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Chapter 27 ~ The Wedding Arrangement
Last Updated:
2024-11-10 07:02:04
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Mary 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 : 2024-11-16Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 29 ~ The Breaking Point
~~~~~Eric Black woke that morning seething with frustration, his irritation only fueled by his mother’s constant involvement. Though his family had arranged this marriage, he was far from thrilled.The woman he truly wanted to share his vows with had turned him down, not for his affections but because of underlying reasons he couldn’t change. How could he have known that, had he made his intentions clear earlier, she might have accepted him? But he’d waited too long, leaving her to wrestle with her commitment issues on her own.Everyone in his family knew about his love for Diana, and he was determined to make her his—truly his, in front of the world, not just in whispered words or stolen moments. But to get there, he’d have to endure this ordeal.Fully dressed, Eric paused outside the room where his so-called “bride” waited. The anger bubbled within him, just thinking about marrying someone who wasn’t the
Last Updated : 2024-11-17Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 30 ~ The Faux Wedding
~~~~~~~Inhaling deeply, I scanned the altar and the despicable man standing there, waiting my arrival with a deceitful, radiant smile plastered on his face.As the chief bridesmaid gracefully scattered white flower petals on the ground, I couldn't help but notice the unfamiliar faces in the crowd, all wearing forced smiles.The orchestrator of this charade, was gazing at me with approval, and the relentless media capturing every moment with their cameras, The entire affair was frustrating beyond measure.I felt an overwhelming urge to slap those counterfeit smiles off their faces with the bouquet of red roses I held tightly.Gripping the flowers tightly, I reluctantly made my way closer to the altar, each step seeming more grueling than the last.***Under the scorching sun, Eric, too, stood waiting for his supposed wife, pretending to be happy. His jaw began to ache, and the marriage hadn't even commenced yet.However, he couldn't deny that the woman who was to be his wife looked st
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 31 ~ The Newly Wed
~~~~~Eric turned and tossed in his bed, unable to sleep. Frustrated, he stood up, made himself a cup of hot coffee, and moved to admire the night sky over New York.He sighed tiredly. It had only been two weeks since his arranged marriage, and already he was inundated with calls from various magazines and entertainment outlets, clamoring for interviews. On top of that, long-lost friends and distant relatives were breathing down his neck, demanding he reach out.His half-brother was no different, always looking for a chance to con Mary—either threatening her or offering her a hefty sum of money to reveal the truth about their marriage. The first time he caught James in the act, he saw him scribbling on a piece of paper and handing it to Mary. She just stared at the paper, then at him, unmovable. When it looked like James was about to force her hand, Eric confronted him.It was surprising that she didn’t take the offer; I mean, you give a sum of 2.5 million to a street girl, and you th
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 32 ~ A Trip to Canada
~~~~~That morning, Eric woke up feeling unusually excited. Today was the day he would meet Diana in Canada, and he could hardly contain his anticipation. Fully dressed, he stepped out of his room, hoping to find his so-called wife ready and waiting. Instead, he encountered his butler.“Good morning, sir,” the man said, offering a weary smile despite his age.“Morning,” Eric replied, distractedly adjusting his suit.“Your luggage is already in the car, sir,” the butler informed him.“Ah… I see.”“But I’m afraid the madam has not yet woken up,” he added.Eric raised an eyebrow, momentarily confused. “My mother isn’t coming with us, if that’s what you mean.”“Oh, no, sir. I’m not talking about Mrs. Nora,” the butler clarified.“Then who are you referring to?” Eric asked.“I’m tal
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 33 ~ The Quiet Storm
~~~~~Finally, they arrived in Canada, and just as Eric had commanded, the jet touched down on the grounds of the penthouse. Like his other properties, this one was breathtaking, complete with a swimming pool on one side, a bar on the other, and a stunning fountain—it was truly a sight to behold.While the guards and maids busied themselves with our bags, I took my time, soaking in the extravagant view of the penthouse. As I approached the staircase leading inside, Eric suddenly pushed past me, nearly knocking me off my feet without so much as a “sorry.”“Hey, watch it! Are you trying to get me killed, is that why we are here?” I demanded, but instead of an apologetic look, he shot me an indifferent glare.“Asshole,” I murmured, shaking my head as I climbed the stairs again.When I reached the top, the driver was waiting alongside an elderly woman who smiled warmly at me. I returned her smile, feeling a bit
Last Updated : 2024-11-30Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 34 ~ Bound by Deception: The First Break-up
