DAHLIA'S POV I slowly turn around, my chest heaving, as I stare wide-eyed at the woman in front of me. “Sunny?” “Dahlia, I knew it was you” “You look amazing girl, where have you been?” My lips curve into a wide grin as I stare at my high school friend. Sunny and I used to be close friends in high school and we were still in touch after high school. But at some point, we couldn't keep up with each other's lives because of how busy our schedules in college were. She still has that mischievous look in her eyes, and it reminds me of the times she would pressure me into sneaking out to parties, pranking some of our mutual friends or even skipping classes. I rarely succumbed to her requests, knowing how strict my parents were. Marigold had freedom to do anything she wanted, but I couldn't. I was barely allowed to go to social events let alone parties and I always had to put in twice as much effort into school. My grades were good and that was the only recognition I could
Next morning - In TExas. DAHLIA'S POV The kids are seated at the table discussing the class presentation that they have as I set down their breakfast in front of them. They are having scrambled eggs, toast and a glass of milk each. They begin digging into their food, while talking with their mouths full. I set down my cup of coffee on the table after serving my food. Bringing the cup to my lips I continue staring at them, mouths full with food, as they converse. “Okay, I'm happy you all are talking about school but not with your mouths full, we still have some time left before we leave for school, so you can talk about this after breakfast.” Griffin pouts and continues stuffing his mouth, as he was enjoying the conversation being the center of it. His siblings had been asking him questions and seeking pointers on how they should go about their presentation. And Griffin as always was ready to help, he never made his siblings feel less because he was smarter and I feel t
CARLTON “You have ruined the company!” My dad paced around, his anger shimmering as he yelled at me. “Dad, let me explain myself”, I scratch the scruff on my chin in frustration. “Explain yourself, I've given you a lot of chances boy and you keep messing up. You've damaged the company beyond return,” he continued seething. “It can be fixed, just…” “I don't want to hear it. I blame you for the downfall of this company, your nonchalant behavior, you ignored the company to the point where your product was sabotaged right under your nose,” he angrily throws files off my desk and I have to get up and maintain my distance before the next thing he throws is me. “What the hell is wrong with you?”, he yells stomping angrily as he sits on the chair I had offered him earlier when he first walked into my office. “Nothing Dad, I'm doing my best.” “Are you? Because it doesn't look like you are”, he doesn't even look at me as he speaks anymore. “I'm the CEO of this company, an
DAHLIA'S POV Relocating to Texas is supposed to feel homely and enthralling but the feeling I got as soon as I landed in the city made me sick to the stomach. I immediately hated it here. And the urge to deal with Carlton Stewart suddenly increased as everything he did to me came rushing back. But I was hating Texas my kids were the exact opposite. Their joy as we moved down to Texas had known no bounds. They’ve been commenting on every single thing we came across till we arrived at our destination. Sunny’s place. Actually, ever since the Stewarts product launch, me and sunny had kept in touch. She knew about what Carlton did to me aside from Carlton asking me to abort his child though. I intentionally left out the pregnancy part though cause I can’t risk Carlton finding out about my kids. Sunny is a chatterbox and she works for the Stewarts. I couldn’t hide my kids from her of course, she saw them on VC but I Made sure she didn’t know they belonged to Carlton. “Dahlia!!!!” Su
CARLTON’S POV It’s been two days since my P.A informed me about the proposal from Tristan Delight. He was able to schedule a meeting date, and that is today. Right now, We are in the conference room discussing the future of my company. I take a seat at the edge of the table along side of members of the board. He sits on the other end with his team. And by he, I mean the CEO of Tristan Delight, Tristan Martinez. He has so much charisma and aura and if I wasn't the man I am, I would have fumbled immediately he entered the room, just like my P.A did. His long legs are crossed, arms folded across his broad chest as he listens acutely to my P.A explain the terms and conditions of investing in our company, nodding his head when he finishes each sentence. At some point during the presentation, he looks at me and everything about his gaze screams run. Seating across the table from him, I can tell he is a very powerful man who is set out to annihilate his competition, if he even ha
DAHLIA'S POV I walked into the office and my eyes subconsciously search for Carlton. He is seated at the far end of the office but even with the distance and space between us, I suddenly feel nauseated as anger seeps through me. I clench my fist tightly glaring at him, like if we were left alone in the room, I would kill him immediately. I stare at the face that had brought so much pain and anguish to my life. The face of a betrayer. Left to me, if this was truly a business endeavor, for the purpose of generating income, I would never partner with someone like Carlton. Not only is he a traitor, but he is a manipulator and a self-centered person, who doesn't care if people around him are hurt. I came to the conclusion of this, the day he told me to my face that I should abort my babies. And the rest of the foreplay from then was just icing on the cake. As I glare at him, I remember how much his face had tormented me in prison. How it kept recurring in my dream and I would w
