Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

Ethan tried to move away but she did not let go of him. She held him so tightly and he was afraid that she would end up hurting herself.

No! She did not have the right to do so. Only he could hurt her!

He held her hands to get rid of her grip when he realized that her hands were too cold. He frowned and turned back to see that her face had turned a bit of blue and she was shivering badly,

"What happened to you?" he asked in a cold tone but in spite of that cold look on her face, the worry in his eyes could not be concealed.

"No.. nothing.. Please don't go!" she pleaded in such a soft tone that his stomach churned.

He looked away yet he could not get rid of her voice.

He let her hold him and then closed his eyes.

"I will not go.. But I will not cross the lines too." he said as he looked back at her when she nodded her head.

She looked relieved so much that it amused him. He held her in his arms and then laid with her on the bed.

"If you are afraid then do not be.. I will protect you." he assured her but she just nodded. There was a smile on her face that looked full of longing and pain.

She was not afraid that she would be killed. It was bound to happen but she was afraid that she would ot be able to marry him.

"My mother, protect her, if anything happens to me. I have done everything to keep her safe and if possible, let her meet my father for once." she smiled with a bright face on her face but he could see the pain in her eyes.

His hands tightened on her back but he did not say a word. She knew that he did not accept her request.

"You are not going to die!" he said in the end as he closed his eyes. His one hand was on her back while the other hand was used as a pillow by her.

She continued to stare hard at his face for a long time before finally closing her eyes too. Just his presence was enough to give her the warmth she desires.

Just as her eyes closed, Ethan opened his eyes and stared at the girl. He could feel her fears but there was something in him that was stopping him from assuring her. What if everything changed again!

He tucked her hair behind her ears and touched her soft cheeks. She looked so innocent, so vulnerable in her sleep.

If only.. She didn't do all those things…

In the morning, when she opened her eyes, the place beside her was empty and cold. He had left a long time ago.

She touched the place softly rubbing her hands on the whole area and a wry smile formed on her lips.  Why was she even trying so hard when he had already closed his heart?

A tear started to form in her eyes but she wiped it before it could fall. She was not going to give up that easily.

She changed her clothes and walked out of the room. Only yesterday, she was given her freedom to walk freely in the palace again.

The maids looked at her as if she was a foreigner but she did not care about them anymore.

She walked straight to the chamber of Ethan. Theo stared at her but didn't stop her. In fact, he bowed his head in front of her like she was the mistress.

As she walked in, in her simple dress, Ethan was already working on the files with a fully dressed look. Recently he looked cold like Leo but it gave him a strong and irresistible aura.

But her eyes stopped when she saw a woman standing beside him and bending a bit on his table. They were too close to each other for her liking.

Her eyes instantly narrowed at the woman. She looked.. Beautiful! The woman raised her head and met the eyes of Hannah and then smiled provokingly.

Her eyes filled with dark glint and then with a look of possessiveness in her eyes, she bent closer to Ethan, such that her breath could blow directly in his ears.

"Would that be fine or do you need any change in the document?" her voice was soft and chirpy. A look of shyness and sweetness on her face.

She looked like a fresh breath of air after a gloomy day.

Ethan has a rare smile on her face. He nodded his head with a look of admiration in his eyes.

"That is more than I could ask for. Thank you." he signed the file and then closed it as he passed it to the girl who laughed as if she was teased.

"You are just praising me too much. I am only learning how to do work. I should be thankful to you for guiding me and helping me so much in everything.. If not for you…" the girl halted but her soft voice was like a tickle that could gain the attention of any person.

Ethan smiled. He liked how the girl was down to earth and humble. She did not try to show off but only behaved kindly.

"You do not need to be too modest. You deserve it. And I am sure that we will gain a lot of chances to work together in the future too." he lagged again when she smiled brightly.

Her eyes were twinkling like there were thousand stars scattered in it that made Hannah freeze in her place.

Ethan shook the hands of the woman when she rubbed the back of his hands with her thumbs while the smile on her face turned flirtations.

"Then i will be waiting for you to call me sooner." she said in a meaningful tone when Ethan was about to let go of her but his eyes matched Hannah and he stopped.

"Yes, of course."