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 mother, if I was in hi
CHAPTER 54CARLTON’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 mother, if
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
CHAPTER 54CARLTON’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 mother, if
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 mother, if I was in hi
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
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
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 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
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 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
CARLTON’S POV Dahlia is probably the mother Andre wishes for. And I know that's an awful thing to say, but I've never seen react around any woman the way he does with her. He lets her speak, he listens to her and obeys her. Like Father, like son right?He sees something in her just like I do. I am still in awe at how Dahlia's kids were able to get Andre to laugh. I haven't seen my son laugh in months. And that speaks volumes. Am I a bad parent? Am I going about everything wrong?I'd have to get a parenting manual from Dahlia because how does she do that? Her kids bring a certain kind of joy with them that is just contagious, and Andre is no exception. When they live it always feels like the mood has been dulled, or the atmosphere is suddenly gloomy. Again, Andre is no exception, because since they left he has been salty and bitter. He went back to being the Andre that I'm used to but in a more intense level. I took everything in me to not call Dahlia and plead with her to bri