Rosie

After spending an hour reviewing my bleak life options, I realized I was thoroughly stuck in this scam or sham of a marriage.

I pulled out my phone and saw a notification that the anonymous employer had actually transferred the money. The full amount was sitting in my account as I stared at the screen, my head throbbing with questions. Was I paid just to crash the wedding, or was I paid to replace the bride?

The transaction came with a short note: Job completed. Nice working with you.

What did that even mean? Nice working with me?

I bit my nails anxiously. If Jude wouldn’t give me an easy divorce, then I would just have to make his life a living hell. But did I even have the right to do that? Wasn’t I the one who ruined his wedding in the first place? Logically and rightfully, he should be the one making my life a living hell.

But as I looked around the pristine condo, an intrusive thought crossed my mind. If I stayed, Mia and I would get free meals and a roof over our heads without constantly worrying about our basic survival. I could just focus on making money. Maybe instead of demanding a divorce, I should talk to him about a contract...

I rubbed the bridge of my nose, trying to ease the tension headache forming behind my eyes with every option running through my head.

Later. I would think about it later.

I opened my banking app, staring at the numbers, then counted the zeros behind to be sure. Nothing was removed. It was the exact agreed money. I sighed, then switched over to my text messages, only to see a text from Josh already waiting.

Josh: It’s month-end. Your interest is compounding, and you haven’t paid the principal yet. Don’t make my boys and me come down there and ransack your place.

I sighed again, my hand clenching the phone so tightly and I immediately initiated the transfer, sending almost the entire payday straight to the loan shark’s account.

This was the sole reason I had taken such an insane job without much of a second thought. I was drowning in a huge debt I hadn’t even borrowed or spent. I knew people who inherited family fortunes, but me? I had inherited a mountain of debt from a family that left me with nothing.

After making the payment, I downloaded the receipt and then forwarded it to Josh. Instantly, my phone began to vibrate with an incoming call from him. I didn’t have the energy to reason with him, so I let it ring out. Talking to him was a headache. Talking to him was like reasoning with a fanatic about their absurd beliefs.

My phone buzzed relentlessly with follow-up texts.

Josh: Goddammit woman! Pick up the phone.

Josh: Where the hell did you get this much money?

Josh: Did you whore yourself out?

Josh: Remember, you are mine!

What a caveman.

I rolled my eyes at his sheer audacity. Even if I had whored myself out, it was none of his business. Josh had been breathing down my neck for months, dropping vile hints that if I just slept with him, he would erase the debt. This wasn’t some kind of omegaverse fiction where the MC ends up with the loan shark to cancel his debt. This was very much real.

Over my dead body. I would rather scrub motel toilets with a toothbrush for the rest of my life than let Josh touch me. I shivered. Just imagining it made me nauseous.

To distract myself, I quickly scanned the internet again and noticed that the articles and videos from earlier were completely gone. Search results were coming up blank.

Wow. The Winters family moves fast. I expected nothing less from them.

Exhaustion from everything that happened today crashed over me, and I switched off my phone, collapsing back against the couch cushions.

I didn’t know how much time had passed, but I woke up to a strange shuffling sound and the sensation of being lifted.

My eyes flew open, and I instinctively thrashed. I found myself held tightly against a broad, muscular chest. Jude was carrying me bridal style, his shirt unbuttoned enough that my face was practically pressed against his skin. A flush of heat rushed up my neck as I looked around, realizing he had carried me into a massive master bedroom.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I growled, but when he didn’t answer, I smacked his shoulder. “Let me down!”

He smiled down at me, unbothered. “Just putting my wife to bed on our wedding night.”

“What?!” I scrambled out of his arms the second his grip loosened, landing on the mattress and throwing my hands over my chest defensively.

He chuckled, clearly amused. “What exactly are you thinking, wifey?” He wiggled his brows while I didn’t find it funny at all.

The bedroom was huge and beautiful, but the bed was covered in scattered rose petals and surrounded by scented candles, meticulously prepared for a romantic wedding night. It made my stomach twist like hell. We are a married couple.

“We are sleeping separately,” I ordered, grinding my teeth.

“No way.” He shook his head. “We’re married, and we’re sharing a bed.”

“S-sharing?!” I stuttered, an alarm blaring in my head.

He laughed softly, shaking his head. “I don’t count you as a dirty-minded person. Well, when you have a hotshot as a husband, I understand.” The bastard actually flexed his arm muscles, his lips pulled up in a smirk. “Get your mind out of the gutter, wifey. I don’t sleep with unwilling participants.” 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

I glared at him, baring my teeth at his narcissistic commentary. But a quiet sigh of relief escaped my lips. “Good,” I murmured, still eyeing him with deep suspicion. “Better keep it that way.”

He had better keep his promise, or else I’d be the first murderer and widow a day after her wedding.

I stomped over to the center of the bed, angrily sweeping the stupid rose petals onto the floor. I grabbed a row of plush pillows and lined them up right down the center of the mattress, creating a makeshift wall.

I pointed a warning finger at him, then trailed it slowly down to his thighs before bringing my thumb across my throat in a threat. “If you cross to my side, I will end you.”

Jude just laughed. I couldn’t understand why he looked so incredibly amused by me. Was I a joke to him, or was he just crazy?

Huffing, I crawled under the covers, not even bothering to take off the heavy wedding dress. I was extremely tired, and the moment my head hit the pillow, darkness enveloped me.

The next morning, I woke up feeling an unusual warmth radiating against my cheek. I blinked sleepily, shifting my weight, only to realize my makeshift pillow wall was destroyed, and I was curled up against a naked, muscular chest.

***

I’ll try to be updating three times a week. Kindly bear with me. I’ve two active ongoing books ( this and the near shifter, check my profile for it) and a monster romance — although it remains 5 Chapters to finish it and the super slow burn second chance romance.

And I’m working on my final project also.