CHAPTER 6
Karl’s POV, “What is it now, Donald?” I hissed into the car speaker which my phone is connected to while focusing on the road, battling to smuggle past the jam packed vehicles. Everything seems to be driving me nuts today, why the hell is there so much road jam now? I know it’s the snowy season in Texas but it’s been a while since this frustrating stupid traffic. After having a long daunting day at the company, All I need now is just to go get wild in some club tonight, chill out with bitches over some bottles of vodka and hard core sex. But it doesn’t seem like I’ll be getting any of that soon and now my P.A came blasting my phone, probably to whine about an issue at the company. “Sir, I’m really sorry but it’s Mr Romeo. He’s insisting on a %50 discount, considering that his fashion corporation is still under recognition. He’s afraid to be at loss should the commercial Ad doesn’t not yield him enough revenue.” He rambled politely. “Tell Mr Romeo that I’m running a modeling firm and not a charity. %10 off or nothing. If he so much think that the K.Y commercial Ads can’t get him recognition and revenue then he shouldn’t had bother coming to us.” I spat, gripping the stereo hard. “But Sir,..” “But nothing Donald. Relay my message to him and don’t ever call me for dumb issues like this.” I hung up and focused on the road back, rage brewing within me. If there’s one thing I hate most in life, it's for anyone to doubt me or my company, placing me as a second choice. If I ever accepted that before, certainly not now. A few minutes after making it out of the road jam, I came across a gigantic shopping mall and decided to drop by and get some food stuff. I strolled in and as usual, attracted lustrous stares from women which I ignored and thawed around snappily getting some supplies. After paying the bills, I’m walking back to my car carrying the stuffed nylon bag when something grip my attention. Three little boys were gallivanting around the road side walkway, and at a glance they looked like they were begging for arms as they stopped the three guys that walked past them in a row, trying to talk to them but they ignored, brushing past them. But at the same time they look healthy, though I couldn’t see their faces well due to the dimly lit atmosphere. Their matching neat hoodies and neat hair cuts isn’t something you find on street kids. However I was going to ignore it as well when a car’s light shone on one of their faces and I was awestruck. He was like a younger version of that woman that he cost me so much pain. That boy is exactly HER during childhood, okay aside the Hazel eyes. Her eyes used to be emerald green. As if the kid caught me staring, I didn’t realize when he and his other identical brothers came approaching towards me. I only snapped out of my daze when they got close. Oddly, my first instinct was to disappear because what do they want? “Hey Mister,” they all chorused, with their tiny voices at the same time as they got towards me, and I could clearly see the resemblance now. But hold up, if these kids belong to her, what could she be doing in Texas? “Did you see our Mummy?” One of them suddenly pops out a silly question, making a poppy face like he’s about to cry. Wait…Is that what they’ve been asking all those guys? Now I see why they really have to walk away. “Your mom?” I arch my brow, looking down at them. On a normal day, I’ll be cracking up right now but now I can't even tell how I’m feeling, everything about them is just reminding me of her, reminding me of a past I had buried off. Apparently, it turned out the kids lost their way home. They said they went to greet their classmate on the other quarter and couldn't find their way home blah blah blah and that’s how I fell into a dead end. “Ok, so what are you going to do now?” I sighs, itching my temple. “Can you please take us home? My mother must be looking for us now, please.” I don’t know why the fact they only talk about mother got into me, what about their dad? “Please? I know you are a good person!” Another one pleaded, hands jammed together as I was just staring at them in silence. “A good person? How do you know about that huh?” I squat down chuckling, suddenly finding the kids amusing. “Well, you are handsome…. and look, you've beautiful green eyes just like my mommy. She’s a good person so I know you are too. Right?” The third kid squealed as I crackled with a small laugh, ruffling his silky curly hair. I’m never really good with kids, maybe because I had never really mingled with them but these ones seem to be fun. But my humor didn’t last long when I registered what the kid just said, her mother has just like my eyes? Okay okay that does it. If I was going to abandon them before, because I’ve some better place to be now and I’m not a goody two shoes,then curiosity got over me now. I want to meet this mother of theirs. I asked them where they lived and thankfully one of them could provide the address, and street name and I take them into my car. “So, what are your names? Age?” I asks after a while, driving to their destination. “I’m Hayden.” The one who had asked me about their mom screeched cheekily and I chuckled. “I’m Braden!” I think that’s the one who’s who provided me the house