Billionaire's Broken Trust

(Natalie's POV)

It was Saturday evening. I had finished cooking in the kitchen and stepped out to the dining room to set the table for dinner. However, I saw that my older sister, Amelia Jackson, had visited my husband.

I watched my husband, Franklin Howard, laughing heartily with my elder sister in the living room.

What hurt me the most was seeing how well he got along with her.

Franklin had never laughed like that with me before, and here he was, laughing happily with my elder sister in the living room.

Amelia Jackson was my half-sister. We shared the same father but had different mothers.

My mother had been a mistress to my father, and because I was the unwanted child, my family didn't like me.

I had three older brothers-James, Asher, and Felix-all of whom doted on Amelia.

Amelia and I were the same age, but she was only a month older than me, which made her my elder sister.

We were both fair-skinned, but while she was tall, I was short and chubby.

Franklin was a billionaire in this part of the city where we lived, and he had never liked me, his wife.

It was a big mistake that had led to Franklin and my marriage-a mistake I shouldn't have accepted.

Taking you back three years: My father and Franklin's father were best friends. While my father was hosting a business party at home with many tycoons invited, one thing led to another, and Franklin and I were caught in my room.

I knew Amelia had set us up, but no one believed me-not even Franklin. He thought I had drugged him and lured him to my room so he would sleep with me.

We were forced to marry to hide the embarrassment, as Franklin's family was also disappointed. Everyone knew I was my father's illegitimate daughter, and they wondered why he had kept me around instead of kicking me out and letting Amelia marry Franklin.

It was after my wedding to Franklin that I discovered Amelia had a hidden crush on him. She regretted drugging my drink-the one I had served Franklin when he came to speak to me that eventful night.

Many invitees had brought their adult children, but none of them had come to speak to me.

I was already 22 years old then-naive-and with Franklin and me caught in a compromising position on the bed, we got married while Amelia wept that Franklin was supposed to be her husband.

Franklin didn't like me. After that night, we never slept together, and I never conceived, even though it had been my first time.

We lived like neighbors who hated each other. Now that Amelia had graduated, Franklin wanted to divorce me to marry her.

How shameless of a sister to want to date her younger sister's husband?

Amelia was so shameless. Franklin was five years older than me. Now that I was 25, he was 30.

I watched as Franklin, wearing a white singlet that revealed his masculine abs-he loved to gym-stood there. He was fair-skinned, more handsome than any other man I had seen.

His skin glittered like the sun, and I saw the way Amelia was drooling over him.

Franklin was very tall. His arms were bigger, as were his thighs. I wasn't even up to his chest-to tell you the truth, I'm a shorty. Although I had an hourglass figure.

Franklin didn't find me attractive in any way.

"How was your studies, Amy?" I heard Franklin ask Amelia. He had switched from calling her Amelia to Amy, her abbreviated nickname.

Amelia blushed as she picked up the glass cup of red wine that Franklin had refilled, while I sat at the dining table setting up our dinner.

We had no maid at home, simply because Franklin had mandated that I wouldn't work since I had no meaningful certificate.

As the illegitimate child of my parents, I hadn't furthered my education. I had been forced by my stepmother to learn tailoring while Amelia went to university and became a certified accountant.

I wasn't even allowed to sew. Franklin felt it was a useless profession, not like becoming a fashion designer.

He called me ugly and said I wasn't fashionable.

He didn't like taking me out to hang out with his friends, nor did he give me money for upkeep.

I only managed to get money for my upkeep when he gave me cash to restock the house with foodstuffs. Only then could I save a little for my personal use.

"It was fine, Frankie," Amelia replied. I hated that she and my husband were calling each other pet names.

This was my matrimonial home, and Franklin only called me "Natalie!"

In short, he shouted my name with so much rage, like he didn't want to see me.

"Natalie! Is dinner ready?" Franklin asked me, just as he settled across from Amelia on the black couch in our exquisite living room.

