Convenient Marriage: Mr. Nelson's Love Trap novel Chapter 2

“Lola, marriage shouldn’t be taken lightly. I forbid you from marrying him,” Jessica said, knowing full well the reason Dolores agreed to marry Matthew.

Dolores placed the bag of food on the table beside the bed, pulling some out and handing it to her mom.

“At least I didn’t marry any stranger. It’s your friend’s son.”

“She passed away a long time ago. I know nothing about her son. Even if it means breaking my promise, I’d rather you marry someone you fancy. Please don’t use this marriage as a bargaining chip. I’d rather stay here for the rest of my life.”

Someone she fancied? Even if she met someone in the future, she no longer had the right to do so. She lowered her head. It didn’t matter who she married. What was important was taking back everything her father had stolen from them.

*****

Jessica wasn’t able to convince Dolores to change her mind and both of them returned to their home country the next day. Both of them disgusted Randolph and refused to let them step into the Flores' house. Instead, he took them to a rented house nearby and Dolores needed only to return to the house on the wedding day. Dolores didn’t want to return home anyway, not wanting her mother to have to face the woman that ruined her marriage and her life. It was better to stay away from the house for the sake of mental and emotional well-being.

Jessica still worried, however. “Lola, if this was a good marriage, they wouldn’t have given this chance to you, even though Mrs. Nelson and I were friends—”

Dolores didn’t want to talk about it anymore and cut her mother off. “Mom, come have something to eat.”

Jessica sighed. It was obvious Dolores refused to talk about it. She lived a hard life with Jessica and now she even had to sacrifice her marriage for the family.

Dolores held the fork in her hand but only pushed her food around her plate as her contempt for her father ruined her appetite.

“Are you okay?” Jessica asked, concerned for her daughter’s health.

Dolores, not wanting her mom to worry, lied and said that she lost appetite from the long flight. She then put down her fork and headed for her room.

After closing the door, Dolores leaned her head against it and placed her hand on her stomach. Although she’d never been pregnant, she’d seen what it was like for Jessica when she was pregnant. She was always disgusted and had no appetite to eat. It was exactly how Dolores felt at the moment.

It had been a month since that night and her period hadn’t come for more than ten days. She didn’t dare think of it further. That night was already humiliating enough. If it wasn’t for her mother and her brother, she would never have done it. She shivered all over...

“You’re pregnant. About six weeks along.” After getting out of the hospital, the doctor’s words kept on lingering on in her mind. It was the news she’d received when she went for a checkup at the hospital without informing Jessica. She had mixed feelings and was frustrated. She didn’t know what to do. Should she give birth to the child? Abort it? Her hand rubbed her belly instinctively. Although she was surprised, and even humiliated, she was unwilling to give the child away. There was too much joy and hope for being a first-time mother. She was in a daze.

After getting back to the house she and her mother were staying at, Dolores hid the ultrasound of the baby before opening the door. However, once she noticed Randolph was there too, her mood instantly soured. What is he doing here? Randolph didn’t look to be in a good mood and it seemed she had made him wait for a long time.

He turned as she entered and spoke coldly. “Go change your clothes.”

Dolores frowned. “Why?”

“Since you’re going to marry the eldest son of the Nelson family, you’re gonna have to meet him sooner or later.” He looked at her from head to toe and continued. “Are you going to wear that hideous outfit to meet him? Are you trying to embarrass me?”

Why does the pain feel like this? Dolores wondered. Selling herself and then losing her brother hurt her so much she had become completely numb. Yet, upon hearing Randolph’s cruel words, she realized her heart still hurt, and the pain came rushing back.

He had sent her and her mother to a poverty-stricken country to begin with and hadn’t cared for her since. Where else could she have gotten the money? If she had the money, her brother wouldn’t have died from delayed treatment. Her hands, which hung at her sides, were clenched into fists. As if realizing what he said, Randolph’s expression changed and he turned his face away.

“Let’s go. The Nelson family should have arrived now, we can’t let them wait.”