Surprise Oaths: My Husband Is Addicted To Me

In a presidential suite of a hotel.

"No..."

Slender fingers gripped the edge of a vast, snow-white bed, straining to pull her body forward to break free.

She nearly made it-

Out of nowhere, a firm arm encircled her waist, pulling her back again.

His kiss was intense and full of passion. As she melted into his tender touch, her rationale vanished.

On the beautifully adorned wall, their shadows merged.

Two months later.

Ryann Murphy perched at the edge of her bed, a pregnancy test stick clasped in her hand.

The two red bars on the stick shone brighter than the midday sun.

Her mind was in a whirl.

It took her quite some time to regain her composure.

She was pregnant and unmarried...

She never anticipated such a dreadful turn in her life!

And she was just twenty years old!

"Meow!"

The soft sound of a cat snapped her back to the present.

"Coco, what do you think I should do?"

Ryann was on the verge of tears, clutching the little cat, stroking its snow-white fur.

When her fingers brushed its hairless tail, her expression twisted in anger.

This hairless tail was the trigger for all the chaos.

Of course, Coco wasn't to blame.

The true culprit was Phyllis Murphy!

If Coco hadn't been mistreated by Phyllis, its tail hair scorched by her, Ryann wouldn't have been blinded by anger and followed Phyllis to the hotel in a fury. And if she hadn't caught Phyllis in a compromising situation with her boyfriend, Ryann wouldn't have acted in vengeance and made a wrong choice.

Acting on impulse had only compounded her troubles.

Ryann deeply regretted her choice.

Then, a knock at the door broke her train of thought.

Ryann, taken aback, quickly tucked the pregnancy test stick under the quilt.

At the door stood the housemaid, Melinda Singh.

"Miss Murphy, Mrs. Murphy wants you downstairs. She has something to discuss with you."

Melinda's demeanor was frosty.

Her words carried a hint of sarcasm.

Ryann responded in a monotone voice, "Okay, I'll come down."

In the living room.

Lynda Murphy and Phyllis were cozily seated next to each other, sharing fruit and exchanging warm smiles.

When Lynda saw Ryann, her smile disappeared.

This sight made Ryann feel a pang of sadness.

Lynda had once been a kind and affectionate mother to her, too.

But everything changed six months ago when Phyllis, her biological daughter, returned home. Ryann, the adopted daughter, suddenly found herself out of favor.

Lynda's warmth towards her turned to indifference.

"Please, sit down."

Ryann sat in an armchair and waited silently for Lynda to speak.

"I wanted to discuss something with you, so I asked you to come downstairs."

Though Lynda called it a discussion, her voice was stern. "As you know, Phyllis' and Alexander's grandfathers planned their marriage twenty years ago. But Phyllis went missing, and you, fortunately, took her place to be engaged to Alexander. Now that Phyllis is back, it's time to rectify this mistake."

Ryann bit her lower lip.

In Lynda's view, it appeared that an engagement was nothing more than a game, with the engaged parties subject to change at any moment.

Whenever Lynda required Ryann's presence, she showered her with kindness. But once Ryann no longer had use for her, she turned a cold shoulder.

Ryann, holding back tears, looked at the smug girl beside Lynda. "Phyllis and Alexander have been dating for ages. This is not a discussion. It's a declaration."

Phyllis's expression shifted.

Lynda was caught off guard, not expecting Ryann to be aware of this and embarrass them now.

With a stern face, Lynda scolded, "What's with your attitude? Are you blaming us? Phyllis was supposed to be engaged to Alexander. Even this declaration is a courtesy from us!"

After saying that, she noticed Ryann bowing her head in silence. Lynda believed that her words had intimidated Ryann.

Lynda's face softened slightly. She lifted her chin with pride and said with feigned kindness, "Of course, to make amends, we've found another fine man for you. He is the second son of the head of the Ward family, quite the handsome fellow. I believe you two would be an ideal match. We have come to an arrangement. You can go and register your marriage with him tomorrow."

Tomorrow?

Ryann lifted her head, her eyes wide with disbelief. "But I haven't even finished school yet!"

