Taming The Billionaire's Obsession - Chapter 75: Chapter 75

Even if Luke was only her husband on paper, hearing him declare his intent to marry Ella felt like a physical blow, a vicious twisting deep in her gut.
Luke. Marrying Ella.' The words screamed inside her skull. 'Discard me, slot her into my vacated place—is that the design?'
A wild, irrational impulse seized her—to clutch at Luke, scream denial, halt this travesty at any price. 'It must be hatred,' she told herself. 'Pure hatred for Ella. That's all it is.'
Luke fixed Jane with a chilling look. "Our arrangement will never reach her ears." His tone brooked no argument, stating an immutable fact. "The terms stand: one year. Then you disappear. Ella ascends as the undisputed Mrs. Drake."
Luke gripped Jane's chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. His voice dropped to a dangerous murmur. "Cease these pointless actions. And bury any thought of telling Ella." His grip tightened fractionally. "Breach our contract by exposing us, and believe me, you will regret it."
Jane bit down on her lip, her tear-filled eyes locked defiantly on his. The urge roared within her. 'Tell her! Forget the money, forget the medical bills. I'll shove that marriage license in Ella's smug face. Let her see she's coveting my leavings.'
Not for any other reason—just to vent this pent-up rage. To witness her stunned disbelief crumble into utter devastation.
But cold reality doused the fire. 'No. I can't do that. Mother's surgery was finally scheduled. One thing secured. If I break the contract now, ignoring the penalty clause, the sheer amount—360 thousand dollars—is impossible to afford.'
Poverty shackled her defiance. She didn't even have the breath to say "no". "Fine," Jane breathed, the word hollow. She closed her eyes and drew in a shaky breath, and when they opened, the fire was gone. Only a mask of gentle, vacant obedience remained.
"Rest assured, Mr. Drake," Jane said. "Our secret remains buried. Not in a year. Not even if you marry Ella today. I wish you both lasting happiness and a smooth union."
She was an emotionless doll, her glistening eyes utterly devoid of life beneath the placid facade.
Luke watched as Jane retreated behind the submissive, docile mask she'd worn when they first met. This should have satisfied him. Instead, an inexplicable, gnawing irritation took root in his chest. He despised this hollow obedience.
He loathed tears, detested hysterics, and found women's calculated vulnerability contemptible. Yet now, Jane's lifeless compliance grated on him worse than any tantrum. He'd rather she raged at him and demanded answers. Her manufactured meekness was an irritant he couldn't shake.
The sight of her parted lips, forming those obedient, empty words, ignited a fierce urge to silence her. His hand remained locked on her chin. Luke tilted her face up and crushed his mouth against hers, brutally stifling the source of his irritation.
"L-Luke, what are you—mmph!" Jane's panic was instant, her hands flying up to push against his chest. 'After all that... he dares to kiss me now? But Luke's palm clamped firmly against the back of her head, trapping her completely.
His kiss was relentless, demanding. His long fingers traced the damp fabric of her sweater.
Dazed, Jane could only register the rising heat in the room. "Luke," she rasped against his mouth, her voice raw, "don't forget, you promised... to marry Ella..."