I had finished preparing the delicious African delicacy of pounded yam and vegetable soup.

I looked at the food I had prepared, then at my husband and my half-sister.

"Natalie! I'm talking to you!" Franklin shouted at me again.

"Hmm, no food for you both," I replied and covered the food I had already served.

Firstly, I hadn't invited Amelia to my home. Neither would I serve her any food. She should get out and return to our father's house to find her own husband to call pet names.

Franklin swiftly rose from the couch and dashed over to me.

"Where are you taking the tray of food? Have you lost your mind?" He slapped me as he approached, then took the tray from my hand.

I looked at him irritably, and at Amelia, who smiled and rolled her eyes. I knew her target: she wanted to take my husband.

She had sent me a text message the previous month, telling me she was coming back to collect everything I had stolen from her, including my husband.

"Franklin, why did you slap me? I cooked this food, and you cannot eat it," I said, my eyes brimming with tears, my hand clasped over my left cheek.

"Why? Didn't I give you the money you used to prepare the meal? Did you work for the money? Move away and get me a bowl of water to wash my hands. Do not think I will apologize for the slap. Come, Amy-do not mind your sister. That's how silly she behaves." Franklin called out to Amelia, and I watched as she seductively stood up from the couch in her brown dress that made her look like a model. The brown dress accentuated her hips and bosom.

Amelia walked up to the dining table, and I stood there watching as Franklin served her a delicious plate of pounded yam and vegetable soup that I had suffered to cook.

I knew Amelia was my sister and I wasn't supposed to be jealous, but Franklin had never served me food before, not to mention the one I had cooked myself.

Franklin also saw that I hadn't served any bowl of water, so he went to the kitchen himself and brought one for Amelia to wash her hands.

He sat across from her, and she blushed, not caring to ask me to join them.

"Franklin!" I shouted and walked toward the plate of soup I had served for myself-the portion that Franklin had intended for Amelia.

"What's wrong with you, Natalie? Should we leave this food for you to eat? Come, Amy-let's go out to get something more palatable." Franklin stood up from the dining table, and I hated it whenever I suffered to cook and my husband went out of our matrimonial home to eat.

"Franklin!" I tried to stop him, but he warned-"Stay away from me, Natalie. Just go and eat your food since you don't want your sister and me to eat it. Who knows if you poisoned it?"

"What!" I frowned as his words broke my heart. He quickly took the stairs in our living room and dashed upstairs to his bedroom.

Franklin and I had separate bedrooms. I looked back at Amelia and shouted at her, "You shameless slut! Aren't you ashamed to date your sister's husband? As beautiful as you are, you can't use your beauty to find your own husband!" I cussed at her, and she hissed.

"Get out of my house!" I was enraged, remembering that Amelia and her brothers had never liked me. They had mostly maltreated me, and while I had thought marriage would bring me happiness and my own family, this very same family that didn't want my happiness wouldn't let me be.

As I rushed to push Amelia out of the door, she fell down and pretended to be hurt.

(Natalie's POV)

"Ah!" Amelia cried out like the drama queen she was, and Franklin rushed downstairs to meet her.

"What did you do to her?" Franklin growled at me as he softly helped Amelia up.

I hadn't even pushed Amelia with force; I had only wanted to drag her out. And because she saw Franklin rushing downstairs to meet us, she faked it like she was hurt.

"Franklin, your wife-I mean, Natalie-bit my arm just now and pushed me away," Amelia said, holding her arm and sobbing as she got up from the floor.

Franklin glared at me and spat, "I cannot believe you would do this to your only sister. You aren't even the legitimate daughter of Mr. Jackson, yet you cannot treat your sister right. Come, Amy-let's go out to eat and let her eat her food alone."

Tears welled up in my brown eyes as I stood watching them. It was Saturday, and Franklin definitely didn't go to work on Saturdays or Sundays.

