Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride

Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride

last updateLast Updated : 2024-11-17
By:  Clara J. Stari  Updated just now
Language: English
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I stretched lazily on the bed, much like a contented kitten, before opening my eyes. Hovering above me was a face that could have been sculpted by the gods—a handsome, well-defined face with sun-kissed golden eyes. My first groggy thought was that Cara had finally brought home a decent, well-groomed man for a change. But…. Why is he in my room? I abruptly shoved him away, ending the spell. "Get off your asshole!" With a scowl on my face, I got up quickly. “Was personal space not mentioned by Clara, huh?” I spoke in an irritated tone. “Clara?” He turned and casually picked up some papers from a nearby table, settling down with an annoying smile. “And who might that be, if I may ask?” He doesn’t even remember her? Asshole “Well, if you must know, Clara—” I started, but my words faltered as something shiny caught my eye. What is..? Then my memories began to flood back. —it’s a damn golden sofa. Shit. Brain Freeze. ~~~ Growing up as the oldest kid on a Chicago farm was no picnic for Mary Johnson. Her folks, good ol' Mr. and Mrs. Becky Johnson, were salt-of-the-earth types, who worked hard on their small farm not far from the gritty backstreets of Chicago. They taught Mary and her siblings the value of hard work, self-value. But as much as Mary loved her family, she dreamed big, but those dreams took a backseat when she needed to step up and help support her family. Then, out of the blue, fate threw her a curveball. A chance in the US came knocking, and Mary didn't hesitate. And then she crossed paths with the Blacks – New York’s high society, dripping with wealth and power, who offered her a deal she couldn’t refuse.

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Chapter 1 ~ The Johnsons

~~~~~Being the first child of a Chicago farmer isn’t exactly a walk in the park.Picture this: Heartaches, body pains, barely enough food to go round, the constant struggles to stay sane, and the daily grind of farm life. It’s like living in a soap opera, but with more mud and fewer dramatic pauses.I’m Mary Johnson, the proud firstborn of Mr. and Mrs. Becky Johnson.My parents are the epitome of hardworking citizens: devoted Christians who places a value on big and small things.We live in what you might call a "charming" little cottage that’s really more of a glorified shed, and a tiny patch of farmland not too far from the bright lights of Illinois.We weren’t rolling in dough, but hey, we had just enough to keep the pantry stocked. Well, that was the case until my siblings came into the picture.Lisa and Lora weren’t twins, but they sure look and act like it. They’ve won the admiration of everyone around them because of how brave and intelligent they were.Honestly, though, once

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Comments

user avatar
Clara Joel
I love the start, and I'm sure there's more to this story.
2024-11-03 01:43:34
1
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Ray Michael
Wonderful... more
2024-11-02 22:40:08
1
user avatar
Janeth Green.
Mary is just so lovable!
2024-11-02 17:35:00
0
user avatar
UHASA
hooking blurb Just added to the library sounds interesting the contract from the Blacks this author knows how to hold me well through her books ...
2024-11-02 02:35:10
0
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Patience John
I love this.... I love Mary for being selfless ...
2024-10-31 23:38:54
1
user avatar
Lonely Wolf
Great work. Kudos to the writer!!!
2024-10-31 16:12:53
1
user avatar
zz_starr_zz
The writing is so great, and even though I probably wouldn't be as selfless as Mary, I truly like her nobility.
2024-10-29 23:40:33
1
user avatar
Deathless Reaper
The book is simply superb and the writing style beyond marvelous.
2024-10-28 20:30:35
1
user avatar
Golden Pearls
Wow! I love this
2024-10-28 15:49:49
1
default avatar
Penumbra
You have a unique of telling your tales, author. This book warms my heart, can wait to read more.
2024-10-28 05:33:51
1
user avatar
Clara J. Stari
thanks 🫂 for dropping by
2024-10-28 02:02:10
0
user avatar
Clara J. Stari
Can't wait for more
2024-10-19 14:35:31
0
user avatar
Clara J. Stari
love it....
2024-10-19 14:35:19
0
user avatar
Clara J. Stari
pure bliss
2024-10-19 14:35:04
0
user avatar
Clara J. Stari
wonderful start .........
2024-10-19 14:34:57
0
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32 Chapters

Chapter 1 ~ The Johnsons

