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Chapter 20 ~The Proposer
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2024-10-27 20:00:39Related chapters
Mary 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 : 2024-11-10Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 28 ~ Pre - Wedding Jitter
~~~~~It was finally the long-awaited wedding day, and I couldn’t shake the nerves gripping my stomach. It had been two weeks since I last contacted my family, and that weighed heavily on my heart.As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I thought, “This is supposed to be the happiest moment of a woman’s life, but because of this situation, it’s the worst for me.” Who would have imagined that my first wedding would turn out to be a sham? If my parents found out about the path I had chosen, they would be furious and might even disown me.No matter the circumstances, I couldn’t bring myself to explain my choices to them. It would devastate them. My family was devoutly religious, adhering to a strict moral code. They would never compromise their principles, even if it meant their own destruction.So, to preserve my family’s happiness and unity, I had to keep this part of my life a secret. Once the six months were over, I planned to leave it all behind.Yet, despite my resolve to keep
Last Updated : 2024-11-16
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Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 44 ~ Continuation
Continuation*****Eric just stared at her for a while, his gaze intense as he processed her words. He half-expected her to suggest bringing her family over, especially when she mentioned needing help with the farming. But she didn’t. She seemed serious about it.Looking at her now, he couldn’t deny that with his influence, the products from the farm could definitely have a great turnout. He had nearly a hundred restaurant owners in his circle, not to mention the ones he personally owned, and chefs as close friends and business partners who would undoubtedly be interested. But still… he needed to do some groundwork before proceeding.Turning to the woman sitting before him, her eyes shining with anticipation, he finally spoke. “Well, I like the idea. It’ll bring in a lot of income. But it won’t be easy at first. The Black Enterprise has always dealt with electronics, fashion, stock markets, cars, housing, , land sales,
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 44 ~ Business Partner
~~~~What did she say? Did he hear wrong? Eric questioned himself as he wiped the tea off his lips, and then turned to Mary. “Come again? I didn’t catch that,” he said, his voice filled with genuine confusion, though a clue of curiosity stayed behind his sharp gaze.**I laughed a bit. “Just a second…” I stood with our cups of cold tea and walked over to the door, finding a maid. “Take this back to the kitchen and tell Mrs. Lola to get us another cup of hot coffee. Oh… tell her to come with the kettle, okay?” This was going to be a long day.“Okay, madam,” the maid replied and left.I went back to Eric, who hadn’t just watched me going and coming. “Sorry, what did you say?” I asked knowingly.He crossed his arms along his chest. “You said something, not me,” he responded. “Let’s hear it again,” he demanded.“Oh, I
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 43 ~ Manipulated
~~~~Eric listened to Mary, her words slowly unraveling a side of her he hadn’t expected. She had clearly gone through so much, yet her strength and selflessness stood out more than anything else. It was like watching a movie, and the fact that he was so engrossed surprised him. He had never been one for sentimental tales, but there was something about hers that gripped him.When she spoke of giving up her own dreams for her siblings, it struck him deeply. He wouldn't have made that choice, no matter the circumstances. Sacrificing a dream? That was something he couldn't fathom. And yet, Mary had done it. Not out of obligation, but out of love for her family. She wasn’t just brave because of the action—she was brave because it was her character, her personality. It was who she was."That was brave, Mary Johnson," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Even I wouldn’t do something like that, no matter what was at stake."**** “I know…” I said, my voice softening, “I just couldn’t let
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 42 ~ Continuation
Continuation...~~~~Ah! This motherfucker...I stared at him, feeling an odd mix of irritation and relief. Fine, I thought. Might as well give him something. “Hope you’re ready for it,” I whispered. “I wasn’t born in Canada. Hell, I didn’t even know it existed until a few years ago.”He looked up, his curiosity piqued. “Then, where were you born?”I sighed, glancing at his attentive face. “Chicago,” I replied, watching him take that in.“So, some of the information about you was correct, then?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.“Not exactly,” I said with a slight smile, taking a sip of my coffee. “I come from a family of five, my parents included. They were, and still are, farmers. My mom and dad loved farming so much that even if they were sick, they’d be out there in the fields.”He placed the si
