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
I clutch hard to the table knife. My heart swearing painfully as I am watching my husband and my sister openly flirting with each other before my eyes and None of our family bother to notice anything. Mari-gold keeps smirking as if knowing what she’s doing. The chattering and laughter continues while everyone is enjoying the different delicacies on the table. It’s my parents 26th anniversary and we are on in the mansion in celebration of it. “Taste this, Carlton.” Mari-gold shoves out a piece of cake and offers it to Carlton, while staring at me for my reaction and my very own husband shamelessly opens his mouth for her to feed him. “Mmmmm, Delicious” he exclaim as he munch on the cake, grinning in high spirits like a toddler with no problems in world. When infact we had one. Few hours ago, we were yelling down at each other before we arrived at the mansion. And it was over the photos that my sister sent to me when I was in court. If not for my years of experienc
“I didn’t want to expose it like this or today. But I just can’t hold back the excitement anymore!” She giggles excitedly. Her blue eyes twinkling like crystal as she turns to Carlton, not looking an inch remorseful or ashamed. With my breath hitch and heart still frozen, I turn to Carlton expecting to meet a baffled expression on his face, just like everyone else on the table. Or the exact bitter reaction he gave me when I told him about my own pregnancy but to my greatest heart-break, he had none of those. In fact, He has the most exuberant excitement I had ever seen him muster in his eyes. “What?!” Mrs Stewart voice cuts through the shock and tension in the atmosphere. “Are you being serious?” “Of course, right Carlton?” Marigold gestures at Carlton for some support, still grinning and Carlton doesn’t waste any time. He nods and takes Mari-gold palm into his, then he clears his throat. Boldly facing everyone with no atom of shame. his tone cold and firm. “Mari-gold is
when I arrive at a spot far away from everyone, My Kness weakens and I crash down to the floor, landing on the stair case. I allow the tears that I’ve been holding back to rain down my cheeks without trying to stop them. I’ve been through so much pain before but none has ever amount to this. Where my husband betrays me and everyone turned a blind eye towards it. I cry so much till feel my throat tearing apart. I wish I had never took pity on Carlton. I wish I had never been there for him all the time marigold hurt him beyond counting. The truth is Mari-gold was his first love. They dated for years and in those times, Mary gold kept hurting Carlton by frolicking with different men, still Carlton kept giving her many chances. And I was just there for him in his lowest moments, cheering him up and fighting my building feelings for him. He gave Mari-gold several chances but he had the last straw when he walked into Mary gold banging another man right in his office. And their weddi
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
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 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
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
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 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
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 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
‘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