“A delivery for Mrs Hughson!” Joe announced.Margaret hopped out of the sofa where they were seated enjoying a glass of hot chocolate and watching a good show. Avery had learnt to watch reality shows through Margaret and she found it quite intriguing. She didn’t avert her eyes from the show, she had to recount the scenes to Margaret.“There’s a delivery for Mrs Hughson…” Joe repeated.“I’ll bring it to her, is that okay?” Margaret replied.“Sure, this way”Joe led her to the waiting delivery man waiting outside the gate with a huge bouquet of red roses.“My goodness!” Margaret exclaimed, completely swept away by the sight of the flowers.“Are you Mrs Avery Hughson?” The delivery man asked.“I am Margaret, her sister. Can I sign in her place?”Avery looked around the house, Margaret had gone for too long, she was beginning to miss her TV partner. Slowly, she carried herself from the sofa and headed to the patio.“Avery!” Margaret exclaimed loudly. Avery pivoted to the direction of th
“I guess we’ll find out when you speak with him, answer the phone already!” Margaret squealed. It was clear to her that Fredrick loved Avery more than she knew, Margaret couldn’t understand why she was too cautious with him. One thing she knew- Fredrick would love anything she did, despite whatever.Garnering some confidence from Margaret, she clicked the answer button and pressed the phone to her ear.Fredrick waited for ever waiting for his wife to pick up the phone, he had been smiling ever since she sent him those pictures. Somehow, he felt more endeared to her, more intimate- like real couples.Finally, Avery answered. Fredrick could see her reddened cheeks in his mind’s eye.“Are you blushing?” He asked, his voice soft and affectionate.“No…” Avery lied, but Fredrick could see through her.“Uh… I’m s…”“Don’t! I’ll kill you!” Margaret threatened, cutting her apologetic words short. Her voice was in a low whisper, yet it was stern and clear. “You’re sorry?” Fredrick repeated, h
“Alex, There’s been a murder!” Gary exclaimed. The panic in his voice made Alex’s heart sink.“Noah, represent me. I trust you.” Alex said, turning away from him immediately. At that point, Gary was more important to him than the Brothers’ ring.Noah widened his eyes in disbelief,“How?!” He exclaimed, trudging into the clandestine hall.In no time, Alex had hurried to the parking lot, his heart was pounding as fast as he walked. He was trembling out of fear that Gary might have killed someone. How could he defend him? “Oh my god!” Alex gasped, he buried his hand in his pocket rummaging it for his car key.“Gary, what do you mean?”“Did you kill someone? My god! Gary, how could you let this happen?!” Alex rambled breathlessly, cautiously speaking into his phone as if the privacy of his own car wasn’t enough.“Alex, I might not be the best person on earth but I’d never hurt a soul.” Gary cried, his voice was quivering from apparent sadness.“Hard to believe since you’ve hurt Fredrick
“What is wrong with you, Gary? Do you want to go to jail, Gary?” Alex exclaimed.“Can’t I trust you to take care of yourself? How could you make such serious decisions by yourself?”“I ran over here because I was worried about your countenance over the phone, who is this? Who are you?” Alex scolded, turning towards Yvette.Yvette was clearly trembling, afraid and confused.Gary felt his heart wrenching at Alex’s mean words. Or maybe he was blinded by his pity for Yvette that he felt Alex was being mean.He jolted from his seat and grabbed Alex by the hand.“Come with me!” He growled.He pushed the door open and they were outside in a second,“Send her out, I don’t want to have to do it myself. Send her away.” Alex maintained.“I won’t do that, I won’t send her out or away.” Gary argued. “Do I have to call the owners of the cafe?” Alex raged.“What right do you have to do this?” “Can you stop just for a moment and listen to me?!” Gary yelled. His heart was brewing with a whirlwind o
“Oooh! new face, who are you?” Margaret asked in her usual bubbly manner.“Yvette” Fredrick replied, quite sarcastically. Gary hung his head, unable to hold their gazes. He felt ambushed and helpless, he didn’t even have the courage to glance at Yvette.“Nice name, are you from the Coast?” Margaret asked.“The coast…?” Alex repeated. “Yes, Yvette is a popular name for twins born in the coast. Yvette and Yvonne.”“I had a childhood friend from the Coast and her name was Yvette.”“Well, did your childhood friend kill anyone and run to Greenville by any chance?” Alex asked, his tone was full of sarcasm.Fredrick was barely paying any attention to them, he was busy rubbing his wife’s baby bump.Unexpectedly, he raised his gaze to Alex as his words had just registered in his mind.“Can you stop saying dark things? Aiden is listening!”Margaret and Avery erupted in a soft cooing laughter.“The baby’s ears have barely been formed, stop being dramatic.” Margaret scoffed, rolling her eyebrow
“Do you find it easy to just turn your back on us?” Fredrick snapped. Gary’s behavior was obnoxious and he hated it. As Fredrick, Alex slowly recomposed himself. He had just one thing on his mind, if Gary didn’t want to listen to them voluntarily, he would make him. He always had to be the one making the hard decisions,“Gary, you can go with her if you want.”“Alex!” Adrian and Fredrick exclaimed simultaneously.“Gary is not a kid, Fredrick. Let him go.” Alex continued, “But one thing is certain, I will find you…And when I find you two, I will make sure you end up in jail for this decision today, you have willingly made yourself an accomplice to a crime and everyone here will bear witness against you in court. I’ll make sure if it.“So go with her Gary. You can travel to Peninsula with her if you want, I will find you…”“What are you talking about? You want to be her person? No one needs you? No one needs you? I ran here immediately after we spoke on the phone,…”“But did you com
Alex paced the empty spaces of the cafe, trying to reach Noah. He had dialed his number twice already. Margaret was behind him, shooting death stares at his direction.Fredrick watched his wife scolding Adrian sternly, yet so affectionately. “Don’t make decisions on your own, for Christ’s sakes, A.D! Next time I won’t just let it go.” She scowled.Adrian looked apologetic and relieved, Fredrick was beginning to understand why Nei-nei had grown fond of him, the boy was kind and self-reliant, just like him.“Do you hear me?!” Avery charged.Adrian nodded, then his lips slowly twitched into a soft smile, “What? Why are you smiling?” Avery asked, with a hint of agitation tainting her voice.“Can I borrow your car for a few hours?” Adrian asked, squinting his eyes and crossing his eyebrows.“No!” Avery exclaimed.“Oh, come on!” Adrian groaned.Fredrick couldn’t help the light smile that had spread across his face as well.“Alex, can you stop panicking? Noah is at home!” He exclaimed.“Wh
Margaret’s heart raced rapidly as Alex’s gate glided open some time after mid night. Their date was perfect, she loved it. This was the first time Alex had ever invited home. She was completely nervous and that he kept stealing glances at her made her even more anxious.Their chatty evening had gradually become a bit intense and chilly.She wanted to say something, anything to break the ice that had formed around them, but she couldn’t think of anything. Sensing her uneasiness, Alex thought it wise to say something soothing and reassuring,“This would be our second night together…” he began.Margaret smiled as she nodded in response. “True…” she replied, the memories of their time in Paris were still fresh.Why then was she so nervous? Alex’s car came to a stop and he hopped off. “I haven’t been home in two days…” he said, holding the door open for Margaret.When he asked her to come home with him, he had totally forgotten that Gary could have left he usually arranged house in a
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