(Lily’s Pov)
It’s already 5am in the morning and all I had in my mind was signing the contract and paying for the hospital bills, I can’t remember sleeping in the night, I was filled with so much anxiety, it was like the longest night of my life, I watched my Dad sleep so peacefully, each time I looked at him, I went close to him and put a finger close to his nose just to make sure he was still breathing since I didn’t hear him snore as usual. My dad is such a chronic snorer that one would hear him snore even in the next room, so it gave me great concern when I didn’t hear him snore all through the night.
The day was getting brighter and the hospital was filled with sounds of patients and guardians greeting each other and praying, the cry of children wasn’t exempted, there was a particular kid who didn’t allow the whole ward rest in the night, he kept on crying out of pain and I wished he could get well that night but wishes aren’t horses.
I got prepared and woke my dad up to tell him that I was about going to Jack’s house for the contract. I got his breakfast ready but he said I shouldn’t bother that he can feed himself and moreover he wasn’t ready to eat that early morning. I kissed him on the forehead and promised to be back before he knew it.
I left and arrived Jack’s home before 7am, no doubt he lived in a luxurious house and has everything expensive attached to him, but all these, I’m not attracted to any.
I knocked severally and when the gateman finally opened the gate, he asked who I was looking for, I told him and he asked me to wait for a moment so he could confirm. I stood outside for almost 10 minutes before he ran back and asked that I come in.
I went in and he led me to the sitting room where I sat waiting for the “almighty” Jack. As I sat patiently waiting for him, I saw a family picture hung on the wall and several other pictures, “that must have been his parents” I thought to myself.
Their house was decorated in a very entertaining manner that one could watch the pictures on the wall for a whole day and still not be done, it’s always a picture of one event or the other, and all pictures where taken in a very expensive place except for the old pictures of their parents that I didn’t even know where it was taken. “how can a small family like this have so much pictures” just I was pondering how a family of four can have so much pictures I heard a knock on the door and it was a man who would be in his mid-50s, from his dressing, it was clearly written all over him that he was a Lawyer.
“Miss. Lily” he asked pointing at me
“yes” I reluctantly answered
“Oh we haven’t met officially, nice to finally meet you, I’m Jack’s lawyer”
“okay, nice to meet you” I stretched my hand for a handshake and we shook hands.
“how’s your father’s health?”
I wondered how he got to know about my father not being fine
“oh dear, Jack told me, hope you’re not angry?”
“no I’m not” I answered imagining how many things he must have told the media about my dad or about me.
The lawyer must have been observant to notice that I wasn’t comfortable with him knowing about my dad and didn’t ask about my father again or ask me any other question. There was silence in the sitting room before it was finally broken by Jack who walked majestically down the stairs as if he was one sort of a king.
“Helloooo people” me and his lawyer are the “people” he’s referring to, ruthless idiot.
“what have I gotten myself into” I thought to myself.
“our little miss did very well by not coming late, I think I’m beginning to like you” he said as he gave me a wicked look
“time to save our poor old man” he hasn’t even finished when I cut him out
“excuse me, you can’t talk to my father in such a manner please”
“okay then, maybe you should go back to wherever you’re coming from and foot your poor father’s hospital bills and when he finally gets well, you both should make sure you sleep on the street because before you know it, your father’s properties including his house will be in my name. how about that our little miss?” he got up and was about to climb upstairs where he came from.
I burned with so much furry and almost exploded but I can’t let anger elude me, I still have my father to take care of and there was no place I could get the hospital bill from if I didn’t sign the contract. If only Austin helped me, since he promised to do something I never heard from him, he never called and even when I do which number would always not be reachable.
Sometimes I wondered if he did it on purpose to punish me for ending things with him, it took be so much courage to call him and ask for help but I should have known better, there’s no way a man I left would help me. He was avoiding me, because if he weren’t then he would have called to let me know he wasn’t able to raise the money or at least check on me and my dad, I was deeply hurt but I had to move on and take advantage of the only option left which is this.
“where’s the goddamn contract” all I wanted was to sign the contract and leave his house.
