Chapter 7- Birthday bash

The sweetest thing about being a mother was seeing her children all grown up. Evelyn was bubbling with joy, her children were celebrating their seventh year birthday. She had woken up with wings on her feet, as she threw her hair into a messy bun, threw on her sweats ensemble and entered the car to pick up their cakes.

"Hey! Sharon! What is going on? Have you gotten the decorations yet?" She asked as she picked up her phone, "Yes! Definitely! But I am still on the issue of the location, they cancelled out on us and refunded our money." Sharon said at first excited, then she seemed hesitant to continue. 

"What! Why? But we signed a contract.." "I know that was why they sent us double the price of what we paid, they sent a mail of apology too." Sharon said, Evelyn sighed, she was not expecting this to come up.

"So what are we going to do? The day has been picked, what other options do we have? "She asked as she started her car, " Our first option, it is the only option available. You have to see the owner, if we are going to meet up with the deadline. " Sharon said, inside Evelyn dread Rose up within her.

How on earth will she face her nemesis? The very man that loathed her family and wants to tear her and her children apart. But people had paid for tickets to see her show and she had booked the caterers, the event organisers and everything they were going to need.

"We really have to act on time, by the way Arnold and Pete are already at your backyard setting up the bouncy castles and the tent. Please think about this quickly and let us know the next step." Sharon said as she excused herself.

Celebration began in earnest at the backyard, where there were two bouncing castles, a set of tables filled with delicious food and treats, balloons hung everywhere. Children played around and her elder brother, was speaking with the clown. Cecile was helping out with the pool and the smiles on her children's faces were everything. The birthday was going to end as a success. 

She left to get more root beer soda for the table, when she was stopped by Danny, her elder brother who travelled from New Sanderstead with his family. "I saw a black truck outside, and it looks suspiciously strange, you ordered anything. " he asked.

"Nope! I will go check it out, you keep an eye on that clown." She said as she stepped out to the front. Her knees almost keeled to the curb when she saw the person at the front of the truck. "Okay! You have got to be kidding me, do you have to faint every time we meet! Am I that terrible a person? " She heard Gabriel chuckle as he ran to help steady herself. 

" I am so sorry, I was not expecting to see you. I did not send you an invite but you turned up. How did you even know?" She asked as she tried to support herself. " Well! It is the biggest thing happening on all the islands you own. It is literally the talk of the town." He said as he led her to his truck. "Geez! Thanks! I want only the best for my children, kill me!" She said as she sank onto the chair, it was comfortable and had the lovely traces of his cologne.

"No, it was actually a compliment there, no one will kill you for throwing a big birthday bash and I brought presents. " he said , as he went to the boot of the car. "You did not have to! We don't want to be a bother! " She said, protesting as another man wheeled out three bikes, a box filled with toys, laptop bags and what looked like a duplex doll house.

At that moment the triplets ran to where they were, "Wow! Mom are those for us! They look incredible. " George said as he looked at her hesitantly, Evelyn felt the ground shaking beneath her. The wide eyed looks they gave her was killing her will power.

"Fine! But you know what you should say?" She said, as they ran around excitedly. "Thank you Sir! Thank you Mr. Hunt!" Their cries of joy filled the air. She went to where Gabriel stood smiling broadly, " Are you trying to bribe your way into our lives?" She asked as she folded her arms across the chest.

"Is it working? " He replied with a smirk, she slapped her palm across her forehead, "So you were the one behind those humongous bouquets, that is wasteful." She cried out in realization, " But you did like them, didn't you?" He asked with boyish anticipation shining in his eyes. Evelyn was spooked out, she did not know how to react to this new attitude, he seemed so cute, when he acted like a puppy, the attention seeking and pleasing one.

"Ugh...ugh!" She was literally speechless, she was saved by her assistant coming in to the scene, "Hey! Mr. Hunt is here! So we can meet with him and talk... welcome Mr. Hunt." She said cheerfully, Evelyn gave her a dead look, how dare she betray her like that.

"Well, this is a different reception from the one I received, it is Gabriel to you, and you are?" He said as he stretched his hand for a shake, which Sharon grabbed like her life depended on it." I am Sharon, Evelyn's assistant. We have been trying to get through to you as touching your place, L'oriental, but Evelyn has been dragging her feet about it." She said happily. 

"Ugh! Sharon. " Evelyn shot her a dark look, this girl was a Judas and a blabber, why was she on her payroll again. " Really? My wife should have said something to me." He said as he winked at Evelyn, who was struggling to follow what was happening, "Your wife! " "Who is your wife?" "Mum are you married?" The questions were thrown in the air.

Everyone except Gabriel looked confused, especially Evelyn, she never remembered marrying anyone. " I brought the marriage certificate. " He said as he brought out an envelope from his pocket. Evelyn looked at the envelope with suspicion, as he handed it over to her.

"Seven years ago, you were scared of losing your virginity outside marriage and I decided to humor you and we got married in our room with a clerk. I really thought it was a joke but you seemed very serious, I had forgotten about this, until six years ago when my assistant Vincent found it in my clothes." He explained as she opened the envelope and brought out the neatly folded certificate.

"No! I can't even remember anything about that night, it is not possible, I even signed, I was drunk..." Sharon shooed the children back to the party, leaving the both of them near the truck. " I know you never got with any other man because you were pregnant from the night we had and you were too busy building your empire to even look at your admirers." He continued explaining how he discovered about the triplets and how she was watched, the influence he played in her success.

"How! How did I? How did I not know? How did this happen? Is this even legal? I was drunk, you can not use this against me. You... you should not have agreed to this, I was not in my right senses." Evelyn cried out as she felt her world crumble, she was about to slump when Gabriel carried her.

" I am so sorry, you are just knowing about this. But I do not regret any of what happened. You are my wife and I have waited for so long to call you mine. Nothing is going to come against it. Not even you Evelyn. We belong together just as fate deemed it to be." He said as he walked to the door.

Evelyn herself was still shaking, as she literally melted in his arms. What she had learnt about Gabriel was that he never gave up and with this evidence, she was bound to him for life.