Chapter 4
The Mysterious Billionaire and His Substitute Bride
Seeing the frown on Janetâs face, Ethan followed her gaze and saw his watch. Moments later, he realized what she was thinking. âThis is a knock-off that I borrowed from my friend,â he whispered into her ear. âI usually wear it to look cool but didnât expect youâd notice it soon.â
Ethan removed the watch and put it into his pocket.
âIt looks real.â Janet smiled and stepped back, covering her flaming ears.
Ethan was leaning closer, and she could feel his breath blowing in her ear as he spoke.
As Janet thought about it, she realized it was normal for a man like Ethan to have a street friend who sold fakes.
She breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, Janet had freaked out, thinking Ethan had done something illegal to make a fortune.
Ethan knitted his brows. He had heard that the daughter of the Lind family had several boyfriends and hung out with different men all the time. The girlâs shyness seemed to surprise him.
âThe bridegroom is here. Why hasnât the wedding started yet?â asked a sweet voice of a woman.
Jocelyn grinned and walked forward, holding her boyfriendâs arm. âSince the bridegroom is here, let me introduce my boyfriend to you,â she said, deliberately raising her voice a decibel higher. âMy boyfriend is the general manager of Cagen Group. It would be good for you to know him. We are family. We can help you in the future.â
Janet smiled politely.
She knew Jocelyn was pretending because the woman hated her with a vengeance. Janet was used to Jocelynâs mockery. âYes, we should get to know each other. But your current boyfriend is different from the one I saw last week. I wonder if youâre going to be with him or not next week.â
Jocelynâs boyfriendâs face darkened; the smile on his face dropped.
âMy younger sister always likes to tease me. Donât take it to heart,â Jocelyn comforted her boyfriend before turning and glaring at Janet. âIf necessary, I can recommend Ethan to work in Cagen Group. If he isnât efficient enough to do technical work, he can perform daily chores like serving tea and cleaning bathrooms. After all, itâs better to have a real job than roaming around idly after getting married.â
Janet stole a glance at Ethan. However, Jocelynâs words didnât seem to bother him the slightest. âNo, thanks.â He smiled politely. âIâm used to roaming outside. My bum canât rest in one place, so I canât sit in an office and work nine to five.â
His response irked Jocelyn. She shot a vicious look at Ethan and returned to her seat, holding her boyfriendâs arm.
Soon, the priest arrived and hastily finished the wedding.
Ethan took Janet back to a small house in the suburb. The house looked old, and the front yard covered only a small area. The house looked empty and hoarded only basic necessities. She felt they were recent additions simply for the wedding. Ethan was a tall, muscular man; the narrow space somehow looked smaller after he came in.
It seemed obvious that he barely made ends meet.
âThis is my home. Make do with it.â Ethan shrugged casually. He didnât seem embarrassed in the slightest.
âYes, itâs a small house, yet it looks tidy. It can accommodate the two of us.â
Janet was honest. Although the house looked shabby, Ethan had maintained it well. The yard looked neat, and the house looked spotless. However, it didnât feel like a home â it was too empty; perhaps because Ethan seldom stayed there.
Janet looked around. She saw that Ethan had taken off his suit jacket and put it on a wooden chair. He was unbuttoning his white shirt. She trailed her gaze across his body and saw the toned muscles under his shirt. It looked like he had been working out regularly.
Sensing her gaze, Ethan turned his head and met Janetâs anxious eyes. He stopped and walked toward her. âYouâve been busy all day. Do you want to shower first?â he asked intently.