100 Days to Seduce the Devil



Day Seventy…

~~*****~~

As the soft tendrils of morning light filtered through the curtains, Jane's eyes fluttered open, and she was met by the warm, charming smile of Ethan. A sense of serenity washed over her, and an answering smile bloomed gently on her face. At that moment, she felt a profound gratitude for having him in her life. Ethan was as vibrant as the morning sunray, adding color to her world.

With a sense of affection that filled her heart, she stretched her arms out, inviting him into her embrace. It was a silent, tender invitation, a wordless expression of the connection they shared.

"Good morning, Miss Jane!" Ethan softly mumbled as he sunk his body into her arms.

In the cocoon of that morning, their hug would symbolize the warmth and comfort they found in each other's presence, a testament to the deep bond that had grown between them.

"Good morning, my baby," Jane responded affectionately, her fingers gently caressing his hair. Despite the harm Monica had inflicted upon her, Jane found it impossible to harbor any animosity toward Ethan. This child was innocent, a radiant source of joy in her life. She felt an overwhelming sense of relief that Ethan hadn't inherited Monica's evilness. Instead, he had grown into a kind-hearted boy with a pure and untainted heart.

'But sooner or later, I have to apologize to Ethan. I can't forgive his mother. I'm going to kill her for sure. And I'll pay for it with my life. I might end up dying too.' Jane thought resolutely. She had resigned herself to the possibility of her own demise in the pursuit of justice.

Jane had long abandoned any hope of winning Nathan's heart. Her interactions with him the previous night were a testament to her resolve. She had decided not to burden Nathan any further, releasing him from any obligation or attachment.

Sadness enveloped Jane, and she bore the weight of pain in her heart like an unshakable burden. Nathan had been the sole occupant of her heart, the only man she had ever truly loved. However, their love remained an unattainable dream, forever out of reach. 

The gnawing ache within her seemed to intensify as she grappled with the harsh reality of their circumstances. She couldn't shake the feeling of unworthiness that clung to her like a shadow. It whispered cruelly in her ear, telling her that she was not deserving of Nathan's love.

"Miss Jane, are you okay? Is there something wrong?" Ethan asked her when he noticed the sullen look in her eyes.

Jane gave him a faint smile, concealing her sadness. "Nothing. I just miss you."

"I missed you too!" Ethan responded, pouting his lips. He wanted to blame Bam-Bam for putting Jane into a deep slumber for one week.

'Ahuh! That creature disappeared. He is nowhere to be found.' Ethan thought to himself, his eyes scanning the room as he searched for Bam-Bam.

"By the way, Ethan," Jane began, her tone carrying a hint of seriousness, "there's something I need to ask you related to what happened last night." Her mind latched on to this important matter as a means to divert her thoughts away from Nathan. She knew she needed to keep her mind occupied in order to put Nathan out of her thoughts.

"Uhm. Just tell me," Ethan said, focusing his attention on her. He was now all eyes and all ears on her.

"Who are those men who abducted us?" Jane didn't have any idea about the identity of those men. She wondered if the Red Dragon Mafia had something to do with it. Previously, that organization also abducted her when she was still in a coma.

On the other hand, Ethan blinked in confusion. "I really don't have any idea," he admitted, scratching his head. "I think my father might be able to answer your question, Miss Jane. Why don't you ask him directly?" Ethan's face lit up with a wide grin as he mentioned his father. 

He couldn't help but recall the touching scene he had witnessed a while ago when his father had gently kissed Jane on her forehead. Today, he wanted to be a bridge between them, ensuring they could spend time together.

'Sigh. But I want to avoid him as much as I can,' Jane murmured in quiet contemplation.

"Eat your breakfast first," Ethan insisted, gently taking Jane's hand and guiding her toward the table. Both he and Butler Li had personally delivered her breakfast-in-bed, and it was this thoughtful act that had led them to catch Nathan in the act.

"Okay. Thank you, my little angel." Jane cupped his face, pinching his cheek gently.

