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Twenty-One

Author: Tcee Eke
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

It was silent as all five of us sat at the dining table eating breakfast. As usual, they served the table like we had a feast. I was gradually beginning to get used to that type of lifestyle, but I made sure that won't stop me from eating normally whenever I eventually leave this place.

It's still three months, Hailey. You haven't even married him yet.

I sighed and looked at their faces one after the other. Zach was focused on his meal as if he was truly enjoying it. He looked like he had no worries at all. Brenda on the other hand had a stoic face on, which made me roll my eyes. As I stared at her, I remember how she had told the media I was a good daughter to her. So much pretense in one family. My eyes then darted to Xavier. He stole glances at me from time to time and whenever I caught him and our eyes met, he'd immediately break eye contact and continue with his meal. He looked a little disturbed though, but I cared less. Not even after what he said to me that morning. My eyes th
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  • Billionaire Bride   Twenty-two

    "Are you nuts?" Xavier blurted out immediately."I guess I am," I replied and shrugged, then folded my arms as I stared at father, mother and son. Susie just giggled as she kept eating her food. I could bet on my life that she was enjoying the show."You will not see her," Brenda replied after being mute for a couple of minutes."And what if I do? In fact, who are you to tell me that I can't?" Where the nerve came from, I had no idea, but one thing I know is that I was enjoying the whole thing I was doing. "In the deal I signed with you, you said I could visit her four times a month.""That was starting from next month, woman!" Brenda exclaimed."Brenda!" Zach called out to her to caution her."What?" She turned to face him. On her face was a look of anger boldly written on it. "What is it? Are you scared of her? I can't tolerate these behaviors, please. If you won't speak up, I will.""There is nothing to speak about, Brenda. You're taking things too seriously than you should." Zach

  • Billionaire Bride   Twenty-three

    I cried all day after I had hung up on Duncan. He had no idea who it was, because I got a new sim card, following Brenda's request for me to do so. I knew Duncan wanted sex all along, but I didn't give him that because I was not ready yet. Besides, grandma would murder me if she heard that I did so. So, I tried to be her good girl, which I am and tried not to do anything nasty with Duncan. Never in a million years did I think Duncan would ever cheat on me, despite us planning our wedding already.I sighed as I finally wiped the tears on my face and got up from my bed. I had wanted to go to Susie's room because I had not seen her since she left earlier. I wanted to tell her what I heard and how I felt, but I knew Susie. She would not take it lightly. If possible, she could fly back home just to confront Duncan. I was not ready to stand up to him yet, so I did not call him back. When I was ready and strong enough to, I would confront him and see whatever he would say to defend himself.

  • Billionaire Bride   Twenty-four

    Just by hearing her voice, I was already pissed. I did not have to turn to look at her before I knew it was her. She walked to my front with a mischievous smile plastered on her face."Hi, bride to be!" She said excitedly, which sounded more like she was mocking me. Why she was mocking me, I had no idea."Hi, Celine." I simply replied, although, everything on my mind was to scream at her to get out of my face, I knew I could not do that."Why are you here alone?" She asked a large grin seated on her face as she folded her arms. "Uh? Where's my Xavier?"I scoffed at what she just said. "Your Xavier? Really?" I asked and laughed immediately. By the way, her expression changed and she frowned at me. I could tell she was annoyed that I made a joke of her statement."Oh, because you have him now, you think you can do whatever? Look here," she said and walked two steps forward to my front. "Just like he left me, he will do the same to you soon. That is just how he is. He is not stagnant on

  • Billionaire Bride   Twenty-five

    "Your father came home.""My… what?!" I exclaimed. I was about to reply to her and ask further questions when a hand forcefully snatched the phone from my hand and switched it off immediately. I was too pissed to act as I just sat there staring at the devil that just did that. Xavier."Are you not time conscious or something? Because I told you to take your time, you want to spend the whole day here?" He asked, raising his voice a bit at me.I could take a lot of things, but one thing I would not take is someone shouting at me, especially when I had no fault whatsoever. "Don't raise your voice at me," I replied calmly, despite being annoyed. That was one of the many lessons I learned from my grandmother. When speaking with someone and the other party is angry, you don't have to also get angry. It would only cause disaster. Be the calm one when the other person is angry."And what if I do? What would you do? Beat me?" He retorted, his voice still laced with anger and still very loud."