“good girl” he turned to his Lawyer and said “help her with a pen”
Just as his lawyer handed me the contract papers, I carefully read the terms and conditions and it dawned on me that the only business I had with him was sex and making a baby. He was going to determine my fate till the end of the contract, I didn’t have much of a choice so I signed the papers and handed it over to his lawyer who was felt pity for me but there was nothing he could do, he was doing his job.
After seeing that I’ve signed the contract, he went to his mini bar and brought a red wine with three glass cups, gave one to his lawyer, and came close to hand me one
“I’m not interested” I said turning my face away.
“learn to be a good wife, now take” he bent slowly and whispered in my ears.
I knew Jack was ruthless but it seemed like I only knew a better part of him, I’m yet to meet his cruel part and I don’t even know if I’m ready for it but what can I do? He’s the only one that can help me pay the hospital bills.
He poured me some wine, poured some for his lawyer and proceeded to making the meaningless toast to a contract marriage.
He was the only one happy in the room, he danced with both shoulders raised and he excused himself for a moment. He came back with a piece of paper and handed it over to me. He dropped it on the floor just when he noticed I was about to collect it from him, “pick it” he said with his mischievous smiles.
“it’s a cheque of a Two Hundred Thousand Dollars, it should be enough for whatever the hospital is asking for, come back for more if it’s not enough” he said falling into one of the cushions in the room
“so we’re done?” his lawyer who got tired of the whole show said, ready to leave”
“yes, you can go” Jack said pointing at the door
His lawyer left and as I stood up to follow him, he called me back, “hey miss”
“you’re now in my custody so whatever you’re doing, you need to ask me first, is that understood? You don’t do anything without my permission”
It dawned on me at that moment that I’ve entered into another phase of my life where everything I would ever do will be dictated to me, that I’ve been deprived of my freedom too, there was no difference between me and one who is in a prison since what I think or feel doesn’t even matter or count, all that matters was whatever jack says but I was driven by the untold pain of losing my dad so whatever Jack does or says were the least of my problems.
“yes” I gave him a hard stare and left.
(Jack’s Pov)After Lily signed the contract, I felt a little bit of happy, not happy that she was my wife, contract wife, I was happy that I was going to have an heir, someone who would replace me and who will inherit all my properties since Karen didn’t give me any.In our society where money has so much influence, it was hard to find a woman who truly loved me for me, all the women who once surrounded my life was because of what they stand to gain off me. I loved Karen, we met in a night club and I loved her energy, we got to know each other and I found myself falling in love, “stupid me” I gave a heavy sigh“thank God for my life” she almost ripped me of everything I had after we got married, she made me believe she had some health issues as to why she wasn’t able to conceive and the doctors are asking for a huge amount of money to treat her.Each time I remember my story with Karen, it makes me bitter, and that’s why I will never attach myself to any woman, sometimes I see Karen e
(Lily’s Pov)After the horrible experience I had with Jack, signing the contract, I rushed back to the hospital to deposit the hospital bill so that the doctor can proceed with the surgery. I got to the hospital and I went straight to the accountant to make my payment.“here’s your receipt ma’am” the receptionist who doesn’t have a smiling face handed me my receipt of payment and I headed to the doctor’s office to give it to him so he can start the surgery immediately.“here you go” I stretched my hand out giving the doctor the receipt“what’s that Miss. Hailey?” the doctor asked looking all surprised“the receipt, I’ve paid all, please can you do it now?” I teared up as I dropped the receipt on his table. The doctor picked receipt and saw that I’ve paid everything and asked that I sit down.“you see, Miss. Hailey your father needs to calm his nerves before we can proceed, go and get him ready, the operation room will be ready in the next 10 minutes” that was exactly what I wanted to
(Lily’s pov)Nights after nights, I couldn’t sleep, I prayed for a miracle but it wasn’t coming, I had no one to cry to, not even one person to console me, the only friend who should have consoled me betrayed me with my ex fiancé, Austin.My dad was the only one I shared my pain with but now that he is gone I was left to bear all the pains alone, I almost exploded. All my hope has been swept off, I saw what was before me but I wasn’t ready to face it, not alone, not with someone who I could run to when I can’t bear it anymore, not with my dad. Pain became my food, I fed on pain day and night.While I mourned my father, I started getting weak, strength left me and I couldn’t do anything to help myself anymore, there was no one to ask me how I was doing since our nanny stopped work when dad got sick.I wished to die and join my parents but death wasn’t coming.Since I was the only family my dad had left, I planned his burial all alone, paid the mortuary bills from the money Jack gave me
