Natalie's POV:
I watched my husband laughing so hard with my elder sister, Amelia Jackson. What pained me more was seeing the way he got along with her.
Franklin Howard had never laughed like this with me before, and here he was, laughing with my elder sister, "hahaha," so loud in the living room.
Amelia Jackson is my elder sister, the same father but different mother.
My mother was a mistress to my father, and because I was the unwanted child, my family didn't like me.
I had three older brothers, James, Asher and Felix. All doting on Amelia.
Amelia and I were age-mates, but she was only a month older than me, so that makes her my elder sister.
We were both fair in complexion, but while she was tall, I was short and chubby.
Frank was a Billionaire in this part of the city that we lived in, and he never liked me, who was his wife.
It was all a mistake that led to Frank and I's marriage. A mistake that I ever agreed to.
Taking you back to three years ago, my father and Frank's father were best friends. And while my father had a business party at home, he invited a lot of tycoons.
One thing led to another, and Frank and I were caught in my room.
I knew Amelia was the one who set us up, but no one believed me. Even Frank didn't believe me. He felt I was the one who drugged him and lured him to my room so that he would sleep with me.
We were forced to become a couple to hide the embarrassment as Frank's family were also disappointed. Everyone knew I was the illegitimate daughter of my father, and they would be wondering why my father had kept me since instead of kicking me out and allowing Amelia to marry Frank.
It was after my wedding with Frank, that I discovered Amelia had a hidden crush on Frank. She regretted drugging my drink, as that was what I had served Frank, when he came to speak to me on that eventful night.
A lot of invites had also come with their children who were already adults, but none of them came to speak to me.
I was already 22 years old then, naive, and with Frank and I caught in a compromising position on the bed. We got married while Amelia wept that Frank was supposed to be her husband.
Frank didn't like me. After that night, we didn't sleep with each other, and I didn't conceive either, even though it was my first time.
We were living like neighbors who hated each other, and now that Amelia had graduated, Frank wanted to divorce me to marry her.
How shameless of a sister to want to date her younger sister's husband?
Amelia is so shameless.
Frank is five years older than me.
And as I'm 25 years now, he's 30 years.
I watched as Frank, wearing a white singlet that revealed his masculine abs as he loved to gym. He was fair in complexion, more handsome than any other men I had seen.
His skin glittered like the sun, and I saw the way Amelia was drooling over him.
Frank is very tall. His arms are bigger, and likewise his thighs.
I am not up to Frank's chest; to tell you, I'm a shorty. Although, I have an hourglass shape.
Frank doesn't, in any way, find me attractive.
"How was your studies, Amy?" I heard Frank asking Amelia. He had switched from calling her Amelia to Amy as her short abbreviated name.
Amelia blushed as she picked up the glass cup that Frank had refilled as I sat at the dining table setting up our dinner.
We have no maid at home, simply because Frank mandated that I won't be going to work when I don't have any meaningful certificate.
As the illegitimate child of my parents, I didn't further my education, and I was forced by my stepmother to learn tailoring, while Amelia went to the university and became a certified accountant.
I wasn't even allowed to sew, as Frank felt it was a useless profession to become a fashion designer.
He calls me ugly and says that I wasn't fashionable.
He doesn't like to take me out to hang out with his friends, nor does he give me money for upkeep.
I only managed to get money for my upkeep when he gives me money to restock the house with foodstuffs. Only then, I managed to see money to save for my personal use.
"It was fine, Frankie," I hated as Amelia and my husband were calling themselves pet names.
This was my matrimonial home, and Frank only calls me "Natalie!"
In short, he shouts my name with so much rage, like he doesn't want to see me.
"Natalie! Is the dinner ready?" He asked me, just as he settles across from Amelia on the next black couch in our exquisite living room.
I was through preparing the delicious African delicacy of pounded yam and vegetable soup.
I looked at the food that I had prepared and at my husband and my half-sister.
"Natalie! I am talking to you!" Frank shouts at me again.
"Hmm, no food for you both," I replied and covered the food that I had already served.
Firstly, I didn't invite Amelia to my home. Neither will I serve her any food. She should get out and return back to our father's house and look for her own husband to be calling pet names with him.
Frank immediately rose from the couch and he dashed up to meet me.
