The Stranger I Call Husband

I won't do that, Never!" the woman shouted, her voice shaking with frustration.

Rayna Hartley, a stunning young woman whose natural beauty was often hidden beneath her modest appearance. Her short, straight black hair flowed down to her shoulder, framing her delicate features. With dark skin, a pointed nose, and large, expressive eyes, she had the kind of beauty most women envied, though she never flaunted it.

Now, she was being forced into a marriage she never wanted with a man named Rowan Evander, heir to a massive corporation. After a tragic accident, Rowan had fallen into a coma, and even if he regained consciousness, doctors believed he would suffer from a rare neurological disorder that could leave him emotionally unstable and struggling with memory loss.

"You don't have a choice," her stepmother said coldly. "Either you agree to this marriage, or your father's debt will swallow us whole and the company would go bankrupt."

"Why should it be me, Aunt? Why not Dinah? She's Dad's daughter too!" Rayna snapped, frustration written all over her face.

It had been ten years since her father married Mirabel, but she had never once called the woman "Mother." To Rayna, that title belonged to the woman who gave birth to her-the one who had passed away long ago. Her late mother and her future mother-in-law were the only two women she'd ever thought worthy of that name.

Mirabel, a striking woman in her fifties, raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"You're stupid," she said coldly. "Dinah may be your father's child, but she came from my womb. You, on the other hand..." She sneered. "You were born from that rotting corpse he used to love. Don't ever forget that."

" You better watch what comes out from your mouth, Aunt! Never mention or talk about my mother because you're definitely unworthy!. As usual Rayna's face turned red with anger.

Rayna never liked it when her stepmother, a middle-aged woman who happened to be her father's wife, brought up or insulted her deceased mother.

"You should better watch your words, Rayna! Her father who had been silent all these while suddenly yelled at Rayna.

" Why? Why do you want to defend this woman? Can't you comprehend what I said earlier? She is obviously undeserving...

"Rayna! Be respectful to your elders! No matter who she may be, she's my wife, and that means she's your mother as well. It's like you were raised poorly!" Before Rayna could finish speaking, Julius, her father immediately interrupted her.

Rayna sneered. The corners of her lips curved into a sarcastic and dubious smile.

" First... this woman is and can never be my mother. She's a cheap, lying, cheating, wannabe, homewrecker, who is my father's wife. From the very beginning, I have made it known and very clear that I would never address this woman as my mother, I know who deserves to receive my respect. And according to Dad, is this woman worth it? , she's so insufficient. Rayna said with her eyes casting a scornful glance at Mirabel.

" And you... you claim to be my father, did you ever care for me, when last did you ask me if I was okay? Or sat me down to advice me, Never right? . She continued.

Julius fell silent.He was truly taken aback, seeing his daughter who had always been quiet and obedient suddenly hurling such words at him.

"Honey, why are you keeping quiet? You should scold or beat this disrespectful child!" She insulted me and called me all sorts of names!" Mirabel shouted, as usual asking her husband to take action against Rayna.

" Dad, did you see? Be strict with Rayna! How can you just stand there when my mom is being insulted," this time Dinah, Rayna's younger sister, spoke up.

"Tsk, Always with the pretentious acting and unnecessary drama! Aren't you tired of pretending all the time? Rayna sneered, her scornful expression on her face.

" Silence! You have no manners! I don't care if you call me Mom or not, I don't expect it from you either. Because I don't want to be called your mother! Now what's clear is that you must marry Rowan, whether you agree or not!

" I won't! Rayna firmly stated.

" You don't have a choice, we're just informing you not asking for your opinion, unless of course you want your mother's company and effort to go down the drain.

"Do you really want that to happen to your mother's hard work? Julius spoke up once again hoping that by mentioning her mother, his daughter would change her mind and be willing to fulfill their request without force.

" I still ask, why does it have to be me? You are the ones in debt, right? If it's for my mother's company, I can understand. But here, it's all just for the lavish lifestyle of your illegitimate family!" Rayna raised her finger pointing directly at Dinah.

"Rayna!" I have warned you never to call Dinah illegitimate!" Julius shouted at the top of his voice.

" If she's not illegitimate, then what should she be called? The product of cheating, isn't it the same thing? Correct me if I'm wrong."

Thwack

Julius hand swung and landed hard on Rayna's smooth cheek leaving a trail of his palm, which gained a happy smirk from Mirabel and Dinah.

