Fake Love

Chapter 1

“Do you Stella Lovelock take Ethan Brown as your lawfully wedded husband?”

Stella’s face flushed slightly as she looked at her groom. Though he was sitting in a wheelchair, he looked quite handsome. The color on her cheeks deepened, and she said in a soft voice, “I do.”

“Do you Ethan Brown take Stella Hades as your lawfully wedded wife?”

“I do.” Ethan’s expression remained unchanged when he said those words. In fact, he didn’t even bother to look at Stella. In his eyes, she was nothing more than a nurse who would take care of him for the rest of his life.

When he was asked to kiss the bride, he remained unmoving. He didn’t want to spare the slightest effort over gold diggers like Stella. He knew that she would cling to him even if he didn’t fulfil his responsibilities. After all, what she wanted was just money.

Seeing Ethan’s behaviour, the guests started muttering among themselves. Ethan’s father glared at him, fuming with anger.

Tapping his cane on the ground, he tried to prompt Ethan to make a move, but Ethan remained unaffected. He kept staring into the space with a bitter expression.

Stella, on the other hand, didn’t want them to become the talk of the town. Though she had agreed to marry him just to fulfil her dying grandfather’s wish, she wanted to do it properly.

Placing her right hand on the handle of his wheelchair, she leaned closer to Ethan and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Seeing this, the commotion died out and everybody started cheering for him.

Ethan’s mood turned sour after this. He was filled with a sense of disgust and indignation.

How dare a mere country bumpkin go against his wishes, that too, in front of so many people? She didn’t deserve him at all.

Ethan’s father, on the other hand, saw hope. He took Stella to one side to have a good chat with her.

“I know my son’s behaviour must have hurt you, but I still hope you will try to understand him. He has suffered a lot after the accident. That is the reason he is not willing to open up to anyone. I hope you will be more patient with him.” His voice turned hoarse as he patted her shoulder. “You are the only one I can depend on now. I don’t trust those caretakers at all.”

“Don’t worry, father.” She smiled at him reassuringly. “I promise that I will take good care of him. His legs will definitely recover one day.”

When Ethan saw Stella chatting so closely with his father, he was further infuriated.

Damn that girl. She is so well versed in flattering. It looks like she had my father wrapped around her finger.

He snorted and shook his head indignantly.

So what if she has won over my father? I will never accept a girl like her.

“Would you like me to help you change?” Stella asked once they were alone in the bedroom.

Ethan’s expression darkened once he heard this. Grabbing her wrist, he pulled her closer and spat, “You can’t wait to lay your hands on me, can you?”

Faced with the sudden question, Stella became flustered and she stuttered, “I… I didn’t mean it like that…”

“There is no need to put up an act in front of me, Stella! I know exactly what girls like you want.” His words pierced through her heart like sharp daggers. “Let me make this clear to you. You are no different from a nurse to me. So, you better know your pace and just do what you are told.”

Stella’s heart clenched painfully at his indifference, but she had promised his father that she would be patient with him. Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, she muttered, “Don’t worry, Ethan. I won’t go against your wishes.”

Ethan didn’t look convinced by her words. Even so, he released her with a grunt. Stella helped him clean up and change. Throughout the process, he didn’t even spare her a glance.

After settling him in the bed, Stella was about to lie down when he finally spoke up in a bitter tone. “What do you think you are doing? Did you forget what I told you?”

“Ethan… I….” Her gaze drifted to the locked door. “Today is our wedding night. Some of the guests might still be around. If I sleep somewhere else….” Her voice trailed off, and she bit her lower lip.

Letting out a frustrated grunt, Ethan picked up the pillow and threw it at Stella. “You can sleep on the couch for today, but once we return to our mansion, I don’t want you lingering around me unless I explicitly allow.”

She nodded her head quietly and settled on the couch. However, she couldn’t sleep a wink. She tossed restlessly as Ethan’s words kept repeating in her head like a loop.

Stella didn’t have high expectations from her marriage, but she had hoped that they could live amicably, supporting each other in times of need.

However, seeing how Ethan treated her like a servant, that didn’t seem possible.

Did I make a mistake by marrying him? Even if it is a mistake, I can’t do anything about it now. I can only try to melt his heart through sincere efforts.

Stella was the kind of person who never wavered once she made a decision. She took care of Ethan whole heartedly. During the day, she tended to all his needs, taking care of his diet, exercise routines, hospital visits. Everything was personally managed by her.

She spent all her free time reading books on human anatomy and medicine. There was nothing she wouldn’t do as long as there was a glimmer of hope.

Ethan remained cold and indifferent despite seeing all her efforts, but Stella didn’t let it bother her. She was determined to cure his legs.

It took two years, but they finally managed to achieve a breakthrough. A specialist in Germany had figured out a new method to treat damaged nerves.

Though high risks were involved, Stella was confident that it would work. As such, she arranged for Ethan to take part in the Clinical trials.

Ethan’s father was reluctant, but seeing Stella’s determination, he finally relented.

***

“Yesterday, I went to meet Leo, the patient who was recently treated by Dr. Stephen,” Stella said, adjusting Ethan’s coat. “He seems to be recovering well. I have also read through the research papers and clinical reports. Though the risks are high, the success rate among the patients treated by Dr. Stephen is quite good. Don’t worry….”

“Can you stop gabbling and let me eat in peace?” Ethan snapped in annoyance. “I have already given my consent, right? Why do you still have to bug me?”

“I wasn’t trying to bother you. I was just….” Seeing Ethan’s irritated expression, Stella stopped talking and sat down on the chair beside him. “Fine, I will stop talking now. Please don’t get angry. You have a surgery next week. So, it is important to stay in a good state of mind.”

Without bothering to respond, Ethan picked up the bowl of soup and took a sip. His expression instantly turned sour. “What in the world is this? Are you trying to kill me with your poor cooking skills? If you can’t cook something decent, order a take out from a Michelin restaurant. It is not like we lack money or something.”

“What is wrong, Ethan?” Stella frowned as she poured some soup in a bowl. “I prepared the mushroom soup just the way you like.”

Stella was tired. She had been running around the entire day and had ended up adding a little extra salt. She apologised instantly. “I am sorry, Ethan. I will make another soup for you.”

“No need.” He countered harshly. “Since you are not sincere about it, there is no need to cook for me anymore. Just order something for me.”

Stella was aware of his temperament. So, she quietly followed his instructions. When the food arrived, Ethan wasn’t satisfied with it either.

“Did you make a mistake while placing the order?” Ethan frowned, pushing the bowl of soup away. “Why in the f*****g world is it so spicy?”

“Ouch!” Stella shouted as some of the soup splashed onto her hand. Wiping it off with the tissue, she turned her attention back to Ethan. “Are you alright? Did you get burned too?”

“I don’t think you are qualified enough to take care of me at all.” Ethan glared at her angrily. “God knows why Dad has to torment me like this. Why can’t he just let me hire a professional?”

“Ethan, I….”

“Stop stuttering like an i***t and go cook something else for me.” Ethan guzzled down the glass of water and huffed, “Unless, of course, you plan on killing me with starvation.”

“Why are you saying it like that? I didn’t do it deliberately.” Her gaze drifted to her right hand, that had become red. “I don’t think I can right now. How about I….” Sensing Ethan’s cold gaze, she stopped talking. Her eyes teared up, and she stammered, “I… I will go make something else for you.”