~~~~~
“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
~~~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
~~~~~~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
~~~~~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
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
~~~~His lips trailed over my exposed breast, taking it into his mouth, sending a jolt through my body. I gasped again, my breath hitching as his hands explored me in places no one had ever had before. His lips worked magic, igniting sensations I’d never experienced."Eric," I managed a whisper between gasps and moans. "Stop... we can't." My voice cracked, trembling with both fear and desire.He sighed deeply, his warm breath brushing against my skin. “I see you’ve come back to your senses,” he murmured, pulling his mouth away from my breast and lifting his hand from my core. But even then, his body remained pressed firmly against mine, his groin still holding me in place.My entire body trembled, the aftershocks of pleasure leaving me shaken and disoriented. I stared at him, wide-eyed and breathless. Confusion swirled in my head, the unfamiliar sensations overwhelming me. I didn’t understand what was happening to my body, nor could I process the strange pleasure it had just felt."Eri
~~~~~Earlier?What is she talking about? I paused for a moment, unsure of what she was referring to. Then it clicked—"It’s alright, Mrs. Lola," I said with a reassuring smile. "I know there wasn’t much you could do. So, it’s fine."I glanced over and noticed Eric talking with his mother. Turning back to Mrs. Lola, I added, "Just help me look out for him, okay? If you notice anything wrong, call Mrs. Nora or me. Alright?""Okay, Madam. You can count on me," she said firmly, with a determined expression, one that made me wonder if I made the right decision.But then again. "Thank you," I replied with a nod.I walked towards the car. As soon as Eric spotted me, his face lit up with a smile, and he reached out for me."I’m going to miss you," he whispered. Before I could respond, his lips captured mine in a kiss—bold and unapologetic, right in front of everyone, including his mother.
~~~~ Mrs. Nora continues staring at me. “Why are you surprised? Even though Eric failed to tell you, this is the most important aspect of your job, and one you can’t afford to fail,” She explained, with a calm and calculating tone. “You see, the man we’re going to meet is the one in charge of my late husband’s will, and you must do everything in your power to convince him that you and my son are truly married. I believe the two weeks we’re spending there will be enough to get the job done.” She finished her little speech and got into the car, leaving me frozen on the spot. My legs refused to move as her words settled in. The stakes had just gotten higher, and my carefully laid plans for my parents were now on hold, yet again. Mrs. Nora rolled down the window, her expression now filled with impatience. “Well, hurry up and get in. We don’t have all day,” she snapped, punctuating her command as she opened and close the car door with a loud slam. “This cannot be happening,” I muttere
~~~~~---- But seriously, am I expected to just dive into this right now? I mean, I just got here. Shouldn’t I at least be allowed to take a breather? A rest, maybe? The thought circled in my mind as I turned to Mrs. Nora, my eyes silently screaming for help.She caught on instantly. “Hmmm, Joe...” she began, her tone light but pointed. “She just spent an exhausting amount of time on the flight. Don’t you think it would’ve been better to let her freshen up first before diving into the interrogations? You’re not in the force anymore, you know.”“What? I beg your pardon,” he shot back, his tone defensive. Then he turned to me with a smile that didn’t quite mask his annoyance. “Ignore her. I’m just excited to see that beyond the Lockwood name, there’s someone else.”He paused, forcing a chuckle. “Okay, maybe that was a little too much.”Y
Continuations~~~~~~By the time morning came, I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck. My muscles ached from all the running around, and mentally, I was just drained. I needed a moment. I needed to breathe.Without thinking too much, I got up and headed to the bathroom. “I’m beat,” I murmured as I slipped out of my nightwear and sank into the bathtub. There’s nothing more relaxing than soaking in rose-scented hot water. It’s heaven—like my bones were finally sighing in relief.I stayed there longer than I planned, just letting the heat melt everything away. When I finally got out, towel wrapped around me, I caught sight of the chaos I left behind the night before—twenty different outfits scattered across the bed.I sighed again.The thought of going to Black’s Enterprise had kept me up most of the night. It’s been months since I last saw Eric. And after that little stunt I p
~~~~~After that day, I spent the following week with my family—taking them out, making sure they got used to the new environment.I still needed to convince my mother that this place was far better than that dump.Although, to avoid confusion and the media, I had to take them to places where I wasn’t well recognized, always covering my face with sunglasses.Despite the fact that my family was here, and I was happy seeing the way Lisa and Lora’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the new clothes, shoes, and accessories I got for them, I couldn’t shake this feeling deep in my chest. Despite the joy of being reunited with my family, I felt... disconnected, like I was smiling on the outside but drowning inside.Since that call from Nora, my mind and heart have been a storm of confusion and guilt. I pretended to be okay for the sake of my family, but no matter how many times I told myself to focus on them, my thoughts kept circling back to Eric.I worried about his health. I wondered if he wa
