Alex jolted up from the bed running towards the window at the gliding sound of the gate. He glanced at his phone screen and noticed it was almost midnight.He didn’t know whether to leap for joy, and slump in sadness at arrival of the car in the compound.He heard the car door slam shut, and listened on for her approaching footsteps. Unknown to him that Margaret had hopped on the trunk of the vehicle, crying her heavy heart out. Alex paced around restlessly, trying to figure out why she hadn’t come into the house. His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a soft thudding on his door, and he instantly prayed it was Margaret. Arranging his pajamas, he sauntered over to the door, squinting his eyes to give a groggy expression on his face.He slowly opened the door, his heart racing rapidly at the thought of seeing Margaret at the door. “Can I borrow your charger? I can’t find mine” Gary said mindlessly, completely unaware of Alex’s disappointment.Alex breathed deeply as he hurried
A plate of greens and rainbows was served for each person on the table.Adrian would not stop grumbling about the food, “Human beings need more than just vegetables, what about protein?”“There’s a glass of milk by your side, A.D” Margaret replied.“Aunt Margaret, don’t you like me anymore?” Adrian pouted, almost crying.“I do like you, that is why I’m giving you vegetables, I promise lunch will have lots of meat. Just eat this for my sake.”“Adrian, be careful. You might get sued.…” Gary teased.“What? Why?” Adrian said, reading the amused expression on people’s faces.“Oh, I see… they got back together?” “Yes, they did! You don’t seem surprised…” Noah and Gary chorused.“It’s not quite shocking, is it?” Adrian asked, taking a spoon of garnished broccoli and spinach.“I think it is…” Avery chipped in, “I was quite shocked when I saw them…” she paused, not wanting to share their privacy.“Okay, look at it this way… would you break up with someone you were in love with?” Adrian aske
“What is wrong with wanting to know you a little more?” Heather asked, her eyes glinting with a hint of sadnessAdrian hesitated, cautiously thinking out his words.“Does it bother you that I am older?”“No, not at all.” Adrian panicked.It’s just a year… did you hear all of that too?”“Exactly how long were you behind us?”Heather smiled wryly, “I stood there for a while, but you were too engrossed to notice me…” “I’m sorry, it must have been frustrating…” he apologized.“You have a beautiful family, and there’s one more person joining the family very soon…” she grinned, but she looked sad even with her a smile on her face.“I love your sister, she’s adorable…”Silence ensued between them for a few seconds, Adrian had been wondering and thinking hard on how to remove the glinting disappointment in her eyes. She was smiling, yet he couldn’t help but notice that her face bore no happiness.“There’s nothing special about me…” he confessed.“I don’t want to talk about myself because th
Christmas was in a day, Avery was getting fuller, Margaret and Alex were in an on-and-off relationship, Gary had been called for another to apply for another Business Contract in Australia. Noah had confessed to his brother that he couldn’t get himself to love anyone, or at least like them. Lovelyn had been calling him incessantly, begging to spend Christmas with her sons.Breakfast was ready, Margaret had prepared a feast in the spirits of the season, and the boys except Gary and Adrian set up the Christmas decorations for the Chateau.While, Adrian had seen the need to make compromises for Heather and so he was out in the cold, skating on the ice rinks with her. Fredrick and Avery took their seat beside each other as usual, Margaret opposite Alex. Noah, beside his sister, whom, by the way, their bond had become stronger.They were settled for a late breakfast, the British would call it Brunch. The front door busted open and slammed shut in a second. Approaching footsteps were hear
Avery tossed and twirled on the bed all night, she was having a hard time sleeping on just one side of her body. Her baby bump was protruding into an obvious seven months pregnancy, of course that wasn’t it.She wasn’t worried about her protruding stomach, but about the closing in end of her marriage contract with Fredrick.In a few months, in three months exactly, she was sure Alex would call her to his Law Firm and present her with a termination of contract.What she couldn’t understand was her fears for that day, she had been expecting, she had been preparing it for it. She just didn’t prepare for the nervousness that would come with it and more painfully is the memory of Fredrick asking her to validate their marriage and she said no. “I don’t regret it!” She exclaimed, burying her face in the pillow.“I think you do!” Fredrick replied groggily. He had just woken up from sleep and observed her in great thoughts. He had no clue what she was thinking, he had no clue what she meant
“That’s what he wants…” Alex added, standing to leave the room. “W…why?” Avery asked, struggling to understand him.She was in fact, dumb founded.“Why does he want me to move into another room?” She asked, looking sad and confused.Alex exhaled deeply, settling beside her.“Avery, he’s hurting. He’s hurting so bad. I also think he is mentally preparing himself for the divorce too.”“You don’t expect him to be on the same bed with you when your marriage is ending in two months, do you?”“Maybe you should have waited, just a few more weeks. Maybe it should have been a discussion, rather than an argument or a demand. Fredrick loves you, but he won’t force you to stay married to him, and you’ve made it pretty clear that you only want Aiden and not him, hence the new contract…”“Brother!”Alex heard his name being called out from the hallway.“Now, Kashmir is calling…”“New people keep popping up in our lives. Leaving him is going to make him very unstable and unhappy. He’s going to have
