100 Days to Seduce the Devil

Day Seventy-Two…

~~*****~~

[ At Vincent's Villa… ]

Vincent found himself fixated on his phone screen, contemplating whether or not he should reach out to Jane. Thoughts of her had consumed his entire morning, making it nearly impossible to focus on anything else. The idea of approaching her or visiting her was a bit challenging, especially now that she was staying at Hiroshi's residence.

As he sat there, his thumb hovered over the send button, thinking of the words he would use in that message. The complexity of his emotions weighed heavily on him. 

Amidst Vincent's internal struggle, the door to his room swung open unexpectedly, startling him. Monica, who had just emerged from a refreshing swim in the pool, greeted his sight as she entered the room leisurely. 

Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, evidence of the invigorating dip she had just taken. Wrapped in a white bathrobe, she exuded an air of casual comfort. Taken aback by Monica's unexpected entrance, Vincent momentarily forgot about the message he was about to send to Jane. He immediately put down his phone, deliberately hiding his phone screen from Monica's view.

"Hello, Babe!" Monica greeted Vincent with a seductive smile. 

She observed him from across the room, her steps deliberate as she approached him. Reaching his side, she settled herself gently onto his lap, her arms encircling his neck in a tender embrace ."I noticed you've been here all alone, lost in your thoughts. Is everything okay?"

Vincent, still somewhat distracted by Monica's presence, managed to regain his composure. "Oh, no, not at all," he replied with a gentle smile, though he couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety about the message he had momentarily set aside. "I was just, um, thinking about something. But it's nothing serious. Everything is well."

Monica nodded understandingly, her wet hair glistening in the room's soft lighting. "Alright, then. I just wanted to say hi before I go get dressed."

As Monica turned to leave, Vincent's gaze briefly lingered on her departing figure, her bathrobe trailing behind her. The unexpected interruption had momentarily shifted his focus from the emotional dilemma with Jane to the presence of the charming and seductive Monica.

As Monica walked toward the wardrobe, her steps momentarily paused, and she turned to face Vincent once more. Her brow furrowed with concern as she said, "Perhaps, are you worried about the DNA result? You shouldn't have suggested it. What if this will backfire on us?" Monica was referring to the DNA samples Vincent had provided to Ethan yesterday.

However, Vincent let out a soft chuckle as his eyes glinted with confidence. "Why should I be bothered by the result? Ethan will have no other choice but to accept it no matter what," he responded with a hint of amusement.

Monica narrowed her eyes at him. "I'm not talking about your DNA sample," she clarified, her voice carrying a hint of annoyance. "I'm talking about mine!"

Vincent chuckled once more. "My Uncle has it all under control," he reassured her. "Do you really think I'd jeopardize everything by allowing Ethan to have your DNA samples and sow doubt in his mind?" His response conveyed both his confidence in their plan and his implicit trust in his method.

Monica could only sigh in defeat, her earlier concerns fading into the background. "Okay, you're probably right," she conceded, realizing that her worries might have been baseless. 

Nevertheless, a lingering uncertainty remained. She shifted the conversation toward a more delicate topic, one that had been troubling her thoughts. "But Babe, what if he doesn't choose you? What if he decides to stay with Nathan?"

Vincent contemplated Monica's question for a moment, his gaze distant as he considered the potential outcomes. It was a difficult scenario to envision. Finally, he spoke, his voice steady but laced with a hint of determination. 

"If Ethan chooses to stay with Nathan," he began, "then I'll continue to pursue him and win his trust until he accepts me as his real father. This is the only way I can take him away from Nathan."

Monica nodded, understanding the complexity of the situation. She knew that whatever the outcome, Vincent wouldn't allow Nathan to have a complete happy family. He would ruin everything just to make him suffer.

*****

[ At Sparks Mansion… ]

In the meantime, the subject of Monica and Vincent's conversation, Ethan, had made his way back to the Sparks Mansion after his hospital discharge. Ethan's cheerful attitude returned and the mansion was filled with his vibrant and lively attitude. It seemed that the positive news of Nathan and Jane's official relationship had evidently lifted his spirits.