address and talked about her mom’s eyes. “I’m Jayden.” The last one says quietly, the one who assumed me to be kind. “And we are 4 years old.” Four years? I frowns. That quite doesn’t add up. Aside from the fact that they look quite smarter than four, considering the time my brother married that bitch, they should have kids of 6-7 years at least. Or wait, what if I’m the one over thinking things? What if their mother turns out to be someone else? “So what about you, Mister, what's your name?” One of their tiny voices boom from the back seat, shooting into my thoughts. Hayden. “I’m Karl, Karl Winthrop. How about you? What are your surname names?” “We are the Smiths…” “What? Smith?” I whisper out loud, take aback. “How about your Dad?” I couldn’t help my curiosity and their response hit me like time bomb. “He’s dead.” Dead! Like, my brother is dead? No wait… my brother isn’t a smith to beginning. For like 30 seconds the car was in dead silence. I’ve to get myself back when they start staring at me weirdly through the rare view. “Dead…well, I’m sorry about that.” I give them a small smile and they thanked me before they came bombarding me with questions this time. “So how about your mista, Are you married?” Hayden started. “No, I’m not.” “A girlfriend?” Braden. I chuckle. “No” “Are you searching?” Hayden asks and I raise my brows amused. “Hayden!!” Jayden whispered, nudging him. Hmmm He seems to be the gentle one them, cause he didn’t talk much through the ride. Then while both of them start arguing in whispers, Braden continues. “Are you a single Dad?” “Nope, I don’t kids dear.” I wanted to ask if their mother is single but… “How old are you, Uncle Karl?” “Uh…” “Where do you live?” “Do you…” “Would you care for Chocolates?” I had to ask to cut him off and they all squealed like sirens, almost deafening me. “Yayyyyyyy!!!!” Gosh, how do people cope with kids? But at least, thankfully the chocolates shut them up. I stopped by some grocery shop and got them chocolates. They got too busy munching on them to ask more questions. And finally, we arrived at their house through the address they gave me. Thankfully it was their compound, cause as soon as they got down, they were so belated and somehow my heart fluttered that I could put a smile on their faces. The house is a modern average bungalow, with a garden at one side and a small car parked close to the house. I followed the kids as they led me into the house. They thanked me and zoomed off shouting, “mommy! Mommy! Mommy!” As for me, I stayed back and let my head spun around taking in the beauty of the mini living room. My hands tucked in my pocket but then my eyes caught a photo frame that arrested my attention. My brow furrowed as humanly possible, my blood ran cold as I set my eyes on her. The woman who’d brought me so much pains in the past few years. It seems to be a family photo of both she, those triplet boys but something was off. That man beside her wasn’t my brother. I was still staring at it, red blurring my vision when I heard footsteps behind me. I took a moment before I turned around to meet her in person and my hutch was damn right. Diamond was standing before me and her expression looked priceless. She looked like she just saw death himself, dread, shock and panic coating her face. Off she should be.., After what she did to me. “Diamond!” I spat. All my emotions drained as I gave her a cold stare. “K-Karl?” I could feel her anxiousness as her voice quiver but suddenly, her boys screams came up immediately lightening the thick atmosphere. “Wooooooooowww!!!” They shrill and hopped in between us, getting Diamond startled. Definitely she must been so carried away to realize they were still here. “So, you two know each other? That makes it perfect then…” One of her boys says smiling and I arch my brow. Diamond becomes even more frightened, “Braden you all go inside…” “Uncle Karl…” Hayden went on speaking anyways. “meet our mommy and your new wife, and mummy, meet uncle Karl, your new husband and our new daddy!” “What?” My eyelid arch in shock, looking to stare at Diamond who bit her lips awkwardly blinkey her eyes. “Oh god!” She huffs, her cheeks flushed immediately looking embarrassed and I was just staring coldly at her. What the hell is going here?“What are your kids talking about, Diamond?” I maintained a cold stance, my lids arch and my hands in my pocket. “I—I am really sorry… Don’t mind what they just said. They were just…” I watch her rambles, her agitation all over the place as she turns to the kids, trying to act stern. “C’mon Hayden, Braden… you three get inside now!!!” She whisper-yelled. “but mummy don’t act like you aren’t in this too. We told you were going to find you a husband and we pulled it up. Shouldn’t you be happy?” One of the boys blurted out, all of them smiling cheekily. And that got me a bit baffled and off course Diamond shy her eyes away from me, embarrasment written all over her. But…Did Diamond sent her kids to the road to act stranded and bring a man home to her? Now that I think about it, I see they were approaching only guys and even get past women and came down to me. Can’t believe that’s how shameless she is now! Perhaps nemesis is catching up with her. “H-huh? Me? When did we agree o
