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
MARIGOLD'S POV It has been exactly three days since my fight with Dahlia in front of the school compound. People took videos and pictures and posted them on the net. At first the headlines were, CEO of Tristan Delight at Texas branch gets into an embarrassing fight with a fellow parent at her children's school. The next day they had completely changed. Apparently the newly found public attraction had made people dig in more on my life and Dahlia's. The new headlines were…CEO of Tristan Delight at Texas branch engages in a fight with her stepsister over the CEO of Stewart's Foods Co, husband to the stepsister. I mean, I'm excited about the news and all but the least they could do is use my name. Now I have to parade around like the ‘stepsister’. I'm not complaining though, this is the most publicity I've gotten in years. Today is the third day and I'm just loving the comments and articles online. It's all hateful comments against Dahlia. People are defending me, saying Dahlia is
DAHLIA'S POV The eyes of the man embracing me grows wide and he immediately pushes himself off me. I feel a little hurt but then I remember that it's Carlton. He's a cheat and sneaking around is his specialty. “We…we were ju…just hugging,” he stammers, “there’s nothing going on I swear it.”I fold my arms across my chest and watch as Carlton pathetically tries to explain the situation to Tristan. Tristan scoffs and moves further into the room. “I know you were just hugging because I know Dahlia, she'd never fool around with someone's husband. It's beneath her,” he says looking at Carlton. I know what he's doing. Yes, everything he's saying is true and I believe it but he's also trying to mock Carlton, knowing fully well that Carlton was sleeping with someone else when he was still married to me. And it's working because the look on Carlton's face says he feels ashamed and he wants to kill Tristan for mocking him. Carlton's jaws tightens and his shoulders get tense. Tristan al
DAHLIA'S POV “Miss Dahlia, is it true that you're having a private relationship outside work with Mr. Carlton Stewart?” One of the reporters asks almost putting the mic in my mouth. I have to get out of this, out of here. How did I get myself in this mess?Oh yes, I remember, I walked out of the auditorium room and was met with this paparazzi asking inappropriate questions. .Who even gave them permission to enter here? And they are asking unscreened questions which puts me in a tight place. “Miss Dahlia, please explain your relationship with Mr. Stewart,” another one shoots a question. I immediately turn and glare at him, he instinctively steps back still keeping the mic close to my mouth. This is too much. The blinding lights, the multiple mics in my face. I can't take it. My head begins to spin and it feels like I'll collapse anytime soon. As the reporters keep throwing questions at me, I feel my knees begin to grow weak. No, no, no. Don't give up on me now. They are givin
DAHLIA'S POV “What is going on here?”Sunny's voice gets loud as her expression goes dark. She looks between Tristan and I, her lip twitches as realization sets in and she begins pacing. “Sunny, calm down,” I say, trying to ease her. Her reaction is perfectly valid, maybe Tristan might be oblivious, although I doubt that, but I know how Sunny feels about him. And here I am kissing someone she likes. But I couldn't help it, I was caught up in the moment. I shouldn't have betrayed her like that, still, the pull between Tristan and I was too much to ignore. The way he stared at me, the lustful look in his eyes. If Sunny hadn't interrupted, I wonder how far it would have gone. Maybe it's because I haven't been touched or kissed in a while, because why else will I give in? My thoughts are in a haze but with the growing fury in Sunny's eyes, I have to prioritize her feelings first. “Calm down? You're telling me to calm down? I walk in here, tired as hell from work, hoping to see that
DAHLIA'S POVWe have to get him on his feet at least. We'll help him walk to the car and the rest will be easy. One of Tristan's arms is draped over my shoulder, the other is draped over Sunny's shoulder. He is still in pain, and groaning as we push our way to my car. “Almost there,” I groan feeling bad for Tristan as he tries to suppress the pain and not groan. “It's okay, Tristan, you'll be fine. We are almost at the car,” I try to reassure him. Sunny is quiet throughout. We finally get Tristan into the car. “I have to do something, I'll meet you there,” Sunny says, sounding suspicious. She doesn't wait for me to reply before she walks away. Tristan groans again bringing my attention back to him. I'll deal with Sunny later, Tristan is my priority for now. I quickly enter my car and drive to the hospital. I finally found time to get my car from the mechanic shop. Tristan groans in pain the whole way to the hospital and I feel really bad for him. I try increasing my speed but