  • Billionaire Bride   Twenty-six

    All through the rest of the day, all my mind went to was what my grandmother said when she had called me. She never really said anything about my father, so I assumed he was dead too. His coming back home was a whole lot of news and discovery, and it was a bit hard for me to take in.Why did he leave for so long and is just returning now? Does he have something he came for? I needed these answers, and the only way to get them is to call my grandmother back and ask her for the full details of what she was telling me."Grandma?" I said as soon as I called and she picked it up on the first ring."Hailey, why did you hang up on me the other time? I called back and it said your phone was switched off. You should have at least listened to whatever it was that I had to say." She scolded me over the phone.I wanted to immediately tell her that it was not me and it was Xavier who snatched the phone from me and switched it off, but I figured that it would only raise suspicions and she would wan

  • Billionaire Bride   Twenty-seven

    I was on my way to the sitting room since that was the only place I knew in this mansion of theirs, aside from my room, Susie's room, Xavier's room and the dining room. I have not even been to the kitchen before. Wow.I decided to go downstairs to watch a movie on the television since Brenda and Zach were not around. I could enjoy myself and breathe some fresh air, knowing fully well that nobody with a stinking attitude like Brenda's would come to frustrate me. But I had forgotten that Xavier was also like his mother, and he was at home.Getting to the sitting room, I met him on the sofa in the center of the large room, which was directly opposite the television. His eyes were fixed on his phone, yet, he had a movie showing on the television. Seeing that he was not watching the television, I walked into the sitting room, picked up the remote control beside him and changed the channel to a romance movie channel. Only then did he give his attention to me."Excuse me?" He said as he sat

  • Billionaire Bride   Twenty-eight

    "Xavier, what is this I hear about you bringing a woman here?" Zach asked Xavier as we all sat at the dining table awaiting dinner.Immediately Zach asked, Xavier's eyes drifted to me, but I acted like I didn't know he was staring at me. I had reported him to Zach when he returned home with Brenda. When I eventually looked at him, he glared at me, as if asking me what I had done."Xavier, I am speaking to you," Zach said again, his arms folded, his eyes fixed on Xavier."She's just a friend," Xavier said, which made Susie giggle. She was on her phone, but I could tell that she was laughing at the discussion we were holding. "What's funny?" He snapped at her."Was I laughing at you? Or why are you so disturbed?" She asked him and eyed him irritatedly. For someone that has had a crush on Xavier for a long time, I never believed that she could dislike him that early. These days, she hates to see him around or to see him close to her. Just the sight of him irked her."Country lady, I have

  • Billionaire Bride   Twenty-nine

    It was some minutes to 4 am, and I was laying on my bed, thinking of how my life has come to be. Today was the set to be the wedding, but I could not say for sure if I was ready for it or not. I had been so sleepless that I have been rolling on my bed since the night before.Ever since the argument with Grandma Maggie and I had asked her to leave the house, I had been feeling bad since. I believed she would not leave the house, and I hoped she did not. I only used that as a threat so she could tell my father to leave, but I hoped she got the cue.I sighed as my mind drifted to the fight I had with Susie the night before when she stormed into my room.Flashback."Dang!" Susie exclaimed as she hit her palm on my room door and it went ajar. I eyed her from my bed, giving her a face that was asking her what was the meaning of what she had just done. She walked further inside without closing the door behind her.Susie was fond of coming into my room and not closing the door, despite her me

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  • Billionaire Bride   Ninety-nine

