Semua Bab Mary Johnson ~ The Paid Bride: Bab 161 - Bab 165

~~~~But then again… Just imagining how that conversation was going to play out once we got home?Peace was an illusion.I could already hear it in my head—the awkward pauses, the silent judgment, the fake smiles covering up a thousand questions. None of it felt like peace.Not even close.Sighing, I broke the heavy silence hanging between us like fog.“We’re almost there,” I said quietly.“Sure,” Lisa replied, her voice small.I glanced at her through the rearview mirror. “Why? You have something you want to say?”Her face said it all before her lips did.“Well, it’s nothing really…” she started, glancing at Lara like she needed backup.“So say it,” I pressed, eyes still on the road.She hesitated before speaking, “It’s just… Since before, you’ve seemed different. Like, you look and sound so far from the Mary we used to know. It kind of took us by surprise.”At her words, I frowned, raising a brow. “Nothing’s changed about me,” I muttered. “I just grew the hell up.”Then I scoffed, u

~~~~Lisa stared at me, her mouth hanging open. “You’re joking, right?”“Not really,” I said calmly.“Wait... you were paid to be someone’s wife? Since when?”“Well, around the time I said I was acting. Basically, I was acting as a paid wife—not in front of a camera or anything dramatic like that.”“Oh my God.” Lisa covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes fixed on me. “You were married for that long, and no one knew?” Her voice cracked with disbelief. “Sis, how could you do something like that?”“No one needed to know,” I shrugged. “At the time, it wasn’t even real. So why go around announcing it?”I sighed. I expected this much. “Pissed? Disappointed?” I asked.“I can’t lie—I am,” she said quietly, then louder, “I can’t believe you stooped so low

Continuations~~~~~ Then he smiled—a real one. “They’re lucky to have you. And so am I.” He sighed and added, “But you should’ve told me. I could’ve helped… I mean, there are far better fashion experts in the Black Enterprise than the Lockwood's. You know that, right?”“I know.” I looked away. “I just didn’t want to seem like an opportunist… you know, like I’m only getting my sisters into places because I’m married to Eric Black.”“Mary!” he groaned, his brows furrowed in frustration.“I know, I know what you’re thinking. But I just…” I shrugged. “Anyway, since I was already going to model for the Lockwood's—”“Wait… what? Who’s modeling for whom?” He sat up. “You? Since when?”Oh, shit. I forgot to tell him that part.