The Substitute’s Redemption

On the surface, Jane was calm but her palms were sticky with sweat. She had never been this close to a man before and now she would have to be the one to lean in, to press her lips to his, someone who was a stranger…Best get it over with quickly.Summoning her will, Jane shut her eyes and planted a kiss on his thin lips before pulling his mask back in place and rising to her feet.Ethan was startled by her brisk, businesslike actions. His gaze narrowed, simmering with unreadable depths. Had this woman really just kissed him so boldly?He had thought she would be scared or at least disgusted by the scars on his face but she had merely glanced it, hardly giving any indication of noticing anything out of the ordinary.As Jane rose, her veil swept off his head but her scent, faint though it was, lingered. He let his eyes slide down, on the inside however, he was filled with a new burning certainty.This woman was not Stacy.Ethan was in poor health and no activities followed the wedding

“Shall I do something, Young Master?”Bruce asked in a low voice as he turned to Ethan. Ethan glanced at Toby’s hands groping Jane’s hips. A glint entered his mild, gentle gaze.“Look again”.Beneath them, Jane took in the sight of Toby’s body trapping hers with visible disgust . With finality she said, “For the sake of your older brother, I’m warning you one last time: Get away from me”.Paying her threat no mind, Toby gripped her chin again, savoring the texture of her porcelain skin. He had had his fun with countless daughters of noble families but never one like Jane whose doe like appearance belied her feisty temper.He allowed himself to contemplate what she would be like between the sheets.“Isn’t a life with me better than one in the kitchen, pretty little thing? The work here gets all dirty and tiring, come with me and I’ll…”Without hesitation, Jane kneed him between the legs, cutting him off.Toby let out a howl of pain, doubling over and staggering back.“How dare you…”, h

“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

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

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