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Chapter 84 ~ Where the Heart lies
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2025-04-09 17:03:24
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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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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,&
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-10Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 1 ~ Continuations
~~~~Instead of answering her, I cried harder, then Lisa worriedly asked, “Was it something I said?” She looked from dad to mom and then back to me, about to tear up, “I am sorry, I didn’t.”When I saw the single tear in her eyes, I hurried to her side and called her into my arms, I hugged her tightly “Oh Lisa,” I said between tears,, “it is not something you did, I am so, so sorry.”“What? I don’t understand. Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong.” She said, confused.“No, I did everything wrong.” I sob as I hold her face up; I can’t let them be driven to an edge this early. “Can you ever forgive me?” I asked in tears.Lisa took my hand from her face, she teared up as well, and Lora followed, “Of course, big sis.” She sniffled and added, “I forgive whatever you think you did wrong.” She smiled, and it was the best.“Thank you,” I said and stood, and patted both her and Lora’s heads.“Mary.” Father, who had been quiet, called me.“Yes, papa?” I answered as I dried my tears.“
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-10Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 2 ~ My choice
~~~~Instead of replying, Mom just stared at me, utterly speechless. Her expression was like a storm waiting to break; she was clearly furious, but words seemed to fail her. I couldn’t blame her—after all, I’m the model daughter who rarely talks back. When I do, it’s as if some mischievous spirit has suddenly possessed me.Dad, as usual, kept right on eating, pretending he hadn’t heard a word. But I caught the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.Finally, Mom turned to him and demanded, “Aren’t you going to say anything about this?”Choking back his laughter, Dad replied, “What do you mean 'say anything’? Isn’t that what you’re already doing?”“Daniel Johnson?” Mom used his full name, a clear sign she was furious. “You’re just going to let our daughter decide not to go to college? Worse, you’re backing her up? Are you serious?”Dad sighed, clearly worn out, and countered, mimicking Mom’s tone, “Becky Johnson, I don’t see you doing anything.”Lisa and Lora burst into laugh
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-10Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 3 ~ An Old Friend
~~~~The following week, things kicked off with a surprising twist. Lisa and Lora were back in school, their tuition fees finally sorted, while I stayed behind, embracing my new role as the family’s resident farmhand.My mornings were spent helping Mom and Papa on the farm, and by afternoon, I’d transform into a savvy market vendor, haggling over the price of vegetables, fruits, and spices that I’d painstakingly gathered from our land.At first, it wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. Let’s just say, I wasn’t born with a green thumb.But after almost two years of back-breaking work, I became a bit of a farming prodigy—well, at least in my eyes. I could tell when the soil was just right, spot a ripe tomato from a mile away, and even shoo away pesky critters without breaking a sweat.Sometimes, when Mom and Dad couldn’t make it to the fields, I’d step in, working tirelessly under the sun. I was convinced it was up to me to keep everything running smoothly. Mom and Papa weren’t getting any
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-11Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride Chapter 3 ~ Continuation
~~~~So, just like that, I opened up to Rachael, laying it all out. I told her how I decided to give up my education and my dreams, so my siblings could continue theirs. I wasn’t exactly drowning in shame—I was genuinely happy to see my sisters moving forward.But, honestly, there were times when the sadness crept in, that nagging feeling of being a failure, stuck in the same place for twenty years.It was like a little voice constantly reminding me that I hadn’t done anything remarkable with my life. I wanted to change things, but the ‘how’ and ‘what’ felt like questions I couldn’t answer.frankly speaking, I was getting tired of putting on a fake smile, pretending everything was fine when it wasn’t.The weight of it all—the sadness, the self-doubt—was overwhelming. Here I was, twenty years old and feeling like a failure with nothing to my name. No matter how strong I tried to appear, a part of me died inside every single day.Rachael’s eyes widen in disbelief. “Wow! That’s... well,
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-09-11
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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
