“You Old bastard!” My mother is first to shout, infuriation radiating all over her as she storms down to the table, my father equally spitting nails beside her. “How dare you arrest my daughter?!” My father follows, his face redder. “You think you can get away with this? You drop the charges now against marigold, or I swear you'll regret it!” My eyes meets my kids and their innocent faces are wearing bewildered expression as the two STRANGE people in the midst is creating ruckus. Shit! I cussed mentality already wanting to get them out of here. “What nonsense!” Mr. Stewart bellows at once, his face toughens up like the typical Mr. Stewart. “You didn’t seriously didn’t came here to threaten me do you?” “Take it however you want, I am just warning you to better release marigold. She’s damn innocent! My baby would never hurt anyone.” My mom’s vein could burst through her throat if care isn’t taken with the way she is screaming and I scoff. So, she knows how to defend the
Dahlia pov With a shaky exhale, I lean against the sink and press my palm against the cold porcelain to hold me up. The fluorescent lights above casts streaks of shadows across my face in the mirror. My reflection stares back, tired and skeptical. What game is Tristian playing? At first it seemed like we were in this together. Now, it's like he's chasing vehemently after a personal gain. The door creaks open and from the mirror, I see Carlton step inside. My stomach drops to the pit of my stomach. His face is a storm of anger, confusion and something else I can't place my finger on. “What are you doing here?” My voice falters at the end but I don't care. He has no business being in here. He doesn't answer right away. Instead, he leans against the wall, arms crossed. “I couldn't stay there any longer. What exactly have you done to my father to gain his favor?” I squint my eyes in shock at his question. “What do you mean?” He chuckles but that's not the sound of amusement. “Fi
The car comes to a stop in the garage and I open the door for the kids to file out. On their faces are looks of gloom and that might be my fault. Instead of asking, I just let them go into the house.Sunny welcomes us with her usual burst of energy, pulling me into a tight hug the moment I step in through the door. “Oh, finally! You're here! I thought you were planning on ditching me for good.”I force a small smile, letting her hug linger longer than it should for the sake of politeness. “Yeah. Long day.” I pull back, muttering. I try not to reveal too much but Sunny has always had a keen eye for little details and she notices everything. Thankfully, she chooses not to press but turns her attention to the kids. “Hey, sweeties. How was your outing? Was it a lot of fun?” She asked with that enthusiastic smile. “Yes, it was.” Gianna chirps.Gavin shrugs. “I guess.”Grayson and Griffin say nothing but grin at her since the others have spoken for them. Then Sunny starts saying somethi
DAHLIA“No,” I say to him firmly. “That's not how I want to do this. That's not exactly how we planned for this to happen.”He stares hard at me but I don't waver.“This isn't about Marigold being in prison. I didn't put her there, Tristan. That's her mess. My revenge for her isn't that cheap. As for Carlton, I intend for him to feel it slowly, deeply, and I'm almost there.”“You're being reckless and letting your feelings cloud everything. We're supposed to pull out now!” He snaps. “I’m being reckless? I'm the one letting emotions soil our plans? Spoken like the true hypocrite.” I hiss, glaring at him. My fingers curl into fists at my sides. “This is my plan for Carlton, not yours. I don't need you second-guessing me.”Before he can reply, a small voice cuts through the tension.“Mommy?”We both turn at the same time, and there she is at the foot of the stairs, clutching a sheet of paper covered in vibrant splashes of paint. Her wide eyes flicks between me and Tristian. She looks co
DAHLIALater when we finally stop to eat, Andre still remains full of energy, bouncing in the booth beside Carlton. “Can I pick, Dad? Please?”Carlton laughs. “Within reason.”With an excited squeak, he flips through the menu like it holds the secrets of the universe. “I want…the flat bread with dips! And maybe the spicy fries. And dessert.”“Dessert?” Carlton raises a brow. “You've been eating sugar all day.”“Fruit isn't sugar,” Andre argues, and both of them look to me for backup. I'm too amused to butt in. “Don't drag me into this,” I tell them with my hands raised.Andre sighs dramatically but settles on his choices and when the food comes, he dives in with gusto. It's almost hard to place side by side the boy I first knew to this one right now. They're nothing alike. And deep down, I'm delighted about the changes. “This dip is spicy!” he exclaims after a few bites with red cheeks.“Good spicy or bad spicy?” Carlton asks him. I stifle a smile.Andre fans his mouth. “Both!”Car
TRISTIAN'S POVIt isn't what I had in mind but we end up in the beach and it's to my advantage because the kids absolutely love it here. The momentt we step foot on the beach sand, they kick off ther shows and take off with energy. Gianna spins in the sand with her curls bouncing as she throws her arms out wide. “The water’s so big! I can't believe it,” she yells, full on astonishment.Grayson races ahead. His eyes never leave the water and I can almost tell what he's going for. “I'm going to find seashells.” He declares, legs pumping as if the ocean might disappear if he doesn't get there fast enough. Behind them, Gavin and Griffin are locked in a sprinting contest, their laughter ringing out like music. As I watch them play, I can't help but smile. I'd give anything to have this carefree nature once more. This is what kids are supposed to feel. Pure joy. No boundaries. Just freedom. “They're so excited.” Oh, it's Sunny and her voice grates on my nerves. She keeps her eyes crosse
