Dalmi gulped. The man hugged her again, but this time, tighter. His warm embrace felt like he was trying to show her how afraid he had been, and how painful it was for him when he thought he'd never go home.
Those words were too short, but it already sent millions of daggers in her heart, slowly piercing through it like it.With trembling hands, she hugged him back and buried her face on his chest. She didn't care if it'd suffocate her, as long as she could feel the warmth he delivers."I'll go home, love..." she whispered, her voice almost like a feather, she didn't know if he heard it.She felt the man froze, he stopped caressing her back and she could no longer feel if he was moving. Dalmi pushed her back to see what happened to him.Stunned, Carden couldn't stop himself to stare at the teary-eyed woman in front of her. Did he hear her right?Did she really call him love? he asked himself as he cupped her face, his thumb caressing her cheeks and hisDalmi woke up with a heavy feeling. She rubbed her eyes, lifting Carden's arm away from her waist as she pulled herself up.Her head spun. She couldn't remember herself drinking last night, so she can't understand why she could feel something turning in her stomach.She massaged the sides of her forehead, her eyes shifting towards the man sleeping beside her.Dalmi felt a sudden irritation surging up inside her. Why does this man look so peaceful when she was suffering from a headache? It all felt unfair.She laid beside him, his manly perfume invaded her nose."This man stinks in the morning.' she thought and once again, pulled herself up and ran towards the bathroom.She knelt in front of the toilet, pulling her hair back as she let everything out of her mouth.It was as if something was digging on her stomach, and even when she could feel its emptiness, she still wanted to puke.The sides of her eyes heated as she opened her mouth wid
“What? Of course not!” Dalmi immediately replied in a firm voice when she heard the man’s words. She puckered her brows and stood straight.Unconvinced, Carden tilted his head, the same sorrowful and perplexed expression on his face as he tried to weigh if her wife was telling the truth or now.Although he couldn’t remember a time where she lied, he still couldn’t assure himself because the woman was acting opposite to her words.She’d tell him she never avoided him, but do otherwise. His mind won’t stop thinking about how she frowned when she saw her this morning.“Are you sure? You’ve been avoiding me since we woke up. If you are still angry, I would humbly accept it and–”“I already told you I am not. I just need to go to work first. What I have said last night is true.” she took a step forward, her brows still furrowed as she tiptoed and gave hi
"He hasn't met the both of you after that wedding. I was about to ask you later but since we met each other, I might as well inform you," Casimir said and smiled at Carden.They were at the corner of the floor where the stairs were located. It was the same place where Dalmi dragged him for a talk when he last visited the office.He impatiently glanced at his wristwatch, a line between the space of his brows formed before he glared at his younger brother."Do you have to drag me here just to inform me? You could've texted me!"He hasn't seen Casimir for weeks, a thing he was thankful for because he didn't need to ask Dalmi to avoid him. But right now, he was being such a nuisance. His wife will get angry if he didn't go there straight!"No, I will also inform you that Dad has been eyeing your work," Casimir's smile fade.At the corner of that place, two men with the same build and almost identical features stood with an awkward air between them."Wh
Carden talks about his plansThe sky was still dark when Dalmi felt the sudden urge to vomit. Her head spun, and she felt like something was shaking her stomach that she wanted to let out all the things inside her mouth.She immediately ran towards the bathroom, her hand covered her mouth as she hurriedly turned the knob open and kneeled in front of the toilet.It was the same situation from yesterday, only that it was way too early right now. She stood up and flushed the toilet. As she dragged her feet towards the sink, she saw Carden's body wash and other things he use on his body, making her run back to the toilet and puke.She opened her mouth widely, her hands at her sides.It was so weird and painful. She used to like all of them, but even seeing them could bring her these...unusual feelings."Dalmi..." the man whispered from behind as he knelt beside her, caressing her back."You are here again. This was the second time, we nee
Dalmi's lips quivered. Her heart pounded loudly as though she ran for miles even when she was just sitting in her bed. Her trembling fingers tightened their grip when she saw the two red lines on the last pregnancy test kit.All five test kits had the same outcomes but she still couldn't believe what her eyes saw.Although she knew that she already had some symptoms of pregnancy, it still seemed like a bluff.Two pairs of eyes were staring at her reaction when she lifted her eyes. She clutched on the small rectangular thing in her hand and bit her lips.Her mind was clouded with thoughts.What would she do? How would she tell Carden that she's pregnant?"Aren't you going to tell your husband? Call him now!" Brooke said in an enthusiastic voice.The woman's eyes glistened with excitement when she spoke, but Dalmi couldn't help but be more afraid of what may happen."I..." she shook her head. Brooke's smile slowly faded when she saw how gloomy D
His orbs, no matter how dark it is seemed like they were the brightest thing she saw at this moment. It glistened with both passion, love, and sincerity. His breathy voice, although low and almost muffled from his tight hug still felt like it was a song on replay.This man...he loves her a lot. She didn't notice it until now that they were both alone. She didn't focus much on his feelings and just thought of her fears but this man was shamelessly confessing his love for her, never minding how embarrassing it might be.She caressed his hair. She was now leaning her back on the soft sheets and the man was comfortably lying on her chest."You awake?" she asked.The man's breath was slow and it seemed so relaxed. He glanced at the man's sleepwear.
Dalmi slammed her car door open when she arrived in the parking lot."Take care!" her husband yelled as he walked towards the other block to find his car. Carden was supposed to drive for them, but someone called him for an immediate meeting and they had to go separate ways.When she entered the car and leaned her back at the seat, she immediately sighed. Dalmi closed her eyes and covered her face with her palms.It has been weeks since that night but she still couldn't help but think of it whenever she was alone. Those hurtful words from Carden made an enormous blow in her mind that she can't take it off her head.She wanted to move on and never mind it, but her heart still hurts for that particular night.He didn't want a child...yet.It kept on playing in her mind like a broken plaque. He wasn't ready and they needed to focus on their work.She knew Carden was just aiming for the best, that's why she couldn't be angry nor hate him even for
"Wife, are you still not done?" Carden asked and knocked at the door of their walk-in closet.Dalmi was busy picking a different pair of earrings."Just a few more minutes!" she yelled back and picked up a simple white gold circular earrings. She doesn't usually wear earrings, but for this day, she chose one with the simplest yet elegant look among all of it.She wore her earrings and glanced at her reflection in the mirror, as though checking if she had dirt on her face before she puckered her lips to mix her nude lipstick.The earring she wore reminded her of her mother. It was her gift for her past birthday and this was the first time she tries it on."Hurry! We'll be late for our dinner!" Carden's muffled voice from the other side of the door interrupted her from staring at the mirror.She sighed and moved backward until she saw her whole outfit on the medium-sized vanity. Dalmi trailed her fingers on her dress, stopping it from he
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