Billionaire's Broken Trust

Natalie's POV

When I finished cooking dinner, I stepped into the dining room to serve it. However, I saw that my half-sister, Amelia Jackson, had arrived.

I watched my husband, Franklin Howard, laughing heartily with my sister in the living room. What pained me the most was seeing how well he got along with her. Franklin had never laughed like this with me; yet, here he was, beaming at my older sister.

Amelia Jackson was my half-sister. We shared the same father but had different mothers. My mother was my father’s mistress, and because I was the unwanted child, my family despised me.

I had three older brothers—James, Asher, and Felix—all of whom doted on Amelia. Amelia and I were the same age, but she was a month older, making her my elder sister. We were both fair in complexion, but while she was tall, I was short and chubby.

Franklin is a billionaire, and he never liked me, his wife. Our marriage was a mistake—one I should never have accepted. Three years ago, our fathers, who were best friends, hosted a business party. One thing led to another, and Franklin and I were caught in my room. I knew Amelia had set us up, but no one believed me—not even Franklin. He was convinced I had drugged him and lured him to my room to force him to sleep with me.

We were forced to marry to hide the embarrassment, as Franklin’s family was deeply disappointed. Everyone knew I was the illegitimate daughter, and they wondered why my father hadn't kicked me out to allow Amelia to marry Franklin instead. After the wedding, I discovered Amelia had a hidden crush on Franklin. She regretted drugging my drink, which was the one I had served Franklin when he came to speak to me that night.

I was twenty-two then—naive—and after we were caught in a compromising position, we married while Amelia wept, claiming Franklin was supposed to be her husband.

Franklin didn't like me. After that night, we never slept together, and I never conceived. We lived like neighbors who hated each other. Now that Amelia had graduated, Franklin wanted to divorce me to marry her. How shameless of a sister to pursue her younger sister's husband?

Amelia is shameless. Franklin is five years older than me; I am twenty-five, and he is thirty.

I watched Franklin wearing a white singlet that revealed his masculine abs—he loved the gym. He was fair and more handsome than any man I had ever seen. His skin glowed, and I saw the way Amelia was gawking over him. Franklin is very tall, with broad arms and thick thighs. I barely reach his chest; I am a shorty, though I have an hourglass figure. Franklin does not find me attractive in any way.

"How were your studies, Amy?" I heard Franklin ask. He had switched from calling her Amelia to "Amy."

Amelia blushed as she picked up the glass cup of red wine Franklin had refilled. I sat at the dining table, setting up our dinner. We had no maid because Franklin mandated that I could not work since I lacked a meaningful degree.

As the illegitimate child, I hadn't furthered my education; my stepmother forced me to learn tailoring while Amelia went to university to become a certified accountant. Franklin wouldn't even let me sew, calling it a useless profession. He called me ugly, claimed I wasn't fashionable, refused to take me out with his friends, and never gave me money for upkeep. I only managed to save for myself when he gave me money to restock the house with groceries.

"It was fine, Frankie," I heard Amelia's response, hating that they were using pet names. This was my matrimonial home, yet Franklin only called me "Natalie!" In short, he shouted my name with such rage that it seemed he couldn't stand the sight of me.

"Natalie! Is the dinner ready?" Franklin asked, settling across from Amelia on the couch.

I had finished preparing the delicious African delicacy of pounded yam and vegetable soup. I looked at the food, then at my husband and my half-sister.

"Natalie! I am talking to you!" Franklin shouted again.

"No food for you both," I replied, covering the dishes I had served. I hadn't invited Amelia, and I wouldn't serve her. She should return to our father's house and find her own husband.

Franklin rose and dashed toward me. "Where are you taking the tray? Have you lost your mind?" He slapped me as he approached and snatched the tray from my hands.

I looked at him irritably, then at Amelia, who smiled and rolled her eyes. I knew her target: she wanted my husband. She had sent me a text message the previous month, claiming she was coming back to take everything I had "stolen" from her, including my husband.

"Franklin, why did you slap me? I cooked this food, and you cannot eat it," I said.

"Why? Did I not give you the money to prepare the meal? Did you work for it? Move away and get me a bowl of water to wash my hands. Do not think I will apologize for the slap. Come, Amy, do not mind your sister; she is always acting silly," Franklin said.

I watched as Amelia stood up, her brown dress accentuating her hips and bosom. She walked to the table, and I stood by as Franklin served her the plate of pounded yam and soup I had labored to cook. I knew Amelia was my sister, but Franklin had never served me food, let alone something I had prepared myself.

Franklin noticed I hadn't brought a bowl of water for washing hands, so he went to the kitchen himself and brought one for Amelia. He sat across from her, and she blushed, not bothering to ask me to join them.

"Franklin!" I shouted, walking toward the plate of soup I had served for myself—the very portion Frank had given to Amelia.

"What is wrong with you, Natalie? Should we leave this food for you? Come, Amy, let's go out to get something more palatable," Franklin said, standing up. I hated it when he left our home to eat after I had suffered to cook.

"Franklin!" I tried to stop him, but he warned, "Stay away from me, Natalie. Eat your food since you don't want us to have it. Who knows if you poisoned it?"

"What?" I gasped. Franklin’s words broke my heart. He dashed upstairs to his bedroom—we had separate rooms. I looked at Amelia and shouted, "You shameless slut, aren't you ashamed to be dating your sister's husband? As beautiful as you are, can't you find your own?"

Amelia hissed.

"Get out of my house!" I was enraged. I remembered how she and my brothers had always maltreated me. I had thought marriage would bring me happiness, but this family wouldn't let me be. As I rushed to push Amelia out, she fell to the floor and pretended to be hurt.