{"id":533,"date":"2026-01-21T15:52:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:52:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/?p=533"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:52:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T15:52:53","slug":"a-bride-for-hire-novel-chapter-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/a-bride-for-hire-novel-chapter-4\/","title":{"rendered":"A BRIDE FOR HIRE Novel Chapter 4"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
A BRIDE FOR HIRE<\/div>\n
CHAPTER FOUR<\/div>\n
Sponsored By Zamathula Sikhakhane \"\ud83e\udd0d\"<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
Nqobile<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I thought this family was big before? You should see it now!<\/div>\n
I\u2019m thinking of cancelling this shit and taking a hike back home. The whole of KZN is here, didn\u2019t the memo say it\u2019s a family lunch or I\u2019m the fool who can\u2019t count?<\/div>\n
MaNgcobo strolls in the kitchen holding two platter trays, I don\u2019t know who they arrived with but it\u2019s probably one of the new comers.<\/div>\n
\u201cCan you help me with the side plates, Nqobile.\u201d She asks, and pops the platters in the fridge.<\/div>\n
I\u2019ve already forgotten what she asked of me, my mind is zapped. MaNgcobo stops to gawk at me back, \u201cAnd now?\u201d her perfect eyebrow ridges.<\/div>\n
Do I whine? I\u2019ve spent half a day with her I\u2019d like to assume I know her better than I know everyone here and if there is a person I can trust in this family, it\u2019s her.<\/div>\n
\u201cThere are too many people out there, MaNgcobo and the man who brought me here isn\u2019t even present to help me through this mess I\u2019m in now. How can I just introduce myself to my own in-laws huh?\u201d I\u2019m panicking and hyperventilating over crumbs I know but I can\u2019t help myself. This is nerving!<\/div>\n
\u201cToo many? Psh, girl you are letting your nerves get to you. It\u2019s only 10 people, you will be fine. Come let\u2019s go.\u201d Again with the pulling.<\/div>\n
\u201cCan we call him for the last time at least, maybe he will answer the phone this time around.\u201d I\u2019d rather wait for him than do this alone. What if our love stories don\u2019t match?<\/div>\n
\u201cNqobile stop girl please.\u201d MaNgcobo begs.<\/div>\n
But I\u2019m not lifting my foot off the pedal, \u201cJust call him once and that\u2019s it, simple babe I promise after this I\u2019ll be out of your hair.\u201d That\u2019s a lie for sure, but since I am about to lie for a living \u2013 I may as well go off about it.<\/div>\n
\u201cOne call, just one.\u201d She pulls out her phone and dials swiftly then hands me the phone.<\/div>\n
Erh\u2026 why do me like that sis, I thought we were wakhanda for live!<\/div>\n
\u201cMaFuze.\u201d He answered fast.<\/div>\n
I swallow the words I should be spitting out of my mouth already. Now I don\u2019t know which to start with, an introduction or giving him a piece of my mind?<\/div>\n
\u201cMaFuze, hello?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhere are you? The lunch is about to begin, people are here waiting to be introduced to your wife, where are you Bungobakho?\u201d screaming won the vote seemingly.<\/div>\n
It\u2019s not that I\u2019m angry, it\u2019s the nerves.<\/div>\n
\u201cMaNgcobo, you don\u2019t speak to me like that.\u201d Oh for crying out loud will he get a pimple over his eye if I did?<\/div>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t MaNgcobo, it\u2019s your wife.\u201d My colon is side-eying me, I can feel it.<\/div>\n
\u201cZimpambosi zomfula, I apologize for running late I had business to take care of.\u201d How is he calling me the same way his brother called me, who copied from who here?<\/div>\n
\u201cBusiness more important than this? What will I say to your family, that I was hired to be here?\u201d tears crack on the ends of my eyes as MaNgcobo fans my mouth down. I\u2019m making too much noise apparently.<\/div>\n
\u201cUyakhala?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cOf course I\u2019m crying, I have every reason to.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201clunch can be canceled if you are feeling unwell, MaNdaba.\u201d Too late to bring that option up, his house is buzzing with human bodies.<\/div>\n
\u201cJust please make a plan and arrive as soon as possible, please. I\u2019m too scared to handle your family alone.\u201d And after the eye his step-mother has been giving me, I rather not be left alone with her.<\/div>\n
\u201cIm all the way in South Coast at the moment, can you give MaNgcobo the phone?\u201d for what? I\u2019m his wife.<\/div>\n
\u201cYou can talk to me.\u201d I stay stern.<\/div>\n
