Novel-novel oleh Tobiloba

JOLENE’s POVThree Weeks LaterIt felt like the living beings in this house learnt how to hurt me without making any noise.It had been twenty-two days since the gala, three hundred and forty-three left on the contract and I counted it like I had no other job.Every morning started the same, I made coffee at 6:30 because Rebecca liked it black and she liked it to burn her tongue.I'd set her cup on the island and step back, then the usual mockery and insults.But they didn't hurt more than the footsteps that'd come from the west wing.The first sounds were soft, Maya's bare foot and then heavier ones which were Jake's.Maya always came in with her arms already around him, and when we'd accidentally crosspath, she'd put on a smile that explains she was taking over.“Morning, babe,” she would murmur against the back of his shirt. And Jake would turn, just a little, and his hands would come up to cover hers.He never did that with me and I thought I'd be fine by it but I wasn't, rather

JOLENE’s POV"Are you suggesting an open marriage?"He cocked a brow at me and then wipe his nose like I struck him. “The will says we have to be married for a year,” he continued, voice going cold again. “It doesn’t say anything about me being faithful.”“You can have your own rooms. Your own life,” he resumed moving his eyes everywhere but me. “But when we’re in public, we’re a unit. When we’re at home...” He gestured vaguely toward the second floor. “She stays in the west wing.”I turned blind not even knowing where to begin.“And if I have a problem with that?”“Then you forfeit the five million.” His answer came immediately with no hesitation. “And Stacy’s surgery debt becomes yours. All fifty thousand of it.”Stacy.My younger sister. In a hospital bed waiting for a kidney that Logan had paid for.I understood then. This wasn’t about Logan wanting us together. This was about Logan chaining us both.Jake must have seen it on my face because his expression changed.He walked to t

TWO WEEKS LATERJOLENE’s POVIt’s been two weeks since the will reading. The table sat in a graveyard hush and the only clink of silverware was permitted to sound.And as always, I didn't exist. My fingers still itches me from the hot water that accidentally poured on me.Not until Rebecca threw a spoon over the chowder soup just as I was about to take a sit.“Jolene.” Her voice sounded like a ticking bomb. I'd anchored myself for the hit, daring myself not to look into her eyes.“This soup is lukewarm. Do I look like someone who drinks lukewarm soup?”My fingers tightened. Three years caring for Logan and I’d never burned a meal. Now, one week as a wife and I couldn’t pour water right.I kept my head down, hands shaking around the ladle. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Henderson. I’ll heat it right away.”“You’ve been heating it wrong for three years,” Hailey snorted from across the table twirling a noodle on her fork. “Maybe it’s not the soup. Maybe it’s you.”Shame scalded me. The servants here

JOLENE’s POV“My last minute discussions with Jolene before I finally decided to pull off the life support made me understand how much this family needs her, how much you need her Jake. Even though we were rich, you’ve had a rough childhood with I and your mother never really being there. It’s led to you being commitment shy, drifting through life and women like the wind.”I swallowed. Where the heck was this going? Jake had removed his hand that was on my knee, now he’d fisted it. I could tell from the clench in his jaw that he was angry.I could only hope his anger was directed at his father.“Jake, you only get everything if you get married to Jolene tomorrow, a contract marriage. Give it a year, if after one year, you’re sure you want to leave, then you can get a divorce. It’s impromptu, I know, but I can’t give you time to talk yourself out of it, now can I?”I shook my head, swallowing as Jake shot to his feet. “I don’t want it! I don’t freaking want any fortune that’ll dictate

JOLENEI blinked back tears as the Priest’s droning voice sounded in my ears. “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”I sucked in a breath, hating the tremor that ran through me as Jake stepped closer. He was so close I could feel his body heat, that wiff of lime scented aftershave.I closed my eyes, angling my head up as I remembered the last time we’d kissed. The last time he’d held me in his arms, treated me like a meant a thing…Someone laughed, and a few other sniggers followed. I could hear the ever present paparazzi cameras clicking away.My stomach dropped and I sucked in a breath opening my eyes, only to see Jake walking away.He had left me standing there by the altar, waiting to be kissed.I bit down my lower lip, feeling my lips stretch into a huge, fake smile when all I wanted to do was cry.In one single morning, I had lost my best friend, my sister’s future hung on a thin line, and I was married. Married into a family that hated my guts.I could