LOGINShare
Chapter 19 ~ Where Silence Ends
Last Updated:
2024-10-27 13:04:10
Related chapters
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 20 ~The Proposer
~~~~Halfway down the stairs, Clara's boyfriend and his gang were lounging, the air thick with smoke from some hard drugs. I hurried past, doing my best to ignore them, even when he called out, "Oh, you work on Saturdays now? How lovely."At his comment, I threw him the'middle finger salute' without even looking back and continued out of the complex. Their chuckles followed me, and I couldn't help but wish they'd all choke on their cigars.I arrived at the restaurant right on time—exactly 7:00 AM—and just as I predicted, the silver-haired lady was already seated with the manager. She looked younger than when I’d last seen her, and that threw me off for a moment.“There she is,” the manager declared as I approached. “I told you, she always keeps to time.” He turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “And she’s pissed.”I let out an exasperated sigh, trying to mask my annoyance. “No, I’m not. This is my usual face,” I lied, even though it was obvious to anyone who paid attention that I was more
Last Updated : 2024-10-27Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 21 ~ A Costly Deception
~~~ “You’re quiet?” Mrs. Black asked, her sharp eyes studying me closely.Of course, I was silent—how could anyone just respond to such a bombshell? I could tell she doubted me the moment I said I didn’t know her family.To her, that probably only confirmed her low opinion. She took another sip of her wine, seemingly unbothered by my shock. “Well, it’s fine. You don’t need to say anything. As long as you understand what I’m talking about, then that’s good enough.”I finally managed to clear the lump in my throat, forcing a polite smile. “Sorry, ma’am, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m finding it very difficult to understand your words. You want me to act as a wife for your son? I mean, it’s kind of funny, right? Wouldn’t it just be easier for him to get married?” I chuckled nervously.Her expression hardened, the politeness in her tone disappearing. “Don’t act smart with me, young lady. After all, if you were indeed smart, you wouldn’t be in the position where I found you.”The chill
Last Updated : 2024-10-30Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 22 ~ The Raged Mary
~~~~Clara, still standing at the doorway with her shopping bags, chuckled to herself like she’d just won a marathon, completely unaware of the chaos inside me. Meanwhile, I sat on the floor, staring blankly at her, my mind numb and heart heavy.“Wow! What happened here? Did we get robbed?” she asked, a smile playing on her lips, as if it were a joke.I kept staring at her, my gaze fixed on those bags—my stolen money. I struggled to push myself up, my legs shaking beneath me. As I approached her, tears silently streamed down my face.“Clara,” my voice trembled, barely above a whisper, “where did you go, and what are you holding?”Her eyes widened, clearly not expecting to see me there. “Oh shit! Damn, Mary, you scared the hell out of me!” she laughed nervously. “Why are you back already? I thought you were at work,” she stammered, her voice laced with poorly concealed guilt.She was pretending not to know I was in. Fine. Play it cool, Mary. I forced myself to keep my voice steady. “Ye
Last Updated : 2024-11-01Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 23 ~ The Deal
~~~~~Turning to me with rage, he demanded, “What did you just say to me?” His eyes darkened as he gripped my neck harder. “I think it’s best I kill you now, since you clearly don’t know your place. And just so you know, I don’t feel bad fucking a corpse,” he sneered, pressing both hands down on my throat.“Great, because I won’t feel bad killing you either,” I hissed, glaring at him. Summoning the last of my strength, I kicked him hard in the groin. He winced in pain, his grip loosening just enough for me to breathe. Desperate, I reached for the hand mirror on the nearby cabinet.Without hesitation, I smashed it into his face. He staggered, trying to regain his balance, but as he lunged at me, I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed a shard of the broken mirror and drove it into his hand, the jagged edges sinking deep. He screamed and collapsed to the ground, clutching his bleeding hand.I stood over him, panting and trembling as I forced ragged breaths through my nose. Seeing her boyfriend dow