(Jack’s Pov)I dived and was resting on the sofa in my room when my assistant knocked at my door and told me that I had a visitor, I knew I don’t make friends and I wasn’t expecting anyone either, so who could that be.“who did you say is looking for me?” I wanted to know if it’s something I should care about.“she said her name is Lily sir”“oh, but she said she wouldn’t be coming to house without a wedding” I muttered to myself without my assistant hearing me. “is she with bags?”“no sir, she isn’t”“you can go now, go tell her I will be there in a second” my assistant left without looking backI wonder what she was doing in our house that early when she said she wouldn’t be coming until we were properly wedded. I reluctantly dragged myself downstairs putting on my shorts and a hoodie to protect me from the cold weather.“you asked to see me? How can I be of help to you? You aren’t supposed to be here until after the wedding? She looked at me as though she wanted to hit me, she look
It was the morning of their wedding, Rose had no much preparation to make except getting her wedding gown that she bought with intention of reselling it once she’s down with the wedding.Jack at his own end had only Jane to take with him to the wedding. He had woken up early that morning to prepare for his second wedding with a woman he had no feelings for. He lazily dragged his footwear with him into the bathroom and switched on his shower, he had a long bath and when he finally came out of the bathroom, he cleaned his body with his big white towel that was almost half of his big bed bedsheets size.He applied his body lotion and picked up the sky blue suit that has been well ironed and carefully placed on his bed, he brushed his hair with the smooth hair brush that was given to him by his mother on his 223rd birthday.Because of how rich he became since their parent’s demise, he had most of the expensive perfumes, he applied them on his armpits, neck, wrists and his buttocks. Amongs
(Lily’s Pov)We had gotten home that afternoon and Jane took me to my room where I would be staying, I removed my wedding gown and wore a casual clothe, she did too but we didn’t know about Jack who left us for his room as soon as we arrived. Jane was so kind enough to take me round the house and showed me every other places I needed to know within and outside the house. She was a sweet soul, she made me feel at home, I wonder what I would have done if she weren’t Jack’s sister.The tour round the house took almost 4hours, every part of the house came with its own story and Jane was a very good story teller. She started from my own room telling me it was their cradle room when they were still children and how she played around with Jack in the room. The way she told the story made me wish for a younger sibling and I didn’t hide that from her, she gave me to room to share whatever I feel with her and I was happy I had someone I can share my feelings with even though everywhere was stra
(Lily’s Pov)I didn’t even know it was morning already until Jane came knocking by my door, she felt sorry for me as she saw me lying down and stained with blood.“I’m sorry honey, it’s okay, be strong, you have me”“Jack raped me” my voice was already faint and almost lost because of how long I’ve cried.“I’m sorry Lily” Jane consoled me.She helped me get up and walked me into the bathroom for a wash. “Darling you’re going to take your bath, and dress up while I go prepare breakfast” she helped me fill in the bathtub with warm water. “please hurry up, you need to eat, you can’t be starving yourself” she said and ran off to the kitchen.I sank myself in the bowl filled with warm water, I could feel my thighs tearing apart. Lost in my own thoughts, so many things ran through my mind and I just wished to get pregnant as soon as possible and end the contract so I can start my life all over again, even though there was nothing for me out there but I preferred starting all over again to l
(Jane’s Pov)Everything has been working just the way I planned it and I can’t just screw it at this point. As a woman I felt Lily’s pain, I felt so sorry for her and wished there was something I could do to help her. The Jack, my brother that I know wouldn’t stop until he wanted to and the only thing I knew that would be capable of putting an end to the way he was maltreating Lily would be if Lily got pregnant and had a child with him, “no” I didn’t want to imagine Jack having an heir because it would ruin everything I’ve worked for my whole life, I wasn’t ready to let that happen.If Lily eventually gets pregnant and gives Jack an heir, then that would be the end for me and I can’t let that happen. I resolved within myself to make sure I showered Lily with all the love and care Jack wasn’t showing her, it would make her love me and eventually I would gain her trust and have her tell me everything concerning her and Jack including when she gets pregnant so that I can finally look for