DAHLIAIn a little while, Carlton comes to call me and together, we head to his mother's ward. The moment we step inside, her eyes flit between Carlton and me. Then that faint, knowing smile plays on her lips. Even in her frail state, her eyes glint with mischief. “So,” she say, her voice coming out very weak. “Are you two finally together?”My stomach knots but I keep my focus on wiping my palms on my dress. I can feel Carlton tense beside me, his silence heavier than words.“Mom,” he chuckles carefully, avoiding my eyes. “You need to rest.”She waves him off like his words are nonsense. “I'll rest when you two stop dodging my questions.” Her smile widens and then her focus zeroes on him. “Did you divorce that Marigold yet? That woman…I never liked her for you.”I'm tempted to scowl at her words. The exact words she said when Marigold framed me for pushing her down the stairs. Now she thinks that's enough to win me back.Not even in a million years.When I glance at Carlton, he loo
MARIGOLD I pace the suffocating cell, reading the bold lettering on the newspaper. In rage that sets my blood boiling, I crumple and fling it to the floor. Still the headline remains burned into my brain: Carlton Stewart spotted dining with Dahlia Campbell. The details portrays them as business partners. As if. They can fool everyone but me. “Snake. She's been waiting for this. Waiting for the perfect moment to slide right in and play the Martyr. Thirsting for that which is no longer hers.” The entrance door to the cells corridor buzzes open and I've been in here long enough to know that a visitor just entered the premises. “You have visitors.” The gruff voice of the jailer says and I raise my head just in time to see my parents. The door slides open and they step in. They don't look happy to see me in such a sorry state. I don't even let them take another step before I bombard them with questions. “What are you doing about this?” I snap before they can open their mou
Carlton POV, Most of the parents who came for the Bootcamp seems to know each other. When I and dahlia walked together into the hall, we long splits up as friends who knows us came to greet us. While I leave dahlia with her old friend, I walk off with a business associate of mine leaving Andre behind to mingle with his peers. But I actually regrets doing that because Andre got involved in a fight with some kids right inside the hall. Dahlia’s kids were also involved too. The table quickly turn. Me and the other parents of the kids have to separate the fight while everyone in the hall has their attention towards us. “What the hell happened?” Dahlia yells, glaring at both her kids and the all other kids. “They started it!” Gianna snap, pointing at the other kids they fought with. “They were making fun of Andre.” She divulged and I frown. A girl among the other kids retorts Gianna. “She’s lying. I and my friends just said sick kids can’t survive boot camps.” The kid said wi
Carlton POV, Most of the parents who came for the Bootcamp seems to know each other. When I and dahlia walked together into the hall, we long splits up as friends who knows us came to greet us. While I leave dahlia with her old friend, I walk off with a business associate of mine leaving Andre behind to mingle with his peers. But I actually regrets doing that because Andre got involved in a fight with some kids right inside the hall. Dahlia’s kids were also involved too. The table quickly turn. Me and the other parents of the kids have to separate the fight while everyone in the hall has their attention towards us. “What the hell happened?” Dahlia yells, glaring at both her kids and the all other kids. “They started it!” Gianna snap, pointing at the other kids they fought with. “They were making fun of Andre.” She divulged and I frown. A girl among the other kids retorts Gianna. “She’s lying. I and my friends just said sick kids can’t survive boot camps.” The kid said with o
Dahlia POV, The morning has been a whole new vigor of excitement as today is their BOOTCAMP. But me? I don’t really know. I’m not so thrilled about Bootcamp due to my past traumatic experiences but that Aside, I’m also worried that Tristian isn’t here yet. It’s already 9 Am and my kids are all dressed up already, including me. In fact they are already waiting in the car while I’m just in my room packing up relevant stuffs for the camping. Sunny had really been of great help all morning. And right now, she’s still helping me. “Do you really need these much mattresses?” Sunny asks I’m stuffing several mattresses into a bag while she had been passing them to me. “Of course, I wouldn’t want my kids catching a cold.” I said and she groan then roll her eyes. “And Tristian,” she suddenly hollers. “You said he would be here this morning. What’s keeping him?” She asks with a scoff, feigning her usual annoyance over Tristian. Well, even me would like to know what’s keeping him. If he
