Taming The Billionaire's Obsession - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Thirty minutes later, Luke arrived at the jewelry store himself. But he was told the girl with the obsidian ring was already gone.
The store clerk, trembling with nerves, hurried into the VIP room to meet Luke, the most powerful man in town. He spilled everything he could remember.
He said, "The lady was a total stranger—never seen her here before. Her friend let us address her as Ms. Judd.
"And the pendant on her necklace was the same as the ring in the photo—obsidian with tiny diamonds. Perfect match. I'm absolutely sure. And I caught a whiff of her perfume—tuberose."
Unfortunately, the store's cameras were down for maintenance. They had her surname, but no idea what she looked like.
As they stepped out of the jewelry store, Harvey whispered, "Mr. Drake, we'll throw more guys on tracking down this girl. But what about Jane? Should we bring her back and get the divorce papers sorted?"
Harvey thought, 'Since Luke wants to be with the girl he's met at Night Charm Club that night, and we've already found her, Jane should just step aside. Anyway, she's just someone Dwight has forced on Luke.'
Harvey didn't like Jane one bit. She seemed like the type who'd do anything for money and status. He couldn't understand why Luke had agreed to marry her in the first place. Especially since Luke had already turned down Dwight, but then changed his mind after seeing Jane's photo.
Luke slid into the black luxury car waiting by the curb. He paused for a second, his face hardening. "After spending so much, I expect results. I don't do deals that don't pay off.
"Tell Ford to take her to the new apartment. Teach her what she can and can't do from now on."
Harvey nodded. "Got it. And what about Ms. Judd?"
Luke glanced at him, his eyes cold. "Keep looking. And this time, don't lose her again."
Jane slipped the 300 thousand into Rose's hospital account without a second thought. She didn't dare hang on to a single cent. She knew Lily would swoop in like a vulture if she caught a whiff of extra cash.
As soon as she hit "send," her phone buzzed. It was Lily. "Jane, you little brat! The hospital said you paid for your mom. Come on, fess up. How much more are you hiding?"
Jane cut her off with a quick "click." No way was she giving Lily another chance to dig. She'd seen the Judd family for who they really were. There was no point in pretending anymore. From now on, they were strangers to her.
"Ms. Ritter," a familiar voice said from behind.
Jane turned and saw Ford, the middle-aged man who'd taken her from the Judd residence this morning. "What now?" she asked.
She'd figured Luke would wash his hands of her once the marriage papers were signed. After all, the deal was done.
He said, "I'm Ford, the butler of the Drake family. If you're ready, I'll take you back."
"Back? To the Drake Manor?" Jane's eyes widened.
"No, it's not suitable for you to move in there. Luke has his own place. I'll take you there. Just cooperate, Ms. Ritter. Remember, you accepted Luke's money," he said.
The underlying message was clear: Jane wasn't accepted by the Drake family. She didn't have the standing to live in the Drake Manor. And she'd better play along with Luke's plans. After all, she was essentially a wife of convenience.
Although she didn't want to live with Luke, Jane knew she didn't really have a choice. So she just said, "Give me a minute. I'll grab some clothes."
Jane hurried back to the hospital room, stuffed a few clothes and essentials into the plastic bag she'd used today, and met Ford downstairs.
Ford glanced at the bag and raised an eyebrow, but he didn't say a word.
They climbed into the luxury car. The Judd family had money, and the Ritter family was loaded. But this was the first time in over a year that Jane had ridden in a nice car so many times in one day.
Back with the Judd family, Lily never let Jane near their luxury cars. Only Ella got that privilege. And the Ritter family'd stopped being her family a long time ago.
The car glided into the exclusive district of downtown, pulling up to a luxurious penthouse where every square foot was pure gold. Ford led Jane straight to the top floor via the elevator.
As the doors opened, Jane's eyes lit up. The duplex was even more stunning than she'd imagined—airy, bright, and sprawling across two levels.
Ford said, "Ms. Ritter, this is your place now," Ford said, his voice neutral. "Cleaners come by while Mr. Drake's at work to keep things tidy, but the rest is on you. As his wife, you'll handle his day-to-day needs."
"Handle his needs?" Jane repeated, a little taken aback. She'd assumed Luke would have a staff to do all that.
