Chapter 4

**Franklin's POV**

"It's fine," Amelia replied, and we started eating the chicken pepper soup the waiter had served earlier.

We did not speak while eating because 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 would like to spend some time with you today. You know, just you and me," Amelia touched my hand, and I quickly withdrew it, understanding what she wanted.

"No. We cannot do anything inappropriate right now. I'm still married to your sister, and my family is not aware that I want to divorce her," I told Amelia. I was beginning to sweat despite the air conditioning unit running in the private room.

Amelia frowned and tried to touch me again as she said, "No one would know, Franklin. I have always wanted you, and now that I'm back, we will be together, and you will send Natalie away."

I wanted to give in to what Amelia suggested. My parents did not like Natalie and had only insisted I marry her to hide our family shame. My father did not want news to spread that I had 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 recall it, I would develop a headache.

"No," I said, rising to my feet. "We will do all that later. I promise you, I am not sleeping with your sister. After she set me up, I have been living with her as my neighbor. We have not done anything intimate, like making love."

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

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

"But you have seen her naked."

"No," I quickly dismissed the topic of seeing my wife naked. It was something I did not like to think about.

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

I wondered who had advised Natalie to learn fashion when she was not fashionable herself.

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 very famous in this part of the city. I did not want my wife to damage my name with her wayward lifestyle. Besides, I had not touched her since we married, so it was best that she stayed home.

Although I enjoyed Natalie's cooking skills, I did not want to acknowledge that I liked anything about her.

Once I divorced Natalie, I would employ a chef to handle my meals since I did not like eating fast food. I would also employ a dry cleaner to handle my laundry. That way, Natalie would be of no use to me.

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

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

"Do not worry. We will meet later," I said, carefully pulling away from her hug. I was beginning to feel sick and sweaty.

"Waiter!" I called out and settled our bill with my debit card. Once we left the restaurant, I drove to the Jackson residence, which was only a short distance away.

I arrived at the front gate and parked my car. I unlocked it from inside but did not get out to open the door.

"Franklin, you promised we would 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 the car door properly. I was feeling aroused and wanted a warm body at that moment.

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

For three years of marriage to Natalie, I had not patronized a prostitute. I did not want to start now, so I drove home thinking I would feel better once I arrived.

It was my habit to feel sick whenever I ate outside, as I did not prefer eating out.

I arrived home late, driving into my compound and parking my car.

I staggered getting out of the car and dragged myself towards the house. I was uncertain what time it was, but I was certain it was late.

As I arrived at the front door, I knocked, but there was no response. I banged on the door, and when it finally opened, Natalie was standing there wearing a light green gown.

"Welcome back," Natalie greeted me as she moved away from the door to let me enter.

I entered the living room, and as Natalie locked the door and turned to face me, I could not hold back anymore. I grabbed her arms and yelled at her.

"What did you do to me?"

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

I looked at her face and could not believe I was beginning to find her attractive. As I tried to look away from her chest, my eyes kept drifting downward to her breasts.

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

"I don't know what you're talking about. Aren't you the one who left the house just now with Amelia? What did she do to you that you came back accusing me?" Natalie sobbed. I refused to believe that Amelia would have drugged me.

"Shut up. You have been home since this morning. I ate your food before going out with Amelia. Was that why you refused to let Amelia eat your food—because you put a love potion in it!" I shouted, unwilling to believe that now that I had finally made up my mind to divorce Natalie, she would dare use voodoo on me.

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

"And you expect me to believe that? I have spoken to you several times about getting a divorce and you leaving, and you refused. Now you have drugged me again just because you saw me laughing with your sister. Well, guess what? It worked, and I cannot help but desire you tonight."

"What?!" Natalie struggled to break away from my grip on the door as she yelled at me, "No, Franklin! I don't want you! Once you wake up tomorrow, you will lie and say I used you. Let me go!"

I ignored Natalie's screams as I carried her up and took her back to our room on the top floor.