Fredrick took a sip of his drink and stood up from the patio.“I can’t let you back in my bed. That would be foolish of me.” He said. His voice was shaky and expressive of everything he was feeling inside.“What? Are we going to keep sleeping with each other and then break up in two months like all of that was nothing? Avery, what are you thinking?!” Fredrick exclaimed painfully.Avery sucked her lower lip in, and pretended to be indifferent about the situation, “It’s the 21st century…” she smiled.“I’m not built that way, sorry.” He replied and her smile died away instantly. “Are we going to live like strangers in our own home? What about Margaret and Noah? What will they think when they’re back to us?” She rambled nervously.“I don’t think they are coming back here, Margaret will move in with Alex after talking about it with her mom. I asked Noah to stay with Adrian at the Chateau, I couldn’t leave him there alone.” Fredrick snatched his bottle and began to make his way into the
Even stranger, this Christmas became, Noah was asking for twenty million dollars on the phone and he couldn’t wrap his head around it but his answer was “yes. Yes, you can have twenty million dollars, only if you can at least let me in on the investment.”Noah took a long deep breath, tapping his feet nervously under the table as he waited for his brother to come to him.Fredrick’s Mercedes Mercury pulled over at the only open cafe at the Westbound Stop. Noah was on a coat that very much looked like the one he had on, only he was wearing a darker shade of blue, looking disturbed and antsy.“What’s going on?” Fredrick asked, settling beside him on the wooden bench.“Lovelyn is suing my mother…” Noah blurted out.Fredrick turned to him and his face bore as much surprise and confusion as his face did when Miss Joy informed him of the mishap.“I don’t understand…” Fredrick replied weakly,“But I’m going by to call Alex first, he needs to know about this.” He continued.“He already knows.
The next morning in the large mansion at White Avenue was quite a whirlwind.“Can’t you stay for a bit? Say two more weeks?” Avery sighed softly.Margaret and Adrian chuckled wryly,“I don’t want to go neither” Margaret replied.“But I have to…”“My fiancé needs me” she added, extending her arms so that Avery and Adrian would see her diamond ring.Avery rolled her eyes and pouted slightly,“You can have a fiancé and still stay here… don’t leave me!” Avery cried.Her cries were so outrightly falling on deaf ears because, as Alex emerged from the hallway with bags in hand, followed by Fredrick, Margaret leaped towards him,“Hi there, my fiancé” she squealed excitedly, hanging on her husband’s arm. Avery shook her head playfully, and gestures to her husband too.“I guess it’s just us from now on...”“I know so..” Fredrick replied.“Invite us to the wedding, if you please” he added.Alex nodded agreeably,“That definitely, you won’t miss.”Turning to Adrian, he laid his free hand on his s
EIGHT WEEKS LATERThe most expensive hotel in Greenville opened its ballroom doors to a vast number of guests trooping in. “The Right Wedding of The Hughsons” Fredrick insisted on calling their second wedding that.Of course, Alex was his Best man.“I’m delighted to be ministering at my best friend’s second wedding- to the same person, don’t get me wrong…” Gary said, taking the microphone as the MC of the occasion.Avery was beautifully dressed in the wedding gown Nei-Nei had gifted her, but this time, it was adorned with tiny diamonds, making her glow in the spotlight. Her blonde hair was straightened out and tied in a bun behind her head. Soon, the keyboardist made a procession of the most popular bride song in the world; announcing the arrival of Mrs Hughson.“Here comes the bride, here comes the bride…” The rows and expensive chairs of the ballroom filled with the richest one percent of Greenville, rose in a standing ovation of the prettiest wife ever.Avery scanned the room a
Fredrick sighed, frustration in his voice as he scolded his brother“It baffles me that the first person you went to ask for help from is someone who abandoned you years ago.” “And Aiden will be saying those same words to Adele some time in the future if you two don’t figure yourselves out.” Noah riposted with a smirk etched on his face.Margaret chimed in her voice feeble and weary,“You’re being really annoying right now, Noah.” “You should apologize for the distress you caused everyone of us here.”Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered, “I defended you blindly, and it hurts so much…”“No, no! Don’t cry, Mag” Noah said, wrapping his arms around his sister.“I’m sorry.” He apologized, his eyes brimming with regret.Alex, indignant, removed his hands from Margaret, replacing them with his own.“I’m sorry, please don’t cry… I love you” he whispered, gently patting her back.“You didn’t defend me blindly, you defended me rightfully.” Noah continued.“I wouldn’t dare kidnap any
