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Chapter 81 ~ Broken Home
Last Updated:
2025-04-07 23:43:07
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Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 82 ~ A strange wind
~~~~“Wakey, wakey, sleeping beauty.” Nora’s voice drifted through my haze of sleep as she yanked open the curtains. Sunlight slashed through the room, stabbing at my closed eyelids. I groaned, rolling over, tugging the blanket higher over my head.“Hmmmm… Let me sleep, please.” My voice came out rough, raw from last night’s crying.Nora stilled for a second before asking. “Your voice is hoarse. Did you cry again?”I clenched my jaw. Silence.She sighed, the sound heavy, almost tired. “I’d love to leave you alone, but you need to get up and go about your business.” A pause. Then, softer, “You’ve been sleeping too much lately. Are you sure you’re alright?”The worries in her voice affected me more than I expected. I opened my eyes just a sliver, meeting her gaze.“I’m fine,” I muttered. “Just tired.”Liar.Nora crossed her arms, tilting her head, studying me the way she always did when she knew I was full of shit. The room smelled like faded perfume and sleep, my pillow still damps fr
Last Updated : 2025-04-08Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 82 ~ Continuation
Continuations~~~~~Before he could finish, my fist collided with his face. The crack of knuckles against bone was satisfying... handling farming tools for years taught me a lot of ways to put men like this in place.He stumbled back, cursing."How dare you?" I snapped, heat rushing through my veins.The first guy finally turned, his expression darkening as his gaze moved from his partner's bleeding nose to me."You hit me?" His voice was dangerously low, his eyes a furious shade of red.Sam just stared, mouth slightly open."Ahhh, I’m not about to let myself be talked down to by assholes who don’t even know the first thing about manners." My pulse thrummed as I stormed toward a nearby table, one decorated with expensive glassware and an overpriced bottle of wine.Without hesitation, I grabbed the bottle and—Bang!My hand slammed onto the table, sending everything crashi
Last Updated : 2025-04-08Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 83 ~ The Gloves are off
~~~~That witch! So this was her plan all along…All right, Diana Lockwood, two can play this game. I was going to leave you and Eric alone, let you both wallow in your little mess, but since you want to fight dirty—let’s go. After all, I’m a farm girl. I’ve dealt with all kinds of dirt.“Mrs. Black, cat got your tongue?” Berry sneered, her lips curling in satisfaction.I turned my gaze to her, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. “No, dear. I’m just in absolute shock at what I’m looking at.”She smirked. “So what? Are you saying you’ve never seen this test result before? Because that’s not what Lockwood told me.” She leaned forward slightly. “I understand your feud, but seriously… are you going to deny this?”Diana…“Deny?” I let out a soft chuckle, leaning back in my chair. “Sweetheart, I hav
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 84 ~ Where the Heart lies
~~~~After my conversation with Dad, Mom called me with her conditions for accepting the deal. Since there was no real deal to begin with, I agreed without hesitation. The only thing that mattered was getting them out of Chicago.The following weeks were spent preparing for my family’s relocation. While pretending not to know what was happening, I focused on finalizing the renovations on their new home, making sure every detail was perfect. For the first time since I left home, I could finally do things on my own without begging or struggling. The excitement of it all nearly made me forget about Diana and her damn pregnancy.Everything was ready now. But I had chosen not to tell Nora or the Blacks about my family’s move—not yet, at least. It wasn’t necessary for them to know until the time was right.I called Sam to confirm the arrangements. “Everything is set on my end,” he assured me.“Should I pick them up at the airport?” he asked.“No, I want to be the one to do that. You’ve done
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 85 ~ Collateral Damage
~~~~~ Nora, the ever-so-composed, always-in-control Nora Black, was crying. Tears silently slipped down her cheeks, her chest rising and falling with quiet, restrained sobs.For a brief moment, guilt twisted in my stomach. But then, I reminded myself—this wasn’t my fault. None of this was my doing.Before I could say anything, she started speaking again.“I’m sorry!” she choked out between sobs. “It’s just that I’m scared, Mary,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “I’ve spent years protecting this family and its reputation, doing whatever it took. But to just watch it crumble like this… I don’t think I can handle it.”Her sobs grew heavier as she covered her face with both hands, shoulders shaking. “But this isn’t just about my reputation.”I folded my arms, unimpressed. “Oh, isn’t it?”She lifted her head, eyes red and glossy. “Eric is an idiot, I know that. But this… this is more than just a scandal. Diana has the entire media on her side now. If she keeps pushing this narrative, s
Last Updated : 2025-04-11Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 86 ~ Let the Game begins
