Franklin Howard:I was nervous when I saw my wife acting anxiously. Gaining her trust back was one of the happiest moments of my life. I knew I had been cruel to her, but with the type of women in this city, getting someone like Natalie was rare. I had judged her wrongly, and I did not want to lose her again."Don't worry, we will have a baby soon. Come, let's go upstairs and freshen up. I will give you a bath," I said to her, my gaze locked with hers as I rose from the couch first and carried Natalie up in my arms as if she were a baby."Franklin, put me down," she said in her sweet, delicate voice as I held her firmly in my masculine arms, grinning at her nervousness."Why? Aren't you my wife?" I asked her with a smile as I climbed the flight of stairs to her room."I am," she pouted her pink lips as I ascended the stairs.Natalie was shy, and I couldn't believe that she was still acting shy even after we had been intimate several times since we reconciled last week.I couldn't beli
Natalie Jackson:I was in the closet, checking out what to wear since Franklin had said that we were going shopping for the things we would need for our honeymoon. I wanted to tell him to leave it, as we hadn't recently gotten married, but Franklin was happy and excited to travel with me, and I didn't want to kill his joy.The sound of my phone ringing in my room caught my attention. I swiftly went to check who was calling me, knowing that I had blocked most of my family members. Although my dad had told me to unblock them, I was still hesitant to do so.As I neared my phone, which was plugged in to charge, I furrowed my brows upon seeing that it was an unknown number. Maybe Gloria had decided to call me from another number, or was it Amelia or her three brothers? I scowled, wanting to end the call before my mind urged me to answer it."Hello, who's this?" I inquired, and my heart skipped a beat as I heard Michael's voice."Good morning, Natalie. How are you doing?" he asked. My brows
Natalie Jackson:I silently glanced at the road as Franklin drove the car out of his estate and headed for the shopping complex.A few drives later, he pulled to a stop and announced, "We're here.""Okay," I said, snapping out of my trance as I harbored thoughts about Michael in my mind. This shouldn't be my concern, but I couldn't help but feel bad for Michael, wishing he had a woman in his life and didn't spend his time chasing after a married woman.I am still amazed that Michael likes me. It was surprising to me because I knew many people loathed me because of my mother's history.I sighed, stepping out of the car as Franklin helped me pull the car door open, and we walked into the shopping plaza together."Must we shop for what we will be wearing here?" I asked him, whispering into his ear as he held me closer, like a celebrity couple."Yeah. We have to shop for our honeymoon clothes here, so we will travel with them instead of ordering from abroad," he said, his hot breath fanni
Natalie Jackson:I didn't try begging Franklin again to take me to Michael's house, and the silence in the car was excruciating.Franklin sighed and said, "I do not want you bringing up Michael again, and you should bar him from contacting you, okay?"I remained silent and didn't reply."Natalie," Franklin called my name, and I responded, "Okay." I sighed and kept my gaze on the road as Franklin drove us back home.I opened the ice cream package but didn't bother to lick it as the road was bumpy.Soon, we arrived at Franklin's estate, and I watched as the estate security men pulled the gate open. Franklin sped up and soon arrived home.As he parked his car in the driveway, I got out and sprinted into the house, holding the package of ice cream with me."Natalie," Franklin called me back, but I lied, "I want to go and use the restroom.""Fine."I looked away and unlocked the door. I dashed into the house to keep the ice cream and relieve myself.A few minutes later, Franklin came to my
Natalie's POV After my dinner with my husband ended, I cleared the plate to the kitchen, lost in my ocean of thoughts about how I would see Michael. I just wanted to see him even once before I traveled with Franklin. I turned off the light, stepped out of the kitchen, and went upstairs to my room. As I stepped into the sitting room upstairs, I saw Franklin waiting for me on the couch. "What's wrong, honey? Aren't you going to bed?" I asked him, walking over to meet him. I wondered what was on his mind. "I was waiting for you to finish your work in the kitchen since you don’t like me assisting you there. Wesley already hired two women to help you, but I told him to tell them to wait until we return from our honeymoon," Franklin said, pulling me closer to himself on the couch. I settled on his thighs and he kissed my neck. "That's fine. Can we go to bed now?" I asked him, trying to mask my worry as I avoided looking at his face. "What's wrong, Natalie?" Franklin asked, tilted my he
