Chapter 2 02

Natalie Jackson:

"Ah!" Amelia cried out, being the drama queen she was. Franklin rushed downstairs to her.

"What did you do to her?" Franklin growled at me as he gently helped Amelia up.

I hadn't even pushed Amelia with force; I only wanted to pull her away. But because she saw Franklin rushing downstairs, she faked being hurt.

"Frank, your wife-I mean, Natalie-bit me just now and pushed me away," Amelia said, holding her arm and sobbing as she got up from the floor.

Franklin looked at me angrily and spat, "I can't believe you would do this to your only sister. You're not even Mr. Liam's legitimate daughter, and yet you can't treat your sister right. Come, Amy, let's go out to eat and leave her to eat her food alone."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I stood watching them. It was Saturday, and Franklin definitely didn't work on Saturdays and Sundays.

I sobbed, wanting to stop them, and I went outside just in time to see Franklin getting into his black car after helping Amelia close the door-like the gentleman he never was with me.

"Franklin, where are you going?" I asked him. It was already after 7 p.m., and getting late.

My soup was delicious, yet Franklin accused me of making it bitter and probably poisoning it.

I sobbed and watched Franklin order the security guard to open the gate. Soon, he drove out of our residence, going God knows where with Amelia. What did I do wrong now? I wondered as I sobbed.

I went back into the house, unable to follow them. Franklin has three cars, while I don't have any. He's never even given me a ride in any of his cars, let alone opened the car door for me like a gentleman.

As I went back into the house, I looked at the dining table and the tray of food.

I sat down and ate it, not wanting the food to go to waste. I finished my meal, the one Franklin had wanted Amelia to eat, and I put Franklin's meal in the microwave to warm it so it wouldn't spoil.

I kept the soup in a small pot and covered it. Then, I left the kitchen and went back to the dining room to tidy up.

Once I was through cleaning the dining table, I wiped my tears away and went to lock the door, waiting for Franklin to return.

~~~

Franklin Howard:

Being married to that local woman was the worst day of my life. I couldn't believe she drugged me. On the day her father was having one of his successful deals' party, he invited my father and some other partners to attend the celebration at his home.

That was when I first laid eyes on Natalie. She looked so innocent that I wouldn't have imagined she was planning to drug me.

While everyone was enjoying themselves in the party hall, which was the living room where the Jacksons mostly welcomed their guests, I followed Natalie to get to know her that evening. My parents were busy chatting with other families that attended the event, so I excused myself and followed Natalie.

I hadn't seen her before, however I knew she was also a daughter of Mr. Liam. Everyone knew the story of how Natalie came about.

Her mother was a prostitute who wasn't ready to raise a child, and the rumors had it that her mother had tried to abort her, but Natalie was stubborn and came out after nine months.

I wanted to speak with Natalie that night, to know what kind of person she was.

She was short, with a cute round face and brown, sparkling eyes.

She was more beautiful than Amelia then, and I did admire her and wanted to know her.

What irritated me was that Natalie had drugged her wine and was looking for a hookup that night, just like her mother.

She knew most of the families that attended her father's party were rich, so I was the scapegoat, and I accepted to drink from her wine.

That was when I awoke and found myself on the bed with her. We were both náked, and I didn't know how many hours I had spent with Natalie in the room.

Her family came looking for me and her, and they pushed her room door open and caught us together on the bed.

"Natalie! Franklin!" My parents and hers shouted, and to cover up our shame, they concluded that Natalie and I must get married. Indeed, her sheet had stains, meaning I did it with her.

I was angry, not wanting to believe Natalie was a cheap woman. I didn't want to marry her, but my father refused and said I wouldn't sabotage his friendship with the Jacksons.

It was only right that I marry Natalie and pretend that Natalie and I had been in an affair, which wasn't the truth.

I couldn't remember how we did it, and I didn't want to sleep with Natalie after we got married. Luckily, she didn't conceive after that night, and I'm planning on divorcing her now because I want to move on with my life and maybe marry her sister.

Amelia has class, and she's a graduate who speaks fluently, while Natalie is an embarrassment.

When my best friend, Michael Austin, comes to visit me, I feel embarrassed each time he sees my wife.

I can't take Natalie to any events with me, and I'm thinking of divorcing her. As a Billionaire CEO of H.W. Global, I think it's best I file for a divorce and marry a woman who is of my standard.

If you ask me what I like about Natalie, I don't think I like anything about her, as she's no longer beautiful to me. She's only good at cooking, and I will find a replacement for that.

I drove my car to a fancy restaurant, and while I hate to eat out, I just have to excuse myself away from Natalie to get to know Amelia better.

"I hope your arm isn't hurting you too much?" I asked Amelia, as she claimed Natalie hurt her just when I went inside to change my clothes.

"No. It's okay now," Amelia smiled, and I nodded. "Okay," I smiled back. It was already getting late, and I drove my car into one of the most costly restaurants around.

"We're here. Let's grab something to eat here," I told Amelia with a smile on my face, and she smiled back at me. Her face had minimal makeup, and it was something I liked about her. Not too much makeup, and yet she was beautiful.

I got out of my car and took Amelia by her hand as I escorted her into the restaurant. We went to the private section of the restaurant, where I sat down and ordered something nice for the two of us.

Amelia smiled, and her phone rang just as she settled on her chair across from me.

"Hello, Father," she said while I waved over to the waiter to come serve us something nice.

"Yes, I went to see Franklin and Natalie. They're fine, Dad. Don't worry, I'll be home on time, so you don't have to worry about me," Amelia said, speaking to her father as she smiled flirtatiously at me.

"Okay, Dad. Take care, too," Amelia ended the call, and without me asking her, she said, "My Dad wanted to know who I went out to see. You know that I don't have any boyfriend or lover."

"Oh, that's nice," I said.

As I wanted to ask her what she would like to eat, her phone rang, and she answered the call, "Hey, Felix. Yeah, I went out with Franklin. I'll call you back, or I'll be home on time," she told him and soon ended the call.

The same goes for her two other brothers. They call to check up on her, but since I got married to Natalie, no one usually calls to check on Natalie either.

"So, what would you like to have for dinner?" I asked Amelia, and she blinked her long eyelashes and bit her lower pink lip.

"Anything you choose, Franklin," Amelia said, and I smiled at her.

"That's fine," I said and chose a simple meal, a plate of chicken pepper soup, as I didn't want us to waste much time so that we could go back home.

"So tell me, Franklin, how have you been coping with my ugly sister? I knew that if Natalie hadn't set you up, you and I were supposed to have become a pair," Amelia said, and I met her shining blue eyes that shimmered in the night.