~~~~~“This is just not my day,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temple before grabbing my phone. With a sigh, I dialed Sam’s number.The phone barely rang twice before he picked up. “Hello, ma’am. You on your way now?” he asked, straight to the point.I exhaled sharply, already exhausted. “No, Sam. As a matter of fact, there’s a change of plan,” I said in frustration.“Oh…” Sam hesitated for a moment before continuing, “but we can’t send them back… the plane is already in the air.”I rolled my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “What? Of course, we’re not sending them back, Sam. Just—please—go to the airport and pick them up.”“Oh, okay,” he said quickly. “Should I drive them to the hostel?”“No. God, no,” I replied, exasperated. “Take them to the house, and whatever you do, don’t mention my name or say anything about meeting me. I still want it to be a surprise. When I’m done here, I’ll come to you, okay?”“Okay, Ma
Last Updated : 2025-04-12Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 86 ~ Continuation
Continuation~~~~While I was still bracing myself, a man who appeared to be the manager of the event approached her. “Ah, Ms. Nora, I’m glad you could make it,” he said, extending a hand.“Me too,” Nora responded confidently, shaking his hand.“Well, the stage is this way. The selected reporters are already here,” he informed her. Then, with barely concealed anticipation, he added, “Are you ready for this?” There was no sympathy in his voice—if anything, he sounded eager to watch her crumble; I just sat down there watching their exchange in silent, waiting for my queue to step in.Nora, fully aware of their intentions, simply smiled, feigning ignorance.“What?” she asked, tilting her head.“The interview, I mean. Are you ready for it?” he rephrased his question, his tone filled with artificial politeness. “We can always improvise,&
Last Updated : 2025-04-12Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 1 ~ The Johnsons
~~~~~Being the first child of a Chicago farmer isn’t exactly a walk in the park.Picture this: Heartaches, body pains, barely enough food to go round, the constant struggles to stay sane, and the daily grind of farm life. It’s like living in a soap opera, but with more mud and fewer dramatic pauses.I’m Mary Johnson, the proud firstborn of Mr. and Mrs. Becky Johnson.My parents are the epitome of hardworking citizens: devoted Christians who places a value on big and small things.We live in what you might call a "charming" little cottage that’s really more of a glorified shed, and a tiny patch of farmland not too far from the bright lights of Illinois.We weren’t rolling in dough, but hey, we had just enough to keep the pantry stocked. Well, that was the case until my siblings came into the picture.Lisa and Lora weren’t twins, but they sure look and act like it. They’ve won the admiration of everyone around them because of how brave and intelligent they were.Honestly, though, once
Last Updated : 2024-09-10
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Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 86 ~ Continuation
Continuation~~~~While I was still bracing myself, a man who appeared to be the manager of the event approached her. “Ah, Ms. Nora, I’m glad you could make it,” he said, extending a hand.“Me too,” Nora responded confidently, shaking his hand.“Well, the stage is this way. The selected reporters are already here,” he informed her. Then, with barely concealed anticipation, he added, “Are you ready for this?” There was no sympathy in his voice—if anything, he sounded eager to watch her crumble; I just sat down there watching their exchange in silent, waiting for my queue to step in.Nora, fully aware of their intentions, simply smiled, feigning ignorance.“What?” she asked, tilting her head.“The interview, I mean. Are you ready for it?” he rephrased his question, his tone filled with artificial politeness. “We can always improvise,&
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 86 ~ Let the Game begins
~~~~~“This is just not my day,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing my temple before grabbing my phone. With a sigh, I dialed Sam’s number.The phone barely rang twice before he picked up. “Hello, ma’am. You on your way now?” he asked, straight to the point.I exhaled sharply, already exhausted. “No, Sam. As a matter of fact, there’s a change of plan,” I said in frustration.“Oh…” Sam hesitated for a moment before continuing, “but we can’t send them back… the plane is already in the air.”I rolled my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. “What? Of course, we’re not sending them back, Sam. Just—please—go to the airport and pick them up.”“Oh, okay,” he said quickly. “Should I drive them to the hostel?”“No. God, no,” I replied, exasperated. “Take them to the house, and whatever you do, don’t mention my name or say anything about meeting me. I still want it to be a surprise. When I’m done here, I’ll come to you, okay?”“Okay, Ma
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 85 ~ Collateral Damage
~~~~~ Nora, the ever-so-composed, always-in-control Nora Black, was crying. Tears silently slipped down her cheeks, her chest rising and falling with quiet, restrained sobs.For a brief moment, guilt twisted in my stomach. But then, I reminded myself—this wasn’t my fault. None of this was my doing.Before I could say anything, she started speaking again.“I’m sorry!” she choked out between sobs. “It’s just that I’m scared, Mary,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “I’ve spent years protecting this family and its reputation, doing whatever it took. But to just watch it crumble like this… I don’t think I can handle it.”Her sobs grew heavier as she covered her face with both hands, shoulders shaking. “But this isn’t just about my reputation.”I folded my arms, unimpressed. “Oh, isn’t it?”She lifted her head, eyes red and glossy. “Eric is an idiot, I know that. But this… this is more than just a scandal. Diana has the entire media on her side now. If she keeps pushing this narrative, s
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 84 ~ Where the Heart lies
