“I'm just saying—”“Well, don't. I don't need you slandering him.”He exhales deeply and I watch his knuckles whiten against the steering wheel. “You're defending him like he's some kind of saint. Dahlia, I'm just trying to look out for you.”“He might be no saint but at least he didn't kick me out to the curbs when he knew I had no one else to lean on.”His breath hitches in his throat like I've stuck a nerve. Good. I don't relent as irritation climbs to the surface. “Tristian is a better man than anyone would ever be.” And by anyone, I mean Carlton. “He didn't just show up when things were easy. He was there when my life was falling apart, when I was at rock bottom. Do you know what that's like? To have nothing? Not even a relative you can trust?”Of course he stays quiet. “He's the reason my kids and I are alive today. He came through for me when everyone's else turned their backs. So, no, I don't need you questioning him.”He flinches at my words as a shadow of guilt crosses his
NEXT CHAPTERCARLTON POVThe 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 h
DAHLIA'S POVThe air in the courthouse is suffocating with anticipation. I sit stiffly, hands clasped together to ward off anxiety and force myself to focus. Still, nothing prepares me for what happens next.Spencer. I feel my stomach plummet down several heights as he's brought forward. The moment our eyes meet, something cold slithers down my spine. I knew it. My gut has screamed his name all along, his involvement being a suspicion I didn't let take root in my heart.But here we are now to attend his trial.Marigold is at the podium too with her face as pale as death. There's a glimmer of hope in her eyes like she knows she doesn't belong here.Technically, she doesn't. Spencer does.The prosecutor wastes no time. “Spencer Callaghan, you are charged with attempted murder. Do you deny those accusations?”Silence stretches for a beat too long. Then, to my shock, he lets out a low chuckle which the entire room hears. “No,” he says with an eerily calm tone.A murmur ripplds throughout
I shoot up from my chair to break his fall. “Hey! Look at me!” My hands grip his shoulders to shake him but his eyes are unfocused. The severity of the situation dawns on me; he's not faking this.I don't think. I just move. I drag him up, practically carrying his weight as I rush out of the bar. Opening my door is stressful but I manage barely. Thankfully, a guy jumps to his feet and pushes it open. I get him into the car, my hands shaking as I start the engine.“Stay with me,” I snap, stepping harder on the gas. “Just breathe.” I don't even remember parking. The next thing I know, I'm yelling for help, nurses rushing toward us to wheel him away. Minutes stretches into hours and soon, the doctor and I walk out of his office where he's giving me advise on his to manage Tristian's health. As we approach Tristian's ward, a nurse steps out. “He's stable,” he tells us with a clipboard in his hand. My legs nearly give out with my heart slamming against my ribs. I exhale sharply, forc
Dahlia’s Pov, As soon as he's discharged, we begin the drive home. It is quiet in the car. Tristian turns his head and looks out the window, lost in his thoughts. I grip the wheel, my mind replaying everything he told me: his parents leaving, his loneliness, the wash he built himself up from nothing. I never asked. I never cared to know him beyond what he was to me. Guilt creeps in unbidden . I take a deep breath and pull over in front of a mart. When I kill the ignition, he seems to come back to the present. He blinks, turning to me. “What are we doing?” I push open the door with an eyeroll. “Getting ice cream.”He scoffs. “You're kidding.” I don't even crack a smile as I step out. “Come or stay in the car.”A pause. Then, he sighs and follows, mumbling something I can't head under his breath. While inside, I grab a cart and head straight for the freezer section. Tristian watches me, eyebrow cocked. He's clearly unimpressed.“Ice cream, Dahlia? That's what this whole fuss is
MARIGOLDI barely slept a wink last night since Carlton turned down my advances and it's all Dahlia's fault. Ever since she returned, my husband has changed from the doting simp I married to this hard-hearted stranger. Even Andre has no fear for me anymore, ignoring me at most. I doubt he recognizes me as his mother anymore and it's all thanks to that woman who doesn't even know the father of her little bastards. Her constant presence in my life lingers like anad taste in my mouth. How do I spit her out? How do I get rid of her for good?Then almost immediately, an idea crept in like a small whisper in the back of my mind. It will do the job just perfectly. Morning comes and I'm woken by the sound of the usual routines of most mornings. Carlton moving around in the kitchen, the sizzling of food can be heard. I hear him head to Andre's room to get him ready for school and then feed him breakfast. When he comes back to our room, I close my eyes in pretence of being asleep.Jokes on