Ethan observed Jane as she ate her breakfast, his gaze unwavering. Once she had finished, she wasted no time and proceeded to take a quick shower, fully aware that she had a long and eventful day ahead. 

Ever since regaining her memory, she had formulated a comprehensive plan, with Helena and Vincent as her primary targets. Her objective was clear: gather irrefutable evidence confirming Helena's true identity as Monica. Armed with this proof, she intended to reveal to everyone that Monica was, in fact, still alive.

'Vincent… what is your role in this? What is your connection with the King Stallion Mafia?' Her last memory showed him that Vincent was the one who stopped the members of the King Stallion Mafia from killing her. She had a nagging feeling about Vincent's identity.

'Is he connected with the King? Does he know him?' 

Jane was still lost in her thoughts when she heard a knock.

"Come in."

Jane turned around, her gaze meeting Nathan's as he entered her room with a purposeful stride. His voice carried a calm yet inquisitive tone as he addressed her. "Ethan mentioned that you had something you wished to discuss," Nathan stated, his demeanor poised and attentive, ready to listen to whatever Jane had on her mind.

Jane tried not to show unnecessary emotions as she posed her question to Nathan, her eyes locked onto his with unwavering seriousness. "The men who abducted us, do you know them?"  she inquired, her voice steady despite the gravity of the topic.

Nathan responded with unwavering directness. "They are members of the King Stallion Mafia," he stated plainly, his eyes not leaving her face as he assessed her reaction. And just what he had expected, he saw a hint of shock in her emerald eyes. 

This revelation struck Jane like a bolt of lightning, and she found herself momentarily stunned. 'King Stallion Mafia. What brings them here? What could they possibly want from me?' she pondered in silence, her mind racing with a barrage of questions and apprehensions.

While she had been asleep, Jane had found herself trapped in a series of memories linked to King Stallion and their enigmatic leader. Now that she had awakened, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Amusement washed over her as she realized that the very organization she had longed to seek revenge against had finally made its presence known in the country.

'This is for the best. There's no need for me to seek them out. They are willingly presenting themselves to me on a silver platter,' Jane mused to herself, a sinister smile curling upon her lips.

As Nathan caught a fleeting glimpse of her sinister smile, a subtle sense of intrigue and concern stirred within him. He couldn't help but wonder about Jane's intentions and what she might be plotting. He was well aware of Jane's relentless pursuit in her investigation of the mysterious leader of the King Stallion Mafia. 

Her determination and the enigmatic smile on her lips left him with an uneasy sense of anticipation, as he knew she was capable of unraveling secrets and taking calculated risks to achieve her goals. But he wanted to join her on this mission.

"I can assist you in locating them," Nathan offered, extending a helping hand to Jane. He was genuinely concerned for her well-being and her relentless pursuit of the King Stallion Mafia. "I know the location of one of their hideouts, and my men are discreetly monitoring their activities."

Furthermore, Nathan couldn't shake the worry that had settled in his heart. Jane's health was of paramount importance to him, and the presence of a brain tumor demanded immediate attention. 

In his mind, it was crucial for her to prioritize her recovery and undergo the necessary treatment. He didn't want to see her strain herself any further in her quest for justice when her own well-being was at stake.

"Just give me their location. No need to get involved. I will deal with them myself. Have you forgotten? I'm Phantomflake." Jane blatantly refused his offer.

Nathan narrowed his eyes when he heard that. He was displeased by her refusal. "You should focus on your recovery. Your health needs immediate attention." He began to argue with her. His voice was stern and cold.

"I don't need any treatment. I'm healthy," Jane declared.

Nathan fell into a contemplative silence, a realization dawning upon him. It suddenly became clear why Jane had previously confided in Stephen about her limited time, mentioning that she had only 47 days left to live. He had inadvertently eavesdropped on their conversation after discreetly planting a listening device inside Stephen's room. 

At the time, he had dismissed her words as mere nonsense, believing they held no real significance. Now, it was apparent that Jane had been acutely aware of her own illness all along.

"Do you know about your illness? Yet, you hid this from everyone, including your family?" Nathan inquired, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions.

Jane: "..."