Chapter 4 – Mrs. Johnson

Nancy

I fought back the tears threatening to fall. I prayed for the elevator doors to open so my suffering would finally end. I already knew that Sir Dwayne frequently hooked up with many women, but Janella was different. He actually liked her, and had almost considered marrying her.

When the elevator doors opened, I stepped out first and unlocked the door to Sir Dwayne’s office. He carried Janella inside while she giggled softly, and I was the one who closed the door behind them.

I slumped onto the floor as the sound of their moans echoed through the air. It hurt. It hurt so much. So this was what it felt like for wives whose husbands cheated on them.

Yet my situation was even harder because even though we were married, it was only on paper.

I bore his name, but not his heart. I rushed to the bathroom and cried my eyes out. I’m such a cornball, I scolded myself.

Why am I even hurting when we don't actually have a real relationship?

I took a few deep breaths to steady myself before fixing my appearance. When I stepped out of the bathroom, my serious and professional look and aura were back in place.

I prepared coffee for them, making sure to sense whether they were finished with their little miracle before knocking.

Janella was still sitting on Dwayne’s lap, the buttons of his long-sleeve shirt undone. I placed the coffee down and was about to leave when the woman spoke up.

“So, it is true, Dwayne? You and Nancy married so you can get your inheritance? But why not me?” Janella asked with a hint of sorrow.

Sir Dwayne and I exchanged glances. I thought nobody else was supposed to know?

“I’m sorry, my uncle told me,” she added.

“Who is your uncle?” Dwayne asked in surprise.

“Well, you know him, Attorney Bernard Sandoval. He’s my uncle on my mother’s side. He told me he was going to introduce me to you. I actually laughed because he wasn’t even aware that the two of us were dating,” Janella said with a laugh. But she shot me a look mixed with disgust and annoyance.

Hmph!

What a two-faced plastic! Earlier, she acted so sweet in front of other people.

“Really? Attorney Sandoval is your uncle?” Dwayne remarked. “Then why did Attorney go around spreading the news about my marriage to Nancy?”

Right, your lawyer is such a gossip. Both he and Janella looked at me as if I were some hideous creature.

“Dwayne, please promise me, after Uncle Leo dies, you will divorce this woman and you will marry me,” Janella cajoled again.

“My father will not die yet! Will you please stop rushing my father’s death!” Sir Dwayne snapped back angrily.

Serves you right! Because you’re a gold digger! Bitch!

Janella looked startled, quickly hugging the man as she fake-cried, “No, that’s not what I meant. Of course I don’t want your dad to die yet. I want him to live long enough to see our future children.”

Yeah, right?

I wanted to yank this woman’s hair out! It was so obvious she was lying.

“Excuse me, sir,” I said before walking out.

It looked like Madam Elena was right. Mother knows best. Janella was definitely not the right woman for Sir Dwayne.

I felt like I could even tolerate Kylie a bit more—at least she, despite being high-maintenance, would smile at me and say thank you whenever I sent over her allowance from Sir Dwayne.

I went back to my desk and focused on organizing documents. When Janella finally came out, she slammed the door of Sir Dwayne’s office shut.

She put her hands on her hips and glared at me. “If you think that just because Dwayne married you, you can steal him from me! He only married you for his inheritance! Not because he loves you! Look at me, then look at yourself!”

My ears burned. Hey! You witch! If you only knew how much Sir Dwayne’s mother detests you, you’d probably roll on the floor in despair.

I forced a smile and nodded. “Ma’am Janella, what are you talking about? I’m not even attracted to Sir Dwayne. The truth is, I only agreed because of what he’s paying me. The offer is $100 million dollars plus lots of other benefits. Who am I to say no? But it’s not because I have feelings for him, and don’t worry—I’ll sign our divorce papers the very moment the time comes for us to part ways. I have never felt anything for him because there’s already someone else I like.”

