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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 65 ~ Continuation
~~Continuation~~Shit. Now what? I didn't even know that was how I sounded. I scrambled to correct myself. "No, of course not," I said quickly. And that was the truth.I exhaled, choosing my words carefully. "I’ve seen Diana. I’ve seen the way he behaves with her. And despite me not trying to win him over or fight for something that never belonged to me, he still looked in my direction. He chose me. Isn't that a sign that, despite his feelings, Diana was never truly what he wanted?"Big Joe exhaled sharply, then leaned back in his chair."Huh," he muttered. "What a strong faith you have in your beliefs."I forced a small smile. "All thanks to my parents," I replied, though my palms were already sweaty.Shit. Is it over now? I wondered, my heart hammering in my chest.He didn’t move or speak at first—just stared at
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 65 ~ I know him
~~~~~I took a deep breath as I stepped into Big Joe’s so-called "chamber of interrogations." The name alone sent a chill down my spine, but I forced a bright, fake smile onto my face."Good morning to you, sir," I greeted politely.Big Joe barely glanced up from the large newspaper in his hands. "Ah, good morning to you too. I see you finally stopped running," he said, his voice deep with amusement.I let out a nervous chuckle. "Ha-ha, running? No such thing. I was just… taking my time. You know, I really love spending time with you," I added with an exaggerated smile, lying through my teeth."Ah, that’s good to know," he said, finally lowering the newspaper and eyeing me with a smirk."So, can we start now?" I asked, eager to get this over with.Big Joe let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha, relax, dear. I’m not about to put a knife to your throat."Easy for you to say."Of course," I said, forcing myself to stay composed."Well then, let’s get on with it," he said, finally setting the ne
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 64 ~ Deceptions
~~~~Eric rubbed his temples as he sat up in confusion. The room reeked of alcohol and regret, and the scattered clothes on the floor told a story he couldn’t piece together. Letting out a sharp breath, he dragged himself out of the bed, his body aching as if it carried the sins of the night before.He stepped into the cold shower, hoping the icy water would snap him out of this daze. As the water hit his skin, he clenched his fists, letting the chill wash away the haze of frustration. "What the hell happened last night? And why can’t I remember a thing?" he muttered angrily.After drying off, he picked up his crumpled clothes from the floor, pulling them on piece by piece. His movements were deliberate, almost mechanical, as if grounding himself in the routine could help him regain control. Once dressed, he ran his hand through his damp hair, trying to shake off the haunting confusion.His gaze shifted to the bed. Diana lay there, her face peaceful, her hair sprawled across the pillo
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 63 ~ Continuation
~~~~"Hello? Eric, is that you?" Nora asked as she recognized the slightly out-of-breath man on the other end of the line."Yes, who is this?" Eric replied, his voice a little sluggish."Hmmm, it's your mother, Eric. Don't you have my number?" She asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "Are you okay?""Oh, yes! Mother, sorry about that... I feel a little tipsy," he responded. "And I just woke up from a rather long sleep," he added, sounding like he was trying to gather his bearings."Oh, that's funny. You're not one to drink yourself into a stupor. What happened?" she asked, in curiosity."I wish I had the answer to that," Eric sighed, his tone heavy. "Anyway... you were supposed to call me the moment your plans landed in New York. It's been three weeks, almost a month. Why haven't I heard from you guys?" He questioned; the frustration in his voice was unmistakable."I don't think I'm in the best position to answer that," Nora replied
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 63 ~ How we meant?
~~~~Back in New York"Shit! What should we do now?" I burst out in frustration as I sat across from Mrs. Nora, her white hair gleaming under the sunlight streaming in through the window. She looked maddeningly calm, as if this whole ordeal was a minor inconvenience."I don’t know, Mary, but whatever you're thinking, don’t do it," she said, her tone measured but firm. "You need to think this through. I know Joe; he can spot deception from a mile away.""No kidding," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. My nerves were shot. It had been three long weeks, and I still hadn’t figured out how to handle Mr. Joe's relentless curiosity. Every day felt like a countdown to some interrogation scene I wasn’t prepared for.I wanted to leave—desperately. But one wrong move could unravel everything. The problem was, I didn’t even have the answers he was demanding. How did Eric and I meet? Why did we decide to get married?
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 62 ~ Empty Space
~~~~~---- 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
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 61 ~ Meeting Big Joe
~~~~ 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
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 60 ~ Continuation
~~~~~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.
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 60 ~ Loving you
~~~~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