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 42 ~ For Them, I Rise
~~~~For the first few minutes, Eric was genuinely stunned as he watched Mary handle the pen with surprising ease. The confidence in her grip, the way her hand moved across the paper—it was like she’d been doing this all her life. According to the information in her documents, she supposedly had no formal education, so he’d assumed she wouldn’t even know how to spell her own name.It wasn't exactly far-fetched; he’d met countless people who acted smart and seemed well-educated, only to crumble when asked to prove it. Maybe she was the same—just putting on an act. After all, if his mother really had picked her off the street, she wouldn’t have a polished background. And, honestly, someone with an education wouldn’t take on a job like this, right? No matter how much they were being paid.His thoughts unraveled further as she handed him the paper, and he glanced over her writing, expecting to see sloppy handwriting and spelling errors. Instead, he was met with some
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 41 - Continuation
Continuations ~~~~~Eric regathered me for a second before replying. “Hmmm, no, not really; I just wanted to get that off my chest. To get this right, I want us to start all over.”“What? You want us to get married again?” I asked, shocked.“What? No, that’s not what I meant,” he replied hastily.“Good, because there’s no way I could go through that again,” I said, shivering at the thought. “Woooo, nope, never. I don’t even want to think about it.”“Pffffffff, oh come on, it wasn’t that bad,” he said, clearly enjoying my outburst.“Are you kidding me? It was more than bad. It was a total nightmare for me!” I finished, staring at him. For some reason, he had a weird look on his face. "Anyways, it’s getting late, and I need to move,” I said, starting to get up. But then he suddenly gripped my hands.“You don&rsqu
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 41 ~ A New Deal
~~~~Eric froze in place, staring down at the woman beneath him. This was the first time since their wedding that he was really seeing her up close. Her plush lips—he had never noticed just how enticing they looked until now. Damn, he felt an undeniable pull toward them.He could feel her heart racing against his chest, its rapid tempo echoing in his ears. She was warm and vibrantly alive. He raised his eyes to her face, noting the shocked expression carved there.Was she scared? Excited? He couldn't quite tell, but the way her heart pounded made it clear she sensed what was about to happen.Just then, Mrs. Lola's voice broke through from outside the library. Eric felt a wave of relief wash over him, grateful for the distraction because if he hadn’t been interrupted, he might have done something impulsive. But before he could respond to her—“Yes… for Pete’s sake, just come in, will you?” Mary yelled, her
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 40 ~ Butterflies
~~~~The next morning, I woke up with a resolve fit for a nation. Now that Eric wanted to cut the whole thing off, it was time for me to move out. With the money in my account, I could do a lot, but I needed to disappear before James came for me.Ignoring Mrs. Lola, who stared at me with a mix of concern and curiosity, I stormed off, brushing aside her offer of help. “I can take care of my own things,” I murmured to myself, the determination surging within me.“No doubt you can.” A male voice resounded from the corridor.Turning, I found Eric standing there, his glorious morning cuteness disarming even in my fury. “Morning,” I managed to say, forcing myself to focus on packing.“Morning,” he replied, running a hand through his tousled hair. “Are you going somewhere?”I shot him a glare. “What do you mean, ‘if I’m going somewhere? We were supposed to be in New York
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 39 - A Turn of Event
~~~~Nora Black collapsed to the floor, wine spilling everywhere as she struggled to process what she’d just witnessed. She wasn’t sure if she should laugh or cry. “What… did… I just…?” she murmured, glancing around the empty room. She slapped her own cheek lightly, wondering if this was real or some drunken hallucination.After drinking herself into a stupor, Nora had braced herself for the brutal truths she expected Mary—and the press—to expose. But what she heard instead shocked her to the core.“No. My marriage into the Black family is not a scam.” Mary had declared live.At first, she couldn’t believe it. She leaned in closer to the TV, turning up the volume just to make sure she hadn’t misheard. This was indeed a live broadcast, and the world was watching Mary’s violent stand against that redheaded journalist, Rachel Berry.Her fearlessness and poise left Nora stunned, almost instantly sobering her up as her phone began to buzz nonstop.Call after call, reporters from all over w
