Page 112 of Vows In Corruption

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ELLA

As a kid, I always wanted a big family. For most of like, it was just me and even though it was nice at times, especially when I wanted to be alone, I still wanted to be a part of all the chaos that came with a big family.

Every time I went to a new foster home that had a lot of kids, I always go excited. Every time I walked through a door and saw a bunch of kids running around, I thought that that would be it. That would be the home that I was meant to be in and finally have a lot of brothers and sisters.

But that never happened.

Either the parents of the home were super nice and caring but the kids they had were mean or it was the other away around.

As I got older, I made a promise to myself that when I was ready I would give myself the family that I always wanted. A handful of kids, a big house with enough space for Charlie, and a husband that loved me beyond measure. The promise was going to take some time, especially since before this arrangement with Bennett, I had been single for a long time, and I didn’t have the income support that type of life, but it was going to happen. I was going to make sure of it.

When I first agreed to marry Bennett, I didn’t think that I would gain much from the transaction besides the million dollars to pay off Josiah and a place to live for two years without having to worry about rent. I didn’t think nothing else would come from it.

But something has, the family and life I always wanted.

Who knew that all I needed to do was marry my billionaire boss and all my dreams would come true.

It took me a while to get to this point, but now that I’ve been a Lane, in the legal sense, for a few months now, I feel like both Charlie and I belong with this family.

All four of Bennett’s kids have opened up to me, have made me feel as if I was an asset in their life instead of a burden. Even while they are at school or traveling the world. They have made me a part of their every day life, going as far as including me in text thread with their uncle, and it has made me feel as if I’m actually their aunt instead of a stranger that they were forced to like. And the fact that all four of them have done the same to Charlie means the absolute world to me.

Bennett doesn’t know this, but I look forward to the days that all of us are under the same roof. Every time, it brings a smile to my face.

Which is what I have on my face now, as most of us sit at the dinning room table, ready to feast on this amazing breakfast that Henry has prepared with the chefs that come on the weekends.

I went from having no food in my fridge to having chefs and a house caretaker. That is absolutely insane.

“When is uncle Bennett coming home?” Drake ask as he dive mouth first into a stack of pancakes that Henry placed in front of him.

The kid may be small but he can eat.

I look over at Henry to see if he’s going to answer Drake, but all that he does and gives me a smile before taking a seat next to Grayson at the end of the table.

“He should be back later this afternoon.” I answer.

Which is all the information that I have. Bennett woke up early this morning, leaving me in his bed with a simple whisper that he will be back before dinner. He didn’t say where he was going and given the fact that his schedule had nothing on it for today, since its a Saturday, I had my questions, but he just said not to worry about it.

And that’s what I’ve been trying to do.

“Cool. When he gets back I need to ask him a question.” Drake says, around a whole mouthful of food.

I grab my own fork and take a quick bite before turning my attention back to him. “Oh yeah? What are you going to ask him?”

“If it would be okay if you go with me to the mother and son dance at my school next month.”

His answer takes me by surprise, that I drop my fork and a piece of pancake wedges itself in my my throat. I try my hardest to cough it up.

Tears start to run my face as I feel a hand land on my back and give me a hard pat. Thankfully it helps dislodge the food.

“Thank you,” I say to Grayson, who is on my left, for the extra hard pat.

After wiping the tears away from my eyes and the saliva that came out when I spit out the food, I give everyone a smile telling them I’m okay before turning to look at Drake who is sitting across from me.

“Are you okay?” He asks, his little eyes full of worry.

I give him the best smile that I can, while trying to hide my panic about the whole situation.

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