DAHLIA’S POV‘What…what is it?’Tristan asks, looking around to find out why I gasped. ‘Your…your knuckles,’ I pointed to his hands on the wheel, as my finger trembled slightly.‘Oh,’ his face falls, as he stares at his bloody knuckles. ‘It’s nothing.’My brows shoot up, ‘what do you mean it’s nothing, that doesn’t look like nothing, what happened?’ He sighs, taking his hands off the wheel as he stares out the window. I can tell something is bothering him, ever since his supposed bathroom disappearance, he has been off. Actually, ever since we stepped foot inside the hall, his mood changed. I could feel the rage burning through him as he stared at Carlton’s father. Could that have something to do with his bloody knuckles?My damn lawyer skills always make me jump into rash conclusions.I look at him, with deep concern and he sighs, succumbing to my silent request for an explanation. ‘I punched a mirror.’‘What?’ ‘It’s not a big deal. I’m fine, my hands are fine. I’ll just clean
‘Stewarts Foods Co. gets an unexpected turn of events, as the CEO of TRISTS Delights speaks in their favor’, Sunny reads from her phone with a wide grin on her face. ‘What is this about?,’ she comes to meet me in the kitchen, flashing the phone in my face. ‘Why is the light so bright, it’s daytime Sunny?,’ I gently shove the phone out of my face. ‘Stop avoiding the question. There’s no way you’d willingly speak good about Stewart Foods Co. and I watched the conference from home, so what are you up to?’ I hold out my hands for her to pass me some eggs from the crate beside her. ‘I’ll tell you when it’s time, you’ve always loved a good suspense, what happened to that Sunny?’She sighs as she moves to the chairs behind the counter to sit. ‘Well that Sunny has gotten one too many unexpected and dreadful suspense to be moved by any again,’ she takes an apple from the fruit bowl and bites into it. ‘What happened?,’ I ask, putting down the whisk in my hand. I know we have missed a lot
DAHLIA'S POV My hands are visibly trembling on the steering wheel. I take a turn on Edison Street, careful not to hit the garbage cans set too close to the road. All through the ride, flashbacks of my last visit to the house keep replaying in my head. This is a huge step and I'm not sure I'm ready for it. How can I pretend to like six people all at once, it's already a lot of work doing it with Carlton alone. I take in deep breaths trying to steady myself as I pull up to the house. The sight of the house alone makes me nauseated, and I pop a menthol gum ball into my mouth. Inhaling the sharp and strong scent of the gum in my mouth, I let go of all disturbing thoughts pertaining to this house and my past. I step out of the car, with my bag at hand, and then I begin taking slow and short strides towards the house. Holding my head and shoulders high, I ring the doorbell and wait for a response. The camera comes and the bright smile of Carlton's mother appears on the screen. “Co
DAHLIA'S POV After the awkward situation I put everyone in with my response, the silence that looms in the air lasts for almost the entirety of our meal. Mr. Stewart tries to make small talk by asking me about business and all our plans even though I had clearly stated it during the conference meeting and every other interview I have had which I'm pretty sure he has watched. But I am happy to reply to him, as long as I see Marigold fuming at how well we are getting along. For the first, she isn't the subject of discussion at the table and I wonder how infuriated that makes her feel. I fill up my glass with water again, and drink the whole thing because the meal feels too heavy in my throat. But I shouldn't have done that because now I feel pressed. “Ummm…excuse me for a moment. I need to use the restroom,” I set down the fork in my hand and pushed my seat backward before getting up. I can feel all six pairs of eyes following me as I walk out of the dining hall. Just like earl
DAHLIA'S POV I quickly withdraw my hands, avoiding his piercing gaze. I hope nobody noticed whatever that was, because the last thing I want is for rumours to start going around. Not yet. I resume piping and show the bakers how to do the multiple designs. They applauded my work after I'm done, making side comments of how amazing my technique is. Some of them even walk up to me to tell me. I enjoy when people give you the credit you deserve for your work, it is an amazing thing for people to acknowledge how good you are. One more reason as to why Carlton, his family and mine have to suffer, they never did that. I wrap up in the kitchen and begin pulling off my apron when Carlton walks up to me. “You did exceptionally great. I never knew you could bake so well,” he says in sincerity but all I get from that is a journey to the past. He never knew I could bake when we were together, that is what he is trying to say. For some reason that infuriates me and I just feign a smile as
CHAPTER 31DAHLIA'S POV This little boy is Carlton's son? I had no idea he had a son. Then again, I never bothered to ask about his life. I have been so strict on everything being professional. A million things are going through my head right now but for the life of me I can't say a word. I just stare at Carlton in shock, my gaze switching between him and his son. Carlton on the other hand is staring past me. I have been so caught up in the fact that he has a son, that I didn't notice the bigger problem here. My kids. This can't be happening. Carlton opens his mouth to speak but I beat him to it.“So you're his father?” I am asking the obvious, but I need to steer the conversation away from me and my four clones behind me. “Andre, yes,” he says, shifting his gaze back to me. “How…ummm…why are you with him,” he seems like he's trying to align his thoughts together as he keeps stealing glances at my kids. Well I'm equally shocked that he has a kid. But the difference is that k
DAHLIA'S POV “Sunny, did you hear?” I look at her skeptically. It's obvious that she heard everything, still I want to be sure, I need to know how much she heard, and what exactly she makes of it. Who knows she might think Tristan is just joking. “I heard everything Dahlia,” the anger in her tone is undismissable and I shut my eyes so tight, I am afraid they won't open again. “Did you hear me Dahlia,” she repeats, when my eyes are still shut but her tone is higher. “Yes Sunny, I heard you, you heard everything, I know,” I blurt out in frustration. Tristan just said only him and I knew, we'll add Sunny to that list. The more people know, the more the chances of Carlton finding out. “Are you serious? How can you still talk to me like this after I just heard what I heard? You're living under my roof, we've been friends since high school, I've only been on your side since you got back and I see your kids as mine too. Yet you didn't bother to tell me that Carlton is their father? Is t
