Chapter 1
“Please prepare Emerald for next week’s wedding.” Jace Higginson said that shocks the Morgan family. They never thought he would choose the younger daughter over the sophisticated-looking elder daughter.
In her baggy clothes, Emerald looks at the most dashing and handsome man she has ever seen. She, too, can’t believe that the man who entered their mansion earlier would choose her.
“Are you sure, Mr. Higginson?” Emerald’s father, Emerson Morgan, asked in disbelief.
“Our eldest daughter will suit you more. She’s educated, beautiful, and very charming. I’m sure that you will be able to present her to any of your business associates.” Merly Morgan added.
Emerald couldn’t understand why her parents were saying those words. It was as if she was so worthless and unworthy to get married to someone like Jace Higginson. She couldn’t do anything but let her head down out of shame while trying to stop her tears from falling.
“My decision is final. I’m choosing her to become my wife.” Jace replied, making Emerald’s heart flutter.
“Dad, Mom, come on. Don’t pressure Mr. Higginson. I’m sure he thinks about this, and there’s nothing wrong with my little sister.” Emerose uttered those words, glaring at Emerald from within.
Emerose is the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. She grew up to become a stunning woman, receiving constant praises from everyone, which made the two old Morgans feel proud of her. They consider their eldest daughter their lucky charm.
On the other hand, Emerald, the youngest Morgan, is a timid woman. Following Emerald’s birth, her father fell victim to a financial scam, nearly causing them to face bankruptcy. Although the young Morgan has nothing to do with it, the couple believes she’s the reason for it and has marked her as the family’s jinx.
Emerson Morgan tried everything he could to save their company. Believing Emerose was a charming kid, he always brought her to his every business gathering.
In the long run, the Morgan patriarch didn’t just manage to save their business but grow it as well. For years, they have been the leading grocery store in the country. But now, they face financial problems and need an investor to save their company.
Jace Higginson agreed, but on the condition that he marry one of the Morgan siblings. Emerson agreed immediately, thinking Jace would choose her precious eldest daughter.
Emerald couldn’t react or look at everyone, so she put her head down and started thinking about her married life. She thought Jace Higginson liked her; that’s why he chose her. She began thinking about how she would serve him and how many kids they would raise together.
The young Morgan knew Jace even before he came to their mansion. She knew that he was the CEO of SoftWare Group. A computer software company that is known in the country and the world. Emerald was also aware of Jace’s constant presence among women. However, the innocent young Morgan thought he had changed because he chose her.
After a week, Jace returned to Morgan Mansion with a piece of paper. Emerald was shocked to find out that they would only sign the documents and that there would be no wedding ceremony.
“I have no time for ceremonies, so I didn’t bother preparing. Just sign, and my assistant will take care of the rest,” Jace said, leaving Emerald’s mouth open. At the same time, Emerose and their parents smiled internally. They thought that Jace didn’t care about Emerald at all.
Jace stayed at the Morgan mansion the whole day until his assistant returned with a copy of their marriage certificate. Their marriage was legally binding even without a wedding ceremony or traditional wedding celebration. Then, Jace’s investment contract was signed with the Morgans before they left the mansion.
As Emerald and Jace left, Emerson, with his wife and eldest daughter, stayed in the living room and started discussing the marriage. “Do you think Jace Higginson had a hidden agenda for why he married that jinx?” Merly asked.
“I think that way. He chose her as his wife, and I expect a grand wedding ceremony already. But after today, I’m sure Mr. Higginson had no feelings towards that jinx.” Emerson answered, making Emerose smile internally, and started thinking about how she would seduce Jace Higginson.
Unknown to her parents and other people, Emerose was envious of Emerald because of her natural beauty, which no one noticed because she always had her head down. With the youngest Morgan in baggy clothes, many thought that she was an ugly duckling. But for the eldest daughter, she saw how Emerald grew beautifully. This was the reason she would constantly tell Emerald that she was unattractive and that no one would ever like her.
“What’s important is that we can save the company now.” Emerson continued, making the women agree. They didn’t want their business to go bankrupt because they spent much on themselves. They used to live lavishly and didn’t want to see themselves living on the street.
Meanwhile, they are quiet in Jace’s car, where Emerald is. The young Morgan hesitates to talk to her husband, thinking he doesn’t like her. With the kind of wedding he gave her, she is confident that Mr. Higginson chose her over her sister out of whim. She realizes that it doesn’t matter who he chooses. But even if it were like that, Emerald still hoped that Jace would like her.
“We’re here,” Jace spoke, prompting Emerald to glance out the window. She exited the car when she saw her husband walking on the porch. ‘He didn’t even open the door for me,’ she said while following Jace.
The house was bigger than the Morgan mansion, and Emerald roamed her eyes around, which didn’t go unnoticed by Jace. “What are you looking for?” he asked.
“Nothing; I was just amazed. Your house is big,” Emerald replied hesitantly, even though the truth was that she was looking for people other than them.
“Make sure you can clean everything; I don’t like a dirty home,” Jace spoke, widening Emerald’s eyes.
“I am going to clean here alone.”
“Why, do you have a problem with that?”
“It’s so big, and I don’t think-”
“Enough! I don’t want any disobedience. You are my wife, so you better do as I say. We don’t have maids here, and I want a full-time wife.” Jace replied, cutting off her words. Emerald looked down, and no matter how much she thought about it, she didn’t know how to clean this big house alone. “Hurry and prepare our dinner,” Jace added before heading up the stairs, leaving the youngest Morgan confused.
Emerald looked around the mansion once again before she decided to find the kitchen. She needed to cook if she didn’t want Jace to get mad at her even more. Since she had been helping the maids in their mansion all her life, the young Morgan learned all household chores from them. Sometimes, they felt sorry for her when she had to do their job because Emerose wanted her to suffer.
After leaving the Morgan mansion, Emerald thought that they would be going on their honeymoon. She expected that since Jace didn’t give her a proper wedding ceremony. She couldn’t help but wonder why her husband was doing that to her when she couldn’t remember doing anything to upset him from the beginning.
‘Everything that I expected in this marriage didn’t happen. How come he chose me when he was only doing this to me? Does he not want me at all?’ Emerald asked herself. ‘No, I think he’ll change once I show him I am a good wife. Perhaps, like me, he was unaccustomed to this unusual situation. We will be able to adjust ourselves as the days go on,’ the young Morgan said to herself, hoping against hope that what she was thinking would happen in the near future.