"What's the problem? There is no rule against marrying while in college! You're of age for marriage. It's time for you to get married now!"

Ryann turned away. "I've heard that man from the Ward family is a notorious womanizer with many scandals. I refuse to marry him."

Having her marry someone like that was not compensation, but humiliation!

Bang!

Lynda slammed her hand on the table angrily. "What's wrong with a womanizer? You are just an adopted daughter in the Murphy family, not a real one. A womanizer is more than enough for you! To show their sincerity, the Ward family has deposited ten million dollars into our account. Whether you like it or not, you're marrying him tomorrow! If not, don't blame me for freezing your bank card! Don't assume I'm unaware of you secretly covering Stella Cooper's medical expenses."

Lynda was sure that Ryann would yield.

She was aware of Ryann's vulnerability.

Ryann's hands balled into tight fists.

Stella, who directed an orphanage, had lovingly looked after Ryann until she was three.

Ryann felt deeply indebted to her.

Later, Ryann was adopted by the Murphy family. Lynda was grieving for the loss of her daughter, sought solace, and found it in Ryann.

Ryann bore a slight resemblance to Phyllis, which led to her being chosen.

Despite this, Ryann frequently visited Stella at the orphanage.

Six months ago, Stella received a diagnosis of stomach cancer and required hospitalization. However, she had dedicated her youth and finances to those homeless children for years. How could she possibly afford her treatment now?

Learning of Stella's issue, Ryann secretly used her funds to cover Stella's medical expenses.

Stella couldn't survive without the funds necessary for her treatment, so Ryann had no choice but to agree to the marriage.

The next day, at the city hall.

"Achoo!"

Ryann kept sneezing.

She glanced at the man beside her, adorned in vibrant attire. His perfume was so overpowering that she found it unbearable.

What made it even more unbearable was that he hadn't ceased his phone conversation since he arrived and stood in line with her.

He continued to flirt with the woman on the other end of the line.

He was on the verge of marrying Ryann, yet he displayed no respect for her.

Ryann felt like a heavy stone was crushing her heart.

Was she destined to marry such a man?

No, she couldn't do it!

Overwhelmed, Ryann bolted out.

The man, phone still in hand, looked at her in confusion. "Hey, where are you going?"

Ryann didn't respond; she dashed out of the city hall.

She nearly collided with a sleek black luxury car.

"Screech-"

The luxury car suddenly stopped, its front end just a few inches from her thighs.

Ryann's legs turned weak and numb, causing her to collapse onto the ground.

She had nearly been hit by the car...

"Are you alright?" The driver swung open the door, stepped out of the car, and peered down at her.

He exuded an air of dominance and authority.

His voice sounded eerily familiar.

Dazed, Ryann lifted her head. As she saw the man's face, her eyes widened in shock.

The man wore a sharp suit and leather shoes, appearing immaculate and handsome. His dark eyes were as piercing as an eagle's gaze.

The afternoon sun cast a glow on him.

It was him!

Memories of that wild night two months ago and the pregnancy test stick flashed through Ryann's mind.

When the man turned to get into the car, Ryann reached out, grasping his hand, and blurted out, "I'm pregnant!"

Shawn Edwards' eyes narrowed as he asked sharply, "And?"

Did she intend to claim a miscarriage and seek compensation from him?

His gaze fell on the woman before him. Her face was pale, but her eyes sparkled brilliantly, reminiscent of the moon in a clear night sky.

Regrettably, this woman had intentions of blackmailing him.

Gazing into the man's icy stare, Ryann was left in shock.

He didn't remember her.

Her heart dropped.

But as she pondered her present circumstances, she inhaled deeply and reminded him, "The night of June 11th, Room 1908 at the Twilight Hotel."

Shawn remained silent.

That enchanting night from two months ago was still vivid in his mind.

He scrutinized the woman and queried, "Were you the one from that night?"

Under his intense gaze, Ryann managed to nod despite the heat rising in her cheeks.

He questioned further, "You're pregnant?"

Ryann nodded once more, her voice barely above a whisper as she cautiously affirmed, "It's yours..."

"How can you be sure it's mine?"

