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Chapter 9: A Marriage of Convenience
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2024-07-26 17:08:24Related chapters
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 10: A New Chapter
I bit into my nails as I walked back to the hospital ward Serenity was with Stacy. I felt like shit. I already knew this would be the outcome but I still couldn't get used to it. How was I going to deal with pretending to be a happy couple with him when I despised him? Pretending meant I'd have to share a bedroom with him too. That could be fixed, right? He wasn't giving me a chance to negotiate. I didn't have a choice but to follow his orders.I groaned and pushed the door open. This time, the children were complete. Zayne was crying as he hugged Serenity who was laughing and petting him on the head. Zyaire was seated by the window with Zach keeping a keen eye on him. Savia just sat quietly, watching everyone. She was the first to look at me.I sighed and walked into the room. "Zayne, stop crying, your sister isn't going to die,""He's crying because he knows that," they replied simultaneously. It gave me the creeps whenever they did that. It didn't happen often but whenever it did, I
Last Updated : 2024-07-27It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 11: A Facade of Forgiveness
Time went by quickly. I prayed and hoped time would stop. Every day I went to bed wishing that when I woke up, I'd go back in time to the previous day so a day wouldn't be added. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. He kept his promise and didn't show up in my face after our marriage was registered. A few times, his bodyguard, Cadmus, would come and take Zayne and Serenity to see him. Zyaire followed a few times and didn't ask why the arrangement was like that. Since he wasn't the type to care about anything, I wasn't a bit worried about him.The new apartment he got us was a small two-room apartment. I didn't like the place and I knew he intentionally did it to make me as uncomfortable as possible. He never said a word to me, not even a greeting during the months.I knew I was the one who asked him for that, but it sucked how easily he obeyed. It just reminded me more why he easily ruined my life in the first place. I wanted him to provoke me so I could have more reasons to pour out my an
Last Updated : 2024-07-29It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 12: A Facade of Forgiveness (2)
The car drove into the house I once lived in. The architecture was the same but the color of the building had been repainted to beige. The house was one of the biggest I'd ever seen and even to date, it left me marveled. The driver came out and opened the door for us. The children came out first and just as they came out, someone ran out of the house shrieking.His mother.I hadn't seen her in years. She was the most beautiful woman to ever cross my path, even for an old one. She was the framework for Rominic's beauty. She was also very kind to me back then and the closest thing to what a true mother was, but I stubbornly kept my distance because I was seeking my stepmother's affection."Oh my, my baby girl! My brown biscuit!" Stupid name, but Kara had never been good with names. I made my way over to her, smiling and readying myself for her infamous bone-crushing hug. "My Papaya!" She shrieked when the hug came. I laughed in her arms, groaning silently from the pain of her stronghold
Last Updated : 2024-07-30It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 13: offer her a job
Rominic's viewpointLavender's death drove me mad, but the silent treatment she gave him the past months made me feel worse. It wasn't easy pretending she didn't exist but I had to do that to secure our future. I could tell in an instant that the two eldest children held a significant value to her mentally than the others. They were intelligent and clever, that was part of the reason. The girl especially, was dramatically cunning and she was my first target. From the reports submitted by Stacy, the bodyguards stationed around their house and the information I got from the other children, she was the center. Winning her over is the first step to weakening Zach and then Lavender.Ah, I couldn't believe I was plotting against my children.Lavender not only hated me, she doubted every word that came out of my mouth. In her mind, I was a giant asshole. A well-deserved image but not something I wanted to leave. Still, changing it overnight wouldn't be possible so the best action was to act
Last Updated : 2024-07-31It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 14: shopping?
