Ethan stared at her, slightly dazed. He had planned to present Jane with a challenge and let her take charge of finding a solution, but he hadn’t expected her to be quite so straightforward.
Her soft lips pressed against his, and just like that, they were gone, leaving him with no time to react to their flavor.“It is”, he said, helpless to argue.Toby took in the sight of both of them, then the hideous burn scars littering his brother’s face. Disgusted, he lifted a hand to shield his eyes.“That doesn’t seem right, brother. Can a mere kiss prove that this woman is your wife? If I take her to bed, does that mean I can start calling her my daughter-in-law?”In the blink of an eye, Ethan’s expression darkened, his gentle gaze turning dangerous.“What did you say, Toby Harrington?”Bruce had served Young Master Ethan for years and he knew his master was truly enraged. He retrieved the knife Jane had discarded on the chopping board and seized Toby’s arm.“You dare to disrespect my Young Master’s wife?”, he growled, “are you that eager to lose this arm of yours?”Toby glanced at the knife glinting in the light and sneered, “I was just joking brother, don’t take it so seriously”.He pulled himself free of Bruce’s grasp, taking care not to make any sudden movements, mindful of the danger he was in.“I was merely curious when you had a change of bride”, he continued, as though explaining himself.At the mention of her being a substitute bride, something flashed in Jane’s eyes. Feeling her tense up, Ethan patted her hand reassuringly.“You and our father were the ones in charge of planning the wedding. Now that you’re telling me I married a different bride than the one you chose, what do you expect me to say?”“We’ll…”, Toby sputtered. The wedding had been arranged by him, that much was true, but he didn’t know where this new bride had come from!Unless it was the Harrisons behind this trickery!Ethan added, “I married whoever I underwent the marriage rites with and so Jane Fitzergald is my wife… and your sister-in-law”.Jane looked at him I’m surprise. Did this mean that he had accepted her?Toby was on the verge of exploding in rage. He had wanted to find an ugly, overweight shrew as Ethan’s wife as an insult to that sickly bast*rd of an elder brother. Instead, his brother had gained such a beautiful woman out of the bargain!“In that case, my heartfelt congratulations brother”, he gritted out, “but don’t forget, your wife still needs to visit her parents after the wedding. Since you’re in poor health, making it inconvenient to travel, why don’t I accompany my sister-in-law instead?”He was going to send this woman back to the Harrison family and demand how exactly she had come to replace Stacy as a bride.Bruce would have laughed out loud at Young Master Toby. How little must he value his life to infringe on his brother’s authority as a husband like that?He was practically laying his own head on the executioner’s block.Hearing Toby’s offer, Jane objected fiercely, “ There’s no need to trouble yourself, Young Master Toby. If it’s inconvenient for Ethan to travel, I can go back myself”.Toby eyed Jane with a gleam in his eyes. He truly relished this woman’s feisty spirit — especially with the added knowledge that she belonged to his brother.“Sister-in-law, if you go back alone, people will whisper that the Harrington family have treated you unkindly and wronged you”.“That’s fine, I don’t care”.“I will accompany Jane when she visits her family”, Ethan said, “you don’t need to worry about anything, brother”.No sooner had Ethan finished speaking that he suddenly broke down into yet another coughing fit. Jane patted his back anxiously.Seeing how he was coughing violently enough to hurl up his lungs, Toby quickly pinched his nose.“Don’t tax yourself, brother. All that repeated movement in and out of the car might cause you to end up in the hospital. If you need to make another visit to the ICU, who knows if you’ll make it out alive”.Toby was essentially wishing misfortune upon his brother. A shadow fell across Jane’s face.“Aren’t you a little too worked up about this? Since when are our affairs as a couple your business?”Seeing Jane’s temper flare to the surface, Ethan stroked her head in amusement.“It’s alright, he can come with us if he wants”.Since her husband didn’t seem to mind, Jane swallowed the rest of her protests and stayed quiet.She went upstairs to prepare for their return to the Harrisons’ household, putting on a breezy, pleated skirt and some light makeup. She looked elegant, as lovely as a fairy come to life.Toby glimpsed Jane’s pretty face and her fair, shapely legs peeking out from beneath her skirt. His eyes burned with jealousy. What a waste of such beauty on a worthless piece of trash like his brother.In the car, Jane explained to Ethan, “I’m not on the best terms with the Harrisons. I’m Peter’s illegitimate daughter but he took me in on basis of our blood ties.So if you’d rather not waste your time with futile endeavors, we don’t need to go”.Ethan knew all this from his investigation into her past last night. He was also aware that Peter’s wife, Ursula Harrison, held Jane in contempt and didn’t acknowledge her as her husband’s child, claiming instead that she was the daughter of a distant relative.But it was tradition to return home to the bride’s home after the wedding, and the Harringtons were not a family to make light of such things.When they arrived at the Harringtons’ house, they found the door locked. Toby knocked on the door and a servant opened it. “Where are your masters?”, he asked.Eyeing Ethan’s expensive clothes, the servant responded cautiously, “Sir is at work, Madam went shopping and the Young Mistress is in school. No one is at home now”.Toby kicked the wall angrily.