Amelia Jackson:I was so annoyed that Michael sent me away. I couldn't focus at work; my mind kept thinking about how to win him over. I had researched and thought about it, but it was clear that he was interested in that daughter of a prostitute."Ugh!" I grimaced in my car as my phone rang; I knew Asher was the caller. I didn't bother to pick it up. How do I win Michael? He was so hot in bed, and I couldn't get enough of him, but he clearly did not have any feelings for me.How can a man be so great in bed and say that he has no feelings? I knew it was because of Natalie, and I wished she had never been born.I thought about the fact that I had even given Natalie's contact information to Michael. Now he would be pestering her. She was already married, and we weren't getting any closer. I considered warning her to stay away from Michael; maybe that way, Michael would be left with me.I truly regretted giving Natalie's number to Michael. The thought that he only agreed to sleep with m
Michael Austin;I was so excited when Steven called me and informed me that Natalie was here to see me.She came for real! I giggled and went back upstairs to my room to change clothes. I didn't want to scare her as I was in a bathrobe. So I wore a white top and black trousers with my black leather slippers. I got out of my room and rushed downstairs to welcome Natalie."Hello, welcome to my home," I said, smiling at her as I pulled the door open for her."Thank you, Michael," Natalie looked nervous and hesitant to enter my house."May I come in?" she asked, and I responded, "Sure."She smiled and entered the room."So, tell me. How are you feeling now? I don't want to waste much time here as I would like to head to the market," she said, and I recalled that I also wanted to go to the nearby store and shop for groceries.My kitchen was empty, and because I had been thinking about her, I didn't make time to cook."That's fine. I can escort you to the market. I wanted to go shopping too
Natalie Jackson:I couldn't believe my ears when I heard Amelia shout that she had sex with Michael.Were they dating? I was stupefied as I looked from Amelia, who left us angrily, to Michael, who looked so ashamed of himself and embarrassed."It's not what you think. I honestly didn't want to do anything with her, but she just forced herself on me," Michael tried to clear the air as he knew that I would believe Amelia. After all, she was my sister, and she mostly bragged about everything she had and what she didn't have because of me."It's okay, Michael. You shouldn't blame her for saying that. Maybe she truly likes you," I said, and Michael's eyes narrowed in anger."I made the worst mistake by falling for her, and it was because I wanted to get your number," he confessed, and I was more speechless."I am sorry. I just didn't want you bothering me when I was with Franklin. He might misunderstand everything, and I didn't want him to lose his trust in me. Franklin even confessed to s
**Natalie**Hearing the sound of voices coming from the ground floor, I roused from my sleep and went to see who the people discussing there were.Pulling the balcony door unlocked, I was surprised to see Michael and one of my elder brothers, Asher, and I wondered what brought them here."Natalie!... Hi!" Michael waved to me, and I frowned after seeing that Franklin's car had left the estate.It was a picture-perfect view from this balcony to take a look around the city.I held my flowing dress that the wind was pushing forward."Good evening, Michael. What do you want? Franklin isn't around," I replied after seeing that my husband had left the premises. I didn't want Franklin to return and assume that I cheated on him."Are you alright, Natalie? I came to see you and to present you with these flowers!" Michael said, raising the bouquet of roses, and looking up at me. Asher sighed and moved over to his car. "No. I am sorry, but I cannot accept them. I cannot cheat on Franklin with yo
Franklin's POV:"Natalie, open this door," I called to my wife, seeing that she had locked herself in her room.I shouldn't have agreed for Natalie to go and apologize to her stepmother, but I had to do what the prophetess said. I had to ensure that Natalie didn't disobey her words; now Natalie is making me extra worried."Natalie..." I called her name again as I couldn't believe that she was asking me for a divorce. I didn't like the fact that with any little misunderstanding between us, Natalie would immediately bring up divorce. I had told her that I didn't want to divorce her.We are already a couple, so why was she eager to divorce me? I assumed it was because of Michael that she wanted to leave me for him."Natalie, don't make me order Wesley to get a carpenter to come and remove this door. Open it now!" My voice was loud, and after a while, the room door unlocked, and Natalie stood there with her tear-streaked face."What has come over you? Is your stepmother a god that you sho
