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Chapter 6 - The feud
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2024-10-11 18:14:07Related chapters
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 38 ~ Continuation
Continuation...There’s no way I’m letting someone like her bring me down. I smiled at her—but it wasn’t the kind of smile that warms hearts. Not by a long, short.“I’ve heard stories about you—the journalist who stops at nothing for a scoop. Once you latch onto a story, you hold on tight. I have to admit, I respect your commitment, but I can’t stand people like you who take pleasure in tearing others down.” I scanned the room, the cameras still focused on me. “You’re meant to bring truth and life into focus, not to shatter families or lives. Your constant invasion of privacy has devastated countless lives, leaving them unable to recover. Actors can’t truly be themselves; they can’t love freely or chase their dreams because they live in fear of what you’ll publish about them.” I snapped. “All for a damn paycheck. Maybe I should grab a camera myself, thanks to m
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 38 ~ Checkmate in Red
~~~~But the media wasn’t the only one on edge; Eric and Nora Black were perched on the edge of their seats as they each watched the big screen from their respective homes. They knew that if the world were to find out about what they had done, it would spell disaster for their family for generations to come.The moment the press asked Mary about her marriage to the Blacks, Nora felt her heart leap into her throat. “No… I can’t watch this,” she said, pushing herself up from her seat. “Or I’ll die of a heart attack. I can’t believe I trusted her enough to choose her. I thought she was different. How could she do this to me?” she cursed. “I’m going to ruin her,” she swore, storming over to the bar. Pouring herself a drink—one that was high in alcohol—she muttered, “If this whole thing doesn’t kill me, I hope this wine does,” before downing the entire bottle.In Ca
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 37 ~ The Spinning Wheels
~~~~~I laughed, relishing the sound of his anger on the other end. “Woo, brother, calm down. No need to shout,” James said, his voice taunting. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. I didn’t kidnap or drag her as you’re thinking—she came with me of her own free will.”A long silence stretched from the other end. “Nonsense… My wife would never—” Eric’s voice started, but James cut him off.“Wife?” James laughed the sound sharp and mocking. “Please. You and I both know she’s not really your wife. She admitted it to me, and now, soon enough, the whole world will know.”Another silence, but this time there was a tension in it. Eric’s voice, wary, asked, “What are you talking about, James? What do you mean the whole world will know?”Bastard, I cursed inwardly as I yanked the phone from James's ear. “What he means, assho
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 36 ~ Continuation
Continuation****James pushed the car to its limits, speeding through the empty streets to make it to the press conference on time. His phone buzzed relentlessly, but he refused to let it break his focus. He glanced at the caller ID—Eric, of course—but ignored it. When he did answer briefly, he remained silent, waiting for Eric to give up before the line went dead.Beside him in the passenger seat sat Mary, his brother's so-called wife, quiet and unreadable. He cast a quick look at her, thoughts churning. She’d agreed to help him, and for that, he was grateful—or maybe just lucky. But how far could he actually trust her? Once the truth came out, she’d be useless to him. She’d already sold Eric out without a second thought; he wondered, with a bitter smirk, how quickly she’d turn on him too if the price was right. He could see her for what she was—a hustler, someone born from the streets, loyal only t
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 36 ~ Calculated Vengeance
~~~~I pulled on black leather pants, a fitted turtleneck, and high-top black sneakers. My hair hung loose down my back as I made my way downstairs, feeling nothing but a cold emptiness. I handed James a slip of paper with my bank details. “Here’s my account number. You said five times the pay, right?”“Right.” He gave me a questioning look. “So, does that mean I was right about everything?”I let out a low laugh. “I don’t know, James… why don’t you find out? But before we go anywhere, I want my account filled. Now.”He smirked, but I could see the flash of annoyance in his eyes. “Fine. I’ll pay you ten billion dollars—half now, half when you’re done.”Ten billion. If he could casually throw out that amount, I knew he had much more stashed away. “Fifteen billion,” I said, meeting his gaze without flinching. “And I want the full amount upfront. I don’t trust you.”He gritted his teeth but nodded. “Fine. But we need to leave now.” He looked around, nervous, as if someone was watching.“
Mary 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
Mary 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
Mary 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
Mary 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
