FOOLISH SENTIMENT

THE GOLD DIGGER'S GRIEF

The room was drowned in darkness, save for the dim glow of a dying bulb above him. He sat hunched on the couch, a bottle clutched in one hand. On the table before him, pills lay scattered like tiny ghosts of bad decisions some crushed, some untouched all whispering promises of escape.

His breath trembled. Then he felt it warm streaks rolling down his face. Tears.

He blinked, confused. Tears? he muttered, the word slurred but sharp. "What does that even mean?

A bitter laugh cracked out of him, dissolving into silence. "She doesn't deserve it," he whispered, voice breaking. "Not after everything she's done."

He took another long pull from the bottle, his throat burning. "She didn't raise me right... I'm the way I am because of her."

"She was your mother, after all," said a voice from the doorway.

Tiana a woman in her late twenties, wrapped in a red, body-fitted, high-slit dress stepped into the dim room. If sexy had a face, it would be hers.

Chris looked up at her as she walked toward him. How did I get such a wonderful woman? he wondered, dazed.

She placed her hands around his neck and kissed him softly, then traced her fingers down his cheeks, wiping away his tears. Their eyes met, and they shared a deeper kiss.

Has he stopped crying? she thought as she opened her eyes. Finally.

"I can't stand him," she said inwardly as she gently pulled away. Out loud, she whispered, "Let's head to bed. Let me take your worries away. Focus on me."

He obeyed, standing up and following her to the bedroom.

What happened next could only be described as steamy.

Around 3 a.m., Tiana stirred awake. Her throat was dry. As she turned, she saw Chris Jr. sleeping soundly beside her. A frown creased her face.

She slid out of bed quietly, the sheet falling softly to the floor. After a brief hesitation, she reached over, grabbed Chris's phone from the nightstand, and tiptoed out of the room.

As soon as she reached the kitchen, she unlocked his phone and quickly transferred two million into her account.

"Finally," she whispered, a sly smile curling her lips. "My pay for the night."

She chuckled softly. "And as usual, he won't even notice. To think he actually believes I, Tiana, could fall in love with him? What a fool. Fallen in love? More like fallen in money."

She looked back toward the bedroom door. "Oh, sad little Chris," she murmured. "You have no idea what's coming for you. I'll stay with you until everything you have becomes mine.

Things were different in Ana's house.

She sat alone in the dimly lit living room, her cheek still stinging from the slap her father had given her all because of a lowlife.

"How could he say such things to me?" she whispered, replaying his words over and over. Her father's voice echoed in her head, taunting her about being single. The pain finally broke her, and she burst into tears. Curling up on the cold floor beside her bed, she cried until sleep took her.

In the family house, Lana's husband, Cole, broke the silence. "When do we leave?"

"Not for a couple of days," Lana replied softly. "I need to stay with Dad. He isn't doing so well."

Cole walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I understand, Lana. I'm here for as long as you need."

He hesitated. "Sorry, I didn't notice when Samantha went downstairs. I was just asking because... I don't like the kids being in this environment. They're seeing too much violence, and that's been the trend in your family even at the funeral."

Lana sighed deeply. "I understand you, love. As soon as Dad gets better, we'll leave. Seeing his grandkids might make him feel better."

"Okay, love," said Cole, pressing a kiss to her cheeks. "Shall we go to bed? The kids are already asleep."

She nodded quietly, and together they slipped under the covers, the weight of unspoken worries hanging between them.

"What's that smell? It's amazing," Cole said, glancing to his left only to realize the bed beside him was empty. His wife and the kids were already up.

After a quick bath, he came downstairs. The sound of sizzling oil and soft laughter filled the air. At the dining table, Lana and the children were already seated, while Alfred was busy cooking away in the kitchen.

"Come sit," Lana called out with a smile

"Good morning, Dad!" the kids chorused as Cole took his seat.