"Where are you taking the tray of food too? Have you lost your mind?" Frank slapped me as he approached me and collected the tray from my hand.
I looked at him irritably and at Amelia, who smiled and rolled her eyes, as I knew her target. She wanted to collect my husband.
She sent me a text message the previous month, telling me that she was coming back to collect everything that I had stolen from her, including my husband.
"Frank, you slap me because of what? I cooked this food, and you cannot eat it."
"Why? Did I not give you the money you used to prepare the meal? Did you work for the money? Move away and get me a bowl of water to wash my hands, and do not think that I will apologize to you because of the slap. Come, Amy, do not mind your sister. That's how silly she behaves," Frank calls out for Amelia, and I watch as she seductively stood up from the couch in her brown dress that made her look like a model, as the brown dress accentuated her hips and bosom.
Amelia walked up to the dining table, and I stood there watching as Frank served her the delicious plate of pounded yam and vegetable soup that I had suffered to cook.
I know Amelia was my sister, and I wasn't supposed to be jealous. But Frank has never served me any food before, not to mention the one that I cooked by myself.
Frank also saw that I didn't serve any bowl of water, and he went to the kitchen by himself and brought a bowl of water for Amelia to wash her hands.
He sat across from Amelia, and Amelia was blushing, not caring to ask me to join them in eating.
"Frank!" I shouted and walked toward the plate of soup that I had served out for myself, as that was the portion that Frank had served for Amelia as her own plate of soup to eat.
"What's wrong with you, Natalie? Should we leave this food for you to eat? Come, Amy, let's go out to get something more palatable to eat," Frank said, standing up from the dining table, and I hated it whenever I suffered to cook, and my husband would have to go out of our matrimonial home to eat.
"Frank!" I tried to stop him, and he warned..
"Stay away from me, Natalie. Just go and eat your food since you don't want your sister and I to eat it. Who knows if you have poisoned it."
I frowned as Frank's words broke my heart. He quickly took the stairs in our duplex mansion and dashed upstairs to his bedroom.
Yes, Frank and I have different bedrooms. I looked back at Amelia and shouted at her, "You shameless slut, aren't you ashamed to be dating your sister's husband? As beautiful as you are, you cannot use your beauty to look for your own Husband!"
Amelia hissed.
"Get out of my house!" I was enraged, remembering that Amelia and her brothers never liked me. They mostly maltreated me, and while I had thought that getting married, I would have my own happiness and family.
Yet this very same family that doesn't want my happiness wouldn't let me be.
As I rushed to push Amelia out of our house, she fell down and pretended to be hurt.
Natalie's POV:"Ah!" Amelia cried out like the doll that she was, and Frank rushed up to meet us."What did you do to her?" He growled at me as he softly helped Amelia up.I didn't even push her with force as I only wanted to drag her out. And because she saw Frank rushing downstairs to meet us, she faked it like she was hurt."Frank, your wife, I mean, Natalie, bite me just now and pushed me away," Amelia held her arm and sobbed as she got up from the floor.Frank looked at me angrily and spat, "I cannot believe that you would do this to your only sister. You aren't even the legitimate daughter of Mr. Liam, and yet you cannot treat your sister right. Come, Amy, let's go out and eat, and allow her to eat her food alone."Tears welled up in my eyes as I stood watching them. The day was Saturday, and definitely Frank doesn't go to work on Saturdays and Sundays.I sobbed, wanting to stop them, and I went outside just in time to see Frank getting into his car after he had helped Amelia to
Franklin's POV:"You're right. We would have become married, but it's not too late for me to divorce your sister now. She isn't up to my standard, and I do not like her," I say as the waiter brought our dinner and Amelia smiled sweetly."How about me? I have always admired you then. Honestly, that night, I felt sad seeing that Natalie drugged you and used you as her escape from our parents' home. She's just wayward, and I had always admired you then, hoping we would become a pair," Amelia said, tears gathering in her eyes.I sighed."Do not worry, I will end my marriage with Natalie, okay? And she can move on with her life with whomever she pleases; I do not care," I told Amelia, and she smiled sweetly at me."Does that mean you will consider dating me now? I really do love you, Frank?" Amelia asked me, looking at me sweetly.She was really beautiful, and with her blue eyes shining, I couldn't say no to her request.I had always wanted to date her. I used to like her then. She was tall