~~~~We arrived at the room Mrs. Lola had recommended, and just as she said, it was better—spacious, airy, and filled with natural light.“It’s good. I like it,” I commented, taking in the room’s elegance.“I’m glad, ma’am,” she smiled warmly. “What would you like me to prepare for dinner?”“Dinner?” I glanced at the wall clock; it was barely past 4. “Nothing, I’m not hungry, maybe later. But right now, all I need is a bath and then straight to bed.”“As you wish, ma’am, but if you change your mind, just let me know.”“Sure. Thank you,” I replied.“You’re welcome, ma’am,” she said before slipping quietly out of the room.After unpacking, I indulged in a hot bath, letting the warmth melt away every bit of tension from the day. Soon after, I slipped into bed, and as my head hit the
Last Updated : 2024-12-01Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 35 ~ Deception: The Double-headed Sword
~~~~I wasn’t thinking of anything as I made my way down the hall. My head was foggy, my mind blank. What was there to think about? Eric and I didn’t like each other; we could barely tolerate one another’s presence. I had been hired to play the part of his wife, and now that he’d told me to quit, I was ready to walk away. Sure, I might not find another gig that paid this well, but the money they owed me would help me get started for a while. Maybe I’d even try my hand at acting for real. It wouldn’t be easy, but it would be a start.Hurrying back to my room, I felt hot tears streaming down my face, and I couldn’t stop them. Why did it hurt so much? His words shouldn’t have affected me; they shouldn’t have meant anything. But they did.I collapsed onto my bed and cried my eyes out. From that moment on, everything changed between us. We barely spoke, didn’t eat together, and avoided looking each other in the eye. I stayed holed up in my room, only venturing out for fresh air. This silen
Last Updated : 2024-12-08
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Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 59 - Continuation
Continuation~~~~"Oh…” Mrs. Lola hesitated before answering, “No, ma'am, just the maids."I paused, narrowing my eyes at the door. What was that hesitation about? I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Sighing, I decided there was no point in pressing further. "Fine..." I finally said, stepping toward the door. "I'll open up, but be quick with the move.""Okay, Madam," she replied with a tone of obedience that only made me slightly more suspicious.Believing her words, I cracked the door open slightly. But before I could react, a strong, hot hand grabbed mine. The door slammed open with force, and Eric pushed his way inside."What the—" I gasped, my shock and confusion paralyzing me for a moment. My gaze darted to Mrs. Lola, who stood outside, her eyes glued to the floor, clearly avoiding my furious glare."You..." I started, storming toward her in anger, but before I could
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 59 ~ First time
~~~~~Oh…“Shit. Crap. Somebody, please kill me now,” I screamed inwardly, my face flushed with heat. The silence on the line stretched, with a suffocating feeling, like it was never going to end. My mouth went dry as my mind scrambled for something—anything—to salvage this, but nothing came.“Well?” My mother’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and demanding, snapping me out of my spiral. “Mary? Didn’t you hear me?” She paused for a moment, then her voice dropped to an even colder pitch. “Since when are you married?”Oh no. My chest tightened, and I could barely breathe. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. How was I going to handle this? My mind was spinning as panic clawed at me.“Oh, what? I don’t understand what you’re saying, Mother,” I blurted, feigning confusion, praying she’d buy it.“Mary Roselle Johnson!” Her voice was filled with fury, and I winced. “You just told your father that you would discuss migrating with your husband… the husband that doesn’t exist. So, now
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 58 ~ Continuation
~~~~~~Inside the room, I leaned back against the door, taking a deep breath as my frustration died down. My hands trembled slightly, but at least I had finally gotten them out of my space.“Sweet and lovable, my ass,” I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief. “He has no idea.” My thoughts wandered, and a pang of homesickness hit me hard. “I should just call home and be done with it,” I decided, my voice softening as I reached for my phone.It had been so long—too long. My fingers automatically hovered over the home button before I pressed it. The line rang for what felt like an eternity before someone finally picked up.“Hello, who is this?” a deep, familiar voice answered.My breath caught in my throat. Papa? My heart swelled, hearing the voice I’d missed for so many years. Instead of responding right away, I stayed quiet, holding the phone t
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 58 ~ Home Call
