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
Dahlia’s Pov, From the moment the ward’s door open, The lively atmosphere morphs into Tension 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 h
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
“So, what do you care for? Brandy? Whiskey? Champagne?!” Marigold ask hyper energetically as we are walking through different guest heading to wherever marigold is leading me to.“Or wait… I know what you like. Whiskey” She squeals energetically like the marigold I used to know from kids. “Well, I don’t…” “Hello Blenda,” marigold sudden hollering cuts me off as we stops before a Lady looking glam. “Meet my sister Dahlia.” She says. “And dahlia, this is blenda one of our business partners. You know her?” I don’t know if it’s just me, but everything marigold does looks so much like a game to me and I’m very sure that the Brenda lady saw through her facade, because she reacts to marigold with a frown. “Well, I don’t think…I know her.” I replies marigold dryly and turns to Brenda feigning a smile as I’m not in the mood. “… But it’s nice to meet you Brenda. You look great. I love your necklace.”“Yeah, nice. Thank you Barrister dahlia.” Brenda replies with a slur, looking from me to
Dahlia's POV“ I have no idea how it ended up this way but there is something going on out there. A woman approached me and told me you're in distress, needing help. I rushed here as soon as I could!” Carlton lamented.I sighed on hearing this, as I was also still trying to unlock the door. “As soon as I stepped in, the door was shut and she locked it afterwards, why would she do such a thing!” Carlton said, with a frustrated tone.“Did you say she's one of Marigold's friends, Perhaps they're playing a prank on you or something? That is the only thing I can make of this situation.” I questioned. “This does not seem like a prank to me. She would never get herself involved with something like this..” Carlton replied.Having struggled with the door for about ten minutes, it was finally growing weak and the lock was close to opening. I can't continue trying to unlock it from here, perhaps a kick would send it flying open.I moved back a bit and got ready to break open the door. “Hey, ca
Marigold's POV “Madam, Are you okay?” A voice asked. I raised my head to see a man. “Yes, I'm fine. Just having a stomach upset..” I lied. This weird feeling had nothing to do with a stomach upset but I also couldn't tell what it was. I resorted to sitting on an empty table and it kind of eased down a bit. Oh that worked, Did I drink too much at one point? What is going on with my body?Dahlia had taken off to search for her daughter, but might definitely not find her anytime soon. She went the wrong way Afterall! Everything seems to be going on so smoothly, I had bought sexual arousing pills and spiked Dahlia's drink with it. Then my friends helped out with tricking Carlton into an abandoned compartment. Now, he is trapped and no one would probably hear him scream too. The trick they used to lure him there was to lie that Dahlia was stuck in the compartment and Carlton, unaware of the danger, rushed to save her. He successfully walked into the obvious trap and will remain th
“Is there a problem?” Panic from no where sinks into me. On impulse, I think of my kids which I left in his watch. “Not really, he just…” “Mummy,” Tiny voices interrupts Chloe and we turn to see four kids walking towards our direction. Andre and my three boys. Gianna isn’t with them and noting the frantic look on they faces, my pulse increase. “Mummy, It’s… it’s Gianna. We can’t find her.” “What?!” Between my heart and me, I don’t know which one leaps first. “What happened?” I ask as I’m flying up from the seat. “I don’t know, some lady came to us after uncle Carlton excused himself from where we were all gathered. She said you demanded for us except for Gianna. We left Gianna behind and followed the lady but at some point the lady walked too fast and missed up in the crowd. We went back to the table and we couldn’t find Gianna anymore. We had been searching for Gianna and luckily we found you here. Mommy I’m scared.” Gavin my eldest son narrates everything in one brea
“So, what do you care for? Brandy? Whiskey? Champagne?!” Marigold ask hyper energetically as we are walking through different guest heading to wherever marigold is leading me to. “Or wait… I know what you like. Whiskey” She squeals energetically like the marigold I used to know from kids. “Well, I don’t…” “Hello Blenda,” marigold sudden hollering cuts me off as we stops before a Lady looking glam. “Meet my sister Dahlia.” She says. “And dahlia, this is blenda one of our business partners. You know her?” I don’t know if it’s just me, but everything marigold does looks so much like a game to me and I’m very sure that the Brenda lady saw through her facade, because she reacts to marigold with a frown. “Well, I don’t think…I know her.” I replies marigold dryly and turns to Brenda feigning a smile as I’m not in the mood. “… But it’s nice to meet you Brenda. You look great. I love your necklace.” “Yeah, nice. Thank you Barrister dahlia.” Brenda replies with a slur, looking from
“So, what do you care for? Brandy? Whiskey? Champagne?!” Marigold ask hyper energetically as we are walking through different guest heading to wherever marigold is leading me to.“Or wait… I know what you like. Whiskey” She squeals energetically like the marigold I used to know from kids. “Well, I don’t…” “Hello Blenda,” marigold sudden hollering cuts me off as we stops before a Lady looking glam. “Meet my sister Dahlia.” She says. “And dahlia, this is blenda one of our business partners. You know her?” I don’t know if it’s just me, but everything marigold does looks so much like a game to me and I’m very sure that the Brenda lady saw through her facade, because she reacts to marigold with a frown. “Well, I don’t think…I know her.” I replies marigold dryly and turns to Brenda feigning a smile as I’m not in the mood. “… But it’s nice to meet you Brenda. You look great. I love your necklace.”“Yeah, nice. Thank you Barrister dahlia.” Brenda replies with a slur, looking from me to
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 Tension 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 h
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