22 CARLTON’S POV “Why is Dahlia here? Why was she in your company? Why did she came back? Since when have you been seeing each other?!” Mari-gold had been ranting the same thing right from when we were in the car driving back to the mansion and as soon as we gets in, she doesn’t waste time to attack me. She didn’t even give me room to breath. I throw my keys to the table collapse on on couch. “Answer me, Carlton,” “Get a grip Mari-gold!” I scoff, getting really irritated. “No, why is she here?,” she asks again, impatiently tapping her feet to the floor. “We are business partners. The man you saw beside her, that's Tristan Martinez, CEO of Tristan delight. Dahlia bought shares in my company through him. This partnership will get the company back on its feet and redeem our reputation.” “At least that's the plan…,” I add. “Terminate it.” I sharply turn to look at her in her akimbo stance. Hands placed on the waist, head held high. “What?” “You heard me,” she
Carlton’s pov “How could you do that?” The room is as still as ice as my Father paces back and forth. His eyes inflamed as they glared at me. Apparently, there are already rumours of my collaboration with Tristan Delights. People think I may be framing the company and that is where Marigold's father's speculations came from. “I am only trying to promote the company,” I quietly reply him. “Promote? Don't be a joker. You're destroying everything we have worked for. How could you make such a drastic decision, all on your own. You didn't deem it right to inform me, huh?” I nod my head, recalling our past argument on the company, and the numerous ones before that. When will he ever support my decision. To be frank, I am getting frustrated of all this back and forth. “Do you know how furious the Campbells are? They are partners and you didn't even inform them. How can you make such a reckless decision, Carlton?” The Campbells are Marigold's parents. Her Father has been cal
DAHLIAThe night air bites at my skin, sharp and unforgiving. I wrap my jacket tighter around my body to ward off the cold. Carlton walks behind me with his hands shoved into his pockets. The shoot drained us but the silence of the streets and the distant glow of a coffee shop make it bearable at least. Out of nowhere, Carlton stops walking. “Thanks,” he says when I turn to look at him. “For everything. Helping me the fix the mess at he company.” “Don't mention it.” A smile warms my cheeks. “I mean it.” His expression turns serious, his breath fogging in the cold air. “I don't know what I would've done without your intervention.”“You figured it out eventually, I guess.”“I highly doubt that.” A smirk tugs at his lips and we resume walking again. We push into the warmth of the café. The scent of roasted coffee beans drapes itself around me like a cloak and I exhale, savoring it. We find a booth by the window, and I blow into my hands to keep them warm. “You going to the kids’ bo
MARIGOLDI barely slept a wink last night since Carlton turned down my advances and it's all Dahlia's fault. Ever since she returned, my husband has changed from the doting simp I married to this hard-hearted stranger. Even Andre has no fear for me anymore, ignoring me at most. I doubt he recognizes me as his mother anymore and it's all thanks to that woman who doesn't even know the father of her little bastards. Her constant presence in my life lingers like anad taste in my mouth. How do I spit her out? How do I get rid of her for good?Then almost immediately, an idea crept in like a small whisper in the back of my mind. It will do the job just perfectly. Morning comes and I'm woken by the sound of the usual routines of most mornings. Carlton moving around in the kitchen, the sizzling of food can be heard. I hear him head to Andre's room to get him ready for school and then feed him breakfast. When he comes back to our room, I close my eyes in pretence of being asleep.Jokes on
Dahlia’s Pov, As soon as he's discharged, we begin the drive home. It is quiet in the car. Tristian turns his head and looks out the window, lost in his thoughts. I grip the wheel, my mind replaying everything he told me: his parents leaving, his loneliness, the wash he built himself up from nothing. I never asked. I never cared to know him beyond what he was to me. Guilt creeps in unbidden . I take a deep breath and pull over in front of a mart. When I kill the ignition, he seems to come back to the present. He blinks, turning to me. “What are we doing?” I push open the door with an eyeroll. “Getting ice cream.”He scoffs. “You're kidding.” I don't even crack a smile as I step out. “Come or stay in the car.”A pause. Then, he sighs and follows, mumbling something I can't head under his breath. While inside, I grab a cart and head straight for the freezer section. Tristian watches me, eyebrow cocked. He's clearly unimpressed.“Ice cream, Dahlia? That's what this whole fuss is
