Night at Howard's mansion the next day was quite usual and lively as before, and the air around felt oddly different with Stacy gone. It was the second night that no one heard her usual voices at the dining table making the perfect table for her husband, ever since she had been married to Carlton and started living in the mansion with him.
The walls seemed to somewhat sag under the weight of emptiness by dispelling the pervasive sense of Stacy's absence, and the maids appeared to be disturbed all day that they were going to be left with a cold and angry boss after everything they went through in two mornings.
However, they soon had something to talk about, followed by the gracious visit of an unexpected person. A beautiful lady they had never seen before.
They all rushed to gossip again in their corners.
"Barely a day that Mrs. Howard is out as a wife, a mysterious lady comes in?!" The first maid, who brought the information, yelled in exasperation.
"A new lady? Really?" The ones that were oblivious to the entertainment of their guest asked in surprise.
"And she is so hot. Did you see her? I literally thought her gaze would murder me when I was asked to usher her in," the second lady that accompanied the first one added.
"Wait. Do you think she is going to become the new madame?" The youngest suddenly shrieked in horror, and they all gasped with their mouths wide open.
"Wait. Has the boss been cheating on Mrs. Howard all the while?" Another one speculated shakily, the moment another thought occurred to her.
"Is that even the point?!" The first lady hissed and hit her head in frustration, "If this new lady becomes the new head of the house, then we are screwed. She'll drain our lives out."
"Heavens! I didn't even think of that."
"Now, you see what I have been trying to...."
"IR coming..." the youngest announced quickly, the moment her gaze wandered off the focus of discussion.
They were all dispatched as soon as they caught sight of Irina, and walked away immediately to get prepared for what was next.
They were never allowed to show a lackadaisical attitude during work hours, because she was so strict and disciplined when it came to affairs concerning the mansion as the person in charge.
However, she didn't even mind the gossiping maids, and just strutted past them with a sullen expression. She felt saddened about Stacy's sudden departure.
....
"I didn't expect that you would come," Carlton's voice didn't sound impressive the moment he set his eyes on his guest, thinking she would not drop by as promised after their discussion the previous night.
"Well, I told you I would," her lips stretched out in a seductive, but modest smile as she spoke eloquently.
Sitting comfortably on the couch, she looked like a life model ready for a gorgeous magazine cover shoot. Dressed in a luxurious, black dress that topped her allure, she exuded an aura of self-assurance, as if she knew the power she held over those around her.
Her radiant, porcelain skin glowed softly in the warm glow of lights, and her beautiful, stunning blue eyes gazed so delightfully at Carlton as he took his seat.
'He looked different from the last time they met, and he melted her insides with his increased charm. She didn't think she would let him go this time.'
"Would you like a glass of champag..."
"I want us back, Carlton. I am so sorry for my dumb attitude years ago. I am willing to make up for everything," she jumped into the discussion she came for immediately, without giving him any chance to start acting like friends. She wanted him back as her own, and she was willing to do everything to make that possible.
"Can I ask a question before we proceed on that topic?" He went ahead to ask her because he was still curious about the conflicting part of his memory that omitted why they were both in bed together earlier that morning.
"Of course, anything," she flashed a smile.
"Did anything happen between us last ni..."
A phone call disrupted the question, and Carlton flipped his phone over to see who was calling. His hand suddenly became cold, and his heart skipped a beat with the force reverberating through his entirety.
"Any problem?" She asked when she noticed a visible change in his mood.
"I will be right back," he answered her and walked away to pick up the phone.
"It has been ages, Carlton. How are you, brother?" Hudson's voice asked from the other side of the phone.
"I…. I was not expecting this call," Carlton stuttered. He didn't even realize it when he picked up the call.
"I know, right? It's been like months now. I am so sorry for neglecting our friendship. I couldn't even attend your wedding or one-year anniversary. You know I have been trying to build my company from scratch and all, getting investors and expanding. It has kept me crazy busy," Hudson apologized with a heavy heart.
"I understand. I totally do," Carlton replied, still cautious of why Stacy's brother suddenly called. He had rejected his help many times when he wanted to invest massively in his company, so that things would not end up ruining between them. Still, he was wary. Hudson would probably have cursed him thoroughly if he had found out already.
"Yeah..." Hudson's voice trailed tiredly.
"You do not sound good. Any problem?" Carlton asked.
"I feel terrible and shattered bro. Some crazy shit has been going on in my family in my absence for almost two years, and I just found out! You know my little sister, Stacy, right?"
Carlton's heart thumped so badly when he heard that.
Hudson continued furiously, "She got married two years ago without anyone's blessings in our family to some random nutjob that was probably her boyfriend, and didn't even finish school. All this while, she's been texting me from the guy's house all this while. She dropped out of school for a fucking guy that nobody knows!
"She didn't finish school?!" Carlton yelled incredulously at the news he was just finding out about.
"Now, my ma is just telling me after all this while of hiding it, that she came back home yesterday, crying and stuff. Seems like she finally got kicked out. Dad disowned her, and kicked her out too. I'm in pain, Bro. My little sister was going through a lot, and ain't even aware of it. Now, she's picking up nobody's call. Her phone's off too, and Mum has no idea where she is. I am a terrible brother!"
Carlton felt so guilty about the sudden call and his friend's ranting, knowing he had taken part in it, and rushed out, leaving Marilyn by herself.
He entered his car and drove himself onto the highway, with one place in his mind as the only place he felt she could have returned to. Driving at a great speed, he didn't realize the impending doom.
Gbam!
That was all.
The car tumbled thrice in shatters of glass shards, as a drunk truck driver ran into it from the other side, and smoke erupted after.