Rominic's viewpoint"Lavender, you're going to exhaust my scheduled plans. Please hurry up already!" I shouted, looking up at the staircase. I didn't have much to do but I had a foreign partner I needed to talk to around 4 PM. If I was going to act as a driver and take the children around the city, it needed to be done before that time.Surprisingly, Lavender agreed to my conditions… well, the first one to work as my PA, not the second to sleep in the same room. She barely agreed to the first one. I was going to find a way to make the second one come true. Time was all I needed."Daddy, save me!" Serenity shouted, running down the staircase. Her hair was parted into two twin tails swinging with her bouncy steps. There were two small buns at the top of the bouncing twin tails. It suited her angelic face."Serenity, come back here!" Lavender shouted. The sound of her heels hitting the staircase aggressively made me worry about her. She could fall. That concern was short-lived when she c
Last Updated : 2024-07-31It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 15: a day at the mall
Rominic's viewpointGoing shopping for girls is nothing but pure torture. I, at least, thought that since my daughters were kids, they would be easy to deal with but I was wrong. Not only did Savia and Serenity love to dress up, but they knew exactly what they wanted so they were extremely picky. They would never accept something if they didn't like it. They had their own style of dressing at their age and were determined to stick to them. Zach and Zyaire were the same. They knew what they wanted but didn't find the available clothes good enough. Zayne didn't know what he wanted so it was one hell of a battle trying to figure out what he'd like.Then Stacy joined and I was thrown into hell.They were worse than my sisters and mother combined. Damn, they were bossy little brats! I was tired and struggling with a nasty headache but they didn't seem to notice."Not that one, Daddy, that pretty pink one," Serenity huffed with annoyance. I was supposed to help her pick a pair of shoes from
Last Updated : 2024-08-01It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 16: Appeasing The Little Boss
Rominic's viewpoint"Good evening, Mom!"Lavender nodded, her eyes still fixed on what she was doing. Her hair was weaved back into three big fancy braids and she had some green stuff all over her face. "Welcome home, kids, how was your day?" Is that my shirt?"Mommy, are those our books?" Serenity asked, jumping on the sofa next to her mother. She stretched her hand out and poked the green stuff. "Can I get a face mask too, Mommy?"Lavender nodded. "Your grandmother is mixing more in the kitchen. You can ask her to make it for you too," Serenity jumped down from the chair and ran to the kitchen. Lavender was distracted. I continued to stare at the shirt on her body. It was my favorite green shirt but the edge of the sleeves had been tinted pink, the same with the hem. I wouldn't have recognized the shirt if it wasn't for my initials that were written on the collar.Zyaire stood beside her and bent, trying to get her attention. "Mom, are these our books?" I breathed with relief when I
Last Updated : 2024-08-01It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 17: first day (1)
To say the least, my life was going fantastic. In case you didn't get it, that was sarcasm. As much as I liked how my children were happy, I hated how close they were getting to him and how much I had to pretend like I was okay with it. Zachary was easier to bribe than I thought. In less than a week, he was already worshiping the ground his father walked on. Why? His father had intelligence and I didn't. His father let him use his laboratory and I didn't even have anything related to a lab. His father gave him a credit card and was teaching them how to drive. I didn't have a car.I was against the children learning about driving. Stacy brought the idea up when she sought approval to teach Zayne how to drive. I refused but Rominic thought it was a good idea and accepted. The children were all for it so it was seven against one. Stacy was in charge of teaching Zayne. Kara taught them in Rominic's absence, except Savia who wanted to learn from her grandfather for some reason. Rominic too
Last Updated : 2024-08-02
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It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 92: A Call From the Past
Lavender's POVThe cool, smooth leather of the office couch cushioned me as I sat cross-legged, my notepad balanced on one knee. I leaned forward, the pen in my hand moving swiftly, its tip scratching faintly against the paper. Around me, the soft, lingering scent of roses and bergamot filled the air—remnants of test bottles scattered haphazardly across my desk.Warm sunlight filters through the sheer curtains, bathing the room in a gentle glow. The golden light pools on the wooden floor and reflects off the edges of glass bottles, casting shadows across the walls. It's quiet except for the faint scratching of my pen and the low hum of the air conditioning. My gaze dropped back to the notepad where I meticulously outlined the ingredients for my latest obsession: a bold, layered perfume.The vision was vivid in my mind: the top notes would be sharp and citrusy, evoking the crispness of an early spring morning. The heart would be floral—a soft, comforting embrace, delicate yet unyieldin
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 91: Between Passion and Plans
Lavender's POVI stretched my legs out on the bed, crossing them at the ankles as I leaned back against the headboard. Papers, a file, and my laptop were scattered around me, the evidence of a day spent working. My phone buzzed faintly next to me, but I ignored it, too engrossed in the file I was reviewing.The sound of running water echoed from the open bathroom door. Rominic's voice carried through the space as he talked about his day, weaving details about a difficult client and a frustrating product launch into the hum of the shower. I half-listened, my eyes scanning the lines of the document in my lap."And then the old man had the nerve to criticize the campaign visuals," Rominic grumbled.I heard the sharp squeak of the shower handle turning, followed by the dull thud of water droplets against tile as the flow stopped. "Honestly, Lav, I don't know how I managed to keep my temper. Times like this, I wish Dad hadn't retired and left me to deal with this circus.""You handled it f
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 90: One Word