Ryann was taken aback and raised her gaze to meet his chilling stare.

She nibbled her lower lip, her voice tinged with sadness as she explained, "Before that night, I had never been intimate with anyone else. It was my first time. You should remember how it felt that night..."

Shawn's expression grew darker.

He had been drugged that night, his awareness blurred. He hadn't paid attention to such details.

But when he had awoken the next day, he did recall seeing traces of blood on the sheets.

However, even though she had given him her virginity, it didn't necessarily mean she hadn't been intimate with other men after that night.

After all, she was a woman who would boldly enter a stranger's hotel room.

He didn't want to prolong the argument on the street. He pulled out a checkbook, pen in hand, and asked icily, "How much do you want?"

Ryann's hands balled into fists.

She felt humiliated to her core.

She fantasized about being like those heroines in TV dramas, snatching the check, ripping it up, and throwing it in his face.

But then she remembered Stella, lying in the hospital, dependent on her for the medical bills...

Ryann replied with a heavy heart, "Five hundred thousand dollars. I need five hundred thousand..."

The attending doctor mentioned that Stella's surgery would require a minimum of five hundred thousand dollars.

Shawn was about to write a check for one hundred thousand dollars. Hearing her request, he scoffed and added another zero without hesitation.

He extended the check and stated coldly, "Here's a million dollars. Take care of the abortion yourself. I don't want to see you suddenly reappear and keep bothering me about your pregnancy. Do you get it?"

Ryann's head bowed, her hand trembling as she reached for the check.

She believed she must have appeared very ugly as she reached for the check, to the extent that Shawn impatiently pulled his hand back before she could grasp it.

The check slipped from his grasp, fluttering down to her feet and landing on the ground.

The man turned and drove off without a second glance.

Ryann stood motionless for several minutes before stooping to pick up the check.

She lifted her head and straightened her back; a solitary tear splashed onto the cement road.

In the Murphy family's house.

Melinda was supposedly cleaning Ryann's room.

However, the truth was that she was digging through the cabinets, looking for something.

She was checking to see if Ryann had any valuable items she could borrow.

Of course, she had no intention of giving them back to Ryann.

In any case, Ryann was now beneath the servants in the Murphy family's hierarchy. No one would come to her defense if Melinda took her belongings.

However, after a lengthy search, Melinda still couldn't find anything valuable.

She knew that after Phyllis's return, Phyllis had destroyed Ryann's beautiful clothes and bags and taken all the valuable jewelry.

But Melinda was still surprised to find absolutely nothing left of worth!

"What a stroke of bad luck!"

Melinda yanked the quilt off Ryann's bed and flung it to the floor.

"Bang."

An object tumbled out.

Melinda's eyes sparkled. She thought she'd found a hidden treasure of Ryann's. She eagerly picked it up.

But then-

Melinda's expression shifted to shock when she saw what she held.

The very next moment, she dashed out in a hurry.

"Mrs. Murphy!"

Smack-

When Ryann stepped into the room, Lynda slapped her hard across the face.

Lynda was seething. "Where were you? Why did you leave without completing the marriage registration with Mr. Ward?"

Ryann, bearing the sting on her cheek, replied, "I don't want to marry him."

"Why not? Just because he is a womanizer? But what about you? You're no different from him!"

Suddenly, Lynda flung something to the floor and yelled, "You're pregnant before marriage! Ryann, I never thought you'd be so reckless! You shameless wretch!"

Ryann's eyes fixed on the pregnancy test stick on the floor, her mind momentarily blank.

"Despite all our efforts to educate you, your poor origin shows. You've brought disgrace to the Murphy family!"

Lynda let out a disdainful snort and continued in a frigid tone, "Leave! After committing such a disgraceful act, you can't remain in the Murphy family any longer."

Then Lynda dropped a hint to Melinda.

Melinda quickly dashed into the adjoining room, returning with a suitcase she tossed in front of Ryann.

"Miss Murphy... No, just Ryann. Here are all your belongings. Take them and leave immediately!"