"Hey, Coleman," Alfred said, turning from the stove. "Welcome to breakfast. I don't think I've ever cooked for you before."

Cole smiled politely. "No, Father, I don't think so."

"Then it's about time," Alfred said, placing a steaming plate on the table.

Just then, Ana walked in. "Good morning, Father," she said flatly, taking her seat without sparing a glance at Lana or the children.

"Good morning, Auntie!" the kids said cheerfully.

Ana forced a smile. "Morning," she replied.

"One more person to go, and we're all complete," Alfred said, wiping his hands on a towel.

Ana's face tightened. "Don't tell me it's who I think it is, Father."

"Sit and eat," Alfred cut in firmly before she could say more.

The room fell into uneasy silence, broken only by the clatter of cutlery and the hiss of something still frying on the stove.

"Good morning, all," said Chris Jr. as he stepped into the dining room.

The chatter stopped.

Immediately, the kids jumped from their seats and ran to hug him. The gesture caught everyone off guard affection wasn't something the family was known for.

But what truly stole the moment was the woman standing beside him.

"I didn't know you'd be bringing a guest," Alfred said, his voice calm but curious.

"Oh yes," Chris replied, smiling as he placed a hand on her back. "This is Tiana my girlfriend."

The room froze. Every pair of eyes turned to her, studying every curve, every flicker of her carefully painted smile.

Ana, mid-sip of water, suddenly coughed and choked, setting her glass down too hard.

"Good morning, everyone," Tiana said smoothly, her tone honeyed and confident.

Chris pulled out a chair for her, motioning for the maid to bring another for himself.

"Well then," Alfred said after a moment, clearing his throat. "Shall we begin?"

For a brief stretch of silence, no one spoke forks clinked softly against plates as they all began to eat, pretending nothing was wrong. But the tension hung thick in the air, unspoken and electric.

Ana broke the silence first. "I didn't know you kids were that close to your uncle," she said, arching a brow.

Out of the three children Samantha spoke up shyly, "We got closer during the funeral. He was playful with us, that's why we went to hug him."

The twins looked at their mother. "Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad."

Alfred raised a hand. "Why are you sorry? He's your uncle you should be able to go to him."

He turned his attention toward Tiana, his voice softening with curiosity. "What I'm most interested in, however, is this fine young lady beside him. I'd like to get to know her better."

"Yes," Ana added, leaning forward with a smirk. "Who is this fine young lady? And why is she with a dead"

"ANA!"

The table shook as Alfred slammed his palm down, the plates rattling. "I will not allow you to speak like that!" he thundered. "This is the first family breakfast after the funeral of your mother my wife. And you will show some respect!"

The room fell into shocked silence. The only sound was the faint ticking of the wall clock and the nervous clinking of a spoon on a cup.

Alfred took a deep breath, composing himself. "This breakfast is meant to bring us together, which is why I asked everyone to be here."

He looked around the table, his gaze firm but weary. "Now, I understand that the lawyer came yesterday but wasn't able to meet with us to discuss your mother's will. I know we're all curious maybe even anxious about it. But I've told him to wait. The reading will happen when I feel the time is right."

Ana's chair scraped loudly against the floor as she stood. "How could you do such a thing, Father? That will is important! We need to know what we can get from that lady. It's not like we got anything from her while she was alive."

"Ana!" Lana said sharply. "Calm down. That lady was our mother. She gave you life you could at least show a little gratitude."

Ana rolled her eyes but sat back down, folding her arms.

"Alright then," Alfred said firmly. "That's settled. The will can wait."

He turned his attention back to Tiana, offering a polite but probing smile. "Now, young lady, why don't you give us a brief introduction about yourself? Tell us where did you and my son meet? Since when? How did it happen? I'm very interested to know."

All eyes turned to Tiana.

Her painted smile didn't falter, but for the first time, her fingers twitched against her napkin. "I guess there's no escaping it thank God I came prepared" she thought to herself.