"Dad! You just raised your hand to hit me? Rayna's eyes widened in shock, startled even because it was the first time her father raised his hands to slap her.

" My darling, I'm sorry it was a reflex!" Julius immediately felt guilty.

" Why should Daddy apologize to you? She deserved that slap and more," Dinah uttered, staring cynically at Rayna.

" What did I do to deserve it? I didn't say anything out of line, did I? What I said earlier is true. You were born out of the adultery committed by your father and mother behind my mother's back!" Rayna said with a racing breath.

" Rayna, stop, I said stop!, enough is enough. Don't make daddy do something more than a slap. The more I tolerates you, the more insolent you become! Now the bottom line is you must agree to marry Rowan whether you like it or not!" Julius shouted, with a gaze as sharp as a dagger ready to stab someone.

" Whatever you say , I still won't accept, if this is for the sake of my mother's company, why should I be the one to sacrifice when you lot are the benefactors of it's entire profit and ownership? Dinah is here, let her marry him, and best of it all she's also Dad's biological child!" Once again Rayna firmly stated.

" Hey, that's your mother's company, why should my child marry in your stead? Mirabel spoke up again.

" Aunty, seems like you forgot a special detail, didn't you? That the company is almost bankrupt because you and your bastard daughter always used the company's money for your personal interests? So the least you could do right now is take full responsibility of your actions!" This time Rayna absolutely refused to be intimidated, like in the past.

"I told you Julius, not to let her visit her mother's country now see how vile she has become after all I heard Africans are bold but she learnt it negatively", Mirabel shouted agitated.

" And what do we care about responsibility? What's evident here is, I would not let my precious daughter to marry a man whose uncertain future we don't even know? Moreover, even if he wakes up, he'll be mentally unstable. It's eazy for you, my child sacrificing for the sake of protecting your mother's company!" Mirabel said firmly.

" Don't forget, Aunty, you are indeed obligated to take responsibility. Apart from spending the company's money, you and my dad also have to take responsibility for having caused my mother's death. Because of your affair with my Dad which resulted in a child, my mother became depressed and ill, she left her country for this man right here and he betrayed her trust, my mother was really hardworking and lucrative. It's all your fault, so at least Aunty ask your daughter to marry that man as a form of accountability!" Rayna's gaze was sharp, staring at Mirabel, the woman she despises for so long.

"And before I forget , at my mother's country her siblings only taught me to stand up for myself so stop calling me vile." She said glaring at Mirabel.

" I Said no, if you don't want to, fine; But you have to be ready for the fact that the company, which was left by your mother, will crumble to pieces. As for me... I don't care if it crumbles or not!" Mirabel 's lips raised slightly, forming a sinister smile.

" My dear, please, agree! You have to help your father, for the sake of your mother's company!" This time, Julius spoke with a low voice.

" I won't agree, Dad, there's no need for the emotional blackmail!" Rayna continued to persist in refusing. " Besides you know, my marriage to Cody is just a matter of time. It can't be cancelled just like that. It would embarrass Cody's family, Dad!"

Apart from feeling that it was not her responsibility, she already had a partner already and she was going to get married to In four days.

" Don't worry, I will take your place and marry Cody," Dinah interjected, smiling.

" What gave you the audacity to say that! Do you think Cody would want to marry you?" Rayna's anger was justified and it began to flare up again.

" Who said he wouldn't? He and I are already in love with each other. Without your knowledge, we have been in a relationship,"

Rayna's eyes widened, startled even.

However, it was only for a moment, as the next second she scoffed while shaking her head , trying not to believe it.

" Do you think I will believe that? It's absolutely impossible, because Cody cannot possibly like a cheap woman like you. Moreover, our relationship has been going on for a long time and we are getting married." Rayna said.

Dinah burst into laughter, mocking her.

" You don't believe me? I can prove it, my loving sister. You may have been in a long-term relationship, but Cody, he said that you are boring. He is more comfortable with me, who can give him whatever he wants," Dinah sardonic smile never left her lips.

" Don't make things up! I won't believe it!"

" Alright, I'll prove it then!" Dinah reached for her phone and then showed the screen to Rayna.

" Look very clearly, isn't this Cody's number?" Rayna read the name ' Sugarplum' displayed on the phone screen and she saw that the number was indeed Cody's, her fiance.

" I will call him, and you can hear it for yourself!" Dinah dialed the number and deliberately pressed the speaker button as well.

" Yes, Buttercup!" a very familiar voice could be heard from the cell phone to Rayna's ears.