Last Updated : 2024-11-02Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 24 ~ Eric Black
~~~~The Black Multiple Enterprise, New York“THEY’RE CALLING YOU a wealthy, ruthless bastard, sir.” Carol said as she scanned the article in the business magazine. “You must be happy.”Eric Black looked at his secretary but didn’t speak. Eventually she glanced up and smiled. “You like being called a ruthless bastard, one that is wealthy too.” She reminded him.“I like respect.” He corrected.“Or fear.”He nodded. “Fear works.”Carol dropped the open magazine on his desk. “Don’t you ever want someone to think you’re nice?” she asked.“No.”Being the nice guy meant nothing in his world. He didn’t see the need for it. As the firstborn of the third-generation conglomerate family of the Harry Blacks, no matter what path he took, people would still stick to him, whether out of fear or ambition. Connections and power were handed to him like an inheritance, and in his mind, niceties were just another form of manipu
Last Updated : 2024-11-03Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 25 ~ Cloaked Path
~~~~~While Ms. Nora Black spoke sharply into the phone, documents clutched in one hand, I found myself silently admiring the clean streets outside. For some reason, we had switched cars, and now she was sitting next to me in the backseat while a different driver took the wheel.As we moved from the quiet lane onto the bustling highway, Ms. Black finally looked up, a practiced smile slipping into place. "Oh! Sorry about that, just had to make a few calls," she said smoothly."It’s fine," I replied."We have a lot of ground to cover—starting with the hair salon, then makeup, and shopping. We’ve got our work cut out for us."I blinked, glancing at her styled hair. It looked perfectly fine to me. "Your hair seems fine, ma’am. Why do you need to go to the salon?"She gave me a stunned look, as if I had spoken an alien language. "I was talking about you, dumb girl," she said, her tone slicing through the air."Oh." I forced a smile, ignoring the insult. "But my hair looks fine.""To whom?"
Last Updated : 2024-11-04Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 26 ~ Dance of Lies: Faithless Encounter
~~~~~As the plane touched down in Austria, I could barely keep my legs steady from the nerves. Mrs. Black glanced over and sighed, "No need to look like someone about to face the firing squad, Mary. The marriage won’t happen right away. You still need to meet my son and discuss a few things. So, try to look a bit more alive."Easy for you to say, I thought, but managed a strained smile. "O...kay," I replied. "So, where are we heading now?""To the Black Estate. My son is expecting us there," she said, signaling to someone nearby. Almost instantly, a pristine white SUV pulled up in front of us.I mumbled to myself, “Wow, it must be nice to have this kind of money.”Mrs. Black turned with a curious look. “What was that?”"Nothing," I quickly replied, smiling.“Good. Now, get in the car.” She climbed inside, and I followed, bracing myself as we drove off.To be honest, from the airport to the Black Estate, I kept asking myself why on earth I agreed to this kind of arrangement. For the f
Last Updated : 2024-11-07Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 27 ~ The Wedding Arrangement
~~~~Eric sighed in frustration as he glanced at his reflection, the veins in his neck visibly pulsing.He felt an overwhelming urge to strangle the person responsible for his current predicament. "What on earth is 'virginal hair'? This is absurd." Despite his intense anger, he had no choice but to endure the situation; everything had already been set in motion, and canceling now would be a tremendous hassle.***Alone in the spacious sitting room, I couldn't contain my laughter. It was an uncontrollable fit, one I hadn’t experienced before. The expression on Eric Black's face was absolutely priceless.I continued laughing until Mrs. Nora entered, holding a steaming cup of coffee in one hand. I quickly stifled my laughter, not wanting her to suspect anything. She settled down beside me, and I smiled, extending my hand to receive the coffee. However, the look she gave me made me retract my hand.After a moment, she sipped her coffee and asked, “What did my son say?”“Oh, nothing much.