    "Aww you look so beautiful," Laura commented, dabbing her eyes with a napkin as she pretended to cry. I laughed and twirled in my Cinderella wedding dress, feeling every bit like a Princess.Susie pouted, sitting on my bed and rolling her eyes. It had been a month since Xavier had dropped in on my launch day. We were finally getting married. A real marriage. I was super excited. Finally, Xavier and I would be together without the influence of the people or his mother. It was thrilling. It seemed that I was finally having my dream life. And it had been a long time coming. After all the betrayal, hurt, heartbreak and pain I had to endure. I deserved this. I deserved a happily ever after. And I was going to cling onto it forever. Susie however seemed less excited than I did. Which was quite understandable. "Aww, are you still sad that I'll be going for the honeymoon?" I teased and she huffed at my words. "Do you guys have to go that far? Who's going to do the accounts? You know numb

  • Billionaire Bride   Ninety-eight

    "When will you go to the Cafe?" He asked, his hands still doing crazy things on my skin. "Uhm... In an hour." I murmured sliding my hands under my breasts to prop them up further into his touch. "We've got time." He said, capturing my lips again, this time for an even deeper kiss. He tasted familiar. His kisses were hot and filled with so much passion, I thought I would combust. Hanging on to him tightly, I moaned as he slipped his tongue into mine, stroking and clashing with mine several times. "I need you," I whispered between kisses as we broke apart to catch our breaths at intervals. "We can't go too far baby," he hummed, lifting me up by the waist until my legs were wrapped around his. Striding towards my bed, he lowered himself to the bed, sitting with me on his lap. "Why not?" I protested, taking hold of my shirt and dragging it off. Xavier's breath hitched at the sight of my babies encased in a lacy black bra. "Oh Hailey," he murmured, unclipping the underwear behind m

  • Billionaire Bride   Ninety-seven

    "What?" I exclaimed, trying to wrap my head around what was happening right in front of me. Xavier smiled, his hands covered mine and he held them between us, holding my eyes. "I love you," He said again. "I don't want to let you go. I cannot do so. I tried this past month," he chuckled. "Let's just say more women would love my head on a pike right now." "But you... You always... You never..." I was a rambling mess at this point.His smile turned sad. "I know." He kissed my hands gently. "And I'll spend every day of my life making atonement for all I have said and done to you Hailey, only if you allow me to." "We're not married anymore. You don't have to do this to pacify me-""Technically, we are still married. I haven't divorced you yet." He grinned. "I could divorce you." Xavier chuckled and pulled me to his chest, wrapping his arms around me. "And then I'll marry you all over again." "Don't get cocky. I haven't said yes." I snapped, sinking into the warmth of his body despit

  • Billionaire Bride   Ninety-six

    Without hesitation, I pushed the door open and stormed in. The scene before me was a surprised Xavier, lying on his bed with his hand wrapped around his junk. Holy smokes.My cheeks flamed up and I murmured a quick "Sorry," before turning to run out of the room. "Close the door Hailey," came his calm voice before I could slip out. "I'm covered, you can look now." Ashamed of my thoughts and actions, because who barges into someone's privacy thinking horrid things about them, I turned around slowly. "I'm sorry," I grumbled. "I heard sounds, I thought..." That you were balls deep in some woman? Bah, if I said that, he would probably laugh his head off."You thought?" Xavier urged, rising suddenly and I yelped in surprise. "I won't cover up if you don't tell me what you thought, Hailey." The deep timbre of his voice when he called my name had my thighs clenching with need. He was just a few meters away from me. Unclad. We were alone. The realization came with torrents of desire fl

  • Billionaire Bride   Ninety-five

    Whatever it was that the two men had said to each other, nobody knew. And I doubted anyone would ever know. All we knew was Walter threw a punch at Xavier and even though he had been able to dodge it in time, there was no way Xavier Lowell would let it slide. He threw one at Walter's jaw in return. And a brawl broke out. "Oh shit," Susie cussed. "I'm guessing that means we can go out now," I murmured and raced out of the cafe. "Stop it right now!" The men, however, pig heads that they were, continued fighting as if I wasn't screaming my guts out, running from the other side of the road. "Stop it right now!" I yelled again when I reached them, trying to pry Xavier from pounding Walter's head to bits. "Xavier! Xavier stop it! Please!" But something had possessed Xavier and it seemed it wouldn't let go. For someone who had always cared what the people would think, he was acting quite recklessly. I latched onto his arm, tugging at it. "You're causing a scene!"That got him to let go