Franklin's POV:"Okay," Amelia replied, and we started eating the chicken pepper soup that the waiter had earlier served us.We didn't speak to each other while eating, as the pepper soup was spicy. After we were through and had a few drinks, I was beginning to feel a slight headache, and I smiled at Amelia and told her,"I have to go home now. How about we meet up again tomorrow, Sunday? Do you go to church?""Um, yes Frank. But I would like to spend some time with you today. You know, just you and I," Amelia touched my hand, and I quickly withdrew them, understanding what she wanted."No. We cannot do anything silly for now. I'm still married to your sister, and my family isn't aware that I want to divorce her now," I told Amelia as I was beginning to sweat despite the air conditioning unit in the private parlor.Amelia frowned and tried to touch me again, as she said, "No one would know, Frank. I have always wanted you, and now that I'm back, we will be together, and you will send N
Natalie's POV:I fell asleep waiting for Frank to return home after I had finished eating my dinner alone. When I awoke, I heard loud banging on the door.When I rushed to unlock it, Frank was back, and accusing me of drugging him.I thought he was joking, but he was dead serious, and he started kissing me and dropped me on the bed even before my mind could register what he was doing.Frank hadn't kissed me for three years since we got married. He didn't even want to acknowledge me as his wife. He only wanted my food, saying he didn't like eating food from outside because they didn't cook it well and usually mismanaged the ingredients. So he mostly returned home to eat what I had made for him."Frank, stop!" I tried to protest as I was breathing heavily.I was supposed to be excited that my husband was finally making love to me, but I knew that Frank wasn't in his right frame of mind. I suspected maybe Amelia had drugged him, and now Frank was home, accusing me of being the one who had
Natalie's POV:I rushed downstairs to the living room of our enormous mansion and rushed to pick up my phone that I had left on the center table. Picking up my phone, I unlocked the screen and swiftly placed a call across to Dr. Famous Joseph. He was our family doctor, and since I got married to Frank, Dr. Famous had been the one coming to treat me or Frank whenever we fell sick.Frank hardly visited the hospital, so he invited Dr. Famous sometimes. I was scared of anything happening to my husband. Even though I knew Frank didn't like me that much, it hadn't gotten to the point of me wishing him death.The day was bright and sunny, being a Sunday, and the phone call went through."Hello, Doc.""Yes, good morning, who is this?" Dr. Famous asked me, taking me by surprise that he didn't have my phone number stored on his phone."Doc, I'm Mr. Franklin Howard's wife. Please, there is a case of emergency at our home. Frank came home last night acting drunk, and I don't know what happened to
Natalie's POV:Dr. Famous offered me a warm smile as he saw me descend the stairs and approach him. He was sitting on one of our black couches waiting for me and my husband's arrival."Frank will be with you shortly," I let Dr. Famous know, and he smiled at me.A few moments later, Frank with an angry face came downstairs and stopped to greet Dr. Famous in the living room.Dr. Famous also stood up and shook hands with Frank. "Good morning, Mr. Howard."Frank and Dr. Famous shook hands, to which Frank replied, "Welcome, Doc.""Your wife already told me what happened, but I would like to perform some tests on you to know what truly happened and where you got drugged," Dr. Famous said, but Frank remarked, "You don't have to worry yourself with that, Doc. I will get to the bottom of this matter by myself, but I'm a little better now.""Are you sure, Mr. Howard? I would like to draw a sample of your blood to perform some tests and to know the cause of the problem. How about we meet at the h
**Natalie Jackson**I stood aside, looking from my husband to my sister as Frank asked her if she was alright.“No, Frank! Allow me to go home. Natalie must rot in jail today!” Amelia sobbed, and Frank tried to convince her not to leave our house, but she refused."I’m a model, Frank! Look at what your stupid wife did to me!" Amelia turned her hands for Frank to see the bruises the cane had caused.“She dared to flog me just because I came here to visit you guys.”“Did I invite you? Leave here, you bitch, and go back to our father's house! Aren't you ashamed of yourself for lusting after your sister’s husband? Are we on good terms that you would claim you came here to visit us? Do I need your pathetic apologies?” I barked at Amelia, and her eyes narrowed at me.