Chapter 4

FRANKLIN POV

"Okay," Amelia replied, and we started eating the chicken pepper soup the waiter had served us earlier.

We didn't speak to each other while eating since the pepper soup was spicy. After we finished and had a few drinks, I began to feel a light headache. I smiled at Amelia and told her, "I have to go home now. How about we meet up tomorrow, Sunday? Do you go to church?"

"Um, yes, Franklin. But I'd like to have some time with you tonight. You know, just you and me," Amelia touched my hand, and I quickly withdrew it, understanding what she wanted.

"No. We can't do anything foolish right now. I'm still married to your sister, and my family isn't aware that I want to divorce her," I told Amelia as I began to sweat despite the air conditioning in the private parlor.

Amelia frowned and tried to touch me again. "No one would know, Franklin. I've always wanted you, and now that I'm back, we'll be together. You'll send Natalie away."

I wanted to give in to the idea. My parents didn't like Natalie and only had me marry her to hide our family's shame. My father wouldn't want the news spreading that I'd slept with a young woman in her father's house.

I had little memory of how Natalie and I had sex. Each time I tried to think about it, I'd develop a headache.

"No." I rose to my feet and told Amelia, "We'll get to all that later. I promise you, I'm not sleeping with your sister. After she set me up, I've been living with her as a roommate. We haven't done anything intimate."

"Really?" Amelia's eyebrows shot up as she looked at me in shock.

"Yes. We have separate bedrooms, but sometimes we use the same room. Natalie knows not to cross boundaries with me."

"But you've seen her náked."

"No." I quickly waved off the topic of seeing my wife nàked. It was something I didn't like to think about.

Natalie was more beautiful naked than in clothes. What did I expect from the daughter of a prostitute? She didn't know how to dress and mostly wore loose-fitting clothes of poor quality.

I wondered who had advised Natalie to pursue fashion when she wasn't fashionable.

I would have preferred to open a supermarket for Natalie, but what if she seduced her male customers and had them drugged?

Natalie was still my wife, and I was famous in this part of the city. I wouldn't want her dragging my name through the mud with her wayward life, coupled with the fact that I hadn't touched her since we got married. So it was best that she stayed home.

I enjoyed Natalie's cooking, but I didn't want to acknowledge that I liked anything about her.

Once I divorced her, I'd employ a chef to handle my meals since I didn't like eating fast food. I'd also hire a dry-cleaning service for my laundry.

That way, Natalie would be of no use to me.

"Come, let's go home. I'll drop you off since it's already getting late. Tomorrow, we'll hang out again," I told Amelia as I saw her frown.

Amelia stood up, hugged me, and said, "I really want to spend the night with you."

"Don't worry. We'll meet later." I carefully pulled Amelia away as I began to feel sick and sweaty.

"Waiter!" I called and soon cleared our bill with my debit card. Once we left the restaurant, I drove to the Jacksons' residence, knowing it was a short distance from my home.

I arrived at the front gate and parked my car. I unlocked it from inside, unable to get out and pull the door open.

"Franklin, you promise we'll hang out together tomorrow?" Amelia asked once more, looking at me with her lovely blue eyes.

"Yes," I replied, and Amelia got out of the car.

"Take care, sweetie!" She waved at me as I watched her walk back to her father's house.

I locked my car door and felt a wave of arousal. I wanted a warm body beside me.

"What's wrong with me? Was I drugged?" I wondered and quickly started the engine and drove home.

In 3 years of marriage to Natalie, I hadn't visited a prostitute. I didn't want to start now, so I drove home thinking I'd feel better once I arrived.

It was my habit to fall sick each time I ate out. I didn't like it.

I arrived home late, drove into my compound, and parked my car.

I staggered out and dragged myself toward the house. I didn't know what time it was, but I was certain it was already late.

When I reached the front door, I knocked, but there was no response. I banged on it, and when the door finally opened, Natalie stood there wearing a light green nightgown.

"Welcome back," she greeted me as she stepped away from the door to let me in.

I entered the living room. As she locked the door and turned to face me, I couldn't hold it back anymore. I grabbed her arms and yelled, "What did you do to me?"

"Huh! What did I do wrong?" Natalie asked, her brown eyes welling up with tears.

I looked at her face. I couldn't believe I was beginning to find her attractive. I tried to look away from her chest, but my eyes kept drifting downward to stare at her huge breasts.

"You drugged me again, didn't you? Why can't you accept that I don't love you and our marriage is fake!" I yelled at her again, wanting to suppress my desire, but my body was overheating. I didn't know how long I could endure this.

"I don't know what you're talking about. You're the one who left the house with Amelia. What did she do to you? You come back home accusing me," Natalie sobbed, and I refused to believe that Amelia would drug me.

"Shut up. We've been at home since morning. I ate your food before going out with Amelia. Is that why you kept Amelia from eating your food—because you put a love potion in it!" I shouted, not wanting to believe that now that I'd finally made up my mind to divorce Natalie, she dared to use voodoo on me.

"No! I can't do that! I know you don't like me, but I can't stoop so low as to drug you. I want us to end our marriage peacefully and go our separate ways. I'll have the divorce papers ready by Monday," Natalie said.

"And you expect me to believe that? I've asked you several times for a divorce, for you to leave, and you refused. Now you've drugged me again just because you saw me with your sister. Well, guess what? It worked, and I can't help but desire you tonight."

"What??" Natalie struggled to break free from my grasp at the door and yelled, "No, Franklin! I don't want you! Once you wake up tomorrow, you'll lie and say I used you. Let me go!"

I ignored Natalie's screams as I lifted her up in my arms, and carried her to our room on the top floor.