  • Billionaire Bride   Ninety-four

    My world turned upside down and for a minute I just stared at him confused about how to react. Did he need me? What the hell was happening at the moment?! It better not be a prank. Fuck it, prank or not, I had work to do and he had to get out of here. So instead of swooning and falling at his feet, I opted for a second option.I laughed and shook my head. "Okay, seriously, why are you here?" Hurt slashed across his face and I was taken aback. I had never seen him look so vulnerable before and it was unsettling. He's pretending. A voice in my head whispered. You know he is. I knew. I did. But that didn't make me feel any better. Why would he need to pretend? "I..." A shadow fell on his face and he shook his head. The vulnerable look in his eyes was gone and replaced with the amused expression he always wore around me. I wasn't sure which one made me hurt worse.Taking a few steps back, he surveyed the kitchen and clasped his hands behind his back. "I just wanted to see. The news

  • Billionaire Bride   Ninety-three

    "Sir!" I hissed, not wanting to yell because I didn't want to call people's attention to us. One paparazzi was already too much to handle. If all of them came to the counter, my first launch day would all be in the mud. The man in the hoodie stopped trying to get in through the side door. And then he lifted his head, staring me in the face with familiar dark blue eyes that grazed my entire body and sent me into freeze mode. "Xavier," I whispered, blinking rapidly to be sure he wasn't an apparition. Xavier stood before me, dressed in a hoodie and cargo pants. The last clothing I would ever imagine he would wear in public. It seemed he didn't want people to recognize him. "Let me in Hailey." He murmured. Susie gasped behind me when she heard his voice and shook her head. "Don't you dare! Go fuck yourself, Xavier." He ignored her, his eyes holding mine and sending my brain into overdrive. What was he doing here? He was not supposed to be anywhere near me! He was supposed to be in V

  • Billionaire Bride   Ninety-two

    I eyed the crowd that had formed outside the cafe from the glass walls warily glanced back at Susie and mouthed "Oh my God." We stood in the cafe, setting the tables and getting ready for the launch which was in twelve minutes! To say I was nervous was an understatement. This was a huge deal for me. For Laura and Susie too. And it did not help that ever since I had stepped out of the house without the blonde wig, half the people we met on the road recognized me. One of them must have tipped off the paparazzi because that would explain how there were so many people with cameras and recorders, eagerly waiting. "I'm screwed," I told Susie and she shrugged beside me. "You knew this would happen." She said, I glared at her. "That doesn't mean I can't be nervous about it! Everyone will have questions! I can't handle a crowd that big!" She grinned and slid an arm over my shoulders. "You're not alone, woman. We got you. Look and you got Walter too." I looked in the direction she was tip

  • Billionaire Bride   Ninety-one

    It was barely morning when I stumbled into Susie's car, my face stricken with tears. The sun had just begun to rise, lighting up the sky slowly. I slammed the door close and thankfully, Susie asked no questions. She simply drove out of Xavier's townhouse and sped down the road. Placing a hand over my mouth, I sobbed furiously, my head leaning against the window. It wasn't supposed to hurt so much. Leaving him finally. It wasn't supposed to feel like a part of me had been torn away and left behind with the many miles that increased between us. I closed my eyes as I recalled when I had woken up. It was my phone ringing somewhere in the house. I hadn't the slightest clue where I was at first but Xavier's peaceful snores and his heavy arm around me reminded me quickly. It had taken quite a while to slip away from the bed without awakening him and at first, I hadn't even been able to walk properly. Even now as I sat in the car, I was so sore. The caller had been Susie. We had planned th

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