Last Updated : 2024-11-10
Latest chapter
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 52 - Misunderstanding
~~~~~Did he seriously just ask that? The man who’s spent the last month ignoring me, treating this fake marriage like a business deal? The same man who constantly reminded me of my duty, my so-called worth, and never failed to draw the line between me and his precious Diana? That same man is asking what now?I was pissed. “What do you mean by ‘conclusions’? Even a blind man could see it.”“Oh, really?” His tone was sharp, mocking.“Yes!” I snapped. “You were never really happy about going out with me today. I bet you were forced away from Diana because of me, and that must’ve annoyed the hell out of you. You’d rather be with her, wouldn’t you?” I stared him down, waiting for him to deny it. But no. Instead, he laughed.“Is that what this is about? Did my call with Diana earlier get under your skin, Mary?” He stepped back slightly, giving me some space—but his tone was anything but gentle.“What…” I began, fumbling for words.“Since when did Diana become an issue for you?” he a
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 51 - Continuation
-----Me stopping half way didn't stop his devious mind from figuring it out, because the next thing he said was-- "Too Late." I turned to respond, but just then, the driver returned, and the awkward silence resumed. The rest of the ride was filled with quiet glances between us, my embarrassment only growing. I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible.From the moment I opened my eyes this morning, it felt like my prayers were finally coming true. We were home! I was relieved, mostly because the awkward silence between us was beginning to get to me. But just as I turned to ask if it was okay to grab my things from the car trunk, his phone rang. I glanced at the caller ID—Diana.The moment I saw the name, I cursed under my breath, wishing I hadn’t. It wasn’t just the caller that made me feel like crap; it was the sudden change in Eric’s expression. His face lit up with a happiness I hadn’t seen earlier. It was so much more than the
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 51 - Words, and heartaches
~~~~Well, it was foolish of me to run to the car when I knew the driver wouldn’t move without his master’s presence.I sat there, quietly, trying to ease the discomfort I felt. It was as if his hands were still lingering on my lips, and I couldn't shake the feeling.Soon, he came out of the restaurant, chatting with the manager, exchanging goodbyes. I watched him stride toward the car. Ah, he was beautiful, and undeniably tempting, I had to admit.How I wished we had met under normal circumstances. But then again, someone like him—so far out of reach—would never be able to like someone standing on a different level.“Sorry for the wait,” he apologized as he slid into the car.“It’s alright,” I responded, not meeting his gaze.The ride home was silent. Neither of us spoke.Finally, the driver pulled over at a beachside filling station to fuel the car. I pretended to be asleep, trying to avoid any confrontation, until Eric spoke.“Hey,” he said softly, his voice breaking the
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 50 - Thudding Heart
~~~~I stared at him, my mouth hung open in disbelief. Was he serious? Did he have any idea what he was asking me to do? My eyes darted around, realizing that the whole surrounding area had gone completely quiet. Everyone was watching us—waiting for something to happen. I glanced back at Eric, and it hit me: he wasn’t joking. This was happening.My heart was pounding in my chest, so loudly I was sure he could hear it. I needed to act, to play my part. I straightened up and smiled, trying to mask the panic rising in me. "Quit joking," I said, keeping my voice light, pretending I wasn’t completely freaking out inside."Oh, but I wasn’t," he replied, a grin spreading across his face as he bared his teeth."Come on, kiss him!" A voice rang out from the crowd."Yeah, don’t be shy!" another chimed in. The comments kept coming, each one more outrageous than the last.Jesus, how do I get out of this? Am I seriously about to lose my virgin lips because of this rude…? I shook my head, f
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 49 ~ Mary Black
