BOOKSDRAMA Chapter 30
Chapter 30 Ethan
"How long do you plan on hiding?" In the study, Ethan sat at his desk and raised an
eyebrow.
Jasmine crept out from behind the curtains, emerging cautiously once the noise outside had ceased.
After applying some ointment to her hand, she intended to put the medicine away.
"Thanks..." She murmured, her head lowered and feeling uneasy as she pulled out a few crumpled bills from her pocket-money
she earned from collecting cans and scrap. "About the other day... the cupcake, thank you. Justin loved it."
Jasmine flashed Ethan a smile that betrayed a hint of unease.
In her eyes, Ethan was far from a saint, but compared to the real villains out there, he was a breath of fresh air.
Catching a glimpse of the money in Jasmine's hand, Ethan spoke in a low voice, "Keep it. When I'm short, I'll hit you up."
Clutching the cash awkwardly, Jasmine quickly bowed her head and stuffed it back in her pocket.
It was clearly a joke, yet Jasmine's eyes welled up with tears.
Compassion had become a stranger to her over time.
Ethan Douglas lacking money? That was almost laughable.
"Goodbye, Mr. Douglas..." Jasmine gave a deep bow, intending to dash off after placing the burn ointment on the table.
"Just take it; you've already used it. It's no use to me now," Ethan said indifferently.
Every time he offered Jasmine something, she seemed unable to accept it.
She was too sensitive, and Ethan could see that.
Carefully, Jasmine reached out and took the ointment. "Thank you."
She quietly slipped out the door of the study room.
Just as she reached the living room, she bumped into Serena, who stood poised on the staircase.
Jasmine didn't speak; it was time to clock out, and she was free to leave.
"Jasmine, coming from the study?" Serena narrowed her eyes, her voice tinged with astonishment.
Again, Jasmine remained silent.
"Heh, you never change, do you? Cozying up to the man in charge; that's your game, isn't it?" Serena seemed hellbent on
making a scene, refusing to let it go.
Ignoring her, Jasmine turned to leave.
"Stop right there!" Serena's voice was thick with anger as she glared at Jasmine. "Ever taken a good look at yourself in the
mirror? Do you see what you've become? Do you know that Ethan is a germaphobe? Trying to seduce him... you're clueless
about the trouble you're inviting!"
Head bowed, Jasmine kept her silence.
"You're overestimating yourself," Serena snapped, visibly upset and nervous about Jasmine's potential connection with Ethan.
From another room, the sound of their quarrel drew Daniel out. Wrapping a shawl around Serena's shoulders, he asked, "What's
going on?"
"Her! She just came out of your brother's study! I told you she's trouble. She's shrewd, posing as harmless when she's anything
but. She knows your brother's the one calling the shots here and she's trying to worm her way to him," Serena provoked Daniel
deliberately.
Clearly, she knew just how to push Daniel's buttons.
At those words, Daniel's expression darkened to thunderous levels.
Daniel's grip on Serena loosened as he towered over Jasmine, his presence heavy like a
brewing storm as he descended the stairs step by step.
"Explain." He was straining to keep his emotions in check.
Panicked, Jasmine stumbled backward. "There's... there's nothing, I was just..."
"Just what!" Daniel's hand struck Jasmine's cheek with a crack. "Just shameless! Are you trying to seduce my brother too?"
She reeled from the blow, her vision fading as she collapsed to the ground.
Her fingers became stiff and unresponsive. Jasmine couldn't even ball them into a fist; the wave of despair made her heart race
with dread.
"Jasmine, I thought after five years behind bars you'd learn restraint, but you're quite the actress! Trying to seduce my brother?
You think he'd ever touch you? Women like you; he can't even stand to look at you without feeling disgusted, you get that?"
Daniel's voice dripped with sarcasm. He knew too well the sorry fates of those who'd foolishly lusted after Ethan.
"I didn't..." Jasmine weakly denied.
"Tomorrow, 8:30 AM sharp. Don't be late." Daniel sneered, grabbing the collar of her shirt. "Since you're so desperate for a man,
I'll make sure you're taken care of."
With her head bowed, tears scalded her cheeks as they fell.
Daniel felt contaminated just being near her; everything about Jasmine now seemed a charade to him.
Such talent for acting.
"Daniel." Ethan, disturbed by the commotion, appeared concerned.
Normally nothing could shake him, but today was filled with irregularities.
His steely gaze settled on Serena before he spoke again. "I thought you said you were ill? You seem pretty energetic when
you're screaming."
Serena, flustered at the encounter with Ethan-someone out of her league yet whom she desperately aspired to reach-tried to
explain.
"Ethan... it's not like that, I just... I saw her coming out of your room and I was afraid she had designs on you. That's Jasmine, the
one who, with her mom, plotted to trade places with me and steer my life off course. She's shameless and filthy." She rushed her
words, knowing Ethan's extreme aversion to anything unclean.
Ethan's eyebrows knotted. "As far as I know, when the switch in the Wilson family happened, both of you were merely days-old
infants. Did she even have the cunning then to swap lives with you?"
Stumped, Serena had no comeback.
Jasmine, despite the throbbing in her head from the slap, suddenly looked up at Ethan, her eyes brimming with tears.