Lynda, arms crossed, gazed down at Ryann with disdain as though she were nothing more than an insect. "I've cared for you all these years. Even after Phyllis returned, I never thought to cast you out. But you've shown yourself to be corrupt and beyond redemption. The Murphy family has been generous enough to you. I'm left with no option but to leave you to fend for yourself from now on!"

"Ha-ha." Ryann let out a bitter laugh.

Lynda's brow furrowed. "What's so funny?"

Ryann lifted her gaze, her dark eyes veiled with a misty layer. "The only reason you didn't push me away until now is that you were afraid of the world accusing you of abandoning your adopted daughter once you discovered your biological one. Don't pretend to be something you're not."

Ryann had sensed the Murphy family's changing attitudes soon after Phyllis's arrival and had wanted to leave.

However, the Murphy family stopped her.

It wasn't because they were unwilling to let her go, but because they didn't want to face public criticism!

Now that Lynda had leverage over Ryann, she could finally expel her from the Murphy family. She must be delighted.

Once her true intentions were revealed, a flicker of unmasked anger crossed Lynda's face. "So, you're pointing fingers at me now? If I hadn't taken you in, you'd be on the streets! You don't know how to show gratitude for my kindness. Phyllis was right about you; you are ungrateful! It's no surprise your biological parents left you!"

Ryann's biological parents had always been a sensitive topic in her heart. She tightened her fists and said with a choked voice, "No, I'm thankful for you raising me all these years, even if you saw me as a replacement and only used me to fill the void in your heart!"

She pulled out a card from her bag containing the money from Shawn's check. "There's five hundred thousand dollars in here. Consider it repayment for your care. It's not enough, I know. But considering Phyllis' abuse over the last six months, I should have demanded some compensation for my physical and emotional distress. We're even now. As you've always wanted, we have nothing to do with each other anymore!"

Lynda eyed the card with disgust. "Where did you get this money? Did you offer yourself to others for money?"

Before Phyllis' return, Lynda was stingy with Ryann's allowance. And for the past six months, she hadn't given Ryann a single penny.

Logically, Ryann's card should have been nearly depleted from covering Stella's medical expenses.

How could she possibly have five hundred thousand dollars now?

Ryann didn't want to revisit the humiliating experience of asking Shawn for money. Without much explanation, she placed the card on the floor and bowed deeply to Lynda.

"Please take good care of yourself."

Then, Ryann dragged her suitcase and left without looking back.

As she approached the gate, a voice suddenly sounded above her, saying, "Hey!"

Ryann lifted her gaze.

Perched on the third-floor windowsill, Phyllis gazed down at her, a sneer on her face. "Who is the father of that child you are carrying? Don't tell me it's Alexander. He told me you are too dull for his taste and he would never touch you!"

Ryann glanced away dismissively. "That's none of your concern!"

"Did you really resort to selling yourself? How else could you have so much money? Tell me, the person who slept with you was a middle-aged, overweight man or a foul-smelling elderly man covered in wrinkles?"

Ryann retorted with a cold laugh, "You'd be disappointed to hear it! He's a hundred times superior to Alexander. Alexander can't even compare and has to bow in deference to him!"

Phyllis erupted in laughter as if she'd heard the funniest joke. "Ryann, are you lost in a fantasy?"

Ryann had no desire to continue this futile argument.

If she hadn't witnessed the other day at the hotel how Alexander had been constantly fawning over Shawn, she wouldn't have clandestinely trailed Shawn into his room and slept with him to seek revenge on Alexander and Phyllis!

It became clear that acting on impulse only worsened the situation.

That night, Shawn's actions left her in no state to contemplate anything else. She hastily left the room before dawn.

"Wait!"

Observing that Ryann was on the verge of departing, Phyllis halted her again, wearing a wicked grin. "You seem to have overlooked something."

The next second, a white cat with a bald tail was tossed from the third floor!

Ryann's expression twisted in horror. "Coco!"

She dropped her suitcase and swiftly scooped up the injured cat from the ground.

"Meow!"

Coco emitted a soft, plaintive call. Its blue eyes appeared vacant and glossy, and it seemed weak.

As Ryann cradled Coco, unsure of its injuries, a mix of guilt and anxiety washed over her.

