Mr Devilish's Substitute Bride

ZANE

Looking at the woman apologizing sincerely in front of me, I felt close to nothing in my heart. My only concern at the moment was questioning if I had been too rash in making the decision to marry Valeria Hale. True, she might have saved my life a year ago but there are many ways to repay her apart from marriage, no?

While I might have no feelings for her nor plan to do so in the future, I however have no intention of being cheated on as long as she still held the title of my wife. And judging from how she had lost her composure just by how I supposedly reminded of whoever she meant, that person definitely held a special place in her heart.

For some reason, I couldn't help but think back to a line in the document that recorded the information on her investigated by my men.

...has been in the relationship only once.

Therefore, a good guess was that the person she was referring to was most likely that ex-boyfriend of hers.

I was deep in thought when a hesitant 'sir?' entered my ears. I looked up in irritation to see which daring subordinate of mine dared to interrupt me while I was thinking, knowing fully well my do's and dont's only to meet Valeria Hale's questioning look.

Only then did I sober up and remember where I was and which role I was currently playing. Here, I wasn't the mysterious and feared 'Mr Devil', a nickname I knew Meteor City's upper class circles had given me or Mr Harrison but rather his exclusive assistant, Zane Michaels. Almost instantly, a gentle and polite smile appeared on my face as I said to her, "It's fine, Miss Hale. There was no offense, whatsoever taken."

I thought that was the end of the matter and was about to move on discussing a more important matter but then, I found that the woman staring at me in a daze. However, before I could even start to get annoyed, she suddenly lowered her head, and then I noticed something... fascinating.

I found that the pale ear that peeked out of Valeria Hale's black to silver ombre hair suddenly turned blood red while her figure also trembled slightly.

A subtle frown appeared on my face as a thought occurred to me.

'Was she... crying?', I couldn't be sure because although she did look like it, after going through what I had just said, I found nothing wrong with it.

So, what the hell was wrong with this woman?

At the same time, the thought of going back on words about marrying her, something I rarely did became stronger.

One of the reasons I had even considered marrying her was because I thought she seemed like someone who knew exactly what she wanted and was determined enough to get it. I definitely have no intention of marrying a crybaby back home even if it was only for a short period of time.

"Miss Hale," I called out again just to be sure that she was really crying before making my decision.

However, her figure only trembled even more the moment I spoke making me speechless.

She seemed to be very terrified of me though why exactly was that, I couldn't figure out after all my current identity was only a ordinary assistant. Or was it that the reputation of Mr Devil had also spread his subordinates as well?

Because that was the closest to an explanation that I could manage to think of.

Be that as it may, I decided to scrap the idea of marrying Valeria Hale. At best, I would still go on with the cooperation with the Hale's and also compensate the woman herself in another way after all I was the one to go back on my words first.

Yet, before I could make known my decision, the woman I thought wasn't planning to raise her head suddenly did and then it was my turn to freeze up.

Can anyone tell me what was up with the misty eyes and plump red lips?

Crying? Does any of this looked like she had even be crying, except for maybe the misty eyes? Instead, it looked like she had just been ravaged thoroughly!

But was that even possible, the woman had not even moved half a step away from me since she came down and I clearly remember that she didn't look like this when she came down earlier on.

Right about when I finished that thought, the woman suddenly her little tongue out and licked her lips. I didn't want to admit it but that little action of hers brought me some excitement.

At the same time, I thought to myself, 'Mystery solved. She 'ravaged' herself.'

But why?

Not even in my wildest dreams could I ever thought that the person in question was currently thinking to herself, 'Hmm.. His voice sounds exactly like how I thought it would - So deep and sultry that it is literally driving me crazy!'

On the other hand, Valeria Hale who was proving to be an enigma fascinated me more than the woman who had saved me or the woman described in a few words on the investigation report stuffed somewhere in my study room.

But I loved puzzles and enjoyed the thrill of solving them. Valeria Hale would be no exception.

With that, my brain worked at full speed trying to decipher what had made her 'ravage' herself so thoroughly in public and finally, I settled on the most likely yet unlikely one.

Me.

I had met one if not two people who had special fetishes. Some had fetishes for hand, some for feet while some had for... voice.

The thrill of having the answer close at hand coursed through me. It brought out the wicked streak in me, making me deliberately make my voice deeper and sexier and say to her while fixatedly looking at her face to capture any change in her expression, "Miss Hale. Are you okay?"

Therefore, I saw clearly how the pupil of her hazel eyes suddenly constricted after which she suddenly fell towards me.

'Weak feet?', I thought evilly to myself as I caught her.

In my arms, she and I looked at each other for a few seconds before she finally reacted and pushed me away.

"Sorry. I mean... thank you." I heard her say in hoarse voice. A voice that sounded so sexy and seductive to my ears that I couldn't help but react to it.

Wait, what? React?

I felt the organ slowly rising against my trousers and couldn't stop my heart trembling in excitement.

Few people but my trusted subordinates and private doctor knew this but I had Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Not that I cared about it or that it affected me that much but still, no man especially someone like me used to having everything I wanted in my grasp would like to be called 'incapable'.

But now, I clearly did react to Valeria Hale's voice.

An urge to hear her speak again overcame me and made me stare at her fervently.

However, I had no idea that I looked like I was pissed off in Valeria's eyes. After all, when a man who appeared to be a gentle and polite suddenly stared at you expressionlessly without saying anything, who wouldn't get the wrong idea?

As a result, I only heard her clear her voice and said, "Cough. I am so sorry. I didn't have a good sleep last night, you see and this led me to feeling a little woozy just now. Also, thank you for catching me."

After clearing her voice, her voice became normal again but although it also sounded good, I felt no reaction. It almost made me doubt whether I had been mistaken before but I soon rejected that thought.

I had definitely felt it.

Anyways, I definitely have to marry Valeria Hale and then I would know if it was a fluke or not. If it was the former, it wouldn't be that hard to accept but if it was the latter...

My eyes turned deeper and darker at the thought.