Diamond’s POV As Karl’s icy gaze pierced into mine, I was dying. Dying of guilt. I don’t even want to imagine how much I had broken this man, who loved me so damn much and was ready to fight for us. But I was a coward then. I didn’t even bother to find him when he left, to know what happened to him. I was a… Suddnely a gasp as I felt cold lips engulfs mine. It was him, Karl. A cold shiver ran down my spine and I stifled myself, unable to comprehend what was happening. His tongue bulged into my mouth demanding entrance and I lost it. I closed my eyes and I found myself munching hard on his lips trying to catch his pace but he was damn fast and skillful. Her breath began to hitch, the chilly atmosphere heated and I could feel my cunt hot and dripping wet. I was already whining my hips, driving my fingers in and out of his hair as he kept devouring my lips. His lips drops down and he trailed kisses down to my neck. “Oh…Karl…” I moan, squirming on the couch as I swipe my fi
. FLASH BACK - six years Ago Lennox had asked that we meet up at the penthouse claiming that he has a surprise for me which brought me down to the penthouse, excited for the surprise but to my shocker, I walked into Karl there drinking. Maybe I wouldn’t be so shocked if Karl and his younger brother Lennox were in good terms but they weren’t and the penthouse belong to just Lennox. However Karl told me that Lennox invited him saying he wanted them to settle their dispute. Turned out that they were already in a conversation cause There was two vodka shot glasses and bottles of vodka on the table. But something seem off to me. “But if that’s the case, why would he also ask me to come?” I asked skeptically. “Well, maybe he want us to settle our dispute before you.” Karl grunted spitefully, gulping down the bottle of vodka. He look a mess and a complete different version of the Karl I use to know from kid, that sweet playful kid who would always make funny majestic walks for me
“Wow that was incredible Dr. D. Never believed we could pull this up” Felix a fellow surgeon bubbled in amazement as we walked out of the operating room with the rest of the team. Some rolling out the patient connected to different tubes and IVs. “Well, I believe in trying first than just giving up. let’s always remember that these patients have relatives who are banking on us to save them.” “Very well, you are right. You really Amazing, Diamond.” He complimented again and I just gave a small nod. I don’t know why. I should be use to compliment like this by now but I can’t just find myself doing that. Probably because I had successfully done thousands of even the most complicated surgeries in the past but it has all been overlooked by my family. They keep wanting more from me. I could never be the best. They chooses to focus more on my tiniest flaws than my success. Oh shoot! Why the hell am I even thinking about them now? I’m fucking living a new life. I should forget about the
After series of surgeries which spans over five hours, I was incredibly drained. As I got to my office, I reached out for my phone first to call Rebecca. I needed to know if Rebecca was able to handle the situation about my triplets at school and I was welcomed with the Time reading 5:10 pm in bold fonts on my phone screen and beneath it... holly fish bones!!! there was hundreds of notifications. Missed calls from the school Dean. Why all this calls? Did something happened? Was Rebecca not able to dissolve the issue? my heart raced as I placed a call across to the Dean and thankfully he picked immediately. “Ma’am...” “Goodness gracious! Where on earth have you been, Ms. Smith?!” My brows narrowed in confusion. “W-What do you mean?” I asked, my brain literally in suspension. Don’t tell me Rebecca didn’t even got there? “Seriously? It’s like you really have no value for your kids. Maybe until your kids ends up in cell tonight that is when you’ll come down here. What
My team and I have been trying to reach Maggie Marie for the commercial shoot which was scheduled to be held over hours ago but the woman had just ditched me after signing a contract worth millions of dollars. I wouldn’t have been fussing this much if she wasn’t a respected artist. She was the perfect fit for the commercial shoot and I was very infuriated that I had to be at her beck and call. I was angrily pacing the room when Donald walked into my office with news. “Sir, we have found the location of Maggie Marie.” At first I felt relieved. At least that confirms that she didn’t somehow wound up dead and the money I spent on her hadn’t gone to waste. Then I felt angry because this woman had just ditched my commercial shoot for some other goddamned plan. “Where is she?” I spat out, anger mixed with race laced in my voice that made Donald squirm. “She’s at the Houston Elementary School, sir.” He answered. “An Elementary school?” I scoffed. “She ditched my commercial shoot to go t