~~~~~Being the first child of a Chicago farmer isn’t exactly a walk in the park.Picture this: Heartaches, body pains, barely enough food to go round, the constant struggles to stay sane, and the daily grind of farm life. It’s like living in a soap opera, but with more mud and fewer dramatic pauses.I’m Mary Johnson, the proud firstborn of Mr. and Mrs. Becky Johnson.My parents are the epitome of hardworking citizens: devoted Christians who places a value on big and small things.We live in what you might call a "charming" little cottage that’s really more of a glorified shed, and a tiny patch of farmland not too far from the bright lights of Illinois.We weren’t rolling in dough, but hey, we had just enough to keep the pantry stocked. Well, that was the case until my siblings came into the picture.Lisa and Lora weren’t twins, but they sure look and act like it. They’ve won the admiration of everyone around them because of how brave and intelligent they were.Honestly, though, once
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Chapter 1 ~ Continuations

~~~~Instead of answering her, I cried harder, then Lisa worriedly asked, “Was it something I said?” She looked from dad to mom and then back to me, about to tear up, “I am sorry, I didn’t.”When I saw the single tear in her eyes, I hurried to her side and called her into my arms, I hugged her tightly “Oh Lisa,” I said between tears,, “it is not something you did, I am so, so sorry.”“What? I don’t understand. Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong.” She said, confused.“No, I did everything wrong.” I sob as I hold her face up; I can’t let them be driven to an edge this early. “Can you ever forgive me?” I asked in tears.Lisa took my hand from her face, she teared up as well, and Lora followed, “Of course, big sis.” She sniffled and added, “I forgive whatever you think you did wrong.” She smiled, and it was the best.“Thank you,” I said and stood, and patted both her and Lora’s heads.“Mary.” Father, who had been quiet, called me.“Yes, papa?” I answered as I dried my tears.“
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Chapter 2 ~ My choice

~~~~Instead of replying, Mom just stared at me, utterly speechless. Her expression was like a storm waiting to break; she was clearly furious, but words seemed to fail her. I couldn’t blame her—after all, I’m the model daughter who rarely talks back. When I do, it’s as if some mischievous spirit has suddenly possessed me.Dad, as usual, kept right on eating, pretending he hadn’t heard a word. But I caught the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.Finally, Mom turned to him and demanded, “Aren’t you going to say anything about this?”Choking back his laughter, Dad replied, “What do you mean 'say anything’? Isn’t that what you’re already doing?”“Daniel Johnson?” Mom used his full name, a clear sign she was furious. “You’re just going to let our daughter decide not to go to college? Worse, you’re backing her up? Are you serious?”Dad sighed, clearly worn out, and countered, mimicking Mom’s tone, “Becky Johnson, I don’t see you doing anything.”Lisa and Lora burst into laugh
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Chapter 3 ~ An Old Friend

~~~~The following week, things kicked off with a surprising twist. Lisa and Lora were back in school, their tuition fees finally sorted, while I stayed behind, embracing my new role as the family’s resident farmhand.My mornings were spent helping Mom and Papa on the farm, and by afternoon, I’d transform into a savvy market vendor, haggling over the price of vegetables, fruits, and spices that I’d painstakingly gathered from our land.At first, it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. Let’s just say, I wasn’t born with a green thumb.But after almost two years of back-breaking work, I became a bit of a farming prodigy—well, at least in my eyes. I could tell when the soil was just right, spot a ripe tomato from a mile away, and even shoo away pesky critters without breaking a sweat.Sometimes, when Mom and Dad couldn’t make it to the fields, I’d step in, working tirelessly under the sun. I was convinced it was up to me to keep everything running smoothly. Mom and Papa weren’t getting any
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Chapter 3 ~ Continuation

~~~~So, just like that, I opened up to Rachael, laying it all out. I told her how I decided to give up my education and my dreams, so my siblings could continue theirs. I wasn’t exactly drowning in shame—I was genuinely happy to see my sisters moving forward.But, honestly, there were times when the sadness crept in, that nagging feeling of being a failure, stuck in the same place for twenty years.It was like a little voice constantly reminding me that I hadn’t done anything remarkable with my life. I wanted to change things, but the ‘how’ and ‘what’ felt like questions I couldn’t answer.frankly speaking, I was getting tired of putting on a fake smile, pretending everything was fine when it wasn’t.The weight of it all—the sadness, the self-doubt—was overwhelming. Here I was, twenty years old and feeling like a failure with nothing to my name. No matter how strong I tried to appear, a part of me died inside every single day.Rachael’s eyes widen in disbelief. “Wow! That’s... well,
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Chapter 4 ~ Rachael’s proposition

~~~~I stared at Rachael, my brain running in circles trying to process what she just said. A thousand thoughts raced through my mind, like a high-speed chase where every thought had its own getaway car.Was she seriously suggesting what I thought she was suggesting? Although, at this point, even that was confusing.She must have noticed the skepticism plastered all over my face because her grin widened to an almost cartoonish level. “Trust me,” she said, practically bouncing on the bench with excitement, “it’s not as crazy as it sounds. And hey, if it is, you know I’ve never shied away from a little crazy.”“What kind of proposition could she possibly have?” I thought, trying to make sense of the dizzying amount of possibilities. From becoming a royal farmer for the British food company to possibly running away with the circus, my mind was already imagining all sorts of crazy possibilities.Just when I was starting to dread the impending pitch, Rachael dropped the bombshell. “How ab
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Chapter 5 ~ My Mom and I

