The following morning was the big day, the family get-together everyone had been waiting for. Each family had spent the previous night packing and making sure everything was ready. Now, the day had finally arrived.Dazzle and Kimberly pulled up in their car, with Kimberly glancing nervously at Dazzle. She hoped the day would go smoothly without any awkward moments.“Are you ready for this, ready to be introduced to everyone?” Dazzle asked, glancing over at her.Kimberly gave a half-smile, trying to hide her nervousness. “As ready as I’ll ever be. It’s not every day you meet the entire extended family in one go.”Dazzle chuckled softly. “Yeah, they can be a lot, but you’ll be fine. Just stick by me, and you’ll get through it.”They stepped out of the car and were immediately greeted by the buzz of activity. Kids were running around, cousins were catching up, and aunts and uncles were setting up tables and chairs. The smell of food wafted through the air, and the sound of laughter fille
Richie was sitting with Leah, his arm draped around her as they shared a quiet moment amidst the noise, feeling content with his family and where he came from..But as always with big family events, there was bound to be some drama.It started when Mrs. Janet came over and sat across from them ... .staring at the both of them strangely. "Why is she staring like that?".. Leah mumbled, rubbing Richie's knee. Trying not to make her whispering obvious."I don't know"... Richie shrugged. It didn't take long before she started talking.“Richard,” Mrs. Janet began, her voice cutting through the chatter around them. Richie looked up, his smile faltering slightly as he saw the expression on her face. He knew that tone. Something was coming, and it wasn’t going to be pleasant.“Yes, Auntie?” he replied cautiously, trying to keep things light.Mrs. Janet wasted no time, her eyes narrowing as she leaned forward. “I’ve been meaning to ask you something for a while now. Why did you leave Gracy?”R
Leah stood up from the couch, stretching her legs after sitting for too long. Now, she just wanted something sweet to help her relax better.As she made her way to the kitchen to grab some fruits, she overheard voices coming from a corner of the living room. She paused when she recognized one of them.It was Mrs. Janet again, and this time, her tone was even nastier than before.“I just don’t get it, Leo,” Mrs. Janet was saying to her husband, her voice low but filled with venom. “Are you even sure those kids are Richie's? I mean, think about it".."What if that woman called Leah pinned them on him? Or worse, what if she did some kind of charm to make him believe they’re his? You know how women like that can be, with her smooth skin and curvy hips that she keeps showing off. What if he needs saving, and he isn’t speaking up?”"Shut your mouth, woman! How on earth did I end up with a loose mouth like you? Do you think at all?".. Mr. Desmond Leo yelled.Leah froze, her hand tightening a
The aftermath of Mrs. Janet’s cruel remarks has spoilt the usually cheerful atmosphere and the family gathering was now shattered, leaving everyone on edge. Mrs. Janet, however, sat on the couch with a smug look on her face, oblivious to the damage she had caused.Richie stood at the edge of the room, his fists clenched at his sides, trying to calm himself down. Dazzle stood next to him, giving his shoulder a light pat.“She’ll come around,” Dazzle muttered. “Leah just needs some time.”Richie didn’t respond. Thinking of a way to apologize to Leah and his plans was almost crashing down.. Then there was Mrs. Janet. Sitting there, acting as if she hadn’t just thrown a bomb into his life.The woman had pushed everyone’s buttons all day. From criticizing the food, to commenting on the decorations, and finally the cruelest thing, questioning his kids. It was like she’d been on a mission to ruin the day.Mrs. Janet wasn’t done though. As she tapped her glass with a perfectly manicured nai
Richie walked into the house, his mind still thinking about everything that had just happened. The exchange of words with Mrs. Janet still burned in his chest, but more than that, the thought of Leah walking out, upset and hurt, was all he could focus on.Richie stood in the doorway for a moment, watching her. The soft glow of the lamp cast shadows on her face, making the sadness in her eyes even more apparent. His heart ached seeing her like that.Taking a deep breath, Richie stepped into the room. “Leah…”Leah didn’t turn to face him. Her eyes remained fixed on the screen, though it was clear her mind was miles away.Richie sat down on the couch next to her, close enough to feel her warmth but careful not to touch her just yet. He didn’t know if she wanted that from him right now.“I’m sorry,” Richie said softly. His voice was sincere, “I’m so sorry for everything that happened today.”Leah’s lips trembled, but she still didn’t look at him. Her voice was barely a whisper when she fi
The next morning, Richie was mindlessly scrolling through his phone when it buzzed with an incoming call. He glanced at the screen, rolling his eyes when he saw Mr. Leo’s name flash on it.“Unbelievable,” Richie muttered under his breath. He let it ring a few times, debating whether to answer or ignore it. Leah entered just then, with a plate of pancakes.“Who’s that?” she asked, placing the plate on the table and giving Richie a curious look.Richie sighed. “Mr. Leo. He’s probably calling because of Janet.”Leah frowned but didn’t say anything. Richie let out a frustrated sigh and swiped to answer the call. He pressed the phone to his ear and leaned back in his chair.“Uncle Leo,” Richie said, his tone low. “What do you want?”Mr. Leo’s voice was cautious but firm. “Richie, look, I know you’re still upset. And you have every right to be. But Janet wants to apologize”Richie closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. He wasn’t in the mood for this, not after the chaos of last n
Jack walked through the mall, trying to clear his head. It had been a long week for him. He’d been thinking about Mariam a lot lately, more than usual, and doesn’t know why he couldn’t resist thinking about her for these past few days.No matter what he did, he couldn’t get her out of his mind… He is the one that wanted them to break up, why is he feeling down about it recently..She’d moved on, at least that’s what he told himself but a part of him wasn’t ready to accept that. He felt like he was stuck in this loop, unable to let go, even though it was clear to him Mariam had.As he strolled past the bustling food counter, something caught his eye….There, by one of the tables, stood a woman with long, dark hair, the exact shade and texture as Mariam’s. She was laughing, her head tilted back, completely lost in the moment. Jack froze.“Mariam?” he whispered to himself, feeling his pulse quicken.Before he could process what he was doing, his feet started moving on their own. He walke
Jack sat on his couch, staring at his phone for what felt like an eternity. Ever since that incident at the mall, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Mariam. Paul was right, he needed closure. But the thought of reaching out to her made his chest tighten with anxiety.He had almost convinced himself not to call when his phone suddenly buzzed with a notification. It was a message from a doctor friend amongst his crew.. Who worked at the hospital nearby. "Your girlfriend’s mom got admitted earlier. She’s not doing well."Jack’s heart dropped. "Girlfriend? I don't think I have one now"... he replied."Oh! I thought you were still with the chubby one. You know Mariam!" He hadn’t heard from Mariam or about Mariam’s mom in a long time, but he remembered how close they were. Without thinking twice, he swiped through his contacts and found Mariam’s name. His thumb hovered over the call button for a moment, before he finally tapped it.The phone rang. Jack’s heart raced, unsure of wh