Chapter 5: Five years later

Five YEARS LATER.

It’s my birthday and the house had Been buzzing with tiny clones of me jumping all around and singing me birthday song.

I call them, my tiny clones because they are like four spitting image of me which is one thing I’ll forever be grateful for. Thank Goodness they’ve nothing in common with their father. Only Gianna had her father Biege hair colour but I tinted it to black. So nothing reminds me of the person whom I hate so much.

“Mom, I’ve a gift for you…” Gianna the 3rd and my only girl among my quadruplets shrill like a Siren as we are all having breakfast.

Her immediate younger brother Griffin also adds, “me too mommy!”

I breaks into a cheeky grin like a kid on Christmas, as I watch them flee the table. They leaves the dining and comes back with their gifts. Gianna hands me a very beautiful sketch. A portrait of me in chef attire holding a spatula.

My heart flusters as I stares at the sketch.

I had never loved my new career as a chef this much as I’m feeling right now! For the past five years, I’d studied culinary art and I became CEO to one of Tristian’s continental Resturants here in LA. It’s part of my Revenge Plan against Carlton.

I became a chef and a master in the Feild. I had won several award here in L.A but none could amount to this painting made for me by my little princess.

“This is so pretty Gianna!” I flush hard as I pull my baby girl into a hug. I ruffles her hair and place multiple kisses on her cheeks.

Griffin’s Gift Is a pretty wrist bead.

“Aww Thank you so much Griffin, this is so pretty!” I pull him into a hug and ruffles his face with several kisses making him chuckle and giggle.

I let go off him to follow Gianna back to their seats.

Since Gavin and Grayson, my eldest kids has no gifts. They offers me a spoonful from their cake. I eats it with so much joy and give them both a perk on their cheeks.

After eating, I leave the kids at the dining to go prepare for the mall since today is a Saturday.

“Mom, I’m going with you to the mall.” Gianna begins to whine as I arrives back at the living room with a brush, dressed in a casual jean and hoodie.

“Oh, please Gianna. Not now—-“

I Barely finish before the others joins in, screaming.

“Mom, I’ll also go with you.”

“Me too mom.”

“Mom, please grant us this one wish, it’s your birthday.”

They all pull an apologetic, puppy face that you’ll mistake them for saints. It funnies but I know better than to laugh when trying to be stern with them.

“No, you are going to stay at home.” I declared, wearing a good measure of sternness as I continue brushing my hair but that doesn’t deter my kids.

“Mum, Please. We promise, we won’t run around.”

Thankfully, The blasting of my phone puts a stop to their noisy whining.

Gianna reach for the phone since it’s beside her and as she peeks at the screen, she Hollers like a siren.

“Uncle TRISTIAN!!!!!”

The boys faces lits up instantly as they immediately flew off their seats and gathers around Gianna.

Gianna doesn’t bother to pass me the phone, she proceeds to punch the answer bottom and Tristian’s Face appears immediately on the screen.

“Uncle Tristian!”, they all yell at the same time, their tiny voices capable of getting someone deaf.

A small smile makes its way to my face as I watch Tristian beams with a Bright smile at the sight of my kids, “Yo, what’s up. How had you all been?” Tristian greets them like a fellow guy, bubbling with a smile.

For the past five years, Tristisn had been a Very Good friend to me and he’d been like a father Figure to my kids. My kids used to think he’s their Dad But I didn’t want to lie to them. So I told them the truth. Not the entire truth though. I made them believe that their real father is dead and Tristian is just their uncle. Because really, Carlton is dead to me. The only dealing I’ll be having with him, is to make him pay for what he did to me.

On the video call, my kids all begin talking to Tristian at the same time.

“Mom Doesn’t want us to follow her to the mall!”

“It’s Mommy’s birthday today, I made chocolate.”

“When are you coming back?”

“I Miss you so much uncle Tristian.”