“You won’t get away with this, Natalie! Get ready to rot in jail!” she cried as she got into her car, shutting the door behind her and leaving.I was satisfied that I had disciplined her as I wondered what she came to my house t
Natalie Jackson.As I walked downstairs and into the living room, Frank was trying to calm Amelia down. He stood beside her, speaking to her. "Calm down, Amy; we can discuss this amicably. It hasn't gotten to the point of you involving the police in this. Didn't you think about my reputation and yours, as no one knows Natalie?"Yes, I wasn't a public figure, but my husband and half-sister were celebrities with millions of followers on their pages."No way, Frank! Don't tell me to calm down. Your wife attacked me, and she has to be punished. Your ex-wife, I mean," Amelia said. My eyes narrowed at her words as I finally descended the stairs and looked at the officers in black uniforms standing in my living room."Good morning, police officers," I greeted the two policemen, who looked at me in disbelief.I was short, but I had an hourglass figure."Good morning, Madam. Are you Natalie Jackson?" one of the policemen asked. I noticed the way his eyes traveled from my head to my toes before
Natalie's POV:Franklin and I went up to the third floor where Amelia was admitted. As we arrived, we met Amelia's mother, who was happily looking at her new grandson, but as soon as she saw me, she shouted, "What are you doing here?!"Mrs. Agnes quickly petted the baby to stop crying as the baby in the bed woke up startled by her voice."Mom, I invited Natalie over. Can you just let her be?" Amelia asked her mother, who frowned."I don't want to see Natalie here. Do you want her to infect you with her bad luck?" Mrs. Agnes asked Amelia, who frowned."Mom, that's enough. Natalie is my sister, and it's not like you gave birth to another sister for me to have. Just let her be!"Mrs. Agnes looked pained, but she quickly brushed it off and replied, "Fine. Let me just see my grandchild and leave you two alone."I sighed as James, Asher, and Felix arrived in the room and they went to congratulate their sister."Congratulations, Amelia. So finally, I am an uncle," Asher said happily as he we
Natalie's POV:"Frank, what Michael and I were discussing was only family matters. He was saying that he doesn't love Amelia enough to marry her.""But he wants you," Franklin replied, and I sighed and nodded."I already told him that we weren't going to divorce. He was asking if you will change in the long run of our marriage?" I asked Franklin as he drove the car home in silence.Franklin didn't reply to me, and I didn't bother to ask him again about whether he was going to change.As we arrived at his estate gate, Franklin slowed down his car for the security men to open the gate, then he asked me, "Do you think I am going to change?""I don't know," I replied. "Change is always constant, and anyone can change over time. Maybe if you get bored with me or if we are still unable to have children."Franklin's blue eyes darkened, and he replied, "I cannot change. I married you because I wanted to. Yes, I was childish then, but I've come to realize that a part of me is addicted to you.
Natalie's POV.One week later, Franklin and I set out to attend Chris's wedding. The wedding venue was at a Catholic church, so we made preparations in our room.Frank donned a black tuxedo, and I wore a golden dress that perfectly accentuated my figure."Frank, did your brother invite my family?" I asked, to which Franklin replied, "I don't know. But I think so.""Alright."We finished dressing up and made our way downstairs to the living room. Lady Esther was still cleaning up the house, and we told her to give the key to Alex once she was through.Franklin and I got into one of his cars, as my car was parked in the garage.Franklin drove off to the wedding venue, and I was amazed at the large number of guests that were present. It was unlike my own wedding to Franklin.I watched as the wedding ceremony started. Some guests in black tuxedos who were familiar with Franklin greeted him as we watched the bride make her entry into the church hall.The pianist played the keyboard as she
Natalie's POV"Why, Frank? Why don't you want me to go and see Michael? It's not like I want to do anything with him; I just want to speak with him about accepting Amelia," I said as I pouted my lips in his car."You cannot be the one to advise Michael. Just leave him alone to decide for himself," Franklin bluntly refused, and I looked at him and asked, "Don't you trust me?"Franklin looked at me just as he parked his car and said, "I do, but not with a man who has his eyes on you. I cannot stand that chance, Natalie. Try and understand me.""Fine." I pouted, and Franklin assured me, "Don't worry, I will see Michael, or whenever we run into him again, then I can permit you to discuss with him on the way, and not in the confines of his home or office.""Alright," I replied, and Franklin turned off his car engine, and we got out of his car.I followed him, and we went into the house together.As it was nightfall, I proceeded to the kitchen to prepare our dinner. After I was through, I m
