28| Top richest

A week later.

TRIANA'S POV.

Just as they say, 'Let bye gones be bye gones' its officially a year and some months now since Leo died. I can't really promise him I'll keep his memory forever in my heart but.... I'd conclude that mindset by keeping him in the past.

Leo is part of my past now. One have to move on to get to the next page in life. Though, I know deep down in me how much it hurts, despite we weren't together before his sudden death. I might not miss him more but I think my kids do.

What do I expect?

He is their father and the same flesh and blood runs through them too. I can't blame them for loving their father this much, despite they cried to my face how much they hated him for the things he did to me in our marriage. Speaking of that 'Marriage'? It wasn't a thing of joy to me. Before we got here, I hope majority of us join me to acknowledge what I went through in that bondage.

Too bad it was due time he confessed his love to me. And very worse for his dubious father, Edward Calloway, who sent an assassin to murder him cold-blooded before my very eyes.

Well, well, well...., I believe Edward is enjoying his everlasting stay in prison alongside with his gunman. The court decided his sentence and date which I and the kids would be coming for the properties.

It was so fortunate that I found out the number of estates and properties Leo had as his own belongings. Not talking about the shares he kept behind for my kids and I too, even unknowing to me but.....so many investments and still counting. Edward thought he was way too smart by hiding all these things but now that it was all taken from him before getting locked up, I'm very much sure that my kids would be the one to enjoy them.

The will would be read soon when we get to court in further notice.

Somehow, somewhat, I thought about it and assume maybe Leo knew the day he would die. Isn't he too young to have written a WILL at 32? According to sidetalks, I heard that he bought a beach house for me in Malibu.

Wow.

Only if it's true according to how I heard it. But why was it dial minutes that I began to find out about all these things? Why didn't he secretly share it with me? I would have dramatically acted and played along if he had told me it was all his father's idea. The assaults, harassment, beatings, punching, slaps, molesting, abusing, etc. All these were all of Edward's plan, just so he could get revenge ony father who is now sick and have been admitted in the hospital for months now.

That one aside. I know he won't even make it out alive and even if he do.... it's gonna end with one option. And you know what that is....?

Stroke attack!

That will literally make him become the best handicap to be shown in CNN.

Anyway, read my lips.

I. Don't. Give. A. Fuck!

Now, back to reality because it's what am mainly concerned about right now. Kudos to the guy who rescued my life so many months ago.

I was in hell but he took me to heaven. I was in the oven but he brought me to the cold room. I can't thank this guy enough, even if I continue saying thank you everyday, it won't count or buy whatever good he has done and had been doing for I and my family.

And now, this same guy is broken down—not in the aspect of money or finance but in the topic of health.

I've never seen Dexter go sick or ill since I started staying with him in this massive loft. But since he returned from his match in Australia, he hasn't been doing well. I tried asking his two closest friends, Maverick and Cyrus, if maybe they could help with some clues about his sudden break down, but guys will always be guys. All they do is shrug at me and something tells me, they all are planned into this thing.

Still, to me in my eyes, I don't think Dexter is pranking anything at all. He seem so real about his illness and now, I'm blaming myself for not taking good care of him.

I remember when I was sick, that was.....was it last year's Christmas or last two years' Christmas?...oh, nevermind. All I know is that, he was there beside me. He made sure I got my real self back on foot again and now his illness is just making me feel bad for him.

I can't help looking at his handsome facial features that keeps alluring me all the time and those captivating eyes that traps me in one position everytime I look into them. Is he a charm or what?

I really want to know because for the past a year now, I've been feeling romantically crazy for him. The last time we kissed...I slumped into that kiss, almost involving something really hot like....sex!

Geez!

We could have had sex for the first time with ourselves that day but I'm glad Becca barged in with her homework without even knocking and found me under Dexter with Dexter on top of me. We pushed ourselves like we were enemies before rushing to attend to Becca.

Life is too short according to the song Cough syrup by the rock bands 'Young the giant' and to spice it up, am already losing my mind and running out of control.