I shoot up from my chair to break his fall. “Hey! Look at me!” My hands grip his shoulders to shake him but his eyes are unfocused. The severity of the situation dawns on me; he's not faking this.I don't think. I just move. I drag him up, practically carrying his weight as I rush out of the bar. Opening my door is stressful but I manage barely. Thankfully, a guy jumps to his feet and pushes it open. I get him into the car, my hands shaking as I start the engine.“Stay with me,” I snap, stepping harder on the gas. “Just breathe.” I don't even remember parking. The next thing I know, I'm yelling for help, nurses rushing toward us to wheel him away. Minutes stretches into hours and soon, the doctor and I walk out of his office where he's giving me advise on his to manage Tristian's health. As we approach Tristian's ward, a nurse steps out. “He's stable,” he tells us with a clipboard in his hand. My legs nearly give out with my heart slamming against my ribs. I exhale sharply, forc
DAHLIA'S POVThe air in the courthouse is suffocating with anticipation. I sit stiffly, hands clasped together to ward off anxiety and force myself to focus. Still, nothing prepares me for what happens next.Spencer. I feel my stomach plummet down several heights as he's brought forward. The moment our eyes meet, something cold slithers down my spine. I knew it. My gut has screamed his name all along, his involvement being a suspicion I didn't let take root in my heart.But here we are now to attend his trial.Marigold is at the podium too with her face as pale as death. There's a glimmer of hope in her eyes like she knows she doesn't belong here.Technically, she doesn't. Spencer does.The prosecutor wastes no time. “Spencer Callaghan, you are charged with attempted murder. Do you deny those accusations?”Silence stretches for a beat too long. Then, to my shock, he lets out a low chuckle which the entire room hears. “No,” he says with an eerily calm tone.A murmur ripplds throughout
NEXT CHAPTERCARLTON POVThe news about Marigold getting out should be a relief for me and Andre but it doesn't feel like one. I grip the steering wheel hard enough to break it in half as the car goes down a small slope.I'm irritated. No, that's an understatement. I'm agitated, anxious, hell I'm disgusted. It's probably wrong to be feeling this way at the news of your wife's arrival from jail. I can't help it. Not if it involves the happiness of my son because the truth is, he's been happy. Genuinely happy these past few weeks.With Dahlia in our lives, everything feels so easy and natural. There's no second-guessing, no manipulation or the weight of anything suffocating me. Andre has been living his best days, blending into Dahlia’s world like he belonged in it. Even though it shouldn't be happening.I exhale sharply to force the thoughts away to pull into the beach parking lot. This is the spot where Dahlia had picked so we could work on the cookbook. I must admit, I couldn't h
“I'm just saying—”“Well, don't. I don't need you slandering him.”He exhales deeply and I watch his knuckles whiten against the steering wheel. “You're defending him like he's some kind of saint. Dahlia, I'm just trying to look out for you.”“He might be no saint but at least he didn't kick me out to the curbs when he knew I had no one else to lean on.”His breath hitches in his throat like I've stuck a nerve. Good. I don't relent as irritation climbs to the surface. “Tristian is a better man than anyone would ever be.” And by anyone, I mean Carlton. “He didn't just show up when things were easy. He was there when my life was falling apart, when I was at rock bottom. Do you know what that's like? To have nothing? Not even a relative you can trust?”Of course he stays quiet. “He's the reason my kids and I are alive today. He came through for me when everyone's else turned their backs. So, no, I don't need you questioning him.”He flinches at my words as a shadow of guilt crosses his
DAHLIA'S POVFrom the moment his face freezes, I can tell something's off with him. His face closes off like a blank canvas, blocking any emotion from seeping to the surface. “What's wrong?” I ask. Sunny steps into the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah, you look like you've seen a ghost that just walked through this room.”He bends to pick up his phone and slipping it into his pocket, refutes dodges the questions. “It's nothing. Just a minor issue at the company. I need to head out and deal with it.”I narrow my eyes in suspicion. He doesn't meet my gaze even as he speaks. “Minor? Are you sure about that? Because you don't look like it's minor.”“I said it's fine!” His outburst is sharp and it startles us, including Carlton. He moves towards the door. “I'll be back later.” He calls over his shoulder and then he's gone. Sunny clicks her tongue, tossing the towe onto the counter. “There's something wrong with him. You see how he couldn't even keep
MARIGOLDI pace the suffocating cell, reading the bold lettering on the newspaper. In rage that sets my blood boiling, I crumple and fling it to the floor. Still the headline remains burned into my brain: Carlton Stewart spotted dining with Dahlia Campbell.The details portrays them as business partners. As if. They can fool everyone but me. “Snake. She's been waiting for this. Waiting for the perfect moment to slide right in and play the Martyr. Thirsting for that which is no longer hers.” The entrance door to the cells corridor buzzes open and I've been in here long enough to know that a visitor just entered the premises. “You have visitors.” The gruff voice of the jailer says and I raise my head just in time to see my parents. The door slides open and they step in. They don't look happy to see me in such a sorry state. I don't even let them take another step before I bombard them with questions.“What are you doing about this?” I snap before they can open their mouths. “Have yo