Continuations~~~~~~My ring… my wedding ring.I thought I’d hidden it well.He held it out to me, his hand hovering in the air, while I just stood there, staring at it like it had grown teeth. My fingers didn’t move.Sighing, he gently took my hand and placed the ring in my palm. Then, keeping his hand over mine, he looked straight at me.“You’re grown now, Mary. And there’s a part of you—no matter how much we love you—that we no longer know,” he said calmly, but with a heaviness in his voice that only a father could carry. “Still, no matter how old you get, there are some decisions you shouldn’t make without talking to us first. You know that, right?”Shit. He figured it out just from the ring?“Yes, Papa… I do,” I murmured, nodding. “And I promise, when the time is right, I’ll tell you everything… all the parts of me you don’t know yet. But please, for now… just don’t tell Mother. Not yet.”“Of course,” he said gently. “I’ll wait until you’re ready to talk. But don’t take too long,
~~~~But of course, my mother wasn’t done. She never was. She always loved having the final say.Just to confirm my suspicion, she turned back to me, arms folded and tone firmer than ever.“Yes, I’ll say it again… we’re not settling here,” she stated with finality. “After we’ve saved enough, we’re going back home—and that’s final.”“Okay, I know I’m not supposed to interrupt when the elders are talking, but…” Lisa cut in, raising her hand a little.“Sorry, but I’m not going back to Chicago,” she announced plainly.“Me too,” Lora added quickly. “I like it here.”“Enough,” Mom snapped at them, her voice sharp. “This isn’t up for discussion.”I turned to my father, desperate.“Dad! You’re not saying anything. Are you seriously going to let all
~~~~For the first time in years, I felt safe, loved, and at ease—this was truly where I belonged. In my mother’s arms.“Mother… Mo… ther… Oh, Mom!” I wailed, like a child who had been abandoned, even though I was the one who had left.The years of separation, the pain, all of it came rushing back, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. Slowly, I lifted my head from my mother’s chest, and I saw Lara and Lisa frozen in place, both of them crying, smiling through their tears.“Hey…” I managed to choke out, raising a shaky hand toward them. “Don’t leave me hanging,” I whispered through a tearful smile.“Sis…” Lisa and Lara cried, their voices breaking as they rushed toward me.And then, we cried together, the weight of all the years apart crashing over us like a wave.Then there were heavy footsteps, and my heart lurched at the sound. “What’s going on? I heard screams,” my father’s voice rang out, followed by the door bursting open. His worried expression turned to confusion as he looked from
~~~~As I got closer to the top of the stairs, I could hear laughter and chatter coming from one of the rooms—the twin bedroom. The room I had specially prepared for Lisa and Lora. I should’ve felt joy, but instead, all I felt was fear.Funny how I felt more scared seeing my family again than I did standing in front of the whole world defending Eric Black’s unfaithfulness.I paused for a moment, catching my reflection in the windowpane. I had never felt so small, not even when I was still the innocent little Mary.Yes, I looked more beautiful now—refined, mature, confident—but for some reason, the thought of meeting my mother’s eyes made my knees weak. She was my mother, the woman I grew up watching, learning from, and admiring. But if she found out what I had done—how I’d gone against everything she and Dad raised me to believe in... I couldn’t even imagine what would happen.Worse still—
~~~~Sam took a deep breath. If it hadn’t been for the fact that he witnessed how she overpowered his boss with just a single call, he wouldn’t have believed her to be connected to a powerful man like Eric Black of the Black Empire, let alone being his wife.Of all the celebrities he had come across, who seemed to control wealth without needing to be told—just from their appearance, their cars, and the guards surrounding them—you could tell they held wealth beyond your wildest imagination. That was why, when he first saw her and heard that she was a Black, Sam had questioned it and even thought she might be a scammer. How could someone with so much wealth to rule the world be so simple? He would never understand.While Sam was still deep in thought, Mrs. Johnson appeared out of nowhere, scaring him out of his thoughts.“So, how long do we have to wait here?” she asked.“Jeez, woman, don’t do that!&rdq
~~~~Lockwood Mansion“Hahaha! Oh my God! My stomach—ha-ha!” Ruth, Diana’s secretary, laughed so hard she collapsed onto the floor, clutching her sides. “I swear, that woman is a superwoman! Jesus—did you hear everything she said?” She gasped between breaths, turning to Diana.But Diana was far from amused.“How dare that bitch!?” she roared, her face contorted in rage. She stormed around her lavish apartment, knocking over a glass from the coffee table. “I’M NOT A DAMN DRUG ADDICT!” she screamed.Still laughing, Ruth wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Did you see the way she flipped everything on you and that reporter? I mean—damn! That was brutal.”Diana whirled around, her glare sharp enough to cut steel. “You’re not helping,
~~~~For crying out loud, where should I even start? I questioned myself as the eyes around the room seemed to be pressuring me into saying something. This is what everyone’s been waiting for, no doubt. Even though I promised to make Diana pay, I never expected her to reveal this much.What should I do?“Mrs. Black?” Berry called, smiling that smug smile.I turned to her calmly. “Yes?”“You’re silent?” she said, her tone sharp.“That I am!” I replied just as calmly.“Why? Is it that you don’t have anything to say, or should we just count your silence as you agreeing with it being true?” She added, her words dripping with sarcasm. “Not that it is not.”Take a deep breath, Mary. You’ve got this.“You don’t have to count my silence for anything,” I said, my voice steady. “I was just wonde