Chapter 17- A distraction
"Aren’t you afraid of me?" Philip’s husky voice carried the gentle stir of an ocean breeze. From this close, he could see just how flawless her pale, delicate face really was. Her long, curled lashes cast faint shadows on her cheeks, fluttering with each blink.
"Afraid of what?" Janet’s hands rested lightly on his stiff legs. She could feel the cold, unyielding hardness beneath the blanket—like two iron bars, completely devoid of warmth. But when she looked up into his deep blue eyes, the feeling of unfamiliarity between them seemed to fade. Maybe it was because they both carried a similar sadness—one that made her feel more pity than fear.
He must be in so much pain, she thought.
"I’m a cripple," Philip said quietly, watching for any flicker of discomfort on Janet’s calm face. But instead, her composure stirred something inside him, like a pebble dropped into still water.
"You’re my husband. I’ll take care of you," she said, more certain than ever. Now she finally understood what Derrick meant that morning when he told her to take good care of his son. Compared to the cold, calculating vibe from the Louis family, Philip felt gentle—almost kind. This was far better than she had imagined.
"You... you’d really be willing to be the wife of a man like me?" Philip stared at her in disbelief. She was the daughter of the Louis family—she could have had a better life. How could he have known that, in that house, even the servants were ranked higher than Janet?
"We’re already married," she replied, her clear eyes locking with his. Philip was stunned for a moment, then lowered his gaze, trying to suppress the strange stir of emotion in his chest. Gripping the armrests of his wheelchair, he rolled himself back a little.
"As my wife, the only thing I can give you... is the title of Mrs. Elwin."
"I don’t care about titles..." To her, that kind of privilege had always been out of reach. She never dreamed of marrying into wealth, never even dared to hope for it. What mattered more to her was something else entirely—their relationship.
"Then fulfill the duties of a wife," he said, turning his gaze away. He felt a flicker of something like hope. If he weren’t crippled—if he were whole—maybe he would cherish a girl like her. But reality was cruel. And with the heavy burden his brother Charles carried, he had no choice but to push her away.
Janet only half understood what he meant. Was he telling her to accept this relationship and stay by his side?