I sobbed, wanting to stop them, and went outside just in time to see Franklin getting into his black Jeep after helping Amelia close the door like the gentleman he never was to me.

"Franklin, where are you going?" I asked him, as it was already after 7 p.m. and getting late.

My soup was delicious, yet Franklin had accused me of making bitter food and probably poisoning it.

I sobbed and watched Franklin order the security man to open the gate. Soon, he drove out of our residence, heading to God knows where with Amelia.

*What had I done wrong now?* I wondered as I sobbed.

I went back into the house since I couldn't follow them. Franklin had three spotless cars, while I had none. He had never even carried me in any of his cars before, not to mention opening the car door for me like a gentleman.

As I went back into the house, I looked at the dining table and the tray of food.

I went to sit down and eat it, as the food wouldn't go to waste. I finished my own meal-the one Franklin had wanted Amelia to eat-and put his portion in the microwave to warm it so it wouldn't spoil.

I kept the soup in a small pot and covered it as I left the kitchen and went back to the dining room to tidy up.

Once I had finished cleaning the dining table, I wiped my tears away, locked the door, and waited for Franklin to return.

~~~~~

(Franklin's POV)

Being married to that local woman was the worst day of my life. I couldn't believe she had drugged me. It happened on the day her father was hosting a party to celebrate one of his successful deals. He had invited my father and some other partners to attend the celebration at his home.

That was when I first laid eyes on Natalie. She looked so innocent that I wouldn't have imagined she had drugged me.

While everyone was enjoying themselves in the party hall-which was the living room where the Jacksons mostly welcomed their guests-I followed Natalie to get to know her that evening. My parents were busy chatting with other families that had attended the event, so I excused myself and went after her.

I hadn't seen Natalie before, but I have heard about her. She was also a daughter of Mr. Jackson. Everyone knew the story of how Natalie came about.

Her mother had been a prostitute who wasn't ready to raise a child. Rumors had it that her mother had tried to abort her, but Natalie was stubborn and came out after nine months.

I had wanted to speak with Natalie that night to know what kind of person she was.

She was short, with a cute round face and brown sparkling eyes.

She was more beautiful than Amelia then, and I did admire her enough to want to know her.

What irritated me was that Natalie had actually drugged her wine and was looking for a hookup that night, just like her mother.

She knew most of the families that had attended her father's party were rich, so I was the scapegoat, and I accepted the drink from her wine.

That was when I awoke and found myself on the bed with her. We were both náked, and I didn't know how many hours I had spent with her in the room.

It was when her family came looking for us that they pushed open her room door and caught us together on the bed.

"Natalie! Franklin!" My parents and hers shouted. To cover up our shame, they concluded that Natalie and I must get married. Indeed, her sheet had blood stains, meaning I had slept with her.

I was angry and didn't want to believe Natalie was a cheap woman. I didn't want to marry her, but my father refused, saying I wouldn't sabotage his friendship with the Jacksons. It was only right that I marry Natalie and pretend we had been in an affair-which wasn't the truth.

I couldn't remember how we did it, and I didn't want to sleep with Natalie after we married.

Luckily, Natalie didn't conceive after that night, and I was planning to divorce her now so I could move on and maybe marry her sister.

Amelia had class. She was a graduate who spoke fluently, while Natalie was an embarrassment in her own right.

When my best friend, Michael, came to visit me, I felt embarrassed every time he saw my wife.

I couldn't take Natalie to any events with me, and I was thinking of divorcing her.

As the billionaire CEO of H.W. Global, I thought it best to file for divorce immediately and marry a woman of my standard.

If you asked me what I liked about Natalie, I didn't think I liked anything about her anymore. She was no longer beautiful to me. She was only good at cooking, and I could find a replacement for that.