CARLTON'S POV The sound of the espresso machine brewing knocks me off my train of thoughts. I didn't even realize my eyes were closed until the person at the machine apologized for waking me up. I just nod and turn away, sitting up on the couch. I had come into the lounge for a cup of coffee but somehow I ended up sitting on the couch without the coffee, in deep thought. I haven't been able to stop thinking about Dahlias kids. They have been on my mind since the day at the cafe. And recognizing her daughter as the child from the store in LA makes everything so awkward. To think Dahlia had possibly been in L.A all those years and in that store at the same I was. So she had been living there with them, with her husband, the father of her kids. I haven't seen him at all. Could it be that he is still in L.A, is he even still in the picture? Is she married to him? Then it hit me. Tristan Martinez. They say they are business partners but what if it's more than that. What if they are
“So, what do you care for? Brandy? Whiskey? Champagne?!” Marigold ask hyper energetically as we are walking through different guest heading to wherever marigold is leading me to. “Or wait… I know what you like. Whiskey” She squeals energetically like the marigold I used to know from kids. “Well, I don’t…” “Hello Blenda,” marigold sudden hollering cuts me off as we stops before a Lady looking glam. “Meet my sister Dahlia.” She says. “And dahlia, this is blenda one of our business partners. You know her?” I don’t know if it’s just me, but everything marigold does looks so much like a game to me and I’m very sure that the Brenda lady saw through her facade, because she reacts to marigold with a frown. “Well, I don’t think…I know her.” I replies marigold dryly and turns to Brenda feigning a smile as I’m not in the mood. “… But it’s nice to meet you Brenda. You look great. I love your necklace.” “Yeah, nice. Thank you Barrister dahlia.” Brenda replies with a slur, looking from
“So, what do you care for? Brandy? Whiskey? Champagne?!” Marigold ask hyper energetically as we are walking through different guest heading to wherever marigold is leading me to.“Or wait… I know what you like. Whiskey” She squeals energetically like the marigold I used to know from kids. “Well, I don’t…” “Hello Blenda,” marigold sudden hollering cuts me off as we stops before a Lady looking glam. “Meet my sister Dahlia.” She says. “And dahlia, this is blenda one of our business partners. You know her?” I don’t know if it’s just me, but everything marigold does looks so much like a game to me and I’m very sure that the Brenda lady saw through her facade, because she reacts to marigold with a frown. “Well, I don’t think…I know her.” I replies marigold dryly and turns to Brenda feigning a smile as I’m not in the mood. “… But it’s nice to meet you Brenda. You look great. I love your necklace.”“Yeah, nice. Thank you Barrister dahlia.” Brenda replies with a slur, looking from me to
Warning: Unedited Dahlia pov, It isn’t just marigold who seems to be up to something. My parents too has their backing because few hours ago, After I and the kids arrived home I received friendly Text messages from them inviting me the party too. It would has been a different thing it was just some general broadcast invitation but it was personal invite with claims about wanting to make peace and meet my kids. I would never really want to get my kids involved in this game but marigold cunningly did in a way I wouldn’t object. She had insisted on following me and Carlton to go pick the kids from school and on our way back she played the charade of being a sweet Aunt and she invited them to the party because she wanted Andre and Carlton to be there. Right now, it’s already evening and about an hour to the party. I’m staring at myself in the full length mirror checking out my outfit. My eyes roving about to see what’s missing. My Raven dark hair is perfectly styled up in high pony and
Dahlia’s Pov, From the moment the ward’s door open, The lively atmosphere morphs into intention immediately because of the person that just walked in. She halt right at the door, freezing as if she’s seeing a ghost. And I’m the ghost, because her gaze is piercing right through me and unlike actually seeing a ghost, her expression isn’t horrid but that of undiluted rage. Me, I’m simply baffled about her appearance here. I mean she has no reason to be here. And there’s no doubt that everyone else in the ward is also having same thoughts. However, the silence doesn’t last any longer before Mr. Stewart’s high grating voice breaks it. “And what the hell are you doing here?” He asks Marigold angrily. “Such A way to speak to your daughter in law whom you had forcefully accused of a crime she didn’t commit. I should be getting some apology here.” Is marigold’s sarcastic response as she rolls her eyes walking fully into the ward. “Anyways I just came to visit my mother-in-law who has been
Marigold’s POV, Hanging out with my crazy friends is such a therapy. It’s like all I needed After the hell I went through in that sick cell! They had been a whole vibe and energy. Right now, the all four of us are in a SPA getting different SPA treatments.“That Father In-Law of yours is such a psychopath.” Annabel snaps, reading news magazine as a pedicurist is tending to her feet. The SPA room has been buzzing with my friends talking non-stop. More like throwing insults to Mr. Stewart which he very much deserves. And the other occupants in the room are diligently focused on their job just as they should. “I mean if he hated you that much, he could just man up and ask you to leave his son. Accusing you wrongly was such a dumb move.” Cynthia chips in Angrily. She’s laid on the bed beside me getting her facials done just like me. “I wish I got to see his face now that the truth is out. Your parents should consider suing that man you know.” I huff. With my intense hatred for
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