Diamond POV, The tension that stilled air after what the boys said, was choking. “Uh...Go to the car and wait for me. I’ll be with you guys shortly.” I immediately say to the boys to lighten the air, shying my gaze away from Karl making me look even more awful. “Yes, Mummy.” They answered in unison but didn’t make an attempt to move. They just kept looking up at Karl and grinning from ear to ear. “So, Uncle Karl, when are you going to take us to the beach?” It was Hayden who asked. “Beach? I want to go to the movies!” Jayden countered. “I want to watch Superman save the city just like Uncle Karl saved us from that mean lady.” “But I want to go to the beach; I want to build a sandcastle, just like the ones we see in the movies!” Hayden insisted and as if thinking the same thing, they both turned to Braden to see if his choice would break the deadlock but thankfully, Karl intervened. “Okay now, boys, there’s no need to argue about going to the beach or the movies when we can do b
“I trusted him,” Rebecca's sniff, blowing into the tissue she had been folding endlessly. “I thought he was my ride or die, you know, my soulmate. I really thought we were going to end up together, Diamond.” The tears didn’t stop following for the past half hour when Rebecca pulled up in my house. It was my day off today. I had really been looking forward to spending my off day with my kids, taking a little break from work. But here I was, consoling my friend after her son of a bitch boyfriend whom she caught fucking another woman in his house. Apparently that has been the reason Rebecca couldn’t get to my kids again. According to the story, she was on her way driving to school when her phone chun with a video message notification. She got curious at who would send her a video and what was video was that? And stranger part is that it was from an unsaved number. Driving with one hand, she quickly click on the notification box to check it out and as she played the video, her heart
Diamond2 years later…I looked around happy with the table arrangement. Lennox would sit beside me of course, the kids and then Karl and Rebecca beside each other. The oven dinged and I went over to check the chicken. Rebecca loves her chicken golden brown and properly crisped, so I left it in for a few more minutes.Rebecca and Karl were coming over for dinner and final preparations for their wedding tomorrow. She had always wanted to go on her honeymoon the night of her wedding, so I won’t get to see her for a while after tomorrow. That only reiterated the need for this dinner. Lennox and I would be hosting them, alongside the kids. We were happily married now and might I say, this two years have been the best of my life. A lot had happened within the span of two years. My parents and I were finally on good terms although we don’t speak frequently because that can’t just change after so many years. I had gotten a permanent job at the hospital. After the incident with Tim, he an
Diamond My hands were trembling as I made my way to Lennox’s room. Karl was behind me and I could sense that he was equally as anxious as I was. Rebecca had gone to inform Lennox’s parents about his condition. I slowly knocked on the door before letting myself in. I turned to see that Karl wasn’t following me in. He nodded and closed the door behind me. Lennox was staring at me intensely as I walked across the room to the bed. “Hey”, I said as I sat beside him. “Hi”, his smile was wide and genuine. He took my hand in his and brought them up to his lips, placing a small kiss on my knuckles. “I was so scared…”, I began as tears filled my eyes, “I’m sorry”, I said cleaning the tears off my eyes. “What are you sorry for, you didn’t do anything” “Exactly, I didn’t do anything. I couldn’t do anything, I…I thought I was going to lose you. I couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing you again, of not having you in my life.” “Diamond…”, he squeezed my hands gently and looked into my
Karl I paced around the hospital hallway after my discussion with the doctor. He had spoken to Diamond first since I was nowhere to be found. After making sure Hayden was alright, I left the hospital to go search for Agatha and Lennox since they both had mysteriously disappeared. Rebecca had to stay with Diamond and the kids for emotional support. But during my vague search, I saw on the news that Lennox had been shot by an ex-convict. I had never been more sacred in my life. I began panicking and stumbled over anything and everything in my way, but I didn’t bother to pick them up. I had been to the bar I met Lennox in. At that point I just searched everywhere Lennox would normally be that I was aware of. The bartender and a few drunk men yelled at me as I exited the bar but I payed no attention to them. I immediately ran to my car, fondling with my keys, before I finally opened it. I hopped in and sped off quickly in the direction of the hospital. A lot of things went through my
DiamondHayden was awake and could finally have visitors. He’d have to stay in the hospital for a few days before he could be discharged. The doctors had to monitor his progress and recovery. “Put that down”, I ordered Braden who was accessing some of the equipment on a tray“I know you’re curious, I was too at your age, but these are sharp objects and not something you play with”, he pouted and stepped away from the tray, “I’ll get a nurse to take the tray out”Jayden was sitting beside Hayden on the bed, he had not left that position since we came in to see Hayden. I hated having to put them through this, it was my mess, they didn’t have to suffer for it too.I left the room to get a nurse to come clear the tray.I was about entering the room when I turned to see Rebecca running to me. She got to where I was standing, breathing heavily.“What’s wrong, Rebecca? Why are you running?”She was still panting heavily but managed to get her words out.“Le...Lennox, he was rushed to the ho
