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
CHAPTER 34 CARLTON'S POV I am not surprised by what I'm seeing. Andre always indulges in fights everyday with his classmates. But the person he is fighting is what baffles me. One of Dahlia's children, Gianna. Just when I was getting on her good side. The last thing I want is for there to be some sort of feud between our kids. That will not bode well for our relationship moving forward, business or private. I run to where the kids are pulling each other's uniforms and try to separate them. “Stop this, both of you.” “He started it,” Gianna says pointing at Andre with so much spite in her eyes. Great, just great. “It doesn't matter who started it, you know you shouldn't be engaging in fights, Gianna,” Dahlia scolds her, “and you boys are just watching them. I am disappointed,” she turns to her three sons who have their heads down. “But Gianna was just trying to become friends with Andre. And then he hit her,” Gavin says, pointing an accusing finger at Andre. But Dahlia
CARLTON'S POV The loud sound of the alarm almost destroys my eardrum and I hastily turn it off before more damage can be done. I forgot to charge my normal alarm clock last night, so I had to use the manual one with changeable batteries. Now I remember why I stuffed it in the cupboard years ago. The stupid thing is too damn loud. I get up from the bed, do my regular morning stretches, before taking the alarm and stuffing it back into the cupboard. I turn to leave the room but I don't make it to the door before I change my mind. I take out the alarm clock and throw it into the trash can instead. I walk into the bathroom and brush my teeth, before heading downstairs to the kitchen. I start brewing some coffee and open my phone to check my emails while I wait. “What is this?”Marigold walks into the kitchen holding her phone up to my face. “What is what?”“This,” she points to the screen and glares at me, her nose flaring up. I squint my eyes to look at what she is showing me t
Dahlia’s POV, There seems to be time in your life when you feel like a lost poppy. Like that moment when you can’t just figure out if you are still on the right track or completely loosing yourself. And that’s me right now. I just finished the interview with Carlton and right now, I’m in a Cab heading back home. While My eyes is taking in the beautiful view of the city, my mind is pre-occupied. The short time I’ve spent with Carlton and everything he had said to me had been replaying in my head. His regret for marrying marigold. His family’s pressure. His deep regret for hurting me. I wanted all of this… I wanted him to acknowledge it all which is the mail reason I even came back to his life. And as I’m reflecting on all of these, I should be feeling elated right? I should be having that giddy feeling that I’m finally close to my revenge but damn No! As I think of Carlton, all that looms in my head is his regretful disposal… The pain in his eyes as he acknowledges how much he has
“What? she didn’t sleep at home?” I asks, hoping I sounds casual enough “No.” Sunny responds and i asks why. “She didn’t tell me. You’ve her contact, you can reach her. Wait… you aren’t in New York or what?” “Nevermi…” The door opens and to my shocker, the person who walks in is someone I would never expect will be here. Cassandra? “Chandra!” The shock im feeling at the information from sunny, now dissolves to pure rage as Cassandra walks in majestically on her heels like she’s walking into her cambers. “What the hell are you…” I’m boiling hard. “What else?” She cuts me off. “I came to see you.” Her voice is annoyingly too calm and just then I notice the Bucky nylon bag on her hand. “Here, I brought you fruits.” My blazing eyes follows her as she drops it on the cupboard besides my bed. “And don’t ask me how I knew you were hospitalized. I always had my ways.” She says afterward as if reading the looks I’m giving her. “What?!” I’ve almost forgotten I’m still in a call
Tristian With the way dahlia is passionately Answering the questions of some interviewer on the screen, anyone would think she’s a lawyer. No, anyone would think she’s really and seriously after Carlton’s best interest because even I am thinking the same. A tiny sting at my wrist got me shuddering and I jolt my gaze towards it. It’s the Injection which is connected to my veins. It shifted a little bit and pricked me. All of a sudden I’m reminded of the fact that I’m stuck in some hospital and it’s all thanks to my heart attack. Yesterday I was drinking with Benjamin when it suddenly hit and that’s how I ended up here. As I re-adjust on the bed, I snap my gaze back to the TV screen which still has the live video of dahlia and Tristian’s interview going on. I have no idea why dahlia would escort Carlton to his interview and help him tackle the interviewer’s curt questions. But if it’s to Gain more of Carlton’s trust, which I’m hoping it is, then she’s doing a perfect job. Because wit