\u201cMaNdaba\u2026\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNo, you will talk to me about it Bungobakho.\u201d I didn\u2019t come all this way to be toyed with, \u201cIf you want me to be your wife then you\u2019ll have to do it properly too, Msuthu.\u201d And that means bringing the issue at hand to me before anyone else, unless it is none of my business then he may be my guest.<\/div>\n
I hear him sigh heavily, \u201cI will try to cover the time, if any emergency comes up, call me.\u201d See, what was so top secret about that?<\/div>\n
\u201cOkay, drive safely.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201c\u2026Thank you.\u201d<\/div>\n
I drop the call and hand MaNgcobo her phone back. Her eyes still wide since the beginning of that phone call.<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d I didn\u2019t offend anyone.<\/div>\n
\u201cNo I\u2019m just amazed at how meant to be you two are.\u201d She winks.<\/div>\n
SMH, how is that the one thing she concluded from that call? There were so many things to pick up like the fact that he doesn\u2019t listen easily.<\/div>\n
\u201cI will grab the plates.\u201d<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The table is full to the brim of bodies. The seniors are occupying the head of the table, mother in-law is sitting on the adjacent to Baba and she hasn\u2019t stopped gawking at me whenever I\u2019m in the room.<\/div>\n
I sit next to Minenhle for comedic relief sakes. Everyone is here now except the husband.<\/div>\n
\u201cCan we say grace?\u201d Minenhle outs next to me.<\/div>\n
People look at him in shock, I\u2019m guessing prayer isn\u2019t his forte and he\u2019s probably just trying to buy me some time for this man to arrive and save the day, however I don\u2019t see that happening any time soon.<\/div>\n
\u201cPrayer can wait, Mini. I want my daughter in-law to share with us how she met with her lovely prince charming.\u201d I\u2019ll blame the mascara for today but I do not like the way she looks at me.<\/div>\n
\u201cMmh, Bungobakho has never shared anything to us prior the lobola negotiations. Tell us more about you MaGoqo.\u201d Baba says.<\/div>\n
The age difference between him and his wife makes me wonder. Besides the boob job; the weave and umbrella lashes you can tell mother in-law is nowhere near 45.<\/div>\n
\u201cIt is MaGoqo\u2019s first day, Baba. I\u2019m sure she is a bit shy.\u201d MaNgcobo saves me.<\/div>\n
\u201cNonsense Sibahle, today is her day still. She should take it with both hands, this is her chance to bond with her In-laws.\u201d Mother in-law injects.<\/div>\n
We needed that prayer, huh.<\/div>\n
\u201cWe\u2026Bungobakho and I met at a restaurant called Zai for some breakfast, he made small talk; gave me a shoulder to lean on and the rest is history.\u201d That was epically terrible.<\/div>\n
No one looks the slightest bit excited or willing to hear more, which can be a good thing.<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat did you two eat? I\u2019m sure remember every last grain of the meal, that happens to the most of us women. You know I still remember what meal Baba and I had on our first date.\u201d Why is she poking me so much!?<\/div>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s breakfast, Beauty. What more should you know from that?\u201d Babomdala to the rescue, thank goodness!<\/div>\n
\u201cThe food is getting cold, we should dig in.\u201d It comes out as a meek request, and shockingly everyone adheres.<\/div>\n
\u201cBut what about Bungobakho?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cHis food is not going anywhere, his wife is not going anywhere. Just eat mfazi.\u201d I love this Bab\u2019omdala, kekeke.<\/div>\n
\u201cSo, Zohlokoma when are we expecting the plaza to be finished? My buyer has been waiting impatiently for more than three months now mafana. When am I giving him the good news?\u201d Baba finally switches the conversation to something outside me.<\/div>\n
I\u2019m grateful for it, although his wife hasn\u2019t stopped giving me the creeps.<\/div>\n
\u201cQuite soon, Mhlaba. It still needs some work, stretching out more acers. Once that process has been completed, you should be free to contact your buyer.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cGood. See this is what we want, no slacking boys. Mzwakhelwe, it\u2019s been weeks and I haven\u2019t heard you mention any contract obtained. Kwenze njani mfana?\u201d Baba frowns on him.<\/div>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s coming along, Msuthu. Just give me a few days to finalize everything, thereafter I will return to you with the sealed deal.\u201d He sounds so automated it\u2019s weird to listen to him speak.<\/div>\n
\u201cI need you boys to be on the top of your game at all costs. My brothers and I won\u2019t always be here, once we are gone we need assurance that you will all be able to carry what we leave behind. That\u2019s why I press you hard to have your families now and build a stable home whilst we are here to guide you and wake you the hell up when you need it.\u201d He stares directly at Minenhle, who gives the most diabolical comeback I could have ever thought of.<\/div>\n
