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Chapter 6 - The feud
Last Updated:
2024-10-11 18:14:07
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Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride 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.
Last Updated : 2024-10-14Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride 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
Last Updated : 2024-10-15Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 9 ~ The trip 2
~~~~Noticing my sudden pale expression, Rachael rushed over, catching my slumping body just before I hit the floor. "Whoa, whoa, Mary, calm down!" she said, her eyes wide with concern. "When I said 'change of plans,' I didn’t mean you’re not coming with me to London!" She blurted the words out in a rush.Confused, I blinked rapidly. “What?!”Sighing dramatically, she rolled her eyes. “Yeah, the time has been changed. Can you believe it?” She added with a playful grin, completely oblivious to the shock I’d just endured.Annoyed, I shot her a glare before reaching up to smack the back of her head. “Seriously? You had me thinking my entire life just crumbled in front of me! By now, I thought you'd at least learn how to speak properly, but clearly, I was wrong.”“Sorry….” she muttered, clearly realizing just how shocked I’d been. “But really, are you ready? W
Last Updated : 2024-10-15Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 10 ~ London at last
~~~~“Yes,” Rachael replied with a big smirk.“Bloody hell…” I groaned, raising my head and blinking at the sight of the London airport. I slumped back down, disbelief washing over me. “I can’t believe I slept through the entire flight! I wanted to admire the sky from way up close. This was my first time on a plane, for Pete’s sake!” I turned to Rachael, my voice rising with frustration. “Why didn’t you wake me up?”Rachael just gave me one of her infamous grins. “Well, my dear, because I slept off too! And also, I figured it’d be best if you were well-rested for the adventure ahead,” she said with a little wink.“Well-rested, you say? Like I needed that right now?” I huffed, rolling my eyes at her. She just laughed at my outburst, clearly enjoying herself.We hurried through the airport to baggage claim, where a driver was waiting for us. The moment Rachael spotted him, she broke into a wide smile, and it was obvious they were well-acquainted. The way they greeted each other with a
Last Updated : 2024-10-16Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 11 ~ My New Home
~~~I didn’t know how long I slept, but when I opened my eyes, the water had gone cold.“Ah! Dinner!” I exclaimed, startled by how much time had passed. I quickly stood up from the bathtub, rinsing off the remaining soap from my body one last time before stepping out.I felt like a completely different person—clean, fresh, and oddly lighter, as though the weight of my past had been washed away along with the dirt.“Okay, Mary, time to face the next chapter of your life,” I whispered to myself with a soft smile while towel-drying my hair.With that thought in mind, I hurried downstairs to join Rachael and her brother for dinner.As soon as I entered the dining room, the smell hit me—crispy chicken, just like she’d promised. I was practically drooling on the floor.Jeez, I can’t even remember the last time I had something like this... wait, scratch that, I’ve never had anyt
Last Updated : 2024-10-17Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 11 ~~Continuation~~
~~Continuation~~******Okay, this is bullshit.Fun aside, this whole sitting idle thing was really starting to get on my nerves. I was never one to sit still and do nothing.I sighed deeply, staring at the flowering vines climbing up the window. “Tomorrow will make it two weeks since I’ve been here, and Rachael’s parents will be coming back from their trip. Although I’m kind of nervous, I believe everything will be alright.”I glanced at my new belongings in the white closet. Honestly, if anyone had told me back in Chicago that a day would come when I, Mary Johnson, the nobody, would have new shoes, trousers, dresses, or even underwear that wasn’t torn or worn out, I would have chased them around the whole city, calling them a liar.But here I was, inside my spacious room, surrounded by clothes in every color and size imaginable, from brands I’d only ever heard about in passing. Shoes, necklaces&mda
Last Updated : 2024-10-17Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 12 ~ The life I live
~~~~I blinked several times while staring at her, my heart racing. “Oh! Y-yeah, I just thought... that maybe it was possible... I mean, if I could be given a chance to work with you at your restaurant. But it’s okay if that’s not possible.” What are you mumbling about, Mary? I questioned myself as I forced out a smile at her.Instead of replying, Mrs. Berry just stared at me, her expression inscrutable. It was obvious what she was thinking. I mean, there’s no way a school dropout like me—well, not really a dropout; I just didn’t go to higher institutions—would be allowed to work in a fancy, expensive restaurant like hers. Just to confirm my thoughts, she finally spoke.“Well, when it comes to my restaurants, I do take my time to employ individuals.” She paused, leaning closer, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Rachael told me you dropped out of school, yeah?”Great, here we go. “Well, not really! I just didn’t further!” I stumbled over my words, trying to sound more confident than I felt
Last Updated : 2024-10-18Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 13 ~ The - not-so- good things
~~~~Before I knew it, time flew by. By the end of my two-year stay in London, which was November 10, 2009, I had close to Twenty-Five thousand dollars sitting in my bank account.Can you imagine the joy? And no, I didn’t spend a single dime of it! Who would’ve thought that the same Mary Johnson, who left Chicago in early 2007 with nothing to her name, would have that kind of money saved up?"Well, Mary, good job," I said, giving myself a mental pat on the back.With Rachael out of town for her studies, I became something of a new daughter in the Berry household. It was strange but also nice.James and I grew closer, too—so much so that they even let me drive Rachael’s car. Now, don’t ask how I learned to drive. Trust me, you don’t want to know. Let’s just say, the less said about my early driving adventures, the better! But hey, I didn’t crash anything, so that’s a win, right?Rachael wa
Last Updated : 2024-10-18
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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
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,