~~~~I stood frozen, still unable to fully process what had just happened. A staff member had humiliated me—me, in front of other customers. The absurdity of it stung. I’d worked in various establishments, and never once had I insulted or disrespected a customer, no matter the situation. So why would a staff member think it was acceptable to treat me this way?Just as I was caught in thought, I saw her walking back toward me with that same smug grin. "Well, if you're done brooding and acting like the store mannequin, do you mind moving aside?” she sneered, brushing past me. “You're blocking the pathway."I felt my patience snap. “What?” I asked, feeling the anger bubbling within me.“You heard me… move… you’re…” before she could finish, my fist connected with her face. She stumbled back, eyes wide with shock, then crumpled to the floor, her hands covering her face as tears welled in her eyes.I looked down at her, letting my voice drop to a cold, unforgiving
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 48 ~ She Is My Wife
~~~~Eric sighed with pleasure as he rolled off Diana’s warm, bare skin. She was the only woman who could ever satisfy him, he reminded himself. They’d made love—on the desk, the bathroom, and now the bed. He had built a separate suite inside his library, hidden from anyone but Diana, and he’d been a fool, he thought, to ever confuse pity for love.Yes, he loved Diana. He always would. With Mary, his heart had only softened briefly, a momentary weakness when she’d shared her family struggles. But that was nothing more than pity, he concluded.He turned to Diana, his fingers grazing her skin. “Hey.”She sighed contentedly. “Hmm?” she murmured, still catching her breath.For some reason, his desire sparked again and he was hard. “Let’s go one more time,” he said, sliding his hand over her.She chuckled through a moan. “You’re crazy—I can’t.”“You need to work on that stammer,” he teased, positioning himself between her legs again.“Or maybe…you’re just an animal,” she smiled,
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 47 ~ Mix Emotions
~~~Eric was restless, pacing in his library, feeling a whirl of emotions that he couldn’t quite sort out.Ever since discovering Mary’s true personality, he’d been battling mixed feelings. She wasn’t just the stubborn, rebellious figure he’d written off as money-hungry. Somehow, understanding the depth beneath her rebelliousness had changed things.Before, her every move had seemed calculated, aimed at showing off. Now, though, he couldn’t ignore the way his heart softened each time she spoke, her words striking chords he hadn’t felt in years.And the moment she proposed, they became business partners? It had left him in an unexpectedly pleasant mood, a rare thing these days. Then, hearing that she had taken it upon herself to prepare their food? His heart nearly leaped out of his chest.It was baffled. He’d even raised his voice at Diana—the woman he thought was the love of his life.He
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 46 ~ Confusion
~~~~Eric stood close to Diana, but she wasn’t moving. “Diana?” he called out to her.She turned to him, glaring with anger. “You should’ve told me you were going out. Then I wouldn’t have to see... unpleasant things,” she blurted out.Eric moved to take a seat. “What do you mean? I didn’t go far,” he said, settling down. “Take a seat; let’s eat. You must be hungry,” he added.Diana glanced at the so-called fake wife, thinking to herself, Not going to happen. “Let’s go eat outside. I don’t feel like eating home food,” she suggested.Sighing, Eric responded, “I’m already seated. I can’t just leave. Come sit by my side, and we’ll go out later,” he said, patting the seat next to him.Still glaring, Diana reluctantly sat beside Eric. Meanwhile, Mary simply continued eating, not looking at or paying attentio
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 45 ~ Tell Me More
~~~~Everything was set when Mrs. Lola and the other maids entered the kitchen. All the ingredients, even some unfamiliar ones, were neatly organized. The chicken was diced perfectly.I was preparing more ingredients when I noticed Mrs. Lola. “Oh, Mrs. Lola, you’re here? Thank God.” I walked up to her. “Please, I need you and the maids to help dice the remaining chicken, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, cabbage, and spices. Do you think you can manage that?”They stared at me, their faces full of surprise. I didn’t need to guess what they were thinking.Clearing her throat, Mrs. Lola replied, “Ugh… Sure, madam.” She quickly turned to the maids. “You heard her. Get to work.”“Yes, Mrs. Lola,” they said in unison, moving to start.I couldn’t help but smile. I understood their shock. It wasn’t every day you saw the wife of a multibillionaire preparing food and chopping vegetables.But the truth was, I wasn’t the wife of a wealthy man, nor did I come from a rich family. I learned to cook as a t
