"Where are we?" Mila asked.Carl took a deep breath. He pulled her closer to him."When Mom passed away, Dom drove me out here one day. I was confused too and asked him why…"Carlson looked down at her.She gave him her ears, waiting attentively for what he had to say."Do you know what he said?" Mila shook her head."He told me that he had no reason, he just wanted to let me see something different." Mila furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. She looked around for what was different about this place."What is different here?" Mila asked."Nothing! Or maybe the air, I don't know. He never told me, but I figured out that it'll help you the same way it helped me." Carl said."Hmm, strange! But it is actually relieving somehow, just standing here…" Mila looked around."This was the only way I could wish him farewell. He still had the power of comfort behind his silence. He was a good friend, Mila…I wish I had the power to change things." Carl spoke remorsefully.Mila could feel the pain i
"Yes I do, the one with whom I said attends the same support group as my Mom right? That's the only person I figured out that you'll be interested in from that day." He added the later part when he saw the puzzled look on her face."Oh, yeah. Uhmmm, I want to meet her." Brant raised his brows. 'It was strange though, he knew that Mila could meet anyone at any time if she wanted to, why was she asking him?'"You can meet her anytime, I think." Brant was not sure if he was answering her right "I know that. Where is the support group being held?" Mila asked.'Just what had come over her today?' Brant thought. The Mila he knew would definitely have already tracked the lady down and waited for her on a faithful afternoon or evening in her garage, in the backseat of her car.Brantley could not hold back his curiosity. "We both know that if you want to know everything about her, you will, right? So why are you asking me?" He tilted his head to the side."Yes, but I'm trying to do things lik
THE WOMAN FROM THE SUPPORT GROUP Emille was not the one to constantly show himself in public, but he'd done so more times in the past few days than he'd anticipated.He held no grudge against Carl, instead, he understood just how much Carl could be hurting so he decided to pay him a visit at his office.After Dom's funeral, they all decided to get back to their activities, that way, it'll serve as a distraction."Does it help?" Emille asked as he made himself comfortable on the couch in Carlson's huge office.Carl straightened his suit as he joined Emille."What are you talking about?" Carl asked, while pouring two glasses of wine."Burying yourself up in work, does it help?" Emille picked up the glass motioned to him and sipped."Hmm, not really, but it is a huge distraction though. I want to move the company's HeadQuarters here in Limesville, at least that way, I'll get to spend more time with Mila." Carl leaned back in the comfort of his seat."Selfish!" Emille whispered audibly e
“What did you two talk about?” Brantley aske Mila when it was just them. They had dropped his mother off at the White Mansion after leaving the support group.“I asked her a few questions about the ‘said’ sister of hers.” Mila replied.Mrs White would not brag about Brantley and Mila to the other members of the group. At least, both of them got the opportunity to listen to some of the stories of a handful of the members, including Mrs White. The experience made Mila appreciate her life more than she ever had. Perhaps, she just could not let go of everything that she’d been through, but knowing that she came out alive and healthy…that was a win.She did get a chance to talk one on one with Solange after the session was over.“Did you get anything out of it?” Brantley asked. “Hmm, maybe not, but I want to get closer to her and…at least I got to see the world from another angle today.” she replied.“Right, so what now? What are you gonna do from here?” Brantley asked.“There’s a lot you
WHO BOUGHT THE RIVERS' MANSION?"I regret the day I was born to you as a son. I thought that there was some redemption somewhere for you…but no, you are rotten to the core, I was blind to not have noticed it all these years." Carl took a step forward, frowning in disgust at the man he'd once relied on for protection and called 'Father'."I see you are holding up pretty good. It makes me happy. I need you to stay fit for what I have in store for you." Emille stepped forward and declared with authority. He held a domineering aura, even Pops knew his place.Emille tapped Carl on the shoulder, "let's get out of here!" Carl looked hurt, the frown on his face did not fade. His stomach churned from his father's disgusting attitude and mindset.As they turned to leave, Emille halted, turned back and landed one last warning to Grandmaster. "Oh, and one more thing, if you so much as think of pulling any stupid stun that would hurt any of my siblings again…. perhaps you think that being behind
Carlson's Bride 1"Where were you?" Mila asked as soon as Carl walked through the door."Oh hey, how was your day?" Carl asked back as he took off his coat and tie, clearly ignoring her question.Mila was sitting on the sofa in his condo, with a tray filled with toast on her lap, wearing his t-shirt. She'd been putting on his clothes all this while because she had not stepped foot neither in the Vert's Mansion or her bungalow, talk less of her apartment."My day was boring, but the evening was very adventurous and funky." Mila replied, filling her mouth with toast."Your turn." She looked up at Carl.He walked over to her and leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead.He took a seat beside her with a loud breath as though he were an old man."Don't touch what is not yours!" Mila slapped his hand when he stretched it towards her tray. "I'm hungry, for Christ sake!""Oh yeah, get married and let your wife cook for you, not me! By the way, you have some explanation to make." "So do
Carlson's Bride 2"You again, hiding things from me, did you think that I'll never know?" Mila stood up."Oh, you want us to talk about secrets, how about you tell me how you came to own a mansion at the age of twenty and I had no fuckin idea!" Carl pocketed his hands."Oh oh, busted!" She whispered to herself."What mansion are you talking about?" She stupidly feigned ignorance.Carl narrowed his eyes at her, "Don't take me for a fool, Mila! You better start talking…." Carl pointed a finger at her."Or what….? She challenged, raising her chest at him. She knew that he could never punish her.Carl Chuckled, "I love the confidence," the smile on his face faded. "I'll kick you out!" She scuffed at waved her hands at him, "oh silly you, you don't have the balls to do that, and by the way, I'm not homeless you know. I even have a more spacious house than this your…." She paused, scanning the condo while searching for the best word to attribute it to. "....box!" "Ok, that's enough!" Carl
CARLSON'S BRIDE 3"Are you really his sister?" Charlotte had calmed down, part of her was scared that she just blundered big time by leaving the wrong first impression."Sit down!" Mila ignored her question and ordered her to sit.There was a little twist on Mila's temple.Charlotte obeyed Mila's order like a puppy."How did you two meet?" Mila started the interview. "I just want to know more about you." Mila added when she saw the look on Charlotte's face, "And don't feel bad that for all this while Carl has not brought you up, a lot has been going on in our family lately, trust me, there never has been a good time to talk about something like this."Mila thought it polite to explain."I understand." Charlotte nodded.Mila knew exactly why Carl never mentioned having a girlfriend___because of Pop's. He must surely love Charlotte deeply not to hide their relationship for all these months.Mila made Charlotte tell her all about herself."We met at a friend's wedding." Charlotte said.B