DAHLIAThe night air bites at my skin, sharp and unforgiving. I wrap my jacket tighter around my body to ward off the cold. Carlton walks behind me with his hands shoved into his pockets. The shoot drained us but the silence of the streets and the distant glow of a coffee shop make it bearable at least. Out of nowhere, Carlton stops walking. “Thanks,” he says when I turn to look at him. “For everything. Helping me the fix the mess at he company.” “Don't mention it.” A smile warms my cheeks. “I mean it.” His expression turns serious, his breath fogging in the cold air. “I don't know what I would've done without your intervention.”“You figured it out eventually, I guess.”“I highly doubt that.” A smirk tugs at his lips and we resume walking again. We push into the warmth of the café. The scent of roasted coffee beans drapes itself around me like a cloak and I exhale, savoring it. We find a booth by the window, and I blow into my hands to keep them warm. “You going to the kids’ bo
Marigold’s POV, Hanging out with my crazy friends is such a therapy. It’s like all I needed After the hell I went through in that sick cell! They had been a whole vibe and energy. Right now, the all four of us are in a SPA getting different SPA treatments.“That Father In-Law of yours is such a psychopath.” Annabel snaps, reading news magazine as a pedicurist is tending to her feet. The SPA room has been buzzing with my friends talking non-stop. More like throwing insults to Mr. Stewart which he very much deserves. And the other occupants in the room are diligently focused on their job just as they should. “I mean if he hated you that much, he could just man up and ask you to leave his son. Accusing you wrongly was such a dumb move.” Cynthia chips in Angrily. She’s laid on the bed beside me getting her facials done just like me. “I wish I got to see his face now that the truth is out. Your parents should consider suing that man you know.” I huff. With my intense hatred for
Warning: Unedited Dahlia pov, It isn’t just marigold who seems to be up to something. My parents too has their backing because few hours ago, After I and the kids arrived home I received friendly Text messages from them inviting me the party too. It would has been a different thing it was just some general broadcast invitation but it was personal invite with claims about wanting to make peace and meet my kids. I would never really want to get my kids involved in this game but marigold cunningly did in a way I wouldn’t object. She had insisted on following me and Carlton to go pick the kids from school and on our way back she played the charade of being a sweet Aunt and she invited them to the party because she wanted Andre and Carlton to be there. Right now, it’s already evening and about an hour to the party. I’m staring at myself in the full length mirror checking out my outfit. My eyes roving about to see what’s missing. My Raven dark hair is perfectly styled up in high pony and
Dahlia’s Pov, From the moment the ward’s door open, The lively atmosphere morphs into intention immediately because of the person that just walked in. She halt right at the door, freezing as if she’s seeing a ghost. And I’m the ghost, because her gaze is piercing right through me and unlike actually seeing a ghost, her expression isn’t horrid but that of undiluted rage. Me, I’m simply baffled about her appearance here. I mean she has no reason to be here. And there’s no doubt that everyone else in the ward is also having same thoughts. However, the silence doesn’t last any longer before Mr. Stewart’s high grating voice breaks it. “And what the hell are you doing here?” He asks Marigold angrily. “Such A way to speak to your daughter in law whom you had forcefully accused of a crime she didn’t commit. I should be getting some apology here.” Is marigold’s sarcastic response as she rolls her eyes walking fully into the ward. “Anyways I just came to visit my mother-in-law who has been
Marigold’s POV, Hanging out with my crazy friends is such a therapy. It’s like all I needed After the hell I went through in that sick cell! They had been a whole vibe and energy. Right now, the all four of us are in a SPA getting different SPA treatments.“That Father In-Law of yours is such a psychopath.” Annabel snaps, reading news magazine as a pedicurist is tending to her feet. The SPA room has been buzzing with my friends talking non-stop. More like throwing insults to Mr. Stewart which he very much deserves. And the other occupants in the room are diligently focused on their job just as they should. “I mean if he hated you that much, he could just man up and ask you to leave his son. Accusing you wrongly was such a dumb move.” Cynthia chips in Angrily. She’s laid on the bed beside me getting her facials done just like me. “I wish I got to see his face now that the truth is out. Your parents should consider suing that man you know.” I huff. With my intense hatred for
