“I’m not ready…” Gary read. Alex’s text message to him had been replaying in his head for the last two days. He was in a turmoil as much Alex was, however for a totally different reason.Where Alex was worried about disrupting Fredrick’s life with the news of his mother’s return, Gary was worried that they were only delaying the inevitable. He was more concerned about Fredrick’s feelings when he would eventually find out about their secret.Regardless of his fears, Alex was his Attorney, professionally his decision towered over his. “Is something going on with the boys?” Margaret whispered, in a quiet conversation with Avery and Noah.“Gary and Alex have been acting quite distant…” “Yes, I noticed. Since the day they were called to Fredrick’s office.” Noah concurred.Avery frowned slightly, trying to connect the dots of their observations. “I haven’t quite noticed, Fredrick has been the same.”“I think he doesn’t know what’s going on with them…” Noah riposted.“Last night, while
“How can he tell from a memory thirty years ago?” Margaret said.“Fredrick took deep heavy breathes, inhaling and exhaling in futile attempts to calm himself. He had to be calm for his brother, and for the sanity of every body present.“Come…” he gestured to Adrian.“Yes Uncle Fredrick…” “Go get the envelope in Nei-Nei’s safe drawer. Do you know the combination?”“Yes Uncle.”Fredrick held Noah down, setting him right beside him.“Take a deep breath, Noah.” “I understand how you feel, but can you pull yourself together?”“What’s in the envelope?!” Noah asked.“It’s a picture of her…” Fredrick replied.“And you didn’t think to show it to me? What’s wrong with everybody?!”“Noah, watch your tone!” Margaret scolded.“Why? Because he’s not my brother? Is that what you’re going to say next?”The door banged shut and Adrian’s footsteps could be heard approaching in the distance.Soon, he stepped into the dining with an envelope in hand.“Is this it?” Before he could complete his sentence
“The day is still young, you two can talk it out, Margaret. Alex doesn’t deserve the treatment you’re giving him, neither does Noah.” Avery paused, awaiting her response. Soon, the silence between them was filled with sniffles and sobs. Avery glanced at her and she was covered in tears, obviously pained and angry at the same time. Avery couldn’t understand why she was crying and Margaret wouldn’t talk to her about it. She was equally surprised that Alex had readily agreed to their break up.“I don’t think he loves me…” Margaret finally confessed. Avery nodded, not in support of her claims, but to show that she understood her.“He should have spoken with me. When I said he should have told me about Noah’s …” Margaret paused. She couldn’t bring herself to say the words mother, it was too heavy. Again, Avery nodded understandably. “I just want Alex to confide in me. He couldn’t tell Fredrick or Noah about it for fear of disrupting their lives. I don’t see a reason why he couldn’t tel
The door banged shut and Margaret slumped into the sofa next to the wardrobe, crying bitterly at Alex’s words.“How did everything fall apart? How did I ruin it?!” Her sobs could be heard from the other room. Fredrick held Avery’s shuddering body in an embrace, patting her in the back.“I don’t think you should go…” Fredrick said.“I can’t help it…” Avery cried. Her voice was small and sad. “Margaret feels terrible…”“If you go, you’ll make her feel even worse…” Avery pulled away from him and their gazes locked, hers was that of confusion. Her eyebrows corked in a doubtful expression.“How is that? Can you talk to Alex? Margaret really didn’t mean that?”“And Alex is a man of his words. He doesn’t play around with words. She broke up with him in a moment when he needed her support, her encouragement…” “To him, that’s sequel to abandonment. Alex doesn’t hurt easily, but when he gets hurt, it takes more than just apologies to get it right.”“Margaret has lost him… she has. Going ove
The morning came and it was no different for anyone except Noah and Fredrick. Lovelyn Arnold had called a few hours ago to make an appointment with them by 2pm.At first, Fredrick wanted to appear casual but he immediately changed his mind when he saw Noah dressed in a sharp, tailored suit that exuded confidence and sophistication. His initial plan to be casual suddenly seemed inadequate, “Why are you dressed like that?” “Like what?” Noah replied, throwing on a coffee brown coat over the lighter shade of brown suit he had under. Sophisticated was an understatement, he looked like a million dollars. Fredrick instantly reconsidered his casual outfit, hurrying inside for a better look. “Babe!” He called for Avery, who was by the way in Margaret’s room, consoling her for the tenth time since morning. Reluctantly, he pushed the door open and beckoned his wife to follow him. “Please? For a second…”“Sure” Avery replied.“Is this what you’re wearing?” Avery asked, surprised to see h
Lovelyn’s eyes were widened in shock at the slight details of Fredrick’s life. She had been looking up his life on the internet, following tweets about him, nothing had prepared her for the moment where she was to become a grandmother.Her eyes softened affectionately as she glanced at Noah and observed his hands on his brother’s thighs.“Don’t leave me with her, please” Noah pleaded.“You two became really close…” Lovelyn smiled wryly.“Trauma bonded…” Noah snapped.Lovelyn took a deep breath, of course, she expected him to cuss at her. His father was hot headed like that.“Did your brother raise you?” “I have parents, and a sister” Noah replied.“I was adopted by good people. They found me in a nursery and carried me home.” Noah’s words froze in the cold silence of the room. He wiped a tear that had escaped his eye and cleared his throat, trying to regain composure.“I hear you have questions…” “Why did you do it?” Noah blurted.“For two consecutive times, why did you do it?” “W
“Did you lie about his father being abusive?” Alex asked, his professional voice cracking out.“Defamation- that’s what it is called. Putting a false accusation on someone.”“He wasn’t abusive, his family just didn’t like me. Then I suddenly realized I was pregnant and we were not even married.” Lovelyn confessed, this time her voice was firm and unapologetic. She bore no sentiments.Noah nodded, feeling completely relieved about the real reason for her actions.“Now I can live with myself…” he said.“When you told me that my father was abusive, I felt terrible about it. Thinking ah, it wasn’t her fault. It was better to stay alive than to be beaten to pulp for my sake. But then Fredrick asked, “why didn’t you ever come back for me and it woke my doubts.”Fredrick took a deep breath thinking carefully about the next few words he was about to say, considering his brother’s hurts too, and well, Lovelyn’s indifference and insensitivity to him.A realization had hit him on the face, Lovely
Margaret turned to him, staring into the window of his soul, wondering if he was kidding. As if Alex could read her thoughts, he shifted his gaze to the road and said,“It’s not a lie, I’m sorry.” “Stop the car” Margaret said.Alex pulled over by the side of the road, expecting her to hop off, it Margaret remained still, staring intently at him.“Alex, people talk, they communicate in a relationship, they tell each other what isn’t working and see how they can make it work…”“That is what I’ve been doing all these weeks, but you don’t seem to see me, or see it that way.You see it as a worry, a disturbance.”“Yes, Margaret! I don’t want a relationship where my life takes a different course, I want my life to remain the same even with you in it. I appreciate a little shift in schedule, or a little change in lifestyle. But I don’t want a major change over a short period of time.”“I’m sorry I am not like O’Neil Jac. I can’t be him…”Margaret’s jaw dropped in shock at the sudden turn of
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