KarlEver since that call with Diamond and the kids, when I found out that Lennox had spent the night in her house, I couldn't shake off the thought that something was brewing between them again. I felt angry whenever my mind darted back to those years ago, those years I had Diamond with me and lost her to my brother and his sick smirk. Things were always so easy for him; our parents loved him so damn much, they didn't even bother hiding the fact that they absolutely hated my gut and everything I did. So what if I didn't want to become a doctor like them? There were already enough doctors in the family and I needed to find my own path because medical school was the last place on this earth for me. But since I made that decision, there has been a rift between us and them. Even before my decision not to become a doctor, they always favored Lennox over me. That decision just solidified everything and gave them a reason and excuse to treat me as though I was an outcast.But in that perio
Diamond It was the 4th of July already. Prior to the plans with Karl to attend the picnic at his family's villa, I didn't have any other plans. Usually, the 4th of July is one day that I get to rest, take a break from the hospital back in Texas. I've been paged and called a few times on those days but it only for emergencies. Though they try as much as possible to ensure that all emergencies could be covered and we could enjoy our holiday to the fullest. The kids didn't really want to do much in the previous years. To them, it was just like every other holiday. I always spent the day at home with them and always cooked their favorite meal and played games with them. But unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to do that this year. After getting the invite from Karl to the picnic in his favorite villa, it made me realize something. The reason the kids never really felt excited about the July 4th holiday was because I never really gave them something to be excited about. Unlike Christmas or
DiamondThe ride to the Winthrop's Villa was mostly silent. Karl and I didn't speak much, except for the time he complimented my dress. I didn't bother much with that considering that I was a tad bit nervous about everything that was going to unfold. If I manage to steer clear of Lennox, keep up with a bright smile on my face, and talk to everyone like they hadn't wronged me in the past, then I should be fine. After about a couple hours drive, Karl announced, “We're here.”I sucked in a breath then exhaled, ready to go in. As I reached for the back seat to get the bottle if wine I had come along with, Karl caught a hold of my hand. I was a bit surprised but it waned when he smiled reassuringly at me..“I really don't know how to thank you enough for coming with me today.”“It's alright,” I told him with a smile. “You don't have to thank me.” That was facts. As much as I was doing this to make Karl happy and support him, not because I actually wanted to be here, I also didn't expect
73: DiamondOn seeing Shirley, I stopped in the doorway leading to the living room and kitchen. She looked like she was multitasking between making mashed potatoes and baking cookies. It's been over five years since I last saw her, and five years later and five years older, she was still as hardworking as ever. Shirley carried this warmth around her, the way she speaks, the way she smiles, the way she makes everyone feel welcome. Although I hadn't really spoken to her after the whole drama that came along with the divorce, but the few times we saw, she wore a look of apology on her face and told me every time in the days leading up to the finalization of the divorce and the divorce itself that she was sorry about what Lennox did. Something that Lennox had never said then. She was the only one that felt and knew that I had truly been wronged. Everyone just went about the whole thing like it was normal for a married man to cheat on his wife with his wife's sister and even go as far as i
LennoxEvery July 4th, I had the job of picking out the wine from the cellar. It was something my father used to do when I was little but now, all grown up, he delegated the duty to me because I could now tell the difference between good wine and bad wine. Not that we had any bad wines in the cellar, my father always got the good stuff and saved them for special occasions like today. As I was browsing through the merlots, I stumbled upon a bottle my father and I had popped the day before I was to get married. I don't know why he had wanted to attend my bachelor's party, but he was so keen on it. I would have brought him along but my friends weren't really digging the idea of my father going with us to a club of strippers and what not. So, on the night before my wedding, he brought me out to the pool side and with a bottle of Quereu merlot, and he made a toast to a long lasting and happy marriage. We spent two and half downing glass after glass of wine as he educated me on the best
DiamondI never envisaged this day panning out like this. Sure, I knew that being in the same space with my ex husband and his family wasn't exactly ideal but I resigned to not think about it, move past and focus on doing something for Karl who has been nothing short of a very helpful friend to me. But the day had barely even started and here I was, trapped in a cellar with the one person I'd rather not be trapped in. At the thought of spending even the next minute alone with Lennox in the cellar, I shook my head and began banging on the gate. “Is anybody there?” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “Can anybody hear me?”Lennox threw his head back and groaned out in frustration. “I have told you, Diamond. Nobody can hear us. Everybody is outside and the only person indoors was my mother who is probably smoldering my brother with her hugs right now. Plus, even if she was in the kitchen, it would take a miracle for her to hear you. That's why it's called a cellar, it's below the build
DiamondMy heart was racing in my chest as I listened keenly to Lennox. I wasn't supposed to be feeling this way, I knew too damn well. But I couldn't control how my heart was palpitating as I anticipated what next he had to say. Was it going to make me feel better if he said he still had feelings for me? Was it going to somehow undo everything he did to me? What even was I expecting to happen? That he would leave his wife for me? Wait, no. Did I want to get back together with Lennox? I had never for once considered the possibilities of any of these questions. Ever since I came back to New York, the goal had been to stay away from Lennox because I needed to protect my children from him. Protecting my heart was never the question because why would I go back to a man that cheated on me? Why should I still feel anything but hate towards him? As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you. And if you fool me twice, shame on me. Yet, with all of these thoughts, my heart seemed to have a m
LennoxI felt my heart constrict in my chest when I turned back to see Karl kissing Diamond. Though that wasn't what hurt me the most. Five years ago, I was angry at myself for doing such a despicable thing to such a beautiful and kind woman. And after Tim said these exact same words, I knew that it was time to tender a real apology to Diamond. For some reason, I thought it would have been easy—not rendering the apology, but her forgiving me. Maybe it's because I imagined she had moved on, considering she had three kids now. I didn't stop to think of how I might have felt if I was on the other side of the fence. And Diamond did a very good job spelling it out for me. To say I was disgusted and disappointed with my actions back then would be an understatement. But I always said that saying sorry couldn't fix everything and maybe this is one of the cases. I felt a pang in my chest at the thought that Diamond might never forgive me. I had no idea how much I had hurt her until she expl
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