Wed to the Billionaire Brother of My Spouse by Doris

Chapter 29 Hideaway
Jasmine stared numbly at Ethan as her fingers tingled.
Ethan looked at her, extending his hand. "Give me your hand."
Almost instinctively, she reached out, but quickly drew back, hiding away in fear. "Dirty..."
She felt soiled and unworthy, as if she tarnished Ethan's perfection.
To Jasmine, Ethan was like an untouchable deity.
She didn't deserve to taint him, not in the slightest.
Ethan frowned again, unsure why he felt compelled to care. "Apply it yourself, or it'll scar."
Jasmine's skin was pale, and her fingers were porcelain-thin - the burned area struck a stark contrast.
She seemed like a fragile piece of porcelain artistry, breathtaking but easily shattered.
Fearfully, she looked at Ethan, slowly reaching out to take the ointment before curling back into herself.
Ethan let out a soft chuckle. She resembled a stray cat from the streets.
Always on guard, ready to defend but never dare to fight back.
What was she afraid of? Was this all for that boy named Justin?
"Bro... you're back." At the doorway, Daniel pushed his way in.
Ethan's expression darkened in an instant. He instinctively drew the curtain, shielding Jasmine from view, and fixed a cold gaze
on Daniel. "Ever heard of knocking?"
Daniel hesitated briefly before lowering his head and softening his voice, "Sorry, bro... I heard from the nanny that you were
back."
"Did you contact Mr. Patrick from SHC Group on your own?" Ethan asked icily.

Daniel kept his head bowed as he rushed to explain. "Bro, Jordan is our sister's husband; he's part of the Douglas family, our
brother-in-law. I just wanted to help him out. I swear, keeping you in the dark wasn't intentional. I didn't want to burden you; I
know you've been swamped."
Daniel could never quite lift his head in Ethan's presence.
With Ethan around, he always felt overshadowed, whether it was at the company or at home.
Ethan's shining excellence only magnified Daniel's own lack of abilities, making him seem lackluster by comparison.
Behind the curtain, Jasmine listened in secret, her heart racing, barely allowing herself to breathe.
Back when Jasmine and Daniel were together, he often complained, resenting Ethan's presence in their home, even wishing him
dead at times.
Jasmine had always tried to console Daniel, reminding him, "He's your brother. You each have your strengths. There's no need
for comparison."
Yet Daniel was still envious of Ethan, of everything he had.
Holding a tube of burn ointment, Jasmine fell into a long silence.
In all of San Francisco, only Ethan could protect her and her loved ones-Justin and Richard.
She had promised to get close to Ethan... with nothing but her own tattered and sullied being.
Startled by her own thoughts, Jasmine hugged herself, breathing hastily.
No, that couldn't be.
How dare someone as tainted as she even entertain the thought of ensnaring Ethan?
Crossing Ethan only promised a fate a hundred times more miserable than her present
one.
What was she thinking? That Ethan would ever desire her? It was laughable.

"I've told you before, the affairs of the Taylor Family aren't that simple. The Douglas Family is to stay out of such murky waters.
Do you understand?" Ethan's tone was cold and imposing as he scolded Daniel with contempt.

"We are, after all, family," Daniel muttered.
Ethan let out a scornful laugh.
He couldn't be bothered to say more. The situation at the Taylor Family was too far gone; they were beyond salvation. When the
collapse came, Daniel and Howard would likely be too busy trying to distance themselves to care about family ties.
"Patrick is off-limits; don't tarnish the Douglas name." Ethan warned Daniel.
Clutching his fists in restrained anger, Daniel nodded softly. "Yes..."
"Get out." Ethan glanced towards the curtains absentmindedly before speaking up again. "I heard you brought Serena home?"
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Daniel paused mid-step, thrown off by Ethan's unusual inquiry into personal matters. "Yes... It's easier to take care of her that
way."
"I don't want to meddle in the Wilsons' affairs but keep things in check when you act," Ethan warned once more. "Don't stir up
trouble."
Clearly, Ethan was reminding Daniel not to overstep with Jasmine.
Daniel nodded and left the study.
What grounds did Ethan have to always suppress him? Forbidding him from privately contacting partners like Stellar
Enterprises? Was he afraid that one day Daniel would be the one wielding power?
Pfft, he would reach out to them anyway; Ethan couldn't keep him down forever. With a cold gaze towards the study, Daniel
stormed off, seething with anger. "Where's Jasmine?" Daniel asked icily, his mood sour.
The nanny was puzzled. "Mr. Daniel, I don't know where she's hidden herself. I didn't see her just now. Always up to her old
tricks, either stealing or slacking."

Daniel, irked, slammed his cup on the table, his voice cool. "Isn't Uncle Michael's son still unmarried?"
Startled, the nanny quickly replied, "Not a chance; his son's got violent tendencies and loves to fight. No one dares to marry him.
Remember Charles? He was beaten so badly he's still in the sanatorium. He was scared into mental illness."
Daniel frowned. "Tomorrow, have Uncle Michael bring his son over."
If Jasmine still refused to disclose who that man was, he'd make sure she understood
the consequences of betraying him.