The meeting with BERCRIS rolled into late night, deterring Rosa and Callan from leaving earlier as planned. After the meeting, Rosa took an excuse out of fatigue and Callan only permitted her because she'd been immersed in the wedding preparations and office work. He inferred that she needed to rest before she broke down, that was strange of him, he never cared about anyone.After Rosa had gone, he leisurely paced the reception of the five-star hotel they had chosen for the meeting, his mouth swiftly moving as he roamed around. After a while, he shoved his phone back into his pocket, but it didn't take long before it started to ring again. Callan boredly glanced at the screen, it was a call from the brunette he'd sex with before this whole wedding stuff. He tried to remember her name, Cassandra or Catherine, he wasn't sure about that, but he stuck to Cassandra.Smiling, he swiped up to pick up the call. Only he knew how much he wanted her again. "Hey Callan, you free tonight?" Her v
Orla had changed into one of Callan's T-shirts when she got to the penthouse. The heat that trickled from the overstuffed wedding dress was annihilating and she just had to get rid of it. She didn't bring any of her things to the penthouse and she couldn't walk around naked too, she had to come up with something. Donning Callan's yellow and less expensive T-shirt was the perfect solution to dying in her wedding dress.The shirt was so long it reached her knees and swallowed her hands. She took her cat in her arms and crouched on the divan, anticipating the presence of her newly wedded husband."I didn't come with your food, Betty." She groaned, rubbing her cat's fur. "I will make sure to get it for you tomorrow." Betty meowed and rested her head on Orla's legs, responding to her that it was okay and she understood her. Orla smiled, relieved Betty was fine. Her fingers were still on Betty's fur and her lips stretched in a smile when the door to the room yanked open and a strong manl
Orla tossed around on the bed, delineating her hand on the bed to find Betty. When she couldn't feel her presence, her eyes snapped open and hastily scrutinized the room for her stray cat. She was about to get up to look for her when she saw her curl up against her feet, blinking her cute eyes as if she was sad about something.Orla heaved a relieved sigh, stretching her hands to pull Betty closer to herself. She snuggled her up in her arms and cuddled her up for some seconds."Now, let's begin the day." She smiled and let go. "You have to be careful around the house, this isn't my room, understand?" Drawing Betty's ears like she could understand her words.She got out of bed and sashayed her way out of the tiny room she had slept with her cat. She got into the main bedroom and found the bed empty. Smiling, she let go of Betty and hurried into the bathroom.She had no clue Callan was in there as she waltzed in and shut the door. She looked back to see Callan wholly naked and glaring
"Good morning, ma'am. Did you enjoy your first night here?" A round woman smirked at Orla, sifting her dark curly hair with her tiny fingers. "I heard the boss brought in his new bride last night." She twinkled her eyes and twitched her lips in a small smile that didn't seem genuine.Orla snagged the contempt that marred her expression as she talked to her. She hummed an answer followed with a short nod, eyes flickering around the room to distract herself from the woman in front of her. She didn't know who she was, but she seemed to know a lot about her. Maybe her whole history, if possible. Orla didn't care but what was with the nasty glares like she stole her bonbons?"I am Allison, I'm in charge of cleaning the presidential suite in the penthouse. It's nice meeting you." She extended her chubby palm for a handshake, but Orla didn't jump at it. She contemplated for a few seconds before sliding her palm into Allison's, hurriedly bumping it up and down, jerking her palm off as if tho
Exhaustion seared through Callan as he wobbled into the presidential suite. He flung his blazer on the couch and without prior notice, it flew breezily and landed on Orla's head where she had drifted to sleep after being unproductive the whole day. She jumped in agitation, her eyes cautiously searching the room for the intruder. Her gaze met with Callan's scornful stares, and she immediately lowered her eyes to the floor before those weary-looking eyes swallowed her up. "Welcome back," she muttered, still circumventing his heavy gaze. He heard her audibly, but he chose to ignore it. Striding towards the closet, he took his button-down shirt off his body, followed by every other fabric that clad his body. Orla slumbered up, she made an attempt to pick her cat but she flew off her arms and ran towards Callan, hugging herself all over his leg. He immediately shook his leg off, turning to Orla with that deadly glare again. "What the fuck is this?" Irritation bleed in his loud baritone
"One, two, three…" Orla clasped her fingers together as she called out each number.After carefully exploring the lingeries, she settled for the one that was the most decent—ironically though, because she was still as good as naked.She had never been unclothed in front of a man and it upset her that she was about to stand in front of Callan, looking like a little slut. With the white see-through lingerie she slipped into, and her ginger hair bouncing around her shoulders, she looked like a young woman who was out to titillate a man.For the hundredth time that night, Orla muttered a cuss word at Rosa for getting those slinky frillies. She yanked the doorknob, gently pressing it down to unlock the door.Though it hurt that the small room she was staying in had no mirror, even without the mirror, she knew she looked slutty. Slowly, she waddled into the bigger room, halting her steps when she sighted Callan sitting on the armchair in front of the large desk, head buried in work.For a