I drove to a fancy restaurant. While I hated eating out, I just had to excuse myself from Natalie to get to know Amelia better.

"I hope your arm isn't hurting too much?" I asked Amelia, as she had claimed Natalie hurt her just when I went upstairs to change my clothes.

"No, it's okay now," Amelia smiled, and I nodded. "Okay," I smiled back. It was already getting late, and I drove into one of the costly restaurants around.

"We're here. Let's grab something to eat," I told Amelia with a smile, and she smiled back. Her face had minimal makeup, which was something I liked about her.

Not too much makeup, and yet she was beautiful.

I got out of the car and took Amelia by the hand as I escorted her into the restaurant. We went to the private section, where I sat down and ordered something nice for the two of us.

Amelia smiled, and her phone rang just as she settled in her chair across from me.

"Hello, Father," she said while I waved the waiter over to serve us.

"Yes, I came to see Franklin and Natalie. They're fine, Dad. Do not worry-I will be home on time, or you don't have to worry about me," Amelia said, speaking to her father as she smiled flirtatiously at me.

"Okay, Dad. I love you too. Take care," Amelia ended the call and, without me asking, said, "My dad wanted to know who I went out to see. You know I don't have any boyfriend or lover."

"Oh, that's nice," I said.

As I wanted to ask her what she would like to eat, her phone rang again, and she answered, "Hey, Felix."

"Yeah, I went out with Franklin. I will call you back, or I will be home soon," she told him and ended the call.

The same went for her other two brothers-they called to check on her. But since I married Natalie, no one ever checked on her either.

"So, what would you like for dinner?" I asked Amelia, and she blinked her long eyelashes and bit her lower pink lip.

"Anything you choose, Franklin," Amelia said, and I smiled at her.

"That's fine," I replied, and ordered a simple meal-a plate of chicken pepper soup-as I didn't want us to waste much time so we could go back home.

"So tell me, Franklin-how have you been coping with my half-sister? I knew that if Natalie hadn't set you up, you and I were supposed to have become a pair," Amelia said, and I met her blue eyes that shimmered in the night hour.

(Franklin's POV)

"You're right. We would have gotten married, but it's not too late to divorce your sister now. She isn't up to my standard, and I do not like her," I said as the waiter brought our dinner, and Amelia smiled.

"How about me? I've always admired you. Honestly, that night, I felt sad seeing Natalie drug you and use you as her pawn to escape our parents' home. She's just wayward, and I've always admired you, hoping we would become married," Amelia said, tears gathering in her blue eyes.

I sighed.

"Do not worry. I will end my marriage with Natalie, okay? She can move on with her life with whomever she pleases-I do not care," I told Amelia, and she smiled sweetly.

"Does that mean you will consider dating me now? I really do love you, Franklin," Amelia asked, looking at me sweetly.

She was very beautiful, with fair porcelain skin and with her blue eyes shining, I couldn't say no to her request.

I had always wanted to date Amelia. I used to like her then. She was tall like a formidable model, with slender legs, a slim waist, and ample bosom.

Those days, my father often sent me on errands to meet Mr. Jackson, and from there, I would catch a glimpse of Amelia. Also, whenever our families hosted end-of-year events like New Year's festivities, Christmas, or birthday celebrations, my dad would invite the Jacksons to our home.

Presently, after I got married and moved away from my father's house-where I now lived with my wife-I hardly attended those end-of-year celebrations, as I felt ashamed to be in the same location as my wife.

I would travel out of town and give excuses to my dad about why I couldn't show up.

The waiter soon arrived with our meals, and I got pressed and stood up from the table to excuse myself.

"I'm coming-I want to use the restroom," I told Amelia, and she smiled at me.

"Okay," Amelia replied, while the waiter positioned our meals on the table.

I knew I wasn't supposed to leave my meal, but Amelia was like family to me, and I trusted her.

I quickly waved away the negative feeling that had settled in the pit of my stomach as I left for the restroom to relieve myself.

I stole a final look at Amelia, before I entered the restroom, and I saw her looking at me.