~~~~After my conversation with Dad, Mom called me with her conditions for accepting the deal. Since there was no real deal to begin with, I agreed without hesitation. The only thing that mattered was getting them out of Chicago.The following weeks were spent preparing for my family’s relocation. While pretending not to know what was happening, I focused on finalizing the renovations on their new home, making sure every detail was perfect. For the first time since I left home, I could finally do things on my own without begging or struggling. The excitement of it all nearly made me forget about Diana and her damn pregnancy.Everything was ready now. But I had chosen not to tell Nora or the Blacks about my family’s move—not yet, at least. It wasn’t necessary for them to know until the time was right.I called Sam to confirm the arrangements. “Everything is set on my end,” he assured me.“Should I pick them up at the airport?” he asked.“No, I want to be the one to do that. You’ve done
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 83 ~ The Gloves are off
~~~~That witch! So this was her plan all along…All right, Diana Lockwood, two can play this game. I was going to leave you and Eric alone, let you both wallow in your little mess, but since you want to fight dirty—let’s go. After all, I’m a farm girl. I’ve dealt with all kinds of dirt.“Mrs. Black, cat got your tongue?” Berry sneered, her lips curling in satisfaction.I turned my gaze to her, my anger simmering just beneath the surface. “No, dear. I’m just in absolute shock at what I’m looking at.”She smirked. “So what? Are you saying you’ve never seen this test result before? Because that’s not what Lockwood told me.” She leaned forward slightly. “I understand your feud, but seriously… are you going to deny this?”Diana…“Deny?” I let out a soft chuckle, leaning back in my chair. “Sweetheart, I hav
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 82 ~ Continuation
Continuations~~~~~Before he could finish, my fist collided with his face. The crack of knuckles against bone was satisfying... handling farming tools for years taught me a lot of ways to put men like this in place.He stumbled back, cursing."How dare you?" I snapped, heat rushing through my veins.The first guy finally turned, his expression darkening as his gaze moved from his partner's bleeding nose to me."You hit me?" His voice was dangerously low, his eyes a furious shade of red.Sam just stared, mouth slightly open."Ahhh, I’m not about to let myself be talked down to by assholes who don’t even know the first thing about manners." My pulse thrummed as I stormed toward a nearby table, one decorated with expensive glassware and an overpriced bottle of wine.Without hesitation, I grabbed the bottle and—Bang!My hand slammed onto the table, sending everything crashi
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 82 ~ A strange wind
~~~~“Wakey, wakey, sleeping beauty.” Nora’s voice drifted through my haze of sleep as she yanked open the curtains. Sunlight slashed through the room, stabbing at my closed eyelids. I groaned, rolling over, tugging the blanket higher over my head.“Hmmmm… Let me sleep, please.” My voice came out rough, raw from last night’s crying.Nora stilled for a second before asking. “Your voice is hoarse. Did you cry again?”I clenched my jaw. Silence.She sighed, the sound heavy, almost tired. “I’d love to leave you alone, but you need to get up and go about your business.” A pause. Then, softer, “You’ve been sleeping too much lately. Are you sure you’re alright?”The worries in her voice affected me more than I expected. I opened my eyes just a sliver, meeting her gaze.“I’m fine,” I muttered. “Just tired.”Liar.Nora crossed her arms, tilting her head, studying me the way she always did when she knew I was full of shit. The room smelled like faded perfume and sleep, my pillow still damps fr
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 81 ~ Broken Home
~~~Ignoring the many eyes staring at me, I sat quietly on the sofa.“Hmmm.” I sighed, scrolling through my phone. “It’s a beautiful day!” I smiled to myself.Just then, the so-called boss’s phone rang. He glanced at me, then back at the screen. After a few rings, he finally picked up.“Hello?” His voice was low and hesitant. “What? No, sir… I-I didn’t… it wasn’t—”I couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but with how his face kept losing color and the way he suddenly shot up, trying to explain himself, I knew one thing—Big Joe had worked his magic.For the next few minutes, there was nothing but yelling, frantic excuses, and a lot of cursing. Then, the call ended abruptly.I turned my head toward the boss, and damn—he was sweating buckets.“Wow… You look pale. Are you okay?” I asked with a forced smile.Sam, who had been watching the scene unfold, frowned. “Boss? Is everything alright?”The man let out a shaky breath before collapsing back into his seat. But then, as if jo
Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 80 ~ A new Order
~~~~We stepped out of the restaurant and got into the car. He started the engine, and soon, we were on the road.Despite the cold wind rushing through the window, my insides burned. The music blared from the car speakers—so loud that passing vehicles could probably hear it—but it wasn’t enough to drown out my thoughts.No matter how hard I tried to push it aside, the pain lingered. Eric was nowhere to be found. I hadn’t asked about him, but he hadn’t bothered to come see me either. No messages. No calls. No attempts to explain or persuade me.I guess that’s how much I meant to him.I swallowed hard, forcing back the tears threatening to spill. I loved him. He was the first man—besides my father—that I had ever truly loved. My mother only ever loved one man in her life, and I thought it would be the same for me.But I guess true love doesn’t exist.I shook my head, pushing the thou