She would never try it again, never!Orla thought, scenes from last night flashing through her vision as she dipped the fork into the piece of steak that was on the plate in front of her.Violently clanging the fork against the ceramic plate, she was venting her aggression on the innocent object and she felt bad that she was just pitiful.Last night was a night of discomfiture, hell embarrassment, the biggest one of her life. She couldn't even look Callan in the eyes after acting stupidly last night. But he noticed her struggles with the steaks.He shot her a side glance but turned away very quickly to eat his food. The fork was in one hand while the other hand supported his phone. He was working again, as he always did."I can change the steaks if they are too hard to cut." Dora, Callan's chef at the penthouse, said when she noticed Orla's behaviour towards her food. "I made them soft, I don't know why you…""They are soft." Callan chimed in, picking up the glass to sip some water. H
Callan was the first to step out of the car, followed by David. Orla remained inside, taking in the beauty of the enormous building standing in front of her. She conceded to the fact Callan was rich and she shouldn't expect less, but not this mighty. She was the daughter of a billionaire, her father was rich too but she had never seen an eight thousand square feet mansion looking so exquisite before.All her life, she had been confined to her room and not allowed to leave the house unless she had to go to college and her father's chauffeur always made sure he took her to school and back home every day. She had zero time to socialise the way her sisters did. She had always been the unseen daughter, the one her father didn't want the world to know about. She was the forsaken daughter.She lacked a social life, just the internet kept her sane sometimes, but even that wasn't like real life."Welcome back home, Boss." David tendered the car keys to Callan when he had parked it in the gar
Arnold Sullivan brought his car to a halt as soon as he arrived at the grand Barlowe mansion. He lingered in the driver's seat, his fingers tapping nervously on the steering wheel, his mind drifting back to the days before Orla's misfortunes began. Orla had been a sweetheart, always cheerful and kind-hearted, and he had loved her and Isla deeply. Arnold replayed countless memories, trying to pinpoint the moment when everything changed, when his trust faltered, and he was quick to judge Orla without giving her a fair chance. The weight of guilt bore down on him like a heavy cloak; he had wronged her in ways that gnawed at his conscience.And he wasn’t certain there would be a chance for reconciliation. Orla allowed him to be close to his grandchildren, but she didn’t give him the chance to be close to her again.He was still lost in thought when he spotted the nanny approaching with the twins. They wiggled their heads, clearly excited to see what he had brought for them. Arnold smiled
"Oh, this is amazing. So amazing. Never thought I would be doing this today." Callan's smile widened, his eyes drifting over the eager crowd, their faces alight with anticipation as they awaited the announcement. The buzz of their excitement filled the air, amplifying the significance of the moment. Callan's heart pounded with pride and love as he stepped forward, the spotlight warm on his face."The award for the architect with the most outstanding design this year goes to the woman of my dreams," he began, his voice strong and clear. "The woman who made me believe in love, my woman, the essence of my life." He paused, savoring the crescendo of emotions surging through him. "Orla Barlowe, my wife, the beautiful mother of our beautiful children.”The crowd erupted into applause, the sound like a wave crashing over him. Callan's gaze found Orla, standing at the edge of the stage, her eyes shining with disbelief and joy. "Please, let’s give her a round of applause as she rocks the sta
Four years later,“Isla and Leor, you two need to stay put. Daddy will be here soon," Isla cautioned her rambunctious twins. They had been darting around the hall ever since they arrived at the event that evening. A pang of regret almost hit her for bringing them along, but with their nanny having left two days ago, she had no other choice. "Please, you two, listen to me," she pleaded, her voice rising as she saw Isla making a beeline for the podium again. Isla, the more mischievous of the twins, was always leading her brother into some new escapade."Mommy, I want the shimmers," Isla insisted, crossing her arms and sitting beside her mother, tears glistening in her large hazel eyes. An idea suddenly brightened her expression, and she hastily wiped away her tears. "Daddy will get it for me. I'll tell Daddy to get me the shimmers," she declared, a broad smile spreading across her face as she swung her legs excitedly against the chair.“Me too, I want the shimmers.” Leor chirped in with
