Chapter one

Chapter one

"Ahh..." it's so nice to finally breathe in the sweet oxygen of London again, especially when you're back for revenge.

"Mum, come on, move..." I felt the hem of my gown being pulled at and I looked down to see my five year old daughter tugging at it, staring at me with a frustrated scowl.

Her lips were pout in annoyance and her brows furrowed in the worst kind of bad she could go, which was still very adorable.

I smiled at her and with a scoop, I had her in my arms as I made my way down the plane.

"I didn't ask you to carry me, I can walk, I'm not a baby anymore" she said as she tried her best to push herself off my hold.

Aria can really be stubborn most times. With the pushing getting too much, I just had to give in and drop her on the floor.

"What's it with you, missy?" I asked her with my hands placed on my hips. She in turn puffs up and fold her arms, looking away from me. Such character!

"He–hey...you forgot m–me..."

I looked up back at the entrance of the plane and catch Aria's twin brother trying to pull our two luggage boxes which were about thrice his size.

I gasped and ran towards him. I can't believe I almost forgot about the less sassy one.

"No no mum, I can do it..." he said when I made to grab the bags from him. His brows arched in a focused frown as he tried all his possible best to pull them over the plane's entrance.

I just stood there, watching him as he displayed his childish tenacity. Although, I sometimes curse the father of these little brats, I also do bless him for giving them to me. For the past five years, they have been the ones making me push forward an not giving up, because of them I...

"Move him out of the way woman!" the hoarse voice of an older man pulls me out of my trance. I quickly scoop Archie onto my arms, out of the way of about twenty queuing passengers inside the plane.

"But mum, I already had it covered" said Archie as we made our way down the plane with the boxes.

"Sure you did son" I simply reply as I placed him down beside his sister.

Good, now we have made it to London successfully, where do we stay is the next agenda.

I know it's crazy that I had come all the way from New York to London without any plans on where I and my kids are going to live. But it was all part of the plan, I guess.

My friend, Lily who resides in New York had told me about this young man who is looking for a wife to quickly get married to. His parents had been pestering him about it for long and he was so desperate for a wife now to get them off his back. I know it sounds crazy but I am to meet with this man and sign a contract with him to get married for each other's benefits.

I think there is a lot of confusion here so let me explain better. I came back from New York to get revenge on my ex boyfriend and kid sister who had betrayed me five years ago. All my late mother's properties including her company had been stolen from me, leaving me with no choice to run away as they still had more wrath in store to unleash upon me.

But then I found out I was pregnant with a set of twins and the worst part is I don't even know who their father is. I know, right. Actually, you can't blame me, I was broken and I had to clear my mind with a little alcohol but things had taken a drastic turn and I had a one night stand with this handsome stranger. I hadn't expected myself to get pregnant actually, it was meant to be a single night of bliss and that's it, but my womb decided to hold his sperm and fertilize it.

So fast forward to five years later and I was still struggling about in New York City with my twins while my ex and his new lover became successful day by day with my sweat. I just couldn't stay back and continue to hear news of the great achievements of the James Group of companies while I know it was my own sweat that was used to grow that company.

"Mum, why are we standing here?" Aria's tiny voice pulled me out of my thoughts again and I looked down to see her frowning at me the umpteenth time today. I then glanced over at Archie who just stood there looking at the various passers by.

I wonder why she couldn't just be like him –gentle, not sassy and acting more of her age.

"Mum?" her voice once again caught my attention. She was right, why are we still standing here? Oh yeah, waiting for the young man I'm to get married to.

I looked around and spot a place where some other people were sitting and probably waiting for who would pick them.

"Come on kids, let's go wait over there" I grab Archie's wrist and the handles of the luggage boxes and made my way towards the chairs while Aria followed behind. She wouldn't allow me hold her so I didn't bother to.

We sat there and I dialed Lily's phone number. According to her, the man would be waiting for us at the airport but here we are, experiencing the opposite.

"Not reachable"

Argh! I had to hold myself from smashing the phone angrily on the floor. Why is this happening to me now? I'm really starting to regret this whole idea of getting revenge.

But what can I do? Like I said, I couldn't just sit back and watch those thieves enjoy the works of my hands while I and my precious little darlings wallow in poverty and struggle, no, I couldn't allow that. And the only way not to allow that is if I get married to someone at least, to show them I wasn't just a pathetic lot.

"Ringing..."

Finally!

"Hey babe, you there yet?" Lily's jovial tone rang out of the phone's speaker immediately she picked up.

"Yeah, we're here alright, but we don't see Lyon, mind explaining that?" I asked her, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in my tone.

"Erm...about that..." I hate it when she says that. Nothing good ever comes after she talks that way.

"Come on, Lily not now..." I groan.

"Lyon's dead, Nora" she blurts out from the other end causing me to keep mute instantly. I don't think I heard her clearly.

"I'm sorry I didn't get you" I said.

"You heard me right, Nora. Lyon's plane crashed and a lot of passengers were killed in it, he is included" she explained and my skin began to grow goose bumps. So that's how one dies, just like that? He was meant to meet us at the airport and now he was dead.

A long sigh escaped my lips, "What now, Lily, I can't just wait here with my little kids" I said, remembering my own plight.

I heard her sigh before she speaks, "I don't know now, I think it's up to you since you're the only one there" she said and my eyes immediately go saucers.

"What? You're leaving this to me, are you insane?" I yelled at her, earning questionable stares from the passers by.

"Relax, you can just find somewhere to stay with the kids for today, tomorrow I promise to find someone else you can get married to" she said, as if that was any consolation.

I rolled my eyes and just then, I saw a man walking in with some other men I presume to be his bodyguards. My gaze got glued unto him, the exuberance he exuded was so dominant and profound. His entire look spelt masculinity and I didn't know when drool started to drop from my mouth.

"What! What do you mean she's backing out?" he yells at whoever he was speaking to on his phone. Even his angered tone is hot.

"Where do you want me to get a wife before tomorrow, uhn? Tell me!" he yelled again and oh...wait, did I hear right?

"Nora, you there?" Lily's voice rang into my ear. I had forgotten I was also on a call with someone.

"Hey um... I'll call you back"

"Wait wh–" I had hung up before she could ask any more questions. An idea had quickly formed in my head and I stood up and approached the wealthy looking man. My hips subconsciously had more jiggle and I wondered if it was because he was a gorgeous piece of artwork or because of what I was about to do.

"Excuse me, sir" I called at him and he turned with his brows still furrowed in obvious anger.

"Who's she?" he wasn't asking me, but one of the bodyguards by his side. But I decided to reply before the latter does.

"I'm the person willing to get married to you" I said and he looked at me with a narrowed gaze.