Ethan's eyes sparkled with delight as he shared the news with Butler Li and Old Man Xu, his excitement evident. "Grandpa! Uncle Li! Guess what?" he exclaimed, unable to contain his enthusiasm. "Dad finally got a girlfriend! Dad and Miss Jane are officially a couple now!"

Ethan's voice brimmed with joy and a sense of relief as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was happy because Jane wouldn't die once his Dad fell for her. He learned about Jane's mission because he overheard Jane's conversation with Bam-Bam before.

On the other hand, the unexpected news from Ethan left Old Man Xu puzzled, and he turned his attention to Butler Li, his expression a mixture of curiosity and bewilderment. With a furrowed brow, he fixed his gaze on the butler and asked, "Jane? Who is Jane? And what happened to Abigail?" Old Man Xu thought his son was still in a relationship with Abigail. He wasn't updated at all.

Feeling a little bit awkward, Butler Li cleared his throat before responding. "Chairman Xu," he began, his words measured and respectful, "it appears that Miss Jane is a recent addition to Mr. Nathan's social circle, and I must admit, I don't possess many details about her myself." 

Butler Li couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment when it came to Jane, for his loyalty and support had always been firmly behind Abigail. In his eyes, Abigail had been the natural choice to assume the role of the next Lady of the House. Who would have thought there would be a dramatic twist in Nathan's personal life lately?

"As for the situation between Master Nathan and Miss Abigail, it has undergone certain changes recently. I believe you may find it best to seek an explanation directly from your son to gain a clearer understanding of the matter," he added, concealing his disappointment.

Old Man Xu's face registered a mix of emotions, his thoughts racing as he processed this unexpected turn of events.

In the midst of their contemplative conversation, the room was suddenly filled with the melodious sound of Ethan's laughter, capturing the attention of both Old Man Xu and Butler Li. Because of the shocking news, they had almost forgotten about his presence.

"Grandpa... Uncle Li," Ethan chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "There's no need for those stern expressions. I promise you, you're going to like her! She's genuinely the most wonderful woman I've ever met in my entire life!"

Old Man Xu: "..."

Butler Li: "..."

The room fell into a momentary silence once more, as Old Man Xu and Butler Li exchanged incredulous glances, their unspoken thoughts echoing the astonishment they both felt. 

It was a complete contrast to the earlier days when they had witnessed Ethan's matchmaking efforts to bring Abigail and Nathan together. Now, he seemed to be overflowing with joy as he enthusiastically spoke of another woman named Jane who suddenly became Nathan's new girlfriend.

But unknown to Old Man Xu, he would be more surprised when he found out that Jane was none other than Phantomflake.

"Very well," Old Man Xu replied with a hint of amusement in his voice. He leaned forward, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "I'm quite eager to meet this intriguing woman you've been talking about, my dearest grandson. Let your father know that I'll only believe it when he officially introduces her to me."

Ethan's eyes lit up with enthusiasm as he nodded vigorously. "Alright, Grandpa, don't go anywhere," he said, his excitement palpable. "I'll call my father right away and ask him to bring Miss Jane over today so you can meet her in person."

With a sense of anticipation, Ethan picked up his phone and dialed his father's number. It did not take long before Nathan answered the call. Ethan put it on speaker mode so that Old Man Xu and Butler Li would hear Nathan's voice.

"Hello, Ethan? Have you arrived home?" Nathan inquired promptly. He had a prior engagement and had entrusted Axel with the responsibility of driving Ethan home on his behalf.

"Yes, Dad! I arrived safely. I called because I have one request from you. Can you invite Miss Jane over for lunch? I want to spend time with you and her," Ethan requested of his father. Butler Li and Old Man Xu silently observed Ethan as they listened to his conversation with Nathan.

"Okay, I'll ask her. Wait for us," Nathan responded promptly. He, too, desired to bring Jane home, unaware that Old Man Xu would be eagerly waiting for their arrival.