Lavender's POVI stared at my phone for what felt like the hundredth time, the faint glow of the screen casting shadows across my hands. The message sat there, glaring back at me, its words as sharp as the first time I read them:Your luck truly is magnificent, dearest Lavender. But how far does that luck extend to those around you?The number that sent it no longer existed, but the unease it left behind clung to me like cobwebs. For two weeks now, I'd replayed those words in my mind, dissecting every possible meaning. Was it a threat? A warning? A cruel joke?I rubbed my temple, trying to push away the thoughts that refused to leave me. Who could have sent it? Had I offended someone? My mind churned, dragging up memories from the past. There were people I'd cut out of my life over the years, but those falling-outs were so long ago—ten years, maybe more. And they'd been petty disagreements, nothing that would warrant this kind of cryptic hostility.Yet, the nagging thought remained: h
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 89: A Bold Transformation
I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to stay calm, tapping the arm of the chair rhythmically. Plans had changed last minute, and we had to cancel on Giovanna. But this wasn't a trivial decision; it was because of Rylee. I couldn't leave her alone—not in the state she was in. Anna, Tyra, and Ginger agreed without hesitation. Rylee had become part of our circle, and right now, our priority was coaxing her into facing her mistakes. We gave Giovanna the ticket as a peace offering, hoping she'd understand.Anna, Tyra, and Ginger had practically moved in to help me keep an eye on her. Suzanne couldn't be here physically, but she regularly sent messages of support. Phineas frequently checked on Rylee through me, and Nic, despite his lingering frustration with his sister, never missed a chance to ask after her. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how alike the two of them were in their stubbornness and loyalty.I was seated in the living room, Tyra gently braiding my hair whi
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 88: Rylee's Crossroad
I stepped quietly into Rylee’s bedroom, the familiar scent of black cherry with a subtle touch of ‘black rose’ filling the air. My hands were shoved deep into the kangaroo pockets of my hoodie, fingers curling into fists. I stopped at the foot of the bed, watching her fragile figure huddled in the middle, clutching her knees to her chest, her face buried in the folds of her arms. The bedsheets, deep red with scattered flaming stars, were tangled around her legs, a stark contrast to the gray sadness that seemed to engulf her. Seeing her like this—so vulnerable—twisted something deep inside me. Rylee never showed her softness, not to anyone. But I knew better than to offer comfort too soon; she would push me away. Being sweet didn’t work with her. When she felt cornered, she lashed out.I exhaled a heavy sigh, the kind that weighed more than just air. I sat down at the edge of the bed, my body turned sideways so I could still see her face, or at least what was left of it beneath the ve
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 87: Trouble on the Homefront
Lavender's viewpointI waited patiently in Rominic's and my bedroom, my legs stretched out comfortably on the bed while my back rested against the headboard. My eyes skimmed over the words on the page, racing through each line, but my focus was fractured. I was worried about Rylee, who Rominic had said was in tears. That wasn't something he would lie about, nor was it unusual for me to hear.Rominic was usually the first person Rylee turned to whenever she faced a problem. It always struck me as strange how they could barely stand each other's presence yet relied on one another during emotional turmoil. Their relationship was perplexing, but I had come to understand it was a unique bond. It reminded me of my own children, Zach and Savia. They bicker and fight more than any other siblings I know, yet their love and understanding for each other run deep. It seemed that Rominic and Rylee shared a similar dynamic—even after ten years, their connection remained unchanged.What truly worried
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 86: Oh Boy
A breathless gasp fell from my lips as I threw my head back, my back arching off the bed in a deliciously desperate stretch. But Rominic didn't give me a moment to acclimate to the powerful wave of sensation that crashed over me. He began to rock his hips, plunging in and out at a maddening pace from the very start, driving me wild. My entire body burned with an insatiable heat that pooled tantalizingly in my abdomen, each thrust igniting a fever that coursed through me. I was quickly lost in the delirious bliss of our bodies colliding relentlessly, surrendering to the rhythm we created together.Rominic hovered over me, his presence consuming, as he cuffed my hands to the bed above my head, rendering me beautifully helpless. He hardly slowed his pace; in fact, every time he felt my walls tighten around him, he responded with heightened urgency, relishing in my pleasure. I could barely obey any order he barked at me, my capacity for restraint evaporating under his relentless assault. A
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 85: Try Not To Make A Sound
Rominic's hands explored every single strand of my hair, threading through it as if he were crafting a delicate crown just for me. He hovered above, his gaze locking onto my hazy eyes as I breathed heavily, my pulse quickening. Heat radiated from my face, igniting a giddy sensation in me, as if I were melting under the influence of something intoxicating. His hand moved to cup my cheek, and I instinctively closed the eye above it, surrendering to his touch. His thumb caressed the soft flesh, brushing over my rosy cheeks in a way that sent a thrill racing through me, leaving me both curious and breathless about his next move."Try not to make a sound," Nic commanded, his voice low and sultry, as his kisses traveled down the curve of my neck, igniting a fire beneath my skin."Is that an order?" I challenged, my tone laced with defiance. He paused, that simmering challenge hanging in the air. "And what if I don't do as you say?" I teased, a smirk curling on my face.Nic brushed his tongu
It Should Have Been Like This Chapter 84: How Was Your Day?
I stretched up on my toes, arching my back slightly as a loud yawn escaped my lips. I felt utterly exhausted, every movement met with the crack and creak of my weary bones. Since starting work last week, I have poured every ounce of energy into identifying and correcting the flaws within the company. With just two days left before my night out at the club with my friends, I knew I needed to take a breather to be in top shape for the party. I was the type to fall ill at the first hint of too much alcohol or the overwhelming pulse of loud music after days of stress. It never helped me unwind.Having wrapped up the urgent tasks, I planned to work from home the next day, hoping to catch up on rest and steal a bit more time with Nic. With the recent success of the new launch, including Zach's product, he hadn't had much free time either."You're late, again." Speak of the devil. I instinctively halted my movements and peeled my tired eyes open, my arms still stretched above my head. A wear