“Are your masters out of their minds? Do they know what day it is today? Call Peter Harrison this minute and let him know that the two Young Masters of the Harrington family are here. Tell him to get over here now!”The Harrison estate paled in comparison to the Harringtons; had it not being for Toby’s scheme to make use of Stacy to humiliate his pathetic older brother, he would never have deigned to even speak to them. Upon hearing that it was Young Master Harrington in front of them, the servant fearfully nodded and scurried to make the call.Jane pushed Ethan’s wheelchair into the mansion. She had never had good relations with the Harrison family, she might as well have been invisible to them. She couldn’t find it in her to be surprised at their behavior today.“I want to bring back all my belongings from this place”, she told him.He nodded, “I’ll help you”.Jane hesitated. Ethan covered his mouth and coughed.“I apologize, that was thoughtless of me. I’m already a hassle, I’d only cause more trouble for you, I know”.He had misunderstood her. Jane quickly explained, “No, it’s just that my bedroom doesn’t get any sun all year round. It’s not the most pleasant of environments. I’m afraid you won’t be used to it”.“I’m not some porcelain doll”.Hearing that they were going to Jane’s bedroom, Toby trailed behind them on their heels before he felt that something was wrong.“Wait, sister-in-law. Didn’t you say that you were bringing us to your bedroom? Why are we going to the basement?”“My room is in the basement”.As she spoke, they had already reached the basement. Jane pushed the door open. The room was wide and spacious, cluttered with a variety of junk.Tucked all the way at the back behind a curtain, was a small corner with a single bed, a worn desk and a flimsy clothes rack.Toby’s eyes widened in disbelief. This was where the Harrisons kept such a beautiful girl? Not only was there not a trace of sunlight here but, it was uncomfortably humid and it was so stuffy that the air seemed to stick to one’s skin.How could anyone be forced to sleep here? Jane must have been worth less than dirt to the Harrison family!Jane had a few belongings so she was done packing in no time. Noticing that Toby was studying their surroundings in shock, she shrugged and said, “Okay, I’m done. Staring won’t make this place any prettier. Let’s get out of here”.Ethan’s expression was more contained than his brother’s. The thin, flat line of his mouth was the only sign of the storm l
Bring Stacy Back?! Jane couldn’t help stealing a nervous glance towards Ethan but he remained as unmoved and silent as ever.She felt a wry, bitter laugh bubble to her lips. She had fooled herself into thinking that Ethan had approved of her. Like a delusional, lovesick fool, she had even been truly fond of him, wanting to be his dutiful wife…It wasn’t that she had truly wanted to marry Ethan Harrington but the Harrisons would never let this slide… to say nothing of what they would do to her grandmother. The thought sent a pang of pain through her heart and she felt her eyes prick with tears.Upon hearing Toby’s pronouncement, the Harrison family’s faces fell. To wed Stacy to that sickly cripple, with his pasty, disfigured face…Stacy herself would never agree, but even all of Ursula’s love for her daughter couldn’t compel her to allow Stacy to come back and face such a match.“That doesn’t seem quite appropriate Young Master Toby”, she objected. “No matter how you put it, Jane alr
The Harrisons flinched at the noise and trembled in fear.“Apologize!”Peter nearly collapsed to his knees, cold sweat beaded across his forehead. Ursula was the first to give in, bowing her head as she broke down.“We’re sorry, Young Master Ethan. We were wrong to frame Jane. We’ll never do it again!”Ethan coughed repeatedly. “My voice is the one who deserves your apology, it’s her forgiveness that you need!”“It was our fault, Jane. Forgive us”, Ursula forced the words out.The absurdity of the situation was not lost on Jane, the Harrisons had always treated her like a servant. Never had she thought that they would grovel for her mercy.Ethan took note of Jane’s silence. She must have been bullied horribly by them in the past, he thought.“I told you, you’re mine now, and I will not let anyone hurt you. I’ll get them to apologize on their knees”.Jane felt delight in her heart at seeing the Harrisons being brought low. She had been beaten by them since she was a child, labeled a lo