“Noah!” A voice called from behind him as he stepped into the five-star restaurant. Swiftly, he pivoted his head to the direction of the voice and came face to face with face so strangely familiar. “You asked to see me…?” “Please sit down…”Noah scanned the room suspiciously before settling at the table.“Waiter!” “No! I’d rather not…” Adrian interjected,“Why? I can’t let you watch while I eat” lovely smiled awkwardly.“Fine, I’ll take a cup of coffee. Thank you” he replied.The waiter laid a cup of espresso on the table for Noah and a glass of freshly squeezed apple juice for Lovelyn.“Thank you, Meredith” she muttered to the waitress.“How long are you planning to stay in a hotel?” Noah asked, a hint of disapproval in his tone.Lovelyn grimaced uncertainly, “Why did you want to see?”“I’ll go straight to the point. I need your help.” Noah replied.Lovelyn shifted uncomfortably on her seat, unable to contain her excitement.“I never thought this day would come” she smiled warm
Fredrick woke up to the sound screeching chairs and creaking doors piercing loudly into his hearing. He groaned miserably and snuggled into his sheets, unable to bring himself to witness Avery’s departure, especially after his charade last night, he had regretted announcing their divorce and end of contract at the table. He had breached their contract and if Avery wanted, she could take him to court and sue him for damages- after all, the contract was to be done and resolved confidentially, in order to protect each other from prying ears.He shuddered unbelievably as last night replayed in his mind,“Why did I do that?!” “Alex hates me, I’m sure of it” he thought aloud.Suddenly, a thunderous bang sounded on his door, jolting up from the bed instantly.The thudding persisted urgently, without as much as a pause,“Don’t break down the door, I’m coming!” He thundered, hurrying towards the door. Before he could pull the door open himself, the outsider had pushed it open and let himsel
Ivy turned down the volume of the soft music on her phone to hear the approaching footsteps clearly.As Ivy strained to listen, the muffled thuds grew louder, echoing through the quiet hall way.She took a quick glance at her phone’s screen which displayed the time as 1 in the morning. It struck her as rather alarming and unexpected that at this late hour, people were not only awake, but also strolling around the neighborhood.“But this is Greenville” she told herself, shrugging it off as she turned the next page of the novel she was reading.Just then, the approaching footsteps stopped in front of her door, accompanied by a knock. Panic surged through her as she held her breath, silently praying the unknown person away. The knocking persisted, this time, a bit louder than before.With trembling hands, Ivy advanced to the door, her voice quivering with anxiety as she muttered,“Please, whoever you are, go away!”“Ivy!” Adrian replied,A rush if emotions coursed through her as she he
Avery drove into the mansion that had been her home for the past one year, her heart wrenching and aching badly at the sight of the man she loved dearly drowning himself in alcohol. Fredrick had readily signed their contract termination papers two days ago.It felt surreal their contract was really over, and she had a week to leave the mansion.As she stepped out of her car, her heart sank at the sight of him sitting absentmindedly in the garden, taking no notice of the car that drove into his compound.“Hey, Avery!” Margaret squealed, startling her from the wrenching sight she was engrossed in.“Hey Mag” Avery replied, forcing a smile.“Fredrick has been like that for days” Margaret said, observing her gaze.“Is something wrong? I’m worried, even Alex is drinking.”“I… don’t know…” Avery stuttered, her voice trembling with inexplicable emotions.She was the one leaving him, but she was the one crying, she couldn’t understand herself.“Are you okay, Avery? You don’t look good either”
Avery’s phone rang persistently, dividing her attention from the crying babies she was trying to tame.Noah walked into the house, just arriving from school, sensing the chaos in the house, he hurried to the direction of the cries where he found Avery, clutching her phone to her ear.“Can you check on them, please?” She pleaded, grimacing apologetically.Noah quickly nodded, making his way to them.“Okay, Uncle Noah is back and he wants absolute silence!” Noah exclaimed, his voice a little higher than theirs. Surprisingly, as if they understood his command, they gradually quietened.“How did you do that?!” Avery gasped in relief as she re-entered the room. “They’ve been so troublesome today.” She added.Noah turned to face her, a wide grin played on his face, beaming proudly,“Of course, they’ll listen to their uncle. It’s just how it is…” he smiled.Avery nodded sheepishly, grateful for the peace in the house.“If you don’t mind, uncle Noah, can you spend some more time with them? I
Just as Alex had advised, Adrian arrived at the cafe and it was already booming. His regular customers were already served breakfast. The idea to add more food to the menu was a good one, their sales were gradually growing by the day and Adrian gave Ivy credit for it everyday.He scanned the room desperately, looking for a red head in the crowd, his heart racing as he scanned through the bustling crowd, searching from face to face for Ivy.Amidst the chaos, he finally spotted her. She was standing near the bar, her red hair sprawled over her back as she drifted seamlessly across the room, going from one table to the other to take their order.“It was a mistake…” Adrian muttered to himself.He head been practicing the same lines on the drive down here, but as soon his gaze fell on the fiery head in the distance, the tingles of her warm lips on him shook him to nervousness.“Adrian!” A voice called from behind, snapping him out of his reverie.As he turned around, his eyes met with the