We both jumped when we saw Sir Dwayne standing right by the doorway. When I glanced at him, he looked genuinely shocked by what I had just said. He furrowed his brows and gave Janella a stern look.

“Get out,” he ordered, before slamming the door shut behind her.

Too bad he didn’t say “we’re done,” it looked like they were still a thing. How annoying.

Wait, why did Sir Dwayne look so upset? Probably really pissed off at Janella.

Janella stomped out looking utterly humiliated. Well, serves her right!

However, ever since that day, Janella kept visiting Sir Dwayne—not just at the office, but right at the mansion itself.

Madam Elena refused to even grace her with her presence, so I knew it was a massive slap in the face for that witch Janella.

One evening, Attorney Bernard Sandoval happily announced that he had successfully sorted out Dwayne’s inheritance, transferring 100% of his father’s assets directly into his name.

“Sir Dwayne, now that you have all the wealth, you can finally divorce your maid,” he said with a tone of insult.

I paused mid-meal and lowered my gaze. A maid? He and Janella really are uncle and niece. Such snobs.

I knew for a fact that Attorney Sandoval had rushed the asset transfer so that Sir Dwayne could dump me and marry his niece.

“Sir, you can go ahead and have the divorce papers prepared,” I spoke up. I didn’t want them thinking I actually wanted to stay as my boss’s wife.

“Not so fast,” Madam Elena intervened.

“But Madam Elena, Sir Dwayne has already fulfilled the condition in the last will, so he can legally divorce the ser—the maid—”

Attorney Sandoval didn’t get to finish because Sir Dwayne cut him off sharply.

“Watch your words, attorney. She is not a maid. Nancy is my secretary, my loyal, capable assistant, and I depend on her.”

My heart pounded fiercely. That was the first time Sir Dwayne had ever defended me—well, actually, it was also the first time anyone had ever degraded me like that.

Degraded, really?

Maybe I should kick this bald lawyer, the witch Janella’s uncle.

“According to the last will, Dwayne was required to have a wife before Leo passed away. If he divorces Nancy immediately, the court might contest the asset transfer,” Madam Elena explained.

Attorney Bernard Sandoval let out a heavy sigh.

Take that, baldy! Hmp!

“But do you still like Janella?” Attorney Sandoval pressed. “My niece loves you to death. She was practically devastated when she found out you got married.”

Please! Such drama! That witch Janella is an actress, all right.

Devastated to death! Talk about being overly dramatic.

Does she even have any idea about the hundred or so rivals fighting to get a piece of Sir Dwayne’s large, long, thick, and delicious jumbo hotdog?

And unlike Kylie, she probably couldn’t even swallow the whole thing.

Sir Dwayne’s jumbo hotdog—can you handle it?

Shit, my mind is wandering into the gutter again.

“Attorney, we’ll just call you when needed. And please, whatever we discuss here, keep it to yourself,” Sir Dwayne said irritably.

Completely humiliated, the bald lawyer—err, attorney—tried to save face. “Sorry,” he muttered before scurrying off.

You should be apologizing to me, baldy!

“Nancy, can we change the contract?” Madam Elena asked in a serious tone.

“What do you mean, ma'am?” I asked.

“A one-year contract. You will remain married to my son for one year. Even if Leo passes away before the year ends, you will stay married.”

I froze.

A whole year?

“W-Why po?” I asked in shock.

“I don’t want anyone forcing Dwayne into a marriage. I’ve already made it clear I don’t like Janella, and starting today, I am replacing Attorney Bernard Sandoval as our family lawyer,” the matriarch replied.

I looked over at Sir Dwayne.

“I agree,” he answered.

Before I could say anything, Madam Elena’s phone rang. She suddenly lost consciousness right after hearing what the person on the other end said. Sir Dwayne and I rushed to her side instantly.

“Ma!”

“Ma’am!”

Dwayne grabbed her phone when he heard someone saying hello on the line.

“Who is this?” he shouted.

“Sir, this is Milton International Hospital. S-Sir Leo has passed away,” the doctor reported.