“C’mon kids, Don’t stress your uncle Tristian out. Can’t you see he’s tired already.” I try to intervene, rolling my eyes but still Tristian goes ahead to reply him one after the other even though he looks really drained.

“Leave them alone Dahlia, I’m fine.” He frowns playfully. “I miss you too my princess,” he replies to Gianna, making baby groan.

“I don’t know when I’m coming since I’ve lot work here at the office but I promise I’ll be back soon.” He replies griffin.

“Guess I really miss A lot today huh! Hope you will make chocolate cake for me when I comes back Greyson?” He feign a puppy face and we all burst out laughing. .

“Yes” Greyson cheers.

“Now, why won’t Mummy let you go with her to the mall?” He arch his brow at me and I rolls my eyes shaking my head.

“Oh please Tristian, the least thing I want today is a search party organized for my kids. You know how stubborn they are.”

Tristian burst into laughter, while my kids start groaning.

I takes my phone away from the table and stands up so that I’m the only one on the video call with Tristian now.

As we are now the only ones on the call, Tristian wishes me a happy birthday which is the main reason he called. “I’m sorry, I’m not there now to celebrate your day with you but I’ll make it up to you when I gets back.”

“C’mon, it’s fine, Tristian. You’ve done enough already.”

We Discuss alittle about his Restaurant here which I’m over-seeing. Then his expression goes serious as he says, “Hope you are prepared. Because pretty soon, you’ll be meeting Carlton Stewart once again.”

My pulse quickens and I smirk, “ of course more than ready!”

We says our Goodbyes but as I’m about to hang up, my kids resumed whining and groaning. Pleading with Tristian to convince me to allow them come with me and I just know I’ve no choice. I had always had no choice anyway. After the call, I made them promise to behave once we gets to the mall but who am I kidding?

As soon as we all Arrive at the spacious City Mall, they begin their usual gallavanting. As usual they serves as central of Attention due to their striking remembrance and it’s not everyday you randomly see Quadruplets around. Not to mention their matching outfit. And the fact that I keep screaming at them as they touch several stuffs asking me to buy it for them, is enough to get everyone’s Attention.

I keeps barking different warnings as we thaw the busy mall getting various stuffs into the trolley.

“Gavin, drop that. We don’t need it!!!”

“Grayson, stop dragging items with your sister.”

“Griffin, stop running around!!!!”

“Gianna stop moving ahead of me!!!”

Shouting, shopping and keeping eye on my kid isn’t such an easy combo. This is exact reason I never wanted them here.

And just when I takes my eyes away from them for a moment, I look around me to only find three of them instead of four.

My heart thumb and thumb even faster as It dawns on me that I’m not mistaken, they are now three.

“Oh God, where’s Gianna? Where’s your sister, Gavin?” I raise an Alarm, screaming at the eldest among them.

Without waiting to hear from them, I become frantic.

I ask an attendant to help me watch the kids while I go in search for Gianna.

I skid through different sections, my heart beating rapidly. But I finds no trace of her.

Not giving up, I keeps searching until I spot a little female carbon copy of me at one of the shelves trying to reach for a draw-book.

“Gianna!” I scream, I feeling an instant relieve. My nerves relax and I can finally breath now.

But as I proceed to meet her, I halt abruptly as I watch a man grabs the draw-book from the top shelf and squats to Giana’s level.

That physique…

Blue eyes and biege ruffle hair which he occasionally runs his hand through.

Gianna is in the company of the last person I ever wanted to meet so soon and now.

CARLTON STEWART

Oh no, this is bad. Really bad.

I am witnessing my greatest fear happen right before my eyes.

Why did Carlton stop to help Gianna? Did he notice her resemblance with me?

What the hell id he even doing in L.A?

I can’t meet him this way after five whole years. I don’t want to meet him now.

My reappearance to him should be in grand style not like this.

Gianna looks my way since she probably heard someone yelling his name before and Carlton follows her gaze.