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Chapter 17
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Pretend Wife Chapter 18
As I longed for a familiar voice, I stretched my arm towards the phone and dialed Julie's number."Hey there babe," I uttered, hoping that her voice would wash over me."Hey Jasper," came her weak response.My voice trembled with concern. "Are you okay? You sound a bit off.""I think I might be catching something," she informed me."Oh dear," I replied with sympathy. "Actually, I called to let you know that I'll be working tonight. But if you're unwell, I can come back home."Julie's voice perked up. "Don't worry about me. Focus on your internship. I just need to rest and I'll be fine."A smile lit up my face as I felt relieved that she wasn't overexerting herself. "Okay, but if you need anything, just give me a call, alright?""I will. Love you," she said, but the line went silent before I could respond.Dismissing the uneasy feeling, I shifted my focus to work and dove into finalizing the interior designs with Johnny, who arrived shortly after. With AutoCAD open on my computer, I pai
The Pretend Wife Chapter 19
I handed Jasper a tissue, and he let out a grateful groan as he took it from me."You probably think I'm a wimp, a cry baby," Jasper muttered, blowing his nose.I quickly spoke up, trying to clarify, "No, Jasper, I actually find it endearing when guys are in touch with their emotions."As soon as the words left my mouth, my cheeks turned red with worry that he might misunderstand my intentions. Did I just sound like a creep who hits on men when they cry?Jasper chuckled, finally breaking the tension. "You're funny, Jasper!" I protested."It's hilarious!" he retorted, using an annoying sing-song voice.With a mischievous mood, I grabbed a cushion and initiated another thrilling pillow fight. We both ended up on the carpeted floor, gasping for breath and feeling drained. As I regained my composure, I glanced over at Jasper. His smile had returned, and whatever had been bothering him earlier appeared to have dissipated. I decided not to pry into his private affairs, assuming that it was a
The Pretend Wife Chapter 20
Mirabel was in a tight spot financially, unable to afford quitting her job. As a student, finding employment was tough for both of us.Dan had been a constant annoyance for Mirabel, but she had always rejected his advances. However, when I joined the job three weeks ago, he shifted his attention towards me.During my shift, I worked tirelessly, juggling responsibilities between the kitchen and serving tables. When my much-needed break finally arrived, my legs were pleading for rest. I made my way to the staff room and laid down on the bench. I closed my eyes for a moment, but when I opened them, I was horrified to see Dan's hand creeping up my leg.My attempts to scream were muffled as he forcefully covered my mouth with his hand. I stared up at him, my eyes wide with fear, realizing that I was utterly helpless in his grip. Despite the blaring music in the café, no one would be able to hear my cries for help unless they were standing right outside the door.Dan's hold on me tightened,
The Pretend Wife Chapter 21
As I settled in to watch a sci-fi movie, my attention was abruptly pulled away by Cassandra, who had begun to shiver uncontrollably. Worried, I approached her and realized that she was lost in a terrifying flashback, trembling with fear. My heart raced in my chest as I held her close, trying to comfort her in any way I could. Her eyes slowly opened and met mine, and I saw relief flood over her as she clung to me gratefully.I let out a deep breath that I hadn't realized I had been holding, relieved that Cassandra wasn't having a seizure. But then I noticed tears streaming down her face, and she was sobbing inconsolably. I was taken aback, wondering what could have caused her such profound distress."Oh, no. I wish it were that simple," she said with a heavy sigh, her voice filled with sorrow. "It's something that happened to me during my college years."My heart sank as I grasped the gravity of her words. I steeled myself for what she was about to reveal. "What happened?" I asked, my v
The Pretend Wife Chapter 22
As I was in the midst of a tickle war with Jasper, the bedroom door suddenly swung open, and Mrs. Madison stormed in wielding a frying pan with a determined expression on her face. She quickly assessed the situation, but her eyes widened with surprise and embarrassment as she realized her mistake. Apologetically, she explained that she had thought there was a more serious disturbance going on.Jasper, always the smooth talker, diffused the situation with a charming smile and an explanation of our harmless antics. Mrs. Madison shook her head, muttering something about locking bedroom doors, while Jasper gave me a mischievous grin.I was left breathless and sweaty from the tickle war, but I managed to catch my breath as Jasper released my hands from his playful grip. I couldn't help but smile, imagining how this scene must have looked to an outsider.After Jasper left to take a shower, I eagerly dug into the delicious breakfast Mrs. Madison had prepared. Soon, we were on our way to my ap
The Pretend Wife Chapter 23
"Wait and see," he smirked, taking a leisurely sip of his coffee.As I forced down the last drops of my drink, I excused myself and headed towards the restroom, hoping to escape the building tension. Jasper nodded nonchalantly in response. As I walked down the hallway, my nerves eased a bit. Maybe Dan wasn't even here, I tried to reassure myself. But just as I was about to exit the passage, my path was blocked by someone. Before I could react, a hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my scream. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked into Dan's furious eyes, and my body froze with fear."So, Cassandra, you finally decided to show up, huh?" he sneered, his gaze traveling up and down my body. I squeezed my eyes shut, whimpering in terror."Well, you do look stunning," he taunted, licking his lips with a sinister grin. I felt revulsion surge through me, tears streaming down my face. I hated myself for showing any sign of weakness. I tried to resist, to fight back, but it only seemed to amu
