Taming The Billionaire's Obsession - Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Half an hour later, Jane was escorted to the penthouse of a luxury office tower in downtown.
It had been years since she'd been in such a high-end place. After her parents divorced, she and her mother had been kicked out of their home and had to rely on others for shelter.
Downstairs, she'd seen people dressed in sharp business suits, their faces cold and distant. It reminded her of Luke she'd encountered earlier, though his coldness had been sharper, more chilling.
Jane's thoughts drifted back to that night at the club a week ago. She remembered Luke, who had pressed her against the door. Her hands twisted nervously in her lap. She still had no idea who he was.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over her, blocking out the light. She looked up to see a pair of cold, piercing eyes.
Luke, the man standing before her, had sharp, chiseled features and an air of quiet menace. He was tall and broad-shouldered, and just his presence made her feel small and uneasy.
Jane's heart began to race. She felt an odd mix of fear and a strange sense of familiarity with Luke. It was as if she'd seen him somewhere before. But then, she wouldn't have forgotten someone like him.
"Ahem." she began, straightening her posture. "Sir, well, you want to see me?"
Jane looked at him earnestly. One cheek was still swollen from the earlier humiliation, but her eyes were clear and bright. In a way, she was grateful to him for pulling her out of that embarrassing situation with her neighbors.
Luke seemed surprised that she'd spoken first. His cold eyes narrowed just a bit, and his gaze lingered on her bruised face for a moment longer than necessary.
Then he spoke, his voice deep and smooth, but edged with a hint of menace, "So, Ms. Ritter, are we pretending not to know each other now?"
Jane's heart skipped a beat. She didn't understand why he was saying this. She didn't remember a thing about him. She said, "I think you have the wrong person, sir. I don't know you at all."
He looked down at her, his cool eyes fixed on her puzzled face.
She was beautiful, even with the bruise. Her hair framed a delicate face, and her eyes sparkled with an innocent, wide-eyed look. For a moment, he thought he saw the woman from that night. But then he dismissed the idea. That was impossible.
Luke's expression darkened. He didn't bother with small talk, pulling out his phone and holding it out to her. "You don't know me, but you were trying to cozy up to my grandfather. How much do you want to play Mrs. Drake for him?"
Jane was taken aback—how could someone so polished and aloof be so cruel? She felt a flash of anger. "Sir, I don't think there's anything to discuss here. I'm leaving."
Before she could stand, Luke's voice cut through the silence, colder than ice. "Jane Ritter, 22, booted out of college a year ago for a mess of a personal life. Born into money but ended up caring for a cantankerous old man in a nursing home.
"Think I'm gonna buy that you got close to my grandpa without an angle?"
Realization hit Jane like a punch—he actually did his homework on her. Suddenly, it clicked for Jane, and she said, "You're Dwight's grandson?"
"Finally catching on, are we?" Luke dropped onto the couch across from her, legs crossed, fingers draped over the armrest, eyes dripping with disdain. "So, is ten thousand a month enough to play Mrs. Perfect for my grandpa?"
Jane's mind reeled. 'Marry him? What planet is he on?' She said, "Mr. Drake, I'm Dwight's caretaker, sure, and I know there's bad blood between you two, but I'm not using that to get to you—"
"Fifteen thousand a month," Luke cut in, his voice flat. "That's my final offer. The Drake family has money to burn, but you? You're not worth a penny more."
His words hit Jane like a slap. Her head buzzed, but she forced herself to speak, voice rough with emotion, "Mr. Drake, I'm not interested in your beef with Dwight. I'm out of here."
She couldn't stay another second. She grabbed her purse and made for the door.
"After we tie the knot, I'll throw in another 300 thousand," Luke went on, unfazed. "When we split, you'll get an apartment, depending on how well you play along. And you'll still get your 15 thousand a month."
Jane froze at the doorway. 300 thousand dollars was the exact amount her mom's surgery needed. With that money, she could get the operation scheduled right away—no more fear of her mom being taken off life support. It could save her mom's life.
She then thought again of the man who had promised to be there for her but vanished. A bitter smile crossed her face as she realized she should never have trusted someone like him.
"I'll marry you, and we'll even get the certificate now," Jane said, her eyes glistening as she turned back. "But there's one condition: I need the money today. I have to have that cash in hand before the bank closes."
At the Judd residence, Johnson couldn't shake the guilt after kicking Jane out. He paced the living room, his mind heavy with regret.
"Would you stop pacing around like that? You're driving me crazy," Lily complained impatiently. "I'm trying to take a look at this ring. Whoa, check these diamonds out. This thing must be worth a fortune. Jane is broke—where did she get it from?"
"Who knows?" Johnson replied irritably. "Maybe Rose gave it to her."
"Hmph," Lily grumbled. "Looks like Rose has been holding back some of her fancy stuff. I'm going to the hospital right now. Got to get her to cough up for those medical bills we've been paying."
Just as she reached for the door, it swung open, and she nearly ran into her daughter. Ella, the Judd family's princess, stepped out of her sports car, her high heels clicking on the driveway. She was dressed head to toe in designer clothes.
Ella shouted, "Dad, Mom, what are you doing out here? And where's Jane? I heard she was stirring up drama again."
Lily's face softened at the sight of her daughter. She held up the obsidian ring she'd yanked off Jane's neck. "No worries—Jane's long gone. Ella, look at this."
"What is this?" Ella's eyes widened in surprise.
"I took it off Jane," Lily said triumphantly. "She's been living off us for so long. This ring more than covers her debts."
"The ring looks so beautiful. Mom, I love it." Ella's eyes sparkled with delight.
"Love it? Take it." Lily handed it over without hesitation.
Ella took the ring, her face lighting up. She'd always known Jane had the best things. Like that one-of-a-kind perfume, Larmes Sacrées Éternelles. It was said that Rose had splurged on it years ago overseas. There was only one bottle in the entire city.
Ella had found it in Jane's room a few days ago, snatched it, and claimed it as her own. She'd already started using it.
Thinking of this, Ella felt a wave of relief wash over her. 'Thank goodness Rose was abandoned by the Ritter family, and Jane's kicked out as well. Otherwise, I would never have gotten my hands on such a great thing.'
Ella had planned to show off the ring to her friend while shopping, but it was too loose, almost like a man's ring. So, she settled for wearing it as a pendant around her neck, just like Jane, and drove off.
At City Hall, Jane had just picked up her marriage certificate with Luke and was rushing out.
As she walked, she checked her phone and saw a text: 300 thousand dollars had been deposited into her account. She hurried off to the hospital to arrange for Rose's surgery.
Luke stepped out a moment later, catching a glimpse of Jane's slender figure as she disappeared around the corner. His face was still as cold as ever, but a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.
He'd expected her to head straight to Drake Manor and start living the life of a wealthy wife after using Dwight. Instead, she'd left without a word.
Just then, Harvey's voice came from behind. "Mr. Drake, we found the girl who saved you at Night Charm Club last week. Our guys saw her wearing your ring at the jewelry store."