"He likes his space private," Ford continued, his tone businesslike. "It's just you and him here. If you don't take care of things, who will? You took the money, so you play by the rules. I don't need to spell out what being Mrs. Drake entails, do I?"
His words hit Jane like a punch. She swallowed her pride and forced a small, tired smile. She'd been foolish to forget she wasn't the lady of the house—she was here because she'd made a deal. "I get it. I'll take care of him."
Ford nodded, his expression unreadable. "Good. You can use any room on the first floor. The first door on the left is your bedroom. But remember—the second floor is Mr. Drake's. Nobody goes up there unless he says so. Clear, Ms. Ritter? Don't break that rule."
Ford left after giving his instructions. Before he went, he told Jane that Luke usually got home around 7:30 PM, and she should have dinner ready by then.
Jane put her things away and glanced at the clock—it was already 6 PM. There was no time to waste. She had to start on dinner. The kitchenware was all brand new, and the fridge was almost bare.
With a resigned sigh, Jane decided to head to the supermarket downstairs to get some ingredients. She used her own money, of course. Before long, she had put together three dishes and a soup. She set the table and waited for Luke.
But at 8 PM, there was still no sign of him. Jane didn't have Luke's number, and she had no idea if he was even coming home for dinner. She had no choice but to reheat the now-cold food.
The meal was reheated again and again until after 11 PM. By then, Jane was exhausted and accidentally dozed off, her head resting on the table. Luke still hadn't returned.
At 11:45 PM, there was finally a noise from outside the door. Luke pushed it open and saw a small figure slumped over, fast asleep at the table.
His brow furrowed. He had almost forgotten that he'd told Ford to bring Jane over.
"Hmm... who?" Jane stirred and opened her bleary eyes at the sound.
Her soft, sleepy murmur seemed to whisper right into his ear. Luke's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Jane blinked a few more times, clearing the fog of sleep from her mind. She saw the tall, broad figure standing at the door and quickly jumped up from her chair, smoothing her disheveled hair. "Oh, Mr. Drake, you're home."
While waiting for Luke, Jane had taken a shower and changed into a soft, well-worn house dress. Her long, dark hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, framing her face, which still held a sleepy, almost innocent charm. The swelling on her face had subsided after icing.
Now, standing in front of Luke, she looked a bit awkward and vulnerable—like a deer caught in headlights. There was something about her fragility that made Luke feel an urge to tease her, but it also stirred up a flicker of something else in his dark eyes.
"Well, I made dinner. Just wait a—" Jane began, but her words were cut off as Luke's hand clamped down on her chin. In an instant, he was right in front of her, pinning her against the dining table.
Jane's eyes widened in shock. She looked up at Luke, her eyes glistening with a mix of surprise and fear. Her back ached from the pressure against the table, and she couldn't understand what she had done wrong. "M-Mr. Drake, what are you doing?!"
"Jane," Luke said, his voice low and rough. He held her face in his hand, his eyes intense and piercing. His fingers pressed into her cheek, his thumb rubbing over her chin. His gaze was so intense it felt like he was trying to burn through her.
But then his voice turned cold and harsh. "Listen, behave yourself," he warned, his tone menacing.
"What?" Jane's mind was still foggy with confusion. She didn't understand what he was talking about. She had just made dinner and waited for him all night—how was that inappropriate?
"Who are you dressing up for? Your outfit, your hair, your posture, and that look? Don't ever show yourself to me like this again," he said, his grip tightening on her face. His words were like a slap, each one cutting deep.
He continued, his voice dripping with disdain, "As for your past, I won't ask. Who you've been with, or who you've slept with—that's your business. But all of that ends now.
"As long as you're Mrs. Drake, you'll act like it. I won't have a wife who sleeps around. And don't try to flirt with me. You're not worth it."
With that, he released her chin. Jane gasped, steadying herself as her legs felt weak.
She got what Luke was implying. He didn't like her worn-out clothes—probably thought they made him look bad. And those other harsh words really hurt.
Jane closed her eyes, her long, dark eyelashes fluttering. She didn't want to argue. She'd learned to ignore such talk a year ago.
She turned and ducked her head, slipping past him. "I get it, Mr. Drake. I'll head to my room." Her voice was softer than before, which only seemed to irritate Luke.
Just as she was about to reach her room, Luke's deep, cold voice stopped her. "Who said you could leave? Go upstairs and draw my bath."