The Pretend Wife Chapter 24
Aiva was unyielding in her stance. "Absolutely not," she scolded her brother. "Women experience false labor for a reason. It's like a practice run for the real thing, and you, my dear brother, have failed miserably."David attempted to defend himself. "It's not my fault, Aiva! You and Teddy practiced for it, not me!""Exactly," Aiva retorted. "So now we're all going to practice." She clapped her hands together, and I looked at her with disbelief. She didn't appear to have just gone through false labor. Wasn't it supposed to be extremely painful, even if it was false? I was inclined to support David's suggestion of a nap."She's right, you know," Cassandra chimed in. "We need to get organized in case it happens for real."I arched my eyebrows in surprise as I looked at her, and she returned the expression with a determined look. "So, Aiva, where's your room?" I inquired.Aiva pointed towards a door, and Cassandra gestured for all of us to follow her. David and I exchanged resigned glanc
The Pretend Wife Chapter 25
Without hesitation, we rushed down the stairs. However, in our hurry, David's leg became entangled with mine and we tumbled down several steps before painfully landing on the floor.As we lay groaning in pain, Cassandra suddenly appeared with her hands on her hips, disapprovingly clicking her tongue. "Boys, remember rule number one: no running. People can get hurt," she scolded.I shot her a dirty look, unable to suppress my frustration. "You could have warned us," I grumbled under my breath.Cassandra simply rolled her eyes, as if my comment was absurd. But how was I supposed to know not to run? I had never had to rush a woman in labor to the hospital before!A sudden interruption of tense silence was made by Aiva's voice. "Hey! I'm having labor pains here!"In response, David rushed towards the door, while I picked up Aiva's travel bag, and Cassandra hurried over to Aiva's side. We followed David outside, where he stood frozen in front of the garage. Then, unexpectedly, Aiva let out
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The Pretend Wife Chapter 164
As soon as news of our engagement spread through the media, it quickly became the talk of the town across various news platforms in Seattle. True to form, there were a handful of envious individuals who seized the opportunity to launch a barrage of insults at me, resorting to all kinds of derogatory names. Some even went as far as suggesting that I must have employed supernatural means to captivate Noah's affections, questioning how a prosperous and youthful man could possibly be enamored by someone like me. Fortunately, my loyal friends emerged as my staunch defenders, taking on the trolls and even granting interviews on Instagram live streams to clear my tarnished reputation.Both Noah and I have consistently turned down interview requests, including those from reputable media outlets. His stance was that our relationship is not open for public scrutiny, a sentiment I wholeheartedly share. In accordance with our mutual decision, we have chosen to have a destination wedding at a ser
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After precisely two months of reconciling with Noah , I made the decision to organize a surprise birthday celebration for him. With his 33rd birthday approaching, my aim was to create an intimate and elegant party to honor him. To bring this event to life, I sought the assistance of his closest friends, Fredrick and Jamiu, as well as his parents. They were all eager to contribute and help organize the occasion. Today, his family will be traveling from Spain to Seattle to attend the party, which will take place at the lavish residence of their family friend, Mr. Matthew Dawnson, a billionaire tycoon.Marilyn, who suggested the venue, assured me that Matthew's house in Seattle was the ideal location for the type of party I have envisioned. As it turns out, she was absolutely correct. The mansion occupied a vast expanse of land that seemed to extend infinitely, bordered by the tranquil waterfront of Kirkland lagoon.It felt as though we've stepped into a breathtaking Caribbean paradise r
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Acting on a tip from Marilyn, I decided to visit one of Noah's clubs where an artist signed to his record label was performing tonight. Noah was unaware of my surprise visit, although he knew his mother had come to see me earlier. She had asked if she should inform him about my desire to meet up, but I declined, as I was the one who had cut ties with him and explicitly forbade him from contacting me again.As I approached the entrance, the bouncers inquired if my name was on the guest list. For the first time, doubts crept into my mind, questioning the wisdom of my impromptu visit. A sense of déjà vu washed over me, reminiscent of the day months ago when I went to Noah's residence for an unexpected meet up. That particular evening marked the beginning of our relationship and held the significance of our first intimate encounter. The memory brought a smile to my face, instilling in me the confidence to proceed with my purpose for the night.Approaching one of the colossal bouncers, I
The Pretend Wife Chapter 161
