DAHLIA'S POV I am in the kitchen, making dinner, when Carlton's call comes in. It was shocking at first, why would Carlton call me by this time. Why would he even call me at all? As far as I know we've finalized all our plans for our classes. Except he has some new ideas, there's no reason for him to call me. I contemplated between answering the call or not. I was reluctant to answer it, especially since I didn't want to be caught off guard with what his reason might me. I did tell him about his mom's investigation. What if he's calling because she found something and he wants to query me. I let the phone ring for a while, weighing my options. It will be suspicious if I don't pick and I do have to go to work so whatever it is, he'll still find a way to ask me. Taking a deep breath, I swiped on call and put the phone to my ear. To my surprise, Carlton asked to speak with my kids for the sake of Andre. I was both relieved and agitated at the same time. But my kids will be sp
DAHLIA'S POV Why does Tristan have a picture of me when I was pregnant? He did say he kept tabs on me while I was in jail. But why is he showing me this? Did something happen?“Where did you get these?” I ask, picking up the pictures to examine them. I don't know what to think. Yes, these are pictures of my very pregnant self but why would anyone want these, let alone Tristan. “I got them from the investigator, Mrs. Stewart hired” He says with a satisfied look on his face. If only he knows how much he's comment is making me panic. My palms get sweaty and the pictures feels sticky on my hands. I drop them back on the counter and wipe my hands on my dress. “Wh…why would she want it? What is she doing with it?” I am stammering now. I stammer when I'm nervous or anxious just like every other person and Tristan notices. “Relax Dahlia. Remember I told you she was investigating your kids?”“Oh my God,” I gasp, interrupting him. That sneaky woman. Why can't she just let me be? “I int
DAHLIA'S POV Carlton and I get down from his car and make our way to the restaurant. I received the text if the address 30 minutes ago from Mrs. Stewart. The moment in the car was a bit awkward since none of us uttered a word. So I used that moment to check out the restaurant online. I mean, the woman could have arranged for us to meet a cafe, or Starbucks. But a Michelin star restaurant? I almost scared of what she wants to say now. What's the point of meeting a fancy restaurant like that? Well, Mrs. Stewart has always been one to flaunt her money so I'm not surprised. The exterior of the restaurant gives off an old 90’s vibe. As we move closer I can see the extravagant and expensive cars parked in the restaurants own car park. Valets are everywhere catching tossed keys and all. This looks like a restaurant for extremely wealthy people and from the look of things ngs not many people are inside. I mean, it's not a restaurant that just anybody can afford. We reach the
CARLTON'S POV The sound of sirens blaring seems all too familiar to me. I've been here one to many times, but now it's for a different purpose. A different person. I had received a call from my Father, he was breathing heavily and when he finally spoke, he said something no child will ever want to hear. “Your mom got into an accident, we are at the hospital,” he had said. It felt like my whole world was crumbling. Dahlia insisted on following, and frankly I wanted her too, I need her support, emotionally and physically. Dad didn't explain the nature of the accident. So I'm just panicking because I don't know if it's mild or chronic. Dahlia and I run quickly through the door of the hospital, passing my a few patients who are being rolled in with stretchers. I scan the room looking for any medical personnel I can find. Thankfully I see a doctor in scrubs and I quickly rush to him, with Dahlia following me every step of the way. “Mrs. Stewart, what room is she admitted in?” I a
DAHLIA'S POV My legs hurt, and they are giving in. I can feel the pain everywhere. If I don't stop now, I'll collapse. But I can't. I keep running, away from everything, away from my past. Why did I think things would change? I will always get blamed, I will always be the bad person. They will never accept me. Soon my feelings transit from hurt and pain to anger and frustration. I know I despised them for what they did to me in the past. But deep down I thought things would be different. But I was wrong. I can't keep running anymore, I stop by the reception and look around at all the commotions. My thoughts are all over the place I can't stay here. I push through a door and I continue running down a quiet passageway. After a while my legs give in and I fall to the floor. Then the tears come pouring down like a flood. I don't wipe them, I just let them fall, to remind me of this day and why I need to get my revenge on that family. Even after all these years they still hurt m
DAHLIA'S POV The sound our doorbell is even louder than my alarm. I roll over on the bed and groan when I try to raise my head off the pillow. I must have cried so much last night my head is spinning now. I pick up a glass of water from my nightstand and some Aspirin from the drawer. After taking the pill and drinking the entire glass of water, I glance at the wall clock in my room. “Shit!”The time says, 7:26. I overslept. The kids should be prepared for school, they should be eating breakfast by now. I usually wake them up and now I've overslept. The sound of the doorbell still ringing makes me jump to my feet. I hurriedly put on my night robe and run to the living room. As I draw closer, I can hear noises. Children's voices and a woman's voice as well. I enter into the living room to see my kids backing their books into their bags. I peep into the kitchen and Sunny is responsible for that ethereal smell. How long and deep did I sleep that I didn't hear them moving aro