She looked up fiercely at the woman laughing mockingly above. Clenching her teeth, Ryann shot back, "Fortune Santos!"

Phyllis' smile vanished in an instant.

Her expression turned dark and twisted as if she were about to devour someone. "What did you call me just now?"

"Fortune Santos!"

"Ahhh! I'll kill you!"

Phyllis seemed to be on the brink of a breakdown.

As a child, she was abducted and sold to a farmer.

This family wanted to be rich, but they had worked very hard to no avail. They put their faith in the words of a fortune teller and bought Phyllis back, believing she could help them become rich.

They even named her Fortune.

After returning to the Murphy family, Phyllis forbade anyone from bringing it up.

Just when Phyllis thought she could leave it behind-

After holding her position for seventeen years, how dare Ryann bring this name up in front of her!

Phyllis' deep-seated anger erupted. She screamed wildly, grabbing objects nearby and hurling them at Ryann!

"Bitch! You bitch! Go to hell! How dare you call me that? You're nothing but an imposter who stole my life. You should've been the one enduring hardship in the countryside! You shameless thief, rot in hell!"

Crash! Bang! Smash-

Items lay shattered on the ground, reduced to pieces.

Ryann gazed stoically at the hysterical woman above.

In the beginning, when she looked at Phyllis, a sense of guilt and worry would wash over her.

Even though Ryann hadn't planned it, she lived comfortably while Phyllis endured hardships.

However, in the following days, Ryann endured insults and slaps from Phyllis. Phyllis not only shredded all of Ryann's clothing but also vandalized her bags and shoes. She set fire to Ryann's design sketches, occasionally barged into her room late at night to drench her with cold water, and even contaminated her drink. When Ryann descended the stairs, Phyllis would shove her down. On one occasion, Phyllis even spiked her cat's food with rat poison...

As a result of Phyllis' actions, Ryann's feelings of guilt and sympathy slowly faded away!

Holding Coco in one arm and dragging her suitcase in the other, Ryann departed without a backward glance.

"Phyllis, what's going on? What's wrong with you?"

Lynda, hearing the commotion, rushed upstairs. Seeing Phyllis in such a state, she quickly embraced her. "Phyllis, it's me. Don't be afraid! I'm here for you!"

Resting against Lynda's chest, Phyllis' body grew tense. "Mom, I'm going to get even with her. I'm going to kill that bitch!"

"Okay, okay. I'll kill her for you!"

Lynda affectionately ran her fingers through Phyllis' hair, her eyes harboring a hint of malice.

After consoling Phyllis, Lynda returned to her room with her phone and dialed her husband's number.

"Lynda, what's the matter?"

Lynda stated in a frosty tone, "Roderick, I've expelled that woman from our home. You can seize the chance to take action."

Roderick Murphy, on the other end of the call, paused briefly before inquiring, "Is it necessary to proceed with this?"

"Or what? Are you willing to bide your time until she uncovers the truth that her mother's demise was an unintended act by your hand and that the entire Murphy family's business rightfully belongs to her, only for her to return and compete with you for the business and family assets?"

"But... She is my brother's only child."

"Roderick! Two decades ago, if you hadn't been compassionate and refrained from eliminating this little bitch, we wouldn't be entangled in such big trouble today! Don't even mention that she's your brother's daughter. Focus on your daughter! You know the kind of life she had endured for the past twenty years! Do you still have sympathy for that girl? Aren't you concerned about Phyllis?" Lynda shouted out of control.

Twenty years ago, Roderick couldn't bring himself to harm Ryann, and she ended up in an orphanage. Three years later, Ryann was unexpectedly adopted by Lynda and raised as her daughter for seventeen years. Just thinking about it made Lynda furious!

It made sense now why Ryann bore a resemblance to Phyllis. She was the daughter of Roderick's brother.

After a brief pause, Roderick said, "I understand. I'll take care of it."

When Ryann was still living with them, they had to be cautious, fearing evidence might emerge linking them to any harm against her.

But with Ryann now leaving, it would be much simpler to deal with her.

After all, in this world, countless people have accidents every day!