The children and I didn't make it downstairs until slightly past 10 a.m. It had been an incredible night, courtesy of my unexpected visit from my cousin, Samuel , who asked if he could spend the weekend with us. I was delighted to have his company, and thanks to him, we stayed up later than usual, engaging in enjoyable games, a family karaoke session, and indulging in the junk food he had brought along.Luckily, today was Saturday, so there was no need to wake up at the crack of dawn to prepare for school and work. Samuel was still asleep on the couch in the living room where we had left him the previous night. I signaled to the girls to be quiet as we stealthily made our way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast."What are we having for breakfast?" Anna inquired eagerly. "I'm famished!""Shh! Let's not wake up Uncle Samuel ," Bella admonished her sister in a hushed tone."I agree," I responded softly. "After entertaining us so well last night, he deserves to rest.""Can we have eggs
The Pretend Wife Chapter 160
As the new school year approached, my enthusiasm surpassed even that of my children. They often wondered what made me so cheerful. I was genuinely delighted to embrace the return of a structured routine. Each day held a sense of purpose: escorting my daughters to school, proceeding to work after bidding them farewell, accomplishing our weekly grocery shopping, enjoying quality time with my girlfriends every other weekend, and sporadically receiving visits from my siblings. These engagements filled my days with various activities, diverting my attention from ruminating about Noah and whether he and Reina managed to establish a connection after that dreadful morning four and a half months ago. It's astonishing how swiftly time has flown by!Interrupting my thoughts, Joe jovially exclaimed, "Knock, knock! Who's there?"I found myself seated in my office, experiencing a rather uneventful day in terms of business. Impatience consumed me as I eagerly anticipated the moment when I must pick
The Pretend Wife Chapter 159
This morning's breakfast was a delightful and uncomplicated affair. I indulged in fried bean cakes, accompanied by corn pudding generously adorned with milk and sugar, and a serving of freshly baked bread. As I savored each bite, a rush of nostalgia envelopped me, transporting me back to my cherished childhood. It was during those Saturday mornings that my mother would skillfully prepare this delightful combination, her dedication evident after hours of meticulously cleaning the house and its surroundings. Ah, the fond memories of those days gone by.Noah, observing me intently with an inquisitive smile, playfully remarked, "Seems like our chef deserves a raise, considering the immense joy on your face. I never knew you were such an ardent fan of bean cakes. Or perhaps it's the velvety-smooth pudding that has brought about such happiness?"A gentle chuckle escaped my lips as I responded, "Not exactly. Although this food has undeniably transported me back to my childhood, it was my mot
The Pretend Wife Chapter 158
The atmosphere in the car was heavy with silence as Noah and I made our way back to his house. The palpable tension reflected Noah's evident annoyance and embarrassment over the deplorable treatment I received from his parents during my inaugural visit to their home. While my family may not be affluent, I am certain that they would never exhibit such overt rudeness towards someone they were meeting for the first time. Age should not be a point of contention, and there is certainly nothing inherently terrible about having children. Yet, they made me feel as if I were afflicted with a contagious disease. Why did Marilyn, in particular, direct such venomous hostility towards me from the moment she laid eyes on me? And as for Reina , what is her ulterior motive? As we pulled up to Noah's house, his sour mood still hung in the air. I am torn about whether I should offer an apology to him, even though it was I who should feel offended, not him. With determined strides, he ascended the sta
The Pretend Wife Chapter 157
As we reached the backyard, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Noah's father didn't match the image I had in my mind. Unlike what I expected, the elderly Taylor was tall, slender, and attractive, with hair that's gracefully greying. On the other hand, I couldn't help but feel annoyed when I saw Reina , who looked like she was part of the family. She was wearing tiny shorts that barely covered her buttocks, paired with a cropped knit top that showcased her extremely flat stomach. Her short hair was styled into shiny finger curls, complemented by sleek baby hairs at the front. She was also sporting a pair of Gucci slides, partially concealing her feet. As soon as she spotted me, she casted a deliberate, slow glance from my head to my toes, making it abundantly clear that she didn't welcome my presence. "Hello, Father!" Noah enthusiastically greeted his dad, extricating himself from his mother and approaching his father. "Hey, son!" Exclaimed the older Taylor , stepping forward t
The Pretend Wife Chapter 156
Over the next three days, Noah and I immersed ourselves in exploring Spain to its fullest extent. We made it a point to visit various tourist attractions and indulge in sightseeing activities. To ensure my daughters were part of the experience, I diligently recorded each outing and shared the videos with them via my cousin's WhatsApp. Alternatively, I would connect with them through Skype during our trips, allowing them to witness our joyous outdoor adventures in real-time.On the fourth day of our stay in Spain, we were abruptly awakened at 7 a.m. by the persistent ringing of Noah's phone. Our sleep schedule had been adjusted since arriving in Spain, causing this unexpected phone call to catch us off guard."Darn it, I should have turned off my phone last night," Noah grumbled into his pillow. "Who in the world could be calling at this hour?""Please answer the darn phone so I can get some more sleep!" I replied drowsily, feeling increasingly annoyed by the incessant ringing that w