I don't know what to do or say anymore, but one thing I know for sure is that... I'm in love.

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know.

I once said I would never fall in love again if I leave Leo, but that wasn't a myth. Right?

I only said the words out of ignorance and because I was in the deepest part of hell in my past marriage. I need advise and consolations but I couldn't find any. Not even from my mom who had experience and grandma too. But I thank God it's all done and dusted, now I have to move on and master the new speech of my kids addressing Dexter as DADDY DEXTER.

Maybe because he cares for their needs. I'll put it that way. Hehehe.

"Something tells me that the governments are stealing the taxes and we the poor masses can't even do anything or say anything. What. The. Fuck is wrong with this country and economy?"

I don't have time to talk POLITICS with Shawn, especially when shopping in the grocery store.

I quietly pick up a large milk pack and began to scan it with my eyes as I fish out the expiry date. Though, this store doesn't keep anything expired but for safety reasons, I have to. Who knows why the Duke of Skakoan is sick today. If not because he hides his identity, it would have been on the news headlines for weeks now and I believe his palace would have located him in no time.

Every two days to when a product do expire, they dump it out and stock in new ones.

"Come on, big sis," Shawn groan when I didn't say a word and focus on my shopping. "Stop acting like you aren't part of the—"

"No, no, no, and no, Shawn." I interrupted. "You can be part of the POOR masses," I quoted with my fingers dramatically, "But am not poor, okay? I'm fucking rich, forget the fact that my name is not written on the top richest yet."

Of course, what I mostly expected. My kiddo brother laughed, almost losing his balance if not for the wedge shelves behind him.

"You gat to be kidding me, Tri." He pointed, his crocky finger bent in a curl as he chuckled, "You? Rich? Wait, wait, wait a sec." He composes himself after seeing the huge scowl on my face and my hands on my hips, "Joke apart, let's say you're claiming to but not actually yet because all I see is you trying to help Dexter in his present condition but come on, that dude didn't ask for it. Moreover, he's not broke like you and me. And I know this half spent money are coming from your piggy bank which I believe you've been saving for decades."

My narrowed dark darting eyes should be enough to tell him 'Shh' But he's just too manly to think I can't raise my knuckles on his head.

His smiles disappeared when my eyes narrowed more. "Sorry," He pressed his lips, pinning his mouth with his fingers as he turn his head aside.

"Are you done?" I began, trying to keep my cool. I remember when we where still kids, I used to beat him up in the playground for messing up his shirt in dirt. "You talk like someone who is senseless. Haven't he done enough for everyone? He even paid your expenses, college bills and that stupid music concert you had in umm, what's it called?"

"Scotland."

"Thank you," Still not giving a fuck bout what it was, I frowned deeper. "And now he needs my help you just want me to sit back and watch him—"

"Geez! Hell no, Tri." He shookm his head vigorously, defending himself. "That's not what am trying to say—"

"Then what do you meant?" My anger is bringing steams out of my ears and nostrils. I have no idea why am reacting this way all because Shawn said something not right about helping Dexter. .

For some seconds, Shawn remained quiet, busy staring at me. I was acting all weird to him. I've never defended someone to this extent before. Not even Leo when he was alive.

And the next thing I heard him say in a low tune was...."Are you falling in love with him?"

That was a one strong question to answer. It felt like hot food in my mouth and if I answer so quickly, it might burn my tongue.

I stood there, stating at him as he does to me too. The anger slowly dissipated and I found my conscience judging me. I disobeyed my conscience when it bothers me so much to speak the truth. I just ignored him and continued my shopping.

"Hurry, we have to finish with this shopping thing and go get the kids after school." I said, picking up random items I didn't care to scan twice.

"But the chauffeur will do that." He reminded me.

I freeze for a moment, knowing it was true and he knew how much am dodging his question, but then, I covered it up with something else. "I have to make lunch before they arrive."

"Yeah, yeah, you said you were on the afternoon shift today." Good thing that one worked on him and now he's doing the shopping more than I do.