Natalie Jackson.Arriving on the second floor, I could feel my heart beating loudly in my chest.Asher pushed the door open and led me into the sitting room.Mrs. Agnes Jackson was perched on one of the white couches in the sitting room, going through a fashion magazine. But as her eyes locked with mine, she spat out the juice into her glass cup and dropped it on the coffee table. Glaring at me, she demanded, "What are you doing here? Asher, what is she doing here?""Mom," Asher let go of my hand and walked over to meet his mother.Mrs. Agnes shifted her focus away from me to her son, waiting to hear his explanation. However, I took it upon myself to approach her, kneeling beside her feet to apologize."I am sorry, Mother, for being a bad daughter to you." I knelt a short distance away from Mrs. Agnes, and she laughed, saying, "Hahaha. What is the meaning of this nonsense, Natalie? Get out of my presence. I don't care if you are a good daughter or a bad daughter to me. You are not my
(Natalie Jackson)Franklin and I arrived home, and my mind was in chaos, wondering how I would approach my stepmother and apologize to her.Mrs. Agnes hated me with a passion that I was aware of. I sighed while Franklin looked at me as he drove his car into the premises just after Alex opened the gate and welcomed us."You don't have to worry about going to see your stepmother. I will accompany you," Franklin said. I looked at him and told him, "Okay. But I am certain that she won't forgive me. I am so sure about that.""It's okay. Remember the prophetess said it's not compulsory that your stepmother must forgive you, but you should apologize to her.""Alright." I sighed and focused my gaze on the front of our house while Franklin parked his car. I carefully got out, and he came out and met me just after locking his car.Franklin gave the ice cream to me, but my mood was still down, knowing that my stepmother was behind my setbacks and childlessness.*What did she exactly do?* Well,
(Franklin Howard)"You are not our members, right?" she asked, and I quickly replied, "Yes, Ma. We came here seeking the fruit of the womb, but your mother already attended to us."I forced a smile even when I didn't want to."I can see that. But come to my office. I can still see how to help you both," she said as she walked away, while her mother continued with her walking and exited the house. We followed the middle-aged woman to her office, except for Natalie's mother, who went after the old woman to speak with her again.I wondered what Natalie's mother had to ask the old woman. It was really shocking that Mrs. Agnes Jackson had actually cursed Natalie and made Natalie's childhood difficult.Natalie looked sober, so I walked up beside her and held her hand.We followed the woman into her office, and she sat down on a red mat and looked at Natalie, just as she told us to wait.Her office, as she called it, looked more like a shrine, with white curtains on the wall, and she did som
(Natalie Jackson)As I rushed out of the house and made my way towards the exit gate, I heard my name, "Wait, Natalie! Come over, let me escort you."I looked back at the front of the house and saw Franklin walking over to his car, the black SUV."Come, let me give you a ride. Although I don't feel comfortable about this," Franklin said, and I sighed as I rushed back to his car to meet him."You shouldn't worry about it. My mother wouldn't take me anywhere evil," I assured him as I hurried to his car to join him inside.Franklin had changed and was now wearing a white shirt and black pants, paired with black shoes.He opened and shut the car door carefully after I had settled into the front passenger seat, then he entered the driver's seat and drove out of his residence."So where are we heading to?" Franklin asked me as he slowed down on the estate street and looked at me."Wait, let me call my mother," I smiled as I quickly withdrew my phone from my handbag and reached for it to giv
**Natalie's POV**One week later, after Amelia had welcomed her baby, Franklin's mother came to our home to see us.I was in the kitchen cooking since it was Saturday. I heard the sound of a car driving into the garage, and as I went out of the kitchen to see who it was, I was surprised to see Franklin's mother get out of the car, looking at me with irritation."Good morning, Ma," I greeted her, but she looked away without responding. I sighed and went back into the kitchen as I continued cooking.Later, I came out to the dining room to serve the meal since it was still morning."Franklin, how are you and your wife comfortable staying together when you don't have any children yet? Chris's wife has given birth to a bouncing baby boy, and yet you and Natalie don’t have any kids yet," his mother said."Mom," Franklin sighed, seated across from her in the exquisite living room."We will have kids, Mom. Stop pressuring us about it. We will have kids in God's own time," he replied to her."
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.