The tears that welled up in his eyes cascaded down his cheeks before he realized it. Callan had been gazing at Orla for five minutes, and he had yet to decide on what to do.Her radiant smile, the soft cries of their newborn twins—one embraced by the doctor, the other nestled protectively in Orla's grip, like she didn't want to ever let go—softened his heart.Orla looked at him, her smile inciting him to come forward, and without hesitation, he stepped closer."Congratulations, Mr. Barlowe," the doctor beamed, passing the baby into his waiting arms. "He looks so much like you, and the girl too.""They are so cute, but it's so sad they look exactly like you after ten months of carrying them," Orla remarked, her gaze fixed on her baby girl. "She's so cute."Callan sat next to her, his baby in his hand. "They are so beautiful. So beautiful I don't know what to say now."Orla noticed tears welling in his eyes for the second time that day. She had shed her tears upon seeing their twins for
The portable garden, the flowers, and the blue and pink wall decorations were all aesthetically giving a vibe. Gender reveals vibes. Orla scowled. They agreed not to do a gender reveal for their twins, but it seemed like Callan had deceived her. "Callan," she whispered, clutching his hands. She recognized a few people as she walked down with her husband. Rosa was present, it'd been a while since she saw her. Liam was there too, his arms wrapped around Rosa's waist. Orla smiled, wondering if they were a thing. Elizabeth was there, she had made up with Callan and Orla, and she'd been the best mother-in-law to her. Her sisters who weren't in jail were present, but Orla chose to keep to herself. She still didn't understand what was going on. The sheepish smile on Callan's face made it very impossible for her to even guess what was going on around her. "Callan, what's happening here?" She asked, but he didn't give a response. He was satisfied that he was able to bring her out of the ho
They were on the news again.Their pretty faces were displayed on the hundred inch Laser TV in the living room.Orla watched her helpless sisters, all in cuffs.They were on the news as always, but this time, it was for something inimical. She watched them with bleary eyes, wishing they had never trodden that path that almost crumbled her life for years.Now, they were everywhere, wallowing in shame as lights from a hundred cameras flashed on their faces, capturing them to display to the world that they killed their sister and mother.Three Daughters of Arnold Sullivan Are Murderers. The news headline was displeasing, not anything that Arnold would ever be proud of. All he had worked for all his life was about to collapse because of the scandal. But he started it, he charged them to court. He must have thought of it and was ready to lose everything before thinking that sending his daughters to jail was the best decision to make."What's the final judgment?" Orla asked Callan. She ha
Five Months LaterEmotionally, things had gotten a lot better with Orla. Though she was still trying to let her mind off the pain her family had caused her, she didn't let her feelings override her anymore.She hadn't forgiven her sisters, especially now that Arnold had decided to sue the three sisters who were involved in the death cases.She had no idea why he was doing that now, but no matter what he did, she knew things would never be right between them. She had ignored several calls for him to see her. There was no point in doing that after all these years. He made it clear to her that he'd forever hate her, Orla wanted it that way—for him to forever loathe her. There was no point in patching things up because there were no pieces to pick up. He had shattered everything a long time ago.She was dabbing her face with the small foam, getting ready for the visit to the hospital that morning.Her baby bump was already visible now, and she and Callan had to get acquainted with some n
When they settled in the car, Orla burst into intractable loud sobs. "How can anyone be so wicked, Callan? How can Mia be so wicked?"For a minute, Callan got drowned in the sea of thoughts. He wondered what would have happened if he had listened to his mother, and chose Mia that day they visited Arnold Sullivan's mansion. This day would never come up, Orla would never be vindicated, she would still live in distress, and he just knew he would never love Mia as much as he loved Orla.Relief washed through him for his choice. No one would have been better."How do you feel?" He asked her, taking her hands in his. A habit he was now used to and didn't want to ever stop."I don't know what and how to feel, Callan. I don't want to be a part of that family anymore." She shook her head, dejected. "They made me believe I was a murderer all along. How could they be so wicked to gaslight a young girl into believing that she killed her sister? Just how?""Don't get yourself worked up. I have al
Sophia's eyes roved the living room until they finally settled on Orla. "Dad," her voice cracked. "Speak up, Sophia!" Arnold ordered, his tone brusque. "Mia did," she glimpsed the tremor that smacked everyone, and she wasn't too surprised. She anticipated that. "Mia was the only one with Isla that afternoon, and she was the one who told us to change the narrative." Arnold scoffed, "Nonsense," Orla soldered where she was seated. She knew Mia hated her so much, but she never thought that she would do something like that. "Sick! You're Insane, Sophia! What evidence do you have against me? How dare you accuse me of killing my sister?" Mia flared up, her eyes simmering with rage. She rushed towards Sophia ready to hit her, but Emma went after her, dissuading her. "I was there too. I am the evidence that we all need, Mia. I was there with Sophia that day, you cajoled us into lying about the whole thing, and we did because we wanted to obey you. Their other sisters remained in their s