\u201cIm still checking which is side I play for, my team or the opposing gender. I\u2019ll update you by month end though baba.\u201d Where does he conjure the braveness?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
His fathers don\u2019t look impressed at all but they save their opinions to themselves for a reason. I\u2019m here and by the time this dinner has ended I still need to look at them and have respect for them.<\/div>\n
\u201cSome of us can\u2019t take family seriously though, not even our wives. I can\u2019t trust a man who cannot be trustworthy to the woman he sleeps with.\u201d He forces fork and knife on the plate, you hear the screeches.<\/div>\n
This turned about me too quickly. I should be the noble wife and cover for him, mxm.<\/div>\n
\u201cHe is on his way Baba, I called him earlier, he said it\u2019s traffic.\u201d I drizzle my performance with a smile.<\/div>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care, MaGoqo when it comes to family you honor its dignity. Right now you\u2019re sitting here clueless on what to do or who is who, all for what? His ego or pride?\u201d I feel attacked.<\/div>\n
What does Baba except me to say? But I mean he\u2019s right though, how is this man not here when today is all about us?<\/div>\n
\u201cBaba, I\u2019m sure there is an explanation Bakho will provide. Can we a little longer?\u201d Zahlokoma.<\/div>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s bull, Zahlokoma. You don\u2019t vanish for this long right after seeking a wife, he should have been back home earlier than us. Stop protecting your brother\u2019s nonsense.\u201d<\/div>\n
Now I see what MaNgcobo means when she says peace is important in this family because could you tell me what exactly awakened such fury in Baba?<\/div>\n
\u201cMy love, calm down please. You just had your BP warning remember?\u201d Beauty strokes his cheek.<\/div>\n
Baba swats her hand from his face, \u201cIve had it with this boy\u2019s disrespect and utter disregard of other people around him. Ngigcosha izihlama yini mina? Everyone is busy, no one is sitting around whole day picking up shit so what\u2019s causing a lack of respect for people\u2019s time with him?\u201d he is on his feet and he does not look normal. At some point I grabbed Mini\u2019s sleeve and leaned against him a little more.<\/div>\n
\u201cBaba please give him a chance to prove himself.\u201d MaNgcobo pleads.<\/div>\n
\u201cThis was his chance, MaNgcobo. And he ruined it like every other thing he touches.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d now I\u2019m confused and intrigued.<\/div>\n
Nobody told me anything about that stuff. Baba grabs his phone and car keys, at the same time MaNgcobo gets up to try and speak to him only to be pulled back by mother in-law.<\/div>\n
\u201cThat is my territory.\u201d Beauty strokes and walks right after her man.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
What a disaster, I\u2019m defeated honestly. This family has too many issues, and most of them are kept on a high low-key.<\/div>\n
\u201cThat went superb.\u201d Mini throws a cucumber in the air and nets it with his mouth. The Nqobile in me wants to actually try that out too but with how easily people explode in this family, I would risk it.<\/div>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t pay much attention to any of this bickering, Koti. We welcome you to the family, even under such unfortunate circumstances.\u201d The third born brother, still offers me a smile right after his brother roasted my husband.<\/div>\n
Why don\u2019t they speak on behalf of their son? Bungobakho is their son as well ain\u2019t it? They literally sat there as spectators.<\/div>\n
\u201cYeah but Baba didn\u2019t lie, Bakho needs to learn how to take accountability for himself and this family name that he gloats around boardrooms with.\u201d The bitter Mzwa-Minaj adds his two cents.<\/div>\n
Believe it or not, I\u2019m fed up already.<\/div>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry to speak out of my lane like this Bab\u2019omncane, Bhuti. However, I think it\u2019s only fair we discuss this with Bungobakho here with us to speak on his own behalf. Please, can we not discuss him in his absence.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cChesa gal!\u201d Mini must stop before I ruin my serious face.<\/div>\n
\u201cI agree with you, MaGoqo. What he did today was unacceptable in all ways but he will be given the opportunity to explain himself. Yazi, I don\u2019t understand why Bakho is doing all this when he knows how thin of a ice he is skating on with his father.\u201d Bab\u2019omncane shakes his head.<\/div>\n
I\u2019m still failing to understand what hr could have done that\u2019s so bad it requires so much punishment.<\/div>\n
Did he steal money from his father or he\u2019s just another case of me?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
