna sleep on the same roof tonight. It felt nostalgic and surreal, like a dream...and he was scared it might be taken away once he wakes up tomorrow because he didn’t want to fall asleep.“I thought you were asleep,” he s
Chapter 139Carden Thompson’s eyes widened when the kid held on to the hem of his shirt.“Are you going to go here again tomorrow?” he asked with his puppy eyes, as though he was telling him to say yes.Did Carden hear it right? Did Denver really call him his daddy or he was just dreaming?“Can you...can you repeat what you just said earlier?” he said. His eyes are still wide from the shock as he glimpsed at Dalmmi who also mirrored what he felt right now.Ecstasy, shock, disbelief...all of it was mixed up in his heart that he didn't know how he would react.“I am asking if you wil
Chapter 138“Mommy! Someone ate my Banana Split!” Denver cried and gripped the white comforter. Tears cascading down his chubby cheeks as his face reddened in anger.“I asked Yaya Linda to find it in the refrigerator but she said there was nothing!”No matter how she tried to act like she was sad about his loss, she couldn't. The kid just said that he didn’t like it in front of Carden, now that he was gone, he was searching for it?“I thought you don’t like it? Why are you asking Yaya to find it for you?” She wanted to laugh, but she knew her child would cry more if she did so she just touched his hair, pushing it upwards to see the whole of his face.
Chapter 137Dalmi’s jaw dropped when she saw how Denver put the spoon down and crossed his arms like a grown-up man. The kid, who obviously looked like he enjoyed the first two scoops when he was tasting it, now looked as though he had tasted the worst banana split he ever had.“I-is he serious?” She shifted her gaze towards Carden who just picked up the spoon and sat at the seat where Denver sat earlier. He picked a portion of the desert and acted as if she was now in front of him.“Carden! Aren’t you offended that your child didn’t like what you did?” she furrowed her brows. If her son was already weird, she already knew that he got it from his father. Instead of thinking as to why Denver had to walk out, he just eats the leftovers! She glared at him.“Why? Should I be sad that Denver walked out?”“Yes! He just said he doesn’t like it!” she retorted and crossed her arms.
Chapter 136“No! Papa Johannes is my father!” the kid’s yell made Dalmi go back to reality. She was then, in gape and shock of the sudden revelation earlier, and seeing how her son ran away from them made her heart hurt.“Denver!” She called and was about to chase after him when he realized that Craden didn’t stand up and that he was still standing on his knees.“Carden, I’m sorry... i'll try to talk to him and explain things,” she said in a troubled voice and sighed. “I told you we can’t just say this to him in a rush, I know Denver would freak out…” she shook her head.But the man just let out a burst of low laughter before he stood up and clapped his hand to clear off the dust.“I don’t want to lie, Dalmi...I am hurt, but I will never give up on him. I promise I will wash off every memory from that man until he accepts me as his father.”That