**Franklin's POV**I sat back on the couch in the living room just after my wife had left the house. I wasn't impressed with the way my mother often disrespected my wife, and I was wondering when all this would stop."So, Mom, what do you want me to do for Chris?" I asked her, as I had clearly rejected her invitation the previous week.Although I knew why she was calling me, it was about the company and about Chris having a fiancée who was pregnant with his child.I didn't know my brother's fiancée, although I knew he had posted that he was engaged, but I wasn't sure of who he was dating.This was my first time seeing her here, and to be honest, I didn't like the fact that the white dress she wore was revealing her baby bump."Franklin, I am sorry about what happened at the company the previous week. I tried negotiating with Dad, but he wouldn't comply. He feels I wouldn't manage the company well, even when I had done well in your absence the previous month," Chris said, and I looked
**Natalie's POV**The following week, Franklin and I spent time together setting up my new shop, where I intend to start selling the following week.We got all the sewing machines needed to sew some of my customers' clothes, and now he seems to appreciate my work.We went to the new hospital during the week to check if either of us had any medical issues that could be the reason I hadn't conceived yet. But the doctor said that we both were fine, and I tried not to worry about having a child again.It had been my dream to own my own store, and here we are.As the new week arrived, I was eager to start my shop and welcome my first customer for the day.I got up from bed and prepared to leave for work. The second woman who worked for us had stopped, and only Lady Esther Jacob still arrived to clean the whole house.I went to take my bath while Franklin was still sleeping on the bed.We made love the previous night, and now I had to prepare for my new business."Frank, good morning," I sa
Natalia Jackson:After Franklin and I finished touring the new shop, which was fitted with new glass at the front and freshly painted, we spoke about hiring someone to help me set up my shop.I was glad at the end of the day, and we thanked the staff before going to a restaurant for dinner.My mind was still preoccupied with thoughts about Amelia's pregnancy as Franklin and I sat across from each other at the restaurant table and chairs.Since I had grown too lazy to cook due to my unnecessary worrying, Franklin suggested we eat out, even though he doesn't usually like it."Babe, should we hire a chef?" Franklin asked me, trying to distract me from my thoughts."A chef?" I pondered it but shook my head."No. I don't need a chef. Don't worry, I will make lovely dinners for us tomorrow," I told him just as our meals arrived. We resumed eating, but just then, Gloria Austin came into the restaurant. Her face was stern as she walked in. Her expression changed as her eyes caught sight of me
Natalie Jackson,Arriving at the hospital where my family and I were registered, Franklin parked his car in the hospital parking lot, and we got out.We made our way into the hospital. The nurses in white uniforms welcomed us; they were already familiar with us."Who are you here to see?" one of the nurses asked, while the other attended to other patients.It was already afternoon, around 1 p.m., when Franklin and I arrived, and I gave the nurse Amelia's ward number."She's my sister. So we're here to see her," I told the female nurse, and she responded, "Alright. You can go there now, but note that visiting time will soon be over.""Thank you," we replied. Franklin and I went to the second floor where Amelia was admitted.As we got there, Amelia's mother was in the room. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw us enter."What are you doing here, Natalie? Get out!" she barked, her left hand pointing at the door for me to leave."Good afternoon, Ma, we are here to see Amelia," Franklin
Micheal's POV:I looked at my phone's screen after my phone call with Amelia ended. I wondered, "Should I go to the hospital today to see her? What if her family is there?"I pondered all these thoughts as I continued with the rest of my work for the day.I recalled Asher coming to challenge me at my house, and I knew he would be there in the hospital.Later, I rose from my chair and went to tour my hotel, as I had other shows to attend. I considered that after I closed from work, I would go and see Amelia and inform her not to abort my child.But what if she ended up aborting the pregnancy? I was restless, but I remembered the look of admiration I had seen in Amelia's eyes. Even when I told her that I did not want her and that we could not date, she didn't want to give up the hope that she could win me back. I sighed and went to the event shows, believing Amelia wouldn't terminate her pregnancy even after I had ordered her to, as she would want to use it to pin it on me. Not now that