My mother didn’t just leave as I asked her. Of course she followed me to the office alongside dahlia and As expected, she doesn’t waste time to start bashing me about marigold and the trend. She said all sort of this that all hammers about me divorcing marigold. Even when I assures her, I’ll fix the problem soon enough, all she wanted is to get rid of marigold. Her hatred for marigold had long heightened and this whole this scandal just serves as a good opportunity. “I don’t care how ever you want to fix this scandal Carlton!” My mother is yelling, her eyes burning with red. “You have to divorce marigold!” Sitting perplexed on the office seat, I don’t bother to reply her again. Dahlia keeps sitting leg crossed opposite me, not interfering in our feud. As my mother has nothing more to say, she snatch her bag from the desk and storm out of the office. Her heating clicking Aggresively against the tiled floor. As soon as she’s out, I release a deep breath which I’m unaware I’ve been
Carlton POV, “We’ve always known that marigold is a shameless whore but my son was just keeping her out of sheer pity!” Is the hot statement I meet my mother throwing at the media as I and dahlia are waking into the company. “Don’t believe her! She’s only saying this because she no longer wants me for her son. She's been pestering him to divorce me and don’t be surprised she’s the one who fabricated that video!” Marigold yell at the media, shamelessly lying against my mother. Well somehow she deserves it. I can’t believe that despite the scandals on the net, they are both here creating a nuisance in front of the camera. The chaos continues between them and no one notices I and dahlia walking towards them. My anger is explorating as I walks towards them but I just keep my cool. But what makes me almost go off is the very moment they all finally notice us. Immediately the altercation between my mother and marigold halts at once as they are the first person who notices us a
“Andre?!” I know I’m long done pretending but the sight before now stuns the hell out of me. Andre is vomiting blood everywhere while on his inform. Andre had practically been through all sort of Ailment but vomiting blood? It’s horrifying. On impulse, I find myself rushing towards him. I grab his tiny shoulders and begin to rock his back while he continue to gag, spewing blood on the stair tiles. “Goodness! What the hell happened Andre?” After a while he finally stops gagging and what he does next appalls me. He weakly backs away from me like my hands burns him then he stands up. “Andre——“ I try to hold him but he fiercely back away. “Let go off me!” He snaps, his eyes glistening with pure hatred as they bear into me. The usual me would flare up but I can’t deny the hurt that sips through me at Andre’s reaction towards me. Maybe it’s because I’m already too gloomy and not my usual self right now. Or maybe it’s perhaps time for me to start warm
Marigold’s POV, The Anger and fear I’ve been feeling since my sex tapes started trending is something I have never felt before. With everything going on in the net, I’m sure Carlton would surely have a good reason to divorce me now! I needed to do something because there’s no way I’m going to loose Carlton. Especially to that bitch dahlia! When I left home yesterday after my ranting with carton, I came straight to my parents house. Even though my mother blatantly refused to help me with Alan’s blackmail, I still needed her help on this. She always have solutions. But to my Bloody annoyance, my mother insulted and reprimanded me for having my sex tapes on the net. Even when I told her, this is all dahlia’s fault. In the end I got nothing from her, but I didn’t leave the mansion. I couldn’t afford to go face Carlton As I needed to strategize. Still, Nothing was coming into my head until this morning when My mother told me what to do. “You will need to get rid of your sex tapes
Marigold’s POV, The Anger and fear I’ve been feeling since my sex tapes started trending is something I have never felt before. With everything going on in the net, I’m sure Carlton would surely have a good reason to divorce me now! I needed to do something because there’s no way I’m going to loose Carlton. Especially to that bitch dahlia! When I left home yesterday after my ranting with carton, I came straight to my parents house. Even though my mother blatantly refused to help me with Alan’s blackmail, I still needed her help on this. She always have solutions. But to my Bloody annoyance, my mother insulted and reprimanded me for having my sex tapes on the net. Even when I told her, this is all dahlia’s fault. In the end I got nothing from her, but I didn’t leave the mansion. I couldn’t afford to go face Carlton As I needed to strategize. Still, Nothing was coming into my head until this morning when My mother told me what to do. “You will need to get rid of your sex ta
Dahlia I know I’m getting my claws on Carlton with the way his body stiffened at my reaction. I had intentionally asked Carlton to sleep with me on the same bed yet it triggers his undoing. “Really? You are okay with me sleeping with you in the same bed?” “Is there a problem with that? I mean It’s only one bed in the room.” I’m obviously taunting Carlton but I’m my tone comes out casual as intended. Carlton suddenly loosen up and he insists on using the floor. His claims is that it’s only proper that he leaves the bed for me alone while he uses the ground as he wouldn’t want to put me through a an awkward situation. Especially since he’s the one that made me stayed back for the tour. But with the way his face is flushed red and his eyes blinking way too fast, it’s obvious he’s the one who can’t stand being close to me. Especially being in the same bed with me. I may have been apart from Carlton for years, I can still read him like an open book. The side of my lip