DAHLIAThe night air bites at my skin, sharp and unforgiving. I wrap my jacket tighter around my body to ward off the cold. Carlton walks behind me with his hands shoved into his pockets. The shoot drained us but the silence of the streets and the distant glow of a coffee shop make it bearable at least. Out of nowhere, Carlton stops walking. “Thanks,” he says when I turn to look at him. “For everything. Helping me the fix the mess at he company.” “Don't mention it.” A smile warms my cheeks. “I mean it.” His expression turns serious, his breath fogging in the cold air. “I don't know what I would've done without your intervention.”“You figured it out eventually, I guess.”“I highly doubt that.” A smirk tugs at his lips and we resume walking again. We push into the warmth of the café. The scent of roasted coffee beans drapes itself around me like a cloak and I exhale, savoring it. We find a booth by the window, and I blow into my hands to keep them warm. “You going to the kids’ bo
MARIGOLDI barely slept a wink last night since Carlton turned down my advances and it's all Dahlia's fault. Ever since she returned, my husband has changed from the doting simp I married to this hard-hearted stranger. Even Andre has no fear for me anymore, ignoring me at most. I doubt he recognizes me as his mother anymore and it's all thanks to that woman who doesn't even know the father of her little bastards. Her constant presence in my life lingers like anad taste in my mouth. How do I spit her out? How do I get rid of her for good?Then almost immediately, an idea crept in like a small whisper in the back of my mind. It will do the job just perfectly. Morning comes and I'm woken by the sound of the usual routines of most mornings. Carlton moving around in the kitchen, the sizzling of food can be heard. I hear him head to Andre's room to get him ready for school and then feed him breakfast. When he comes back to our room, I close my eyes in pretence of being asleep.Jokes on
Dahlia’s Pov, As soon as he's discharged, we begin the drive home. It is quiet in the car. Tristian turns his head and looks out the window, lost in his thoughts. I grip the wheel, my mind replaying everything he told me: his parents leaving, his loneliness, the wash he built himself up from nothing. I never asked. I never cared to know him beyond what he was to me. Guilt creeps in unbidden . I take a deep breath and pull over in front of a mart. When I kill the ignition, he seems to come back to the present. He blinks, turning to me. “What are we doing?” I push open the door with an eyeroll. “Getting ice cream.”He scoffs. “You're kidding.” I don't even crack a smile as I step out. “Come or stay in the car.”A pause. Then, he sighs and follows, mumbling something I can't head under his breath. While inside, I grab a cart and head straight for the freezer section. Tristian watches me, eyebrow cocked. He's clearly unimpressed.“Ice cream, Dahlia? That's what this whole fuss is
I shoot up from my chair to break his fall. “Hey! Look at me!” My hands grip his shoulders to shake him but his eyes are unfocused. The severity of the situation dawns on me; he's not faking this.I don't think. I just move. I drag him up, practically carrying his weight as I rush out of the bar. Opening my door is stressful but I manage barely. Thankfully, a guy jumps to his feet and pushes it open. I get him into the car, my hands shaking as I start the engine.“Stay with me,” I snap, stepping harder on the gas. “Just breathe.” I don't even remember parking. The next thing I know, I'm yelling for help, nurses rushing toward us to wheel him away. Minutes stretches into hours and soon, the doctor and I walk out of his office where he's giving me advise on his to manage Tristian's health. As we approach Tristian's ward, a nurse steps out. “He's stable,” he tells us with a clipboard in his hand. My legs nearly give out with my heart slamming against my ribs. I exhale sharply, forc
DAHLIA'S POVThe air in the courthouse is suffocating with anticipation. I sit stiffly, hands clasped together to ward off anxiety and force myself to focus. Still, nothing prepares me for what happens next.Spencer. I feel my stomach plummet down several heights as he's brought forward. The moment our eyes meet, something cold slithers down my spine. I knew it. My gut has screamed his name all along, his involvement being a suspicion I didn't let take root in my heart.But here we are now to attend his trial.Marigold is at the podium too with her face as pale as death. There's a glimmer of hope in her eyes like she knows she doesn't belong here.Technically, she doesn't. Spencer does.The prosecutor wastes no time. “Spencer Callaghan, you are charged with attempted murder. Do you deny those accusations?”Silence stretches for a beat too long. Then, to my shock, he lets out a low chuckle which the entire room hears. “No,” he says with an eerily calm tone.A murmur ripplds throughout
NEXT CHAPTERCARLTON POVThe 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 h