DAHLIA'S POV The morning is dull and the sky humid. I make sure the kids wear jackets and have scarves tied around their neck before dropping them off at school. Throughout yesterday night and this morning, thoughts of Tristan have been on my mind. Our kiss, seeing him in so much pain. I wish everything didn't go down the way it did. I have had time to think about it too, and I owe Sunny an apology, and a huge thank you for her impact on my life and that of my kids. So in a good spirit, I make breakfast for Tristan and Sunny and dish theirs in a cooler. I freshen up, drop my kids at school and head to the hospital. The hospital environment always gives me jitters. Seeing people walk in and out with one condition or the other, in pain, receiving bad or good news. It's almost overwhelming, so I quickly make my way past everyone and head to Tristan's room. The door is a little open and I can hear someone talking. I walk in to see the doctor speaking to Tristan about his condition. Bu
CARLTON’S POV It's been three days since my encounter with Dahlia at the hospital. She still asks about Andre's health and I admire her for being so invested in his well being, something his own mother can never do. But that's about it. She has no interest in reiterating the conversation we were having that day and I respect that. It's a sensitive topic for her and I will be as patient as I can be. My patience seems to be wearing out as I stare at her while she assesses the beet roots on the shelves. We are at a raw food materials store. It's one of our events to prepare for the physical classes. After this we will converge at the front of the store to take pictures. So far everything has been going well except the constant urge to speak to Dahlia. Ever since the day at the hospital, I keep getting intrigued by her. The little things she does, how her fingers gently caress the fruits, how her lips curve into a slight smile as she assesses vegetables. She must really like the thin
Carlton “How could you Marigold? How could you be so devilish to pull up such a stunt on me and dahlia?!” I vibrates with visible rage radiating all around me. Right now we are back at my mansion. Andre is upstairs in his room as I’ve instructed him to do so before I began lashing out on marigold. After Tristan explained all that had transpired in Marigold’s party leading on to how the table turned, I had been in shock. Honestly, I know marigold is capable of the worst things but guess I have underrated her way too much. I could never imagine that her obsessive insecurity over dahlia would ever push her to framing dahlia up to get her sex tape and spread all over the net. She even involved me! Her husband. I’m seriously blowing off steams and I can’t control my fucking temper. It’s taking my will power to restrain myself from slapping marigold. “You caused it Carlton!” Marigold dares to yells back at me. Her eyes glistening with aggressive tears. Anyone who walks in now would th
Carlton’s pov “The hell was that for?” That’s marigold. Her voice booms the whole place as I approaches the place that slapped just came from. And turns out in the kitchen area. I burst into it and I meet the ugly scenerio of my mother and marigold in a heated fight. With the way marigold is rubbing her reddish cheek, difinately she’s the one that just received the slap from my mother. I release a sigh of frustration. “What exactly is going on here?” I asks and that’s when they apparently notices my presence. “What does it matter? You would definitely take your mother’s sides anyways!” Marigold yelled as she speaks first, undiluted anger brewing all over her. “Carlton good thing you are here. It’s high time you come back to your senses and realize the kind of snake you are married to!” “What happened?” I groan, honestly not in the mood to accommodate their banter. “Do you know your wife was telling someone over the phone that she’s going to steal from the company’s funds?” M
Carlton’s pov “The hell was that for?” That’s marigold. Her voice booms the whole place as I approaches the place that slapped just came from. And turns out it’s the kitchen area. I burst into it and I meet the ugly scenerio of my mother and marigold in a heated fight. With the way marigold is rubbing her reddish cheek, difinately she’s the one that just received the slap from my mother. I release a sigh of frustration. “What exactly is going on here?” I asks and that’s when they apparently notices my presence. “What does it matter? You would definitely take your mother’s sides anyways!” Marigold yelled as she speaks first, undiluted anger brewing all over her. “Carlton good thing you are here. It’s high time you come back to your senses and realize the kind of snake you are married to!” “What happened?” I groan, honestly not in the mood to accommodate their banter. “Do you know your wife was telling someone over the phone that she’s going to steal from the company’s funds?”