LennoxI had never felt more scared in my life. My heartbeat elevated as we ran into the hospital. I tried to collect my thoughts. I felt so guilty. I never should have let Natalia out of my sight. If anything happened to her it would be my fault and I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.We rushed to the security office. Rebecca was there, in a heated argument with one of the security guards.“What’s going on?”, I asked as we neared them.Rebecca turned to me and said the man wouldn’t allow her see the security footages. I mentally smacked myself in the head, why didn’t I think of this first before running to the police station.Agatha walked passed me and began threatening the guard who seemed unfazed by her words.We had to get permission from the board in other to view the footages but there was no time for that. So I stepped forward willing to plead with the guard. To my surprise he recognized me, and his tone changed to one of respect.“Dr. Winthrop, are you with t
AgathaI wasn’t sure I had heard right.“What did you say?”, I asked, anger and disgust clear in my tone.Diamond stood her ground looking as confident as ever.“You heard me…”“Diamond”, Lennox called and my eyes immediately flew to him.I couldn’t believe it. Lennox was the father of these bastards?How is it even possible?They are probably a year younger than Natalia. So when did it even happen?Where they still seeing each other behind my back?So many questions swirled in my head. I assumed a variety of conclusions.But deep down there was one final conclusion which I didn’t want to accept. And it seemed like the most reasonable…She had gotten pregnant before their divorce.That would mean he didn’t cheat on me or betray me.I turned to look at the two boys with identical faces. I had never seen it before, mainly because I never bothered to observe them, but there was a resemblance to the Winthrops…to Lennox.I shook my head in disbelief.Turning away from the b
DiamondWe were in the waiting room, expecting the feedback from the doctors in the OR.Everywhere was tense. The boys clung to me tightly.Rebecca had gone to get coffee, even though it was pretty late for that.She came into the room with a plastic cup of coffee at hand. She had asked if I wanted some but I declined.She gulped down the entire cup before assuming her position of resting on the wall again. Even when there were many available seats.Lennox was also in the room, although I didn’t dare look at him.Our conversation earlier was pretty heated. And it ended with me leaving the rooftop in tears. I didn’t even know when he entered the room since I was lost in my head.It hurt so much because everything he said was true. I hadn’t really thought about it then. But I could see now that what I did was wrong, not only to Lennox but to my boys too.Could you really blame me though?I was humiliated and I had no one. And my boys deserved the best. They still do.The door
Lennox‘His father’s blood is a match’The words kept replaying in my head. I didn’t understand.Why would the doctor call me Hayden’s father?Maybe he made a mistake.“What are you saying Doc?”, I asked.“Well you know how we are incorporating new technology into every field in this hospital. So we used the STRs for a more accurate and faster result”The STRs…It is a specific genetic marker.That method would not just check the compatibility of the blood group but also genetic similarities.No I couldn’t believe it. I shook my head turning away from the doctor.“Here are the results”, he said for more confirmation.I slowly took them from his hands, eager yet scared to see what it was.I unfolded the paper.Positive…Match…Applicable…He was right. The Doc was right.So many thoughts swirled through my head. I didn’t even know where to start.“You can come in for the transfusion whenever you’re ready”, he said, bringing me back to reality.He turned away from me
Diamond I blinked a million times. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me. I couldn’t believe that was Hayden on the floor. Rebecca shook me yelling my name before I finally snapped out of it.The realization dawned on me.I quickly ran to Hayden who was lying unconscious. The boys began to cry tugging on Hayden. He was bleeding from his head. I looked up at Natalia, her expression had gone from angry to frightened.I turned to her sharply and yelled.“Why did you do this? Why did you push him?”, I was so furious now I couldn’t think straight.“What the hell is wrong with you?”“I don’t…I” she stammered, and her eyes widened in shock when she saw the blood flowing from Hayden’s head.The boys kept crying now and fought the tears that threatened to fall.I hurriedly carried Hayden in my hands and Rebecca ran to get the keys to the car.No communication was needed.I rushed to the car and placed an unconscious Hayden in the back seat and I hopped in sitting beside him