~~~Just as I had predicted, my mother stood outside with a flashlight, no doubt waiting for me. “Seriously? What am I, twelve?” I muttered to myself as I approached the house.~~~As Mrs. Johnson stood outside, patiently waiting for her daughter, an unfamiliar fear tightened around her heart. She despised the idea of her children working or studying in places where she couldn’t keep an eye on them. Whenever they left the house, she was filled with anxiety.She had grown up in an environment where children—especially girls—went missing daily. When she was about eighteen, she had a narrow escape from being kidnapped. If it hadn’t been for the man who would become her beloved husband, she and several other children might have vanished forever. She had sworn never to let her children stray far from her side until they were someone else’s responsibility. Even then, she insisted they stay in places where she could keep watch over them.“What’s taking her so long? The restaurants should be
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Chapter 6 - The feud

~~~~Just what is she on about now? I pondered, watching my mom’s calm face as she stood with her arms crossed over her chest, her back leaning against the sink.Her posture suggested a calm façade, but I could sense the stiffness boiling underneath.“Reckless? Mom, I don’t understand what you mean by ‘reckless,’” I said, struggling to keep my voice from cracking. “Someone just offered me a better job opportunity—the best I’ve seen in the last... what? Two years of my—no, our lives—and you’re calling it reckless? What did you want me to do, Say no?”“Yes, of course!” she snapped, throwing her hands up in the air. “You should have said a big, fat no,” she spat out, her eyes flashing with anger. “We’re doing just fine as we are.”I looked at her, confusion starting to replace my rising anger, though I could still feel it simmering beneath the surface. “No, Mom, we’re not fine,” I retorted, the words tumbling out. “Look around you! We’re barely scraping by as it is. We need all the help—
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Chapter 7 ~ The not-so-new Day

The not-so-new Day~~~~I woke up feeling like absolute crap. Thank God it was the weekend—no work, no pretending that everything was fine.The bedsheets were still soggy from last night’s tears—or maybe a whole week’s worth at this point. It was supposed to be a fresh start, but why did I feel so broken?It’s been almost two weeks since that massive fight with Mom over my decision to go to London. She hasn’t spoken a single word to me since. Not one.I’ve been dodging Dad and Lisa like it’s an Olympic sport. Every time they try to bring up “the topic,” I act like I’ve suddenly gone deaf. Honestly, I don’t know how much longer I can pull this off.Even now, just remembering Mom’s words makes my chest ache, and I feel the tears lurking again, waiting for their chance.I glanced out the window. It was already past noon when a knock came at the door.“Yes?” I croaked, my voice still hoarse from sleep.“Oh, you’re finally awake?” Dad’s familiar voice filtered through the door.“Yeah, I am.
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Chapter 8 ~ The trip

~~~~I sat down on my bed, my heart heavy as I glanced at my already-packed bag—though, honestly, there wasn’t much to pack. Tomorrow I would be leaving for London, and yet, here I was, grappling with the fact that Mom still hadn’t come around.Seriously, that woman could be stubborn. It was like trying to move a mountain just to get her to see my side. I understood she was trying to protect me; she loved me fiercely. But come on! One of us had to take a step forward for the sake of the family, and since she wasn’t ready to acknowledge that she might be wrong, I knew it was up to me to be the mature one and settle this once and for all.She was my mother, after all, and I hated the thought of leaving things unresolved between us. I pushed myself up, plastered on a confident face that felt more like a mask than anything, and walked out of my room. When I got to the sitting room, I found Mom on the sofa, lost in thought, her brow furrowed like she was trying to solve the world’s most co
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