Dahlia POV, I’ve been a panicking mess right from the moment I enters the guest room with Carlton. More like I rushed in. Grayson’s condition had heightened. The coughing stopped while I was carrying him up but his body is all swollen, red and his body temperature is burning like hot coals. I can’t even recognize his face as I lay him on the bed… he’s barely breathing. Gosh, Grayson is barely breathing. And the worst part is that I don’t know what the hell is happening to him. “I think it’s an allergy reaction dahlia. Stop panicking. He would be fine.” Carlton had been trying to pacify me since the past few seconds but nothing he’s saying had made any sense to me. I’m busy touching different parts of Grayson’s body, my hands trembling and fear taking the major part of my heart. Thankfully It doesn’t take long before Mrs. Stewart arrive in the room with a nurse. I stands up from the bed immediately paving way for the nurse to attend to Grayson. As the nurse checks out Grayson’s
Dahlia’s POV, Sunny was discharged from the hospital in the evening. Perfect time for Tristian as he is serious about escorting me to the Stewart’s Mansion. When we returned to the house with sunny, we and the kids got prepared and zoomed off to the Stewarts villa. We are walking into the mansion and as we gets in, I bump into someone who seem to be angrily storming out. Marigold. “The hell!” She barks, Anger marring her face. I don’t respond to her before my kids shrilling voices booms the whole place. They all chorus Andre’s name as they gleefully runs towards him. Andre Is watching the tv with his grand father Mr. Stewart. The whole mansion is actually bustling with life. the tv sounds filling the place. Carlton and Mrs Stewart are setting up the table and for some reasons marigold was storming out. But our presence brings everything to a halt. Everyone makes different reactions, starting with marigold who just yelled at me, raw anger radiating around her. Everyone els
Marigold’s POV, After a long and quiet drive, we finally arrived at the Stewart’s compound. As soon as Carlton pulls over, he vacates the car like he’s being pursued. He walks to the back and opens the car for Andre to step out. I’m pretty sure his next move is to proceed to the mansion without me. Which he actually try to but I don’t let him. Slamming the door open, I also steps out and catches up with him. We end up walking side by side, obvious indignation radiant all around him but I cared less.When we arrives at the mansion, Andre first shocks me with his instant switching of mood. He had been so moody and annoyed throughout the drive down but the moment he sees Mr. and Mrs. Stewarts, he squeals gleefully like a siren and ran towards them. More like he runs towards Mr. Stewart who’s on the couch reading news paper. “Grandpa!!!” Is what he screams as he runs off to him and Mr. Stewart immediately drops his papers to receive him. “My boy!” He mused, taking Andre into his ar
Marigold pov ‘Dear Mrs. Stewart, this is a reminder that New Dimension Academy’s kids BOOTCAMP is in Four days time. Please we employ you to make the necessary preparations for your kids as it is a parents - kids BOOTCAMP.’After reading the message from my phone, the anger I’m already feeling intensifies. Scoffing, I angrily flings the phone to the couch. “Really now!” I snaps out. “What’s wrong?” Chloe inquires as my other friends who’ve been keenly watching me has curiosity on their faces. “It’s nothing important… It’s Andre’s school sending a reminder of their bootcamp or whatever nonsense!” I lash and takes one gulp from the glass of liquor in my grip. I’m presently in a bar with my all three friends. Last night when I left home, I headed straight to Chloe’s house solely because I was completely loosing it. I either needed money urgently or an idea on how to raise such an amount in couple of hours. But unfortunately I got absolutely nothing tangible from Chloe other tha
Dahlia’s POV, My kids did a great job cheering sunny up for the rest part of the morning. Griffin, the last of my Quadruplets wrote an heart warming letter for sunny which he read out loud to her. Dear Aunt Sunny,Hi!Don't be sad anymore, okay? You're the best Aunt Sunny in the whole wide world! I love you so, so much! You're the loveliest person in the world, and nobody should ever make you think you're not. You're super beautiful, inside and out!Don't be sad, Aunt Sunny. You're amazing, and I love you more than ice cream!With Love,Griffin. After reading the letter, sunny was moved to tear up. She purs like a kid and give griffin a very big hug. Gianna showed a painting to sunny which she had been sketching for days. It’s the portrait of a very pretty woman who has her hair adored with flowers. A big heart symbol is etched on her chest. Gianna named the lady Aunt sunny and presented it to her. Sunny was now reeling with amusement and she’s grinning from ear to ear as she obs
Dahlia’s POV,—Next morning—It’s weekend Today which means the kids are all at home causing a ruckus as usual. And me, I have no schedules for today. Neither with Carlton or anyone else. When I woke up this morning, I had prepared to a host of scolding to pour on sunny for getting drunk last night but reverse became the case when I walked in on her to meet a gloomy version of her. It was so unlikely for sunny to be in stuck in her room, not joining me to prepare breakfast nor eating with me and my kids. I had thought she couldn’t wake up due to the hangover, but I walk into the room, I’m stunned to meet her sobbing. Another heartbreak? That was My first assumption but After series of persuasion, she finally opened up the me the reason why she ended up in some bar to drown herself in Alcohol. “Am I a horrible person?” She started, sniffling as I’m sitting beside her on her bed. Her eyes is so red, huge bags under her eyes and her face horribly puffy. Evidence that she had cried so