CARLTON’s POV, After the marigold sex tape shenanigans has been eradicated, I decided to finally face my father. More he called few moments ago after I just parted ways with dahlia and I drove straight ti the mansion and I found him at the living room standing and facing the glassed wall. Even as an old man, he still bears that intimidating Aura around him and I hated the way my body reacted to him. Especially when he twirls to face me, his stern dark eyed unnerves every inch of me. I just pulls up a firm, unbothered facade as I wait for him to speak. And I’ve been waiting since like the past ten seconds. “Finally, you decided to show up.” He finally speak with a calm voice then he walks away from his position. My eyes follows him keenly and the next thing he does actually stuns me. He walks towards the wine rank. Bring out a red wine and two glasses. He fetches some quantity each glasses and pass one over to me. I hesitate for a second before collecting it then he walks back to
Dahlia’s POV, The drive to wherever we are heading is quiet and cozy until Carlton brings up the subject of Tristian. “You know, I’ve been wondering.” He begins. pulling my attention from the phone I’m operating, I turn to face his side profile. “What do you have on Tristian?” His question completely throws me off and I arch my brows at him. Then As if reading my mind, he speaks further. “Like getting Alan to release marigold sex tapes and still getting him to take it down, couldn’t have been so easy. Yet he he did all that just for your sake. You seem to have something on him and if you don’t, then he definitely has a thing for you.” And there he goes again trying into pry into mine and Tristian’s relationship. I know what he wants to hear and that’s what I’ll be giving him… but in a non pleasing way. “You are absolutely wrong on that.” I began, eyes still pinned to his side profile. “Tristan doesn’t have anything for me. I mean not everyone does good things and expect somet
Dahlia Carlton finds a place to pull over and following the direction that Tristian sent us, it wasn’t hard to track Alan’s apartment. He’s in block B among the many jumbled apartment we passed by in the cranky area. “How does Tristian even get to know this place? Does he runs thuggery or what?” Carlton literally vocalized my thoughts as we step over some piles of woods. From what I know, Tristan never knew Alan before until marigold welcome party. However, I don’t know if Carlton is merely making a harmlessly observation or he’s trying to rob Tristian with a bad image. So I don’t respond, I just shrug and we continue walking. After walking a few distance we finally arrives at Alan’s door. We knocked a couple times on the door but after getting no response, we both walked into the apartment. we haven’t walked for long when I started hearing faint sounds. At first it isn’t Audible but the closer we approaches the place it’s coming from, I get to make sense of what’s going on.
“What are you doing here Grayson?” Sunny’s voice cuts through the thick silence in the Air. She probably figured I needed help and spoke on my behalf. I can only hope that Grayson doesn’t press on with his initial question because heavens know I’ll have to lie to him. Thankfully, Grayson drops the stupefied look on his face and responds to Sunny’s question. “The math Assignment you gave us all.” He walks fully into the room and that’s when I noticed the book in his hand. My eyes follows him as he extends the open page to sunny. “I couldn’t do mine. I can’t find the answers to any of the questions.” He whines boldly like it’s a normal thing for him not to know basic maths. And what gets more into my nerves is the way sunny reacts to it. “Oh sweetie, I’ve forgotten I gave you an Assignment. Wasn’t this in like four… three days ago?” She pets Grayson with her usual sweet voice while giving Grayson a poppy look. Grayson shrugs. “Okay, don’t worry. I will teach you how to solve
“What are you doing here Grayson?” Sunny’s voice cuts through the thick silence in the Air. She probably figured I needed help and spoke on my behalf. I can only hope that Grayson doesn’t press on with his initial question because heavens know I’ll have to lie to him. Thankfully, Grayson drops the stupefied look on his face and responds to Sunny’s question. “The math Assignment you gave us all.” He walks fully into the room and that’s when I noticed the book in his hand. My eyes follows him as he extends the open page to sunny. “I couldn’t do mine. I can’t find the answers to any of the questions.” He whines boldly like it’s a normal thing for him not to know basic maths. And what gets more into my nerves is the way sunny reacts to it. “Oh sweetie, I’ve forgotten I gave you an Assignment. Wasn’t this in like four… three days ago?” She pets Grayson with her usual sweet voice while giving Grayson a poppy look. Grayson shrugs. “Okay, don’t worry. I will teach you how to solve this
Dahlia’s POV, There seems to be time in your life when you feel like a lost poppy. Like that moment when you can’t just figure out if you are still on the right track or completely loosing yourself. And that’s me right now. I just finished the interview with Carlton and right now, I’m in a Cab heading back home. While My eyes is taking in the beautiful view of the city, my mind is pre-occupied. The short time I’ve spent with Carlton and everything he had said to me had been replaying in my head. His regret for marrying marigold. His family’s pressure. His deep regret for hurting me. I wanted all of this… I wanted him to acknowledge it all which is the mail reason I even came back to his life. And as I’m reflecting on all of these, I should be feeling elated right? I should be having that giddy feeling that I’m finally close to my revenge but damn No! As I think of Carlton, all that looms in my head is his regretful disposal… The pain in his eyes as he acknowledges how much he ha