~~~Turning to her son, who was still groggy from sleep, Mrs. Nora quickly replied. “Nothing, dear,” she said, her voice sugary sweet. “We were just having a little girl talk.” She even added a smile, as if that would erase the stiffness in the room.Like hell it’s nothing, I thought bitterly. I almost blurted it out but swallowed the words, too pissed to even form a coherent sentence.Eric’s brows furrowed slightly as he glanced between us. “Hmm.” He rubbed the back of his neck, his voice skeptical. “That didn’t sound like a girl talk.”He turned his attention to the maids, who were still packing my things. “Are you done with that?”“Yes, sir,” Mrs. Lola responded quickly.“Good. Leave us alone,” he ordered his tone firm as he climbed off the bed.“Yes, sir,” Mrs. Lola replied, bowing slightly before leading the other maids out. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving the three of us alone in a silence that felt like it could explode at any second.Eric ignored his mother and turn
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 57 ~ Continuation
~~~~~“I was afraid of this day,” Mrs. Lola said absently, her voice soft but filled with melancholy.“What do you mean?” Mrs. Nora asked, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as she turned toward her.Sighing deeply, Mrs. Lola glanced away, her hands clasped nervously. "Well, out of all the women Sir Black has ever brought to this place, this is the first time I’ve ever felt truly appreciated and cared for.” She hesitated before adding, “No offense.” She cast a quick, apologetic glance at Mrs. Nora.“Hahaha, none taken, Lola,” Mrs. Nora replied with a light laugh, though a curious expression lingered on her face. “But why did you say it like that?”Mrs. Lola turned to her, her gaze thoughtful yet firm. “Because she’s different. She’s nice, caring... With her here, I’ve never felt like just a maid. It’s as if I’m part of the family
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 57 ~ Desire, and then confusion
~~~~From the very first time I saw this man, I knew him to be a man of his word.A man who never joked with promises or declarations, not unless he didn’t mean it,But with him, I had to question every word, every promise. After all, what could I really believe in a man who had been tangled in a web of lies and duty, especially when his heart still seemed to belong to someone else? I’d seen him care for Diana, and I wasn’t foolish enough to ignore the depth of that connection.But in this moment, standing before him, I couldn’t ignore the vulnerability in his eyes. The heaviness of his words hung heavy in the air, and for once, I wasn’t sure what to think. He was offering me something, but was it real? Or was this just another role he was playing?I reached for his face, my hands trembling slightly, not knowing if I was reaching for reassurance or if I was afraid of what he might say next.Slowly, I kissed him,
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 56 ~ Continuation
~~~~Eric was shocked at the question because he wasn't expecting it, but... Placing his cup down. “It’s not just that. There’s more to this… and it’s all tied to why I can’t just pack up and leave for New York.”“Oh! Now that we are talking about this, I do remember your mother mentioning something about that. So, I’ll need to show myself in order for him to believe us to be a real couple, right?” I asked."Yes... seems so,” he replied.I stood up. “Well, that means our honeymoon is also coming to an end. Seeing that his return is sooner than expected, we need to pack,” I told him.He hastily grabbed my hand as I attempted to walk past him and pulled me close to him. In this position, with me standing and him sitting down with his head close to my belly, he looked up at me. “You are not mad at me?” he asked.“Eh? Why would I be?” I said as
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 56 ~ Who I belong to
~~~~~Later that day, Eric stormed into my room, his eyes blazing red like a wildfire. I gasped in shock as he hurled his phone against the wall, smashing it into pieces.“What the hell, Eric? What happened?” I asked, my voice trembling with worry as I rushed to him.He was pacing back and forth like a caged animal, his fists clenched at his sides. “I can’t believe she’d pull this off! How dare that—” His words cut off as he trembled with uncontainable anger, struggling to find the words to express himself.“Eric?” I reached for his face, forcing him to meet my gaze. “Take a deep breath and calm down,” I said softly, though my heart raced at the sight of him like this.He was like a raging bull, veins bulging as his chest heaved. Gently, I took his hand in mine. “Come with me,” I said, leading him to the sofa.Once he sank into the cushions, I offered him a reassuring smile. “Better?” I asked, keeping my tone gentle.“Only if you kiss me,” he replied, a weary smirk tugging at his lips
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 55 ~ Continuation
Continuation~~~~~~Eric's mind was still clouded as he drove Diana out of the mansion at her request. “You seem happy,” she remarked, her voice dripping with curiosity.“Should I be frowning?” he asked, his tone irked.“Of course not,” she replied, but then her gaze sharpened. “But why were you in her room, Eric?”Despite the fact that Diana had been outside the door, she hadn’t heard their moans as they kissed. Good. He wasn’t about to let her know what had really been going on. “Nothing… I just needed to talk something out with her,” he lied, though not entirely. He did talk to her, but their lips did most of the talking. A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.Diana wasn’t buying it. “Then why did you have to lock the door if you were just talking? You should have left it open.”Suddenly, Eric slammed on the brakes, bringing