I hurried into the men's restroom to relieve myself. There were several stalls for the men to use, knowing the restaurant could get crowded with lots of patrons.

As I got out of the restroom, wanting to leave-not expecting that I would need to go, simply because I hadn't had time to relieve myself at home-I bumped into Michael Austin, my childhood best friend here in the city.

Michael wore a white shirt paired with black jeans, similar to mine, and black canvas shoes too.

"Franklin! What brought you here, bro? Hold up-let me use the restroom quickly," Michael rushed into the restroom to relieve himself too, while I waited for him to come out.

"Franklin!" Michael exclaimed, and we shook hands. I asked him, "What's up with you, Michael? What brings you here too?"

Michael smiled and replied, "I was just bored at home. You know, no wife or girlfriend, so I came here to see if I could find any pretty lady to hang out with."

Michael had dark skin, compared to my fair complexion.

"That's fine. I have to go now-as I came here with my date," I replied, wanting to leave and not wanting to mention that I had come here with my wife's half-sister.

"Your date?" Michael looked taken aback as he stopped me, his eyes narrowing.

"Yeah, can't I go on a date again?" I asked Michael. I saw him frown but quickly laugh it off and reply, "Of course, Franklin. Hahaha-you can go on a date. But with your wife, I guess. Who did you arrive here with?"

"Come, let's go out and meet her. She will be waiting for me," I told Michael, as he didn't seem happy to hear that I had come here on a date and not with my wife, actually.

Damn it-I never went on any date with Natalie. I hadn't taken her out for shopping. I just planned to divorce her, and while the matter was still ongoing in my mind, I hadn't discussed it yet with Michael, even though he was my best friend. I knew he wouldn't support me divorcing Natalie, as he kind of had a soft spot for her.

Michael and I were the same age. He owned several hotels here, thanks to his affluent parents too. He was a billionaire, and his father was a senator.

We exited the men's restroom and went back to the private parlor to join Amelia.

As I approached the chair where Amelia sat-just as I saw that the waiter had already served my request-I quickly introduced Michael to Amelia.

"Hey, bro-meet my girlfriend, Amelia Jackson. Amy, this is Michael Austin, my childhood best friend," I introduced Amelia to Michael just as I moved to take my seat, wanting to be quick with my dinner and return home on time to my unwanted wife.

"Hi," Amelia said to Michael as she stood up from her seat and extended her right hand for a handshake.

Michael only stared at Amelia's hand and didn't accept it.

"Franklin, isn't she your wife's half-sister? Are you fụcking both your wife and her half-sister now?" Michael asked me. His anger was evident, and that actually pissed me off-as he shouted so loudly, despite the fact we were in the private hall.

Some other patrons looked at our table in shock, despite the dimly lit room. Amelia appeared tense.

"Shut up, Michael! What has gotten into you? I am not fụcking Natalie at home, and whatever relationship I have with Natalie and her half-sister is none of your business," I snarled, pissed off that my best friend always supported my wife over me.

Michael never found any fault in Natalie and would often disagree with me if I told him she was ugly and not my type.

"Really? I thought you arrived here with your wife, and here you are, fooling around with your wife's half-sister. Don't you feel any shame, Franklin? And if you want to cheat on Natalie at all, must you cheat with her sister?!" Michael shouted, seeming to draw more attention from the patrons in the restaurant. We weren't the only ones using the large parlor, and with Michael raising his voice, he disrupted the serene atmosphere of the private space.

"Michael, you can leave and not disturb or lecture me on how to live my life," I told him, seeing Amelia looked embarrassed. Michael looked at us just as I told Amelia to sit back, then he turned around and left.

I treasured my friendship with Michael, but he was getting on my nerves every time he disagreed with me about divorcing Natalie.

He most times told me I was blind to how beautiful Natalie was.

"I apologize on my best friend's behalf. He's always like that, picking Natalie's side. I'm beginning to think if he's fụcking her behind my back, like the cheap woman she is," I told Amelia to ease her tense mood.