The lunch went terribly bad and it ended on a much worse note. OBaba were ready to call him and cuss him out, Zahlokoma however, managed to stop that disaster from happening. Know what the time is right now? 20:00 PM. I\u2019m alone in the house still sitting in the living room waiting for him.<\/div>\n
I\u2019m slightly concerned at this point. If he dies it\u2019s not a big deal for me but it might hurt his family. Heavy on the \u2018might\u2019.<\/div>\n
MaNgcobo couldn\u2019t stay all night with me, her man was fining for her by the end of the night. So they left Mini to watch over me while we wait for President Bakho.<\/div>\n
Even Mini is passed out on the sofa and I\u2019m close to reaching my blink as well. Just a small power nap, my eyes can\u2019t take it anymore.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
I wake up to a presence in front of me. Breathing heavily and taking over my own oxygen, I shoot up choking on no air.<\/div>\n
\u201cSorry for startling you. I didn\u2019t know how to wake you up, figured you must have had a long day.\u201d \u2018it\u2019 has audacity to be telling me it figured, it figured, yes it figured right!<\/div>\n
I lounge on the chair and try to blink my vision back, it\u2019s so foggy or maybe I\u2019m having a nightmare.<\/div>\n
I look at him proper once I\u2019ve recovered and get on my feet once more, \u201cSawubona Msuthu.\u201d I greet in peace.<\/div>\n
\u201cMy apologies. How are you, MaNdaba?\u201d he doesn\u2019t look like he\u2019s interested in how I\u2019m doing, he\u2019s also exhausted like me.<\/div>\n
\u201cI\u2019m okay and you?\u201d<\/div>\n
He stares at me for a hot minute, his lips slightly apart.<\/div>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, I\u2019m not going to ask \u2018what\u2019s your favorite color\u2019 follow-up questions.\u201d I mumble and catch myself before I eye roll an adult.<\/div>\n
\u201cIm fine, ma\u2019am thank you.\u201d He nods continuously.<\/div>\n
Right, what do I do now?<\/div>\n
\u201cMust I dish up for you?\u201d I ask, he must be hungry, he looks hungry.<\/div>\n
\u201cNo thank you.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWould you like a cup of tea or coffee before bed?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNo thank you.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cMust I fix your bath water since the water supply has cut?\u201d who thought rich people also face water load shedding hey.<\/div>\n
\u201cI will do it in a minute, MaNdaba. Thank you.\u201d<\/div>\n
No! No he can\u2019t thank me for that, what am I supposed to do then? Why am I here?<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat time do you wake up tomorrow morning so I can make you breakfast and get your work clothes ready?\u201d I swear if he responds his rhetoric!<\/div>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s okay, you don\u2019t have to do \u2026.\u201d<\/div>\n
That it!<\/div>\n
\u201cI am not not here to sit around and count the flies in your house, I want to do something. Chores, cook and dish up for you. Please or else I\u2019ll run mad if I\u2019m sitting here idle.\u201d I\u2019m already going off in my head, he must not give me more reason to pick up papers.<\/div>\n
\u201cOkay, since you insist.\u201d His face has changed, or it\u2019s just the bladder forehead lines MaNgcobo was talking about earlier.<\/div>\n
I swallow my spit and poke my skin with my nails.<\/div>\n
\u201cGoodnight MaNdaba.\u201d He is tensed as he walks past me with his coat in his hand and a bag.<\/div>\n
That was a relief\u2026ish.<\/div>\n
There\u2019s still that lazy body on the couch. I go to wake him up.<\/div>\n
\u201cMini, get up and go to bed.\u201d<\/div>\n
He rumbles stupid things and goes back to sleep.<\/div>\n
My goodness, \u201cMinenhle Ximba, you need to go to bed.\u201d I give his bottom a spank hoping that will freak him into waking up. Instead, the nigga releases the hottest air, it\u2019s the wheeze of a balloon when you poke it with a needle.<\/div>\n
I only have one word for it, Rotten!<\/div>\n
I cover my mouth and rush back to my bedroom. It feels like I can taste it on my mouth and it\u2019s far from anything pleasant.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\u2206\u2206\u2206<\/div>\n
Feeling very tired & sleepy so it isn\u2019t the best insert. \"\ud83d\ude4f\"<\/span><\/div>\n
Like. Share. Comment.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A BRIDE FOR HIRE CHAPTER FOUR Sponsored By Zamathula Sikhakhane Nqobile I thought this family was big before? You should […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-bride-for-hire-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=533"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":541,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533\/revisions\/541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}