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
Just when it's about to become more heated, the door swings open and Carlton walks in. Andre trails behind him with his backpack. Oh, shoot. I almost forgot about our arrangements. “Uncle Carlton!” The kids gush with their little voices bursting with excitement. Gavin and Gianna rush to him. But Grayson and Griffin seem to have other plans. They dart past them, nearly knocking over a chair as they crowd around Andre. Andre flinches barely. I guess he's gotten used to their boisterous energy. The kids laugh and chatter and tug him towards the living room before he even has a chance to speak. I'm almost tempted to tell them off. However, looking at their faces glowing with jow and happiness just to be around Andre, it drowns out the will to rebuke them. If Andre seems comfortable, why not? “What's this about?” Tristian asks, looking between us like he wants to pummel into one of us. Well, into Carlton technically. Carlton steps inside, unfazed and collected as usual.
DAHLIA'S POVFrom the moment his face freezes, I can tell something's off with him. His face closes off like a blank canvas, blocking any emotion from seeping to the surface. “What's wrong?” I ask. Sunny steps into the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah, you look like you've seen a ghost that just walked through this room.”He bends to pick up his phone and slipping it into his pocket, refutes dodges the questions. “It's nothing. Just a minor issue at the company. I need to head out and deal with it.”I narrow my eyes in suspicion. He doesn't meet my gaze even as he speaks. “Minor? Are you sure about that? Because you don't look like it's minor.”“I said it's fine!” His outburst is sharp and it startles us, including Carlton. He moves towards the door. “I'll be back later.” He calls over his shoulder and then he's gone. Sunny clicks her tongue, tossing the towe onto the counter. “There's something wrong with him. You see how he couldn't even keep
CARLTON POV The news about Marigold getting out should be a relief for me and Andre but it doesn't feel like one. I grip the steering wheel hard enough to break it in half as the car goes down a small slope. I'm irritated. No, that's an understatement. I'm agitated, anxious, hell I'm disgusted. It's probably wrong to be feeling this way at the news of your wife's arrival from jail. I can't help it. Not if it involves the happiness of my son because the truth is, he's been happy. Genuinely happy these past few weeks. With Dahlia in our lives, everything feels so easy and natural. There's no second-guessing, no manipulation or the weight of anything suffocating me. Andre has been living his best days, blending into Dahlia’s world like he belonged in it. Even though it shouldn't be happening. I exhale sharply to force the thoughts away to pull into the beach parking lot. This is the spot where Dahlia had picked so we could work on the cookbook. I must admit, I couldn't
CARLTON POV The news about Marigold getting out should be a relief for me and Andre but it doesn't feel like one. I grip the steering wheel hard enough to break it in half as the car goes down a small slope. I'm irritated. No, that's an understatement. I'm agitated, anxious, hell I'm disgusted. It's probably wrong to be feeling this way at the news of your wife's arrival from jail. I can't help it. Not if it involves the happiness of my son because the truth is, he's been happy. Genuinely happy these past few weeks. With Dahlia in our lives, everything feels so easy and natural. There's no second-guessing, no manipulation or the weight of anything suffocating me. Andre has been living his best days, blending into Dahlia’s world like he belonged in it. Even though it shouldn't be happening. I exhale sharply to force the thoughts away to pull into the beach parking lot. This is the spot where Dahlia had picked so we could work on the cookbook. I must admit, I couldn't
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