CARLTON’S POV Tristan Martinez. I've heard a lot of things about this man, before and after I knew him. Before today, I'd never seen him up close. He always has a dark aura around him. Not that I am scared of him, but I'd prefer not to involve myself with him if he's going to be trouble. But here I am, standing eye to eye with him. He flexes his jaws and I can see the anger in his eyes but he immediately masks it and forces a smile. “Mr. Stewart, good to see you here,” he extends his hand for a shake. I accept the handshake, which is unusually firm and brief. Clearly he isn't very happy to see me here. “I'm sorry about your mom, I wish her a quick recovery,” he adds. I'm not surprised he knows. Dahlia told Sunny so she has probably told him too. Besides, it's all over the internet and the news. Except he lives in a cage there's no way he won't know about it. Since he knows, that probably explains his anger earlier. My father is trying to sue Dahlia for m
DAHLIA'S POV The smell of the car is making me nauseated. I normally don't react to it, but with the way my senses have heightened lately, it's no surprise. Tristan and I are sitting in his car. We just dropped my kids off at school. He is about to head to the office when I stop him. “Can you take me somewhere else instead? I want to meet a friend of mine who is a lawyer.” He looks at me skeptically before replying, “Why?” “I need her help because I'm going to sue Mr. Stewart for defamation of character. I can't seat back and wait for the police to come searching for me. I need to take action too. He thinks he can just sue anyone he suspects of foul play, well I can easily sue him too. I let them walk over me in the past, I will not let that happen again.” And I mean every word of what I said to Tristan. This must stop. I won't let them ruin my life again. Tristan however doesn't seem to agree with me. “Don't make any rash decisions Dahlia. You don't want to be inv
Marigold’s POV,As I’m staring at the TV’s screen, my blood is boiling so hard. My vision is a complete blur of red as I’m staring at the two people on screen. Dahlia and my husband. Their talking about whatever nonsense cookbook they just released and if I don’t much, I would be thinking these two are couples. They are both standing together looking so happy. Even though no one is seeing it, I can clearly see the chemistry between them. It so obvious and fucking choking. Carlton keeps winking at dahlia obviously not concerned with public getting ideas…This is all dahlia’s fault! As she’s speaking into that microphone right now, I so want to rip it off and wipe the smile off her face. "I'm completely overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude today!This cookbook…” she swerve up a cookbook to the view of the screen. “…is a true labor of love. and it wouldn't have been possible without the inspiration and creativity of my amazing student chefs. They've pushed me to think outside the
Dahlia’s pov The rest of the days goes by in a blur of the regular events. Carlton and I having classes, and each passing moment with him, he shows his building feelings for me without having to speak it. There are times he occasionally winks. Times he just stare at me and zone out In important events. Like when discussing and planning out the upcoming contest with the rest of the team. When TRISTAIN is in my presence, he’s unable to contain or hide his jealousy and rage. It shows in the way he speaks so rashly to him, he only holds himself back as Tristian he his superior. As for me and Tristan, we indulge him. I intentionally grooms seductive outfits and put on the love birds charade with Tristian just to spite Carlton and boy did it work out. At a point, it feels like Carlton decides to challenge TRISTAIN to win me. He invites me on take outs tagging it as business take outs but TRISTAIN put it upon himself to follow me to the dinners just to spite Carlton up. As if Carlton reali
“It’s a pleasure to be meeting you here you know.” Marigold bubble with an overly exaggerated smile that spite me to my stomach. And without giving me space to breath she begin to ramble. “Anyways I’ve seen the news about you and Tristian flying around. Is that true? Are you dating? I hope you are because you need to see you guys In that photo clip. You know you looked soooo good together!” She said, stressing the ‘so’, Obvious sarcasm dripping from her voice and from the evil grin on her face. I hiss with annoyance. “You should drop this whole act already marigold. You are fooling no one but yourself.” I spat, glaring straight into her face. And as if to feign innocence or ignorant, she makes a puppy face. “What are you talking about? Aren’t you tired of keeping malice with me?” Malice! The nerve of her to say that or even stand before me smiling after setting me up with her husband. I could play along with her charade now but that would so petty so I just smirk and draw cl