“It’s up to you, I’m not picky”.Jane nodded and realized that with his illness, he would have to abstain from a log of food but he must be keeping them to himself out of worry that she won’t be up to the task.Ethan was truly a kind hearted man. They had barely known each other for twenty four hours, yet he had made his anger, on her behalf, known to the Harrison’s in their home.No doubt, there was an image she had to maintain as part of the Harrington family now, but she still found herself grateful for everything she had gained marrying him.“I’ll cook bone broth then: it will make your legs stronger”.She wasted no time in leaving to but some pork ribs.Her brows furrowed at the price but she bought a pound of ribs anyway, ignoring the way her wallet cried out.Noting her reluctance, Ethan reminded her with a smile, “The money from earlier belongs to you, it’s yours to spend”.Jane disagreed, “Better to save for a rainy day. The money from the betrothal and dowry belongs to us, I
She nodded vigorously like a hen pecking corn. She had promised him that she would take care of him; she hadn’t been planning to continue staying on campus anyway.“What about you?” Ethan asked with a raised brow, “Feel free to tell me any requests you have”.“I don’t have any!”Stroking her head, he said, “Don’t be in a rush to answer. Take some time to think about what you need before getting back to me”.“Okay”.She was already grateful that he had allowed her to continue with her studies. She would study hard, and who knows, she might even be able to help heal him in the future!Later at night, Ethan finished showering. He spared a glance at the master bedroom, then pushed his wheelchair over to the guest bedroom wher he knocked on the door.Jane opened door while drying her tresses, looking adorable in a pair of panda themed pajamas.“Yes?”“Would you rather come to the master bedroom or have me come over here?”Jane didn’t respond. She eyes him, trying to decipher his meaning.“W
“Jane! Be serious with me”, Ivy’s eyes were practically bulging out of her head.“Everyone knows that Young Master Ethan is a cripple who can barely walk, the accident practically drained half his life from him”.“He relies on medication now, but he won’t live past half a year more, so he’s a lunatic, unstable, a —”With a sigh, Jane explained the situation involving Stacy. Ivy brought her fist down on the table in rage.“The Harrisons are too much, to ship you off to meet such a fate”.Fearing that someone would hear her, Jane rushed to clamp a hand over Ivy’s mouth.“Quiet”, she hissed, “you know nothing about the Harrisons. Besides, I don't regret marrying Ethan Harrington”.“He might be in poor shape, but he’s a good person, nothing like what the rumors say”.“You idiot”, Ivy hissed back, “He won’t live long in that condition. What will happen to you then, as his widow? If the Harrisons are capable of treating you like that, then after he is… is gone, what do you think they’ll do t
“Jane, that book’s level of difficulty is a little advanced. If you want to learn about traditional medicine, you should try to glean the basics from this book”, he suggested in a crisp, clear voice, holding out a second book with a smile.Jane edged to the side, keeping her distance from him, she had indeed been looking for that book.“Thank you”.Brock passed her the book, sensing her reservations about him and frowned slightly.He sat next to Jane, “I’ve read all these books, if you don’t understand anything, you can ask me. I’d love to hear the opinion of our top student here”.At his words, Jane became alert; when it came to her area so interest, she was nothing short of ernest. Ivy say opposite them, observing silently. Jane, naive and darling that she was, didn’t even spare a glance at the fine, handsome man beside her.Brock’s eyes, in the other hand, lingered on her and his manner constantly betrayed little signs of doting.She pursed her lips. This man was most definitely int
“You should try them on, Miss. They are excellent choices”.Jane’s gaze drifted to a few dresses but she still hesitated, not moving.Ethan saw the conflict in her crystalline eyes. He couldn’t help how his voice softened as he said, “Don’t worry. It costs nothing to try on the clothes and their price can be negotiated later”.The crease between her brows disappeared at his words. Finally, she selected a few pieces of clothing. When she was finished trying them on, she felt rather shy. It had been a long time since she’d worn any new clothes.The pale yellow dress brought out the fairness of her complexion, it’s V-neck suited her as did the pinched waist and flowery patterns on the outer tulle layer of the skirt.“How is it?”, she asked Ethan blushing, eyes shining as she awaited his opinion.“It’s gorgeous”.Ethan studied her slender waist, the way the dress hugged the curves of her body was truly alluring.“Try on a few more”.Jane laughed giddily, unable to contain her joy, then hea