Chapter 2

~ Natalie Jackson ~

"Ah!" Amelia cried out like the drama queen that she was, and Franklin rushed downstairs to meet us.

"What did you do to her?" Franklin growled at me as he softly helped Amelia up.

I didn't even push Amelia with force; I only wanted to drag her out. Because she saw Franklin rushing downstairs to meet us, she faked an injury.

"Frankie, your wife—I mean, Natalie—bit me just now and pushed me away," Amelia held her arm and sobbed as she got up from the floor.

Franklin glared at me and spat, "I cannot believe that you would do this to your only sister. You aren't even the legitimate daughter of Mr. Jackson, 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. It was Saturday, so Franklin definitely did not go to work on weekends.

I sobbed, wanting to stop them, and went outside just in time to see Franklin getting into his black car after helping Amelia close her door like a gentleman—something he never was to me.

"Franklin, where are you going?" I asked him, as it was after 7:00 p.m. and getting late.

My soup was delicious, yet Franklin accused me of cooking bitter food and suggested I had poisoned it.

I sobbed and watched Franklin order the security man to pull the gate open. Soon, he drove out of our residence, heading to God knows where with Amelia.

*What did I do wrong now?* I wondered as I sobbed.

I went back into the house since I couldn't follow them. Franklin owned three cars, while I had none. He had never carried me in any of his cars before, not to mention opening the car door for me like a gentleman.

Back inside the house, I looked at the dining table and the tray of food.

I sat down to eat so the food wouldn't go to waste. I finished my meal—the portion Franklin had wanted Amelia to eat—and put his meal in the microwave to warm so it wouldn't spoil.

I transferred the soup into a small pot and covered it before leaving the kitchen to tidy up the dining room.

Once I finished cleaning the dining table, I wiped my tears away, locked the door, and waited for Franklin to return.

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~ Franklin Howard ~

Marrying that local woman was the worst day of my life. I couldn't believe she drugged me. It happened on the day her father held a party for one of his successful deals, inviting my father and several other business partners to celebrate at his home.

That was when I first laid eyes on Natalie. She looked so innocent that I never would have imagined she had it in her mind to drug me.

As everyone enjoyed themselves in the party hall—the living room where the Jacksons mostly welcomed their guests—I had followed Natalie to get to know her that evening. My parents were busy chatting with other families at the event, so I excused myself and followed her.

I hadn't seen Natalie before. I just knew she was also Mr. Jackson's daughter. Everyone knew the story of how Natalie came about. Her mother was a prostitute who wasn't ready to raise a child, and rumors had it that her mother tried to abort her, but Natalie proved stubborn and came out after nine months of pregnancy.

I wanted to speak with Natalie that night to learn what kind of person she was. She was short, with a cute round face and sparkling brown eyes. She was more beautiful than Amelia back then, and I admired her enough to want to get to know her.

What irritated me was that Natalie had drugged her wine, looking for a hookup that night just like her mother.

She knew most of the families attending her father's party were rich, so I became the scapegoat when I accepted a drink from her wine.

Next thing I knew, I woke up on the bed with her. We were both naked, and I didn't know how many hours I had spent with her in that room.

Her family came looking for us, pushed her bedroom door open, and caught us together on the bed.

"Natalie! Franklin!" my parents and hers shouted.

To cover up our shame, they concluded that Natalie and I must get married. Indeed, her bedsheet had red blood stains, meaning I had slept with her.

I was angry and refused to believe Natalie was a cheap woman. I didn't want to marry her, but my father insisted, saying I wouldn't sabotage his friendship with the Jacksons. He claimed it was only right for me to marry Natalie and pretend we had been having an affair, which was not the truth.

I couldn't remember what we did, and I refused to sleep with Natalie after we married.

Luckily, Natalie didn't conceive after that night, and I am now planning to divorce her so I can move in with my life—and perhaps marry—her sister.

Amelia has class and holds a degree, speaking fluently, while Natalie is an embarrassment on her own.

Whenever my best friend, Michael Austin, comes to visit me, I feel embarrassed when he sees my wife.

I cannot take Natalie to any events with me, so I am thinking of divorcing her.

As the CEO of H.W. Global, I believe it best that I file for divorce and marry a woman of my standard.

If you ask me what I like about Natalie, I don't think I like anything about her anymore; she is no longer beautiful to me. She is only good at cooking, and I can find a replacement for that.

I drove my car toward a fancy restaurant. Although I hate eating out, I needed to get away from Natalie to get to know Amelia better.

"I hope your arm isn't hurting too much," I asked Amelia, since she claimed Natalie hurt her just as I went upstairs to change my clothes.

"No, it's okay now," Amelia smiled, and I nodded.

"Okay," I smiled back as it was already getting late, and I pulled into one of the costly restaurants nearby.

"We are here. Let's grab something to eat," I told Amelia with a smile on my face, and she smiled back. Her face wore minimal makeup, which I liked about her—not too much makeup, yet still beautiful.

I got out of my car, took Amelia by the left hand, and escorted her into the restaurant. We went to the private section, where I sat down and ordered a nice meal for the two of us.

Amelia smiled, and her phone rang just as she settled into her chair across from me.

"Hello, Father," she said, while I waved over the waiter to serve us something nice.

"Yes, I went to see Franklin and Natalie. They're fine, Dad. Do not worry, I will be home on time, so you don't have to worry about me," Amelia spoke to her father while smiling flirtatiously at me.

"Okay, Dad. Take care." Amelia ended the call and, without me asking, explained, "My dad wanted to know who I went out to see. You know that I do not have a boyfriend or lover."

"Oh, that's nice," I replied.

Just as I was about to ask Amelia what she would like to eat, her phone rang again. She answered, "Hey, Felix."

"Yeah, I went out with Franklin. I will call you back, or I will be home on time," she told him and soon ended the call.

The same went for her two other brothers—they called to check up on her. Yet, ever since I married Natalie, no one ever calls to check on her.

"So, what would you like to have for dinner?" I asked Amelia. She blinked her long eyelashes and bit her lower pink lip.

"Anything you choose, Frankie," she said, and I smiled at her.

"That's fine," I replied, choosing a simple meal—a plate of chicken pepper soup—so we wouldn't waste much time and could return home.

"So tell me, Frankie, how have you been coping with my ugly sister? I knew that if Natalie hadn't set you up, you and I were supposed to become a couple," Amelia said. I met her shining blue eyes, which shimmered in the night light.