Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Marriage Game: love in a lie.: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

James.All it takes for your entire life to come crumbling down is a second; a deadly truth. I didn’t think Sarah would tell Amara what transpired between us, I had hoped that if she was to know the truth, it would come from me.I thought I could bear anything life threw at me, but that look in her eyes—it still haunted me. The deep seated betrayal she must’ve felt. I hated myself even more because I knew that I hurt her when I’d sworn to protect her.No matter how much drink I gulped down, her tears were still at the forefront of my mind, mocking me.There was a soft knock on the door before Martha came in, concern written all over her face.“I wasn’t sure what to make Ms. Livingston for dinner as she hasn’t returned.” When there was no response from me, she added, “Do you know where she went? I’m a bit paranoid whenever I don’t see her because of what happened the last time.”It was hard to mumble a coherent answer. “She left me. She fucking left me.”She looked confused, as she fi

James15 years agoThe rain was pounding heavily on the pavement that night. I was done with my fifth shift for the day and could feel the exhaustion in my bones. But I was doing what I had to do because I needed to take care of my little brother and myself.Considering our parents were not even at home most of the time, it was left to me to take care of my brother. I didn’t want him to suffer like I did, so I worked any job I could lay my hands on, multiple shifts a day.I was saving up to send him to school, and make sure he was always well fed and clothed. The rent was expiring soon and I knew my parents wouldn’t give a fuck if we were all thrown our on the street.The only thing that mattered to them was drugs. If they had their supply then everyone else in the world could go fuck themselves—including their own children.I was past the pity stage where I found myself crying from my bad luck on being born into such a family. I had a goal now, which was to give my brother the best l

JamesI have never, through all my years of existence, considered myself an emotional man. I moved through everything with the philosophy that I could get whatever it is that I wanted by putting in the hardwork and doing my possible best in every situation.That was how I grew my company from nothing to a multi-million dollar company, opened many branches in the US, and was featured in Forbes. It had worked until now.I wanted to have Amara but all my efforts were going down the drain. I’d decided to give her some space to think everything through and come back to me, but that wasn’t the case and it drove me over the edge.The more she rejected me, the more my desire for her grew. It was hard to imagine a life without her, so I had to keep trying.My alarm went off and I knew it was time for the meeting with the branch managers, but I couldn’t get myself to move from where I sat.All that was on my mind was how to win Amara back, and have her stay at my side. It had hurt when she pus

AmaraSpending time with my family helped me get out of the mental dump I’d found myself in. It was nice to sit down in complete laughter, enjoying the laughter and the food the cook had put her magic touch in. I slept over and went back the next morning to Ife’s place, only to find her sitting through a couple letters.“Have a secret admirer?” I teased, hanging up my jacket.“As if. These are for you?”I looked over her shoulder at the pink flowered envelopes she was holding. “I can’t think of a single person on this damn planet that’ll be sending me letters.”“Well, I can. They’re from James, maybe it’s time you give him a listening ear. I’m beginning to feel bad for him.”“You can do whatever you want with the letters.” I walked straight to the door and shut it after me. I sat on the floor, head hung between my knees. Why was he making it so difficult to move on from him? It wasn’t that I couldn’t forgive him, I just wouldn’t be able to trust him again. Going back to him would be

James“Alright.”For a complete ten seconds I stood there without registering her response. I’d been so sure she was going to turn down my suggestion that I found it hard to believe that I was hearing right. “You’re going to give me a chance to talk things over?”“I just said yes James, don’t make me change my mind.”It’s a good thing I’d kept the reservation I made in anticipation for tonight. Cayden and Henry had tried to talk me out of it, that she’d clearly rejected me many times and I needed to give up.But I’d held onto the hope that I had. That she would remember the good times we had and give me a chance. Looks like luck was on my side. I wish I could flip my middle finger in their faces.“I made a reservation at a restaurant, just the two of us. If that’s okay with you.” I needed to play my cards right so I don’t upset her and have her banging the door in my face again. “I’m already having dinner with my family, we can just talk in your car. I think—”“Oh, Amara.” My mother