Dahlia’s POV, Unedited. Not this Again! Walking outside the company to meet a host of paparazzi is something I will never prepare for. But… well, considering the news flying all about, its quite expected. The media would go at lengths just to monetize rumors. As soon as I and Tristan stepped out, different microphones are shooting towards us with truck load of questions flying in the air at same time. “Can you explain the nature of your relationship, given the intimate photo circulating online?” “Are you two dating, and if so, how long have you been together?” “Please Sir… ma’am, the public needs answers” As the questions stops, I try to smuggle past the crowd of medias and head off as I’m not caught up for any explanation. But Tristian decides to feed them. Tucking his hands into pocket, he observes the media and begin to speak into one of the microphone. “I’m just going to say this once and short. I and dahlia are not in any relationship that extends from
Dahlia’s POV, Unedited. Not this Again! Walking outside the company to meet a host of paparazzi is something I will never prepare for. But… well, considering the news flying all about, its quite expected. The media would go at lengths just to monetize rumors. As soon as I and Tristan stepped out, different microphones are shooting towards us with truck load of questions flying in the air at same time. “Can you explain the nature of your relationship, given the intimate photo circulating online?” “Are you two dating, and if so, how long have you been together?” “Please Sir… ma’am, the public needs answers” As the questions stops, I try to smuggle past the crowd of medias and head off as I’m not caught up for any explanation. But Tristian decides to feed them. Tucking his hands into pocket, he observes the media and begin to speak into one of the microphone. “I’m just going to say this once and short. I and dahlia are not in any relationship that extends from b
Carlton’s POV, After the question I just blurt out, dahlia is narrowing her brows at me and I’m feeling so ridiculous for asking that. I’m pretty sure I sounded so desperate and it’s prickling a nerve in me. Right from the moment I saw the news of Tristian and dahlia on my TL, it disorganized every part of me. I don’t know but the news really bit me so hard. Seeing dahlia together with another man in an intimate position. It affected me in a way it shouldn’t have. I found myself boiling hard with rage, the urge to pull dahlia away from Tristian hit so hard. “And Why do you ask?” Dahlia asks with her brow arched as if she’s taunting me. No, mocking me. And I just feel worse. Biting my inner lips, I laugh lightly to cover up my embarrassment. “Don’t mind that dahlia, I shouldn’t have asked. I was just you know… Surprised by the news. You and Tristian didn’t strike me like you are dating.” More like I’m the one who don’t want to think that. Because come to think of it, no man would
Dahlia’s POV, After our discussion about marigold’s doom, Tristian and I decided to tour round the pack and for the first time since years, I am having so much fun. We visited the animals and played with them. Tristian kept making jokes on them and I couldn’t help laughing. From the zoo, we toured the forest and tried out some traditional healthy meals together. After a fulfilling day of fun, we are heading home when some content creators approached us. They seem to be organizing romantic Games for couples and they were meeting random couples to participate. I actually found the request awkward as they’ve mistaken me and Tristian for couples. Tristian exchanged a baffled look with me before turning to them. “Umm…we aren’t couples.” Tristian tells them awkwardly, flashing them an exuberant grin as he make eye gesture at me. Almost like he’s asking for my opinion. The content creators after realizing, they gasp in embarrassment and quickly apologized. “I’m really sorry. We
Dahlia’s POV, After our discussion about marigold’s doom, Tristian and I decided to tour round the pack and for the first time since years, I am having so much fun. We visited the animals and played with them. Tristian kept making jokes on them and I couldn’t help laughing. From the zoo, we toured the forest and tried out some traditional healthy meals together. After a fulfilling day of fun, we are heading home when some content creators approached us. They seem to be organizing romantic Games for couples and they were meeting random couples to participate. I actually found the request awkward as they’ve mistaken me and Tristian for couples. Tristian exchanged a baffled look with me before turning to them. “Umm…we aren’t couples.” Tristian tells them awkwardly, flashing them an exuberant grin as he make eye gesture at me. Almost like he’s asking for my opinion. The content creators after realizing, they gasp in embarrassment and quickly apologized. “I’m really sorry. We th
Unedited. Dahlia’s POV, “So, why did you ask us to meet in this… place?” I ask Tristian as my eyes rove around the scenery. It’s a park and I’ve just met up with Tristian at the bridge where he had Been waiting for me. Instead of a reply, what I get is Tristian staring at me almost in awe. Like it’s his first time seeing him. His eyes are glistening with something as they rake through every inch of me, a small smile tugging at his lips. That look… it mentally draws up a person in my head and it pisses me off. Carlton… that’s the same expression I catches on him each time I spot him gazing at me and I’ll damned if I say I don’t know what it is. As much as it discomforts me, it fills me with this satisfaction that I’m slowly getting my claws on him. Sooner of a later, it would be doomed by me. However my concern now is Tristian and he won’t stop staring, I snap him out of it. “And what’s that look all about?” I snap a finger at him. “Huh… look?!” Like speed of lightening, his expre