Sylvia came home early today with a bunch of hot pot ingredients and started preparing with Aunt Tonya. With the hot pot soup base, the meat, and the meatballs that Isabel loved, the preparation took them a full five hours. When it was almost time for the kids to come over, Sylvia took her apron off, dragged the table and chairs to the yard, and waited for them to arrive. However, no one came even after the sky turned dark. Sylvia looked at her watch. It was almost an hour past the time that they were supposed to arrive. Worried, she called Isabel’s phone but could not get through. She then called Liam, but the phone was turned off. Then, she called Jacob, the bodyguard. Two dial tones later, the call got through. "Jacob, are Isabel and Liam back from school?” Jacob froze for two seconds before he said, “The two of them are already back home.” He sounded evasive and conflicted. “Why didn’t they come over today?” “Umm…” Jacob sighed. “Ms. Ross, Master Carter said
"I’m here to see Odell Carter,” Sylvia announced. The receptionist was caught off guard when Sylvia mentioned Odell’s full name. He asked, “Do you have an appointment?” “I’m his ex-wife. Call him and tell him I want to see him. If he doesn’t want to see me, I’m not leaving.” The receptionist was surprised once again. He quickly went behind the reception desk and made the necessary calls. Sylvia waited on the spot. She had to get an answer today. If Odell really called security on her, she would definitely fight them off. She was his ex-wife anyway, and she did not work in the same building. If things went out of hand, it would only embarrass him, not her. Two minutes later, the receptionist approached her with a smile. “Miss, Assistant Bogard is coming down. He will bring you up to Mr. Carter.” The cold look on Sylvia's face softened a bit. “Thank you.” Soon, Cliff came out from the elevator. “Mrs… Ms. Ross. This way please,” he said with a smile. Sylvia followed hi
Sylvia was shocked when she found out. “He’s not eating?” Odell did not answer. The stony expression on his face was basically telling her to stop her pretense. Sylvia recalled how Tristan looked when he had come to her yesterday. He seemed slimmer and rather weak, and it was a surprise to her that starvation was the reason for that. She had no idea he could go down the extreme path, and neither would she have instigated him to do so. She looked at Odell and said, “I've rejected him many times now. I don’t care whether you believe me or not, but I never instigated him to stop eating so that he could convince his parents.” Her eyes widened in determination. Odell was surprised for a moment. Then, he regained his stern face and said, “If you really rejected him, he wouldn’t have gone on a hunger strike against his parents.” Sylvia did not know why Tristan chose to be stubborn and extreme. It even confused her feelings for him. Feeling helpless, she insisted, “Odell, I’m t
Odell bellowed, “You have three seconds to get off me!” While grinning, Sylvia clung on even tighter and said, “No!” “You…” His voice grew heavier. Sylvia was stunned for a moment, and before she could react, his handsome face moved closer to hers. He stuck his lips to hers. The man’s dominating presence assaulted her, and his scent gushed into her nose and filled her mind. The intimacy made her freeze for a few seconds. Then, she regained her composure and tried to push him away. However, the stronger she pushed, the tighter he sealed his lips on hers. She kept on struggling until she lost her balance and stumbled. Thud! She fell onto the couch, and Odell’s rigid body came collapsing on her. He hovered above her, looking into her eyes with a mischievous gaze. “I think you aren't actually here for the kids. You are here to seduce me.” Sylvia blushed. Annoyed, she said, “I’m here to see the kids!” He grinned. “Then, why are you hugging me?” “I don’t want you th
After they hugged, Sherry asked in annoyance, “Syl! Since when did you come back? Why didn’t you tell me?” Sylvia tried to force a smile. “I tried calling you several times, but I couldn't get through. Your social media accounts are all private as well, so I simply couldn’t find you.” Sherry awkwardly scratched her head. “Oh my, I actually ran into some trouble back then and I forgot to tell you.” Sylvia knew Sherry would not simply change her phone number and delete her social media accounts. Something must have happened. She asked, “What's going on?” “It’s history. I've forgotten all about it.” She put her hand around Sylvia’s shoulder and continued, “Come on, tell me. When did you come back?” Sylvia knew Sherry wanted to leave it out of the conversation, so she simply did not press on the topic. She continued her walk with Sherry and said, “I’ve been back for some time now.” She briefly told Sherry what happened after she brought Isabel back. Sherry also updated her fr
Feeling vexed, Sherry asked. “What did she do to you? Tell me and I’ll slap the sh*t out of her!” Sherry felt bad for not being by Sylvia’s side three years ago, or else Tara would not have gotten what she yearned and instigated Odell to slap Sylvia. Only she comprehended the terrible and disheartened feeling she had felt when she saw Sylvia’s badly swollen face after the event. Sylvia said with a smile, “It’s okay. I can handle it myself.” There was confidence in her smile, which gave Sherry a strange sense of ruthlessness. Sherry calmed down after that smile. “Okay, if you need anything, anything at all, just tell me. I’ll be there for you. My family might have abandoned me, but I've got a lot of friends. They more or less can lend a hand or two.” Sylvia smiled. “Thank you.” …The next day, Sylvia went to work as usual. Her colleagues, who had arrived earlier than her, greeted her politely when they saw her. Sylvia returned their greetings as well. Only Alister, th
After they sat down, Tristan asked, “Sylvia, what’s wrong? Did something happen at work today?” Sylvia ignored his question and asked, “Tristan, did Tara talk to you?” Feeling surprised, he responded, “How did you know?” As she expected. Sylvia then asked, “Did she tell you about your mother seeing me the other day?” “Yeah, she did.” “Did she also tell you that I rejected you because of Sonia?” Tristan frowned. “She did.” Sylvia squinted her eyes.He was confused. “Sylvia, why are you asking me all this?” She pursed her lips. She did not know how to tell him that Tara had played him. Tara had used his feelings for Sylvia and made him her lapdog. However, Sylvia believed the multiple rejections were hurtful enough for Tristan, and if she told him that Tara had played and tricked him, he would probably be devastated. She knew how it felt being framed and being a pawn in someone else’s game of chess. A quick thought later, she said, “It’s nothing. I have something t
“But I only like you. I have liked you since we were little, Sylvia.” Tristan looked into her eyes. His gaze fueled her guilt. What did she do to earn his love? She looked at him sincerely. “Tristan, it’s not going to work out between us.” “You’re single, I’m single. I even got my parents to agree to us being together. What makes you think we are no match for each other?” Sylvia wanted to argue, but he beat her to it. “I don’t care that you were married before or that you have two kids.” Sylvia’s lips tightened in silence. The air went quiet once again. He then said, “Unless you still love Odell.” Sylvia answered without a second thought, “I don’t love him anymore.” Three years ago, he had slapped her sixty times because of Tara, and she could still feel the imaginary pain on her face. She would never forget the insult and the pain she had to endure. How could she love him anymore? Tristan noticed her cold expression which was changing for the worse. He smiled awk