Her Substitute Groom

Janice POV

I got dressed for the date I’m having with Carl tonight. After the incident that day, me and Carl have kept in touch, and we’ve hung out for some time. I was able to take care of Connor, and I know if I continue to deny knowing him, everything will be cool.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

My phone beeped, and I checked to see that it was a text from Carl.

‘I’m waiting for you outside’ After reading his message, I checked myself out in the mirror one more time to be sure I was good to go, leaving my apartment afterward. I live in a one-room flat apartment since I lived alone.

I soon got outside where I met his car parked at the front of my house, and I got in.

“Did I keep you waiting?” I asked him as I fastened my seatbelt, but he shook his head as he smiled at me.

“Not really. You look gorgeous,” He complimented me, and I smiled at him.

“Thank you,” I replied to him before the drive started. The drive to the fancy restaurant was peaceful and silent, and we soon arrived. Since the reservation has already been done before we came, we just went to sit at the spot that was reserved for us. The table was filled with varieties of food, and they all looked so expensive and delicious that I found myself salivating at the sight of them. You wouldn’t blame me, right? Where would I have money to afford such? So, it was my first time eating such food.

We ate silently, and I tried to caution myself while eating. We were soon done with eating, and we started chatting.

“We’ve known each other for some time now, Janice. Uhm… I don’t like beating around the bush, since I’m always straightforward…” He paused and took a deep breath before he took my hand, and I raised my eyebrows, wondering what he was on about.

“Let’s get married,” He said after a long silence, and my eyes slowly narrowed in shock.

“Huh?” I blinked my eyes rapidly, and he sighed.

“I know this is so sudden, and it doesn’t make sense, but it’s what I want. Can you give us a chance, please?” This was like a dream come true for me as it has always been what I ever wanted. Getting married into a real wealthy family has always been my dream, regardless of how I feel about the man. You can call me a gold digger, I wouldn’t mind. Besides, that is who I have always been. What would you call someone that loves money so much more than herself, and would even do the unthinkable because of money? I am a gold digger.

“Can you give us a chance, please?” He asked for the second time as he squeezed my hands gently, but I was far gone. Thought of how I would finally get to live the luxurious life I’ve always dreamt of, how I would buy expensive things and live in a beautiful mansion. I couldn’t help the excitement that filled my heart, but showing him that I’d been waiting for this, was the last thing on my mind.

“What about Connor?” My subconscious mind asked me, and I scoffed silently as I rolled my eyes mentally. It’s going to be difficult, especially going to live under the same roof with him as his brother’s wife, but that family seemed to like me, so I would be favored. All I had to do later is keep denying knowing him no matter the amount of pressure he puts on me.

“I will give you some time to think about it,” He said when I didn’t reply to him, and I slowly nodded my head. I wanted to tell him right away that I would marry him, but that would only make me look stupid.

The date was finally over, and he went to drop me off at home.

“I will be expecting to hear from you,” He said to me before he finally hopped inside his car and drove off after I nodded my head.

“Yes!” I couldn’t hold in my excitement anymore, so I jumped out and did some dancing before I finally headed to my apartment, throwing myself on the bed tiredly as soon as I walked in.

“I’m so excited. This is a dream come true for me,” I giggled excitedly one more time before I finally stood up and stripped out of my clothes, heading to the bathroom to have a long and relaxing bath.

As I walked back into my room minutes later, I met my phone screen light on, and I picked it up, unlocking it. A message from Mrs. Hughes popped on the screen, and I was a bit nervous as I opened it, but my face however beamed at the sight that welcomed me.

‘Hey, dear. I was going to meet you earlier to talk to you, but he said he wanted to do it instead so it won’t look awkward. I would be glad to have you in my family, and I hope you would give him a positive reply. You can come over to the mansion tomorrow to have lunch with us’ I felt on top of the world as I read the message over and over again, and I didn’t need to be told that my prayers for years has just been answered. I just won a jackpot.

‘I’ve thought about it, ma’am. I will marry him’ This is way too fast, but I couldn’t hold it in anymore. What if he changed his mind? I would be the one at a loss, you know?

As if she has been waiting for my message, her message popped on my phone almost immediately, expressing her gratitude as if I was doing them a favor once again. Well, it didn’t matter if I was or not, but what mattered is that my dream has finally come true.

My phone beeped, and a message from my little brother popped on the screen.

‘Sis, we haven’t heard from you in a while. I’m missing you here. Mom asked to tell you that our house rent is due, and the landlord is threatening to throw us out. Also, the principal talked about our school fees when I went to school earlier today, and he threatened that I won’t write exams if I don’t bring it within three days’ This is the message I get often, which always left me asking myself when all these shits will be over. I have a family out there that depends on me for a living, I provide for them.

I sighed briefly and went ahead to send them the last money in my account which was about twenty thousand dollars, even though it won’t be enough to pay their rent for a whole year and still pay for Jack’s school fees.

‘That is all I have for now. I will try to send more when I raise some money. Take care of Mom and Dad, and be a good boy’ I sent him the message before I tossed my phone on the bed and sank my fingers into my hair. It has always been my dream to have my family around me when I’m getting married, but I didn’t think it would be a good idea in this case. I wasn’t going to marry Carl because I love him, but because of his money, and I plan to get out of there and disappear forever as soon as I get as much money as I want from them. That is the plan, and I just hope it turns out well later…