The Secret Affairs of the Fake Duke Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 8
Cain looked at Jane’s left hand.
“What are you doing? Not applying the ointment?”
It was hard to believe Cain had personally fetched the medicine to apply to Jane’s hand.
Jane quickly changed her earlier thought—that Cain had changed since seven years ago.
He was still gentle. Still a good man.
His claim that it was just “cheap charity” was a lie.
“What are you doing? Unwrap the bandage.”
“I’ll apply it myself.”
Cain ignored her words and opened the medicine jar. Jane had no choice but to unwrap the bandage. He pulled her hand toward him. Soon, his fingers, smeared with ointment, touched her wound.
“From now on, don’t let yourself be looked down on by worthless people. It tarnishes the Hastings name.”
By “worthless people,” he meant Victor and Hamuline.
“Answer me.”
Cain pressed for a reply, but Jane ultimately couldn’t bring herself to speak aloud.
His touch, careful despite his gruff tone and harsh words, stung Jane’s nose with unexpected emotion.
A small hope sprouted in Jane’s heart. Maybe Cain also wanted to get along with her.
She didn’t long for love. She’d be content just being friends.
She would soon learn that hope was nothing but a delusion.
[This is the timeline separator]“Pack your things.”
The day after Jane accepted Cain’s marriage proposal, he came to see her.
Cain stood blocking the doorway without stepping inside her house.
“Pack my things?”
Jane set down her fountain pen on the desk, where she’d been preparing teaching materials for Wolfgang.
Only then did she realize she hadn’t even greeted Cain yet, so she bowed slightly.
“May the goddess’s grace be with you.”
Instead of returning the greeting, Cain merely gave a curt nod. Though this was extremely impolite, coming from him, it didn’t seem out of place.
“What are you doing? I told you to pack. Don’t you own anything worth taking? You certainly look like you don’t.”
A faint crack appeared on Jane’s expression, but Cain paid it no mind and continued his scathing assessment.
“Everything you own looks shabby. Just throw it all away and buy new things.”
“Cain, please explain first. Why do I need to pack?”
Cain leaned crookedly against the doorframe. His neat attire, buttons fastened all the way to his throat, clashed oddly with his slouched posture—and somehow drew the eye.
He really had grown into quite the impressive man.
The rumor that every woman in Amburen desired him now seemed all too credible. It wasn’t just women who yearned for him—men also wanted to befriend him.
But the nature of their desire differed. Men coveted him out of ambition for success; women, out of love.
Yet no one dared openly speak of their greed or affection before him.
Cain held power and wealth rivaling even the queen’s. He was the youngest-ever noble council chairman of the Amburen Kingdom, a war hero, and a man who controlled trade and banking alike.
He stood so far above Jane that merely looking up at him felt overwhelming—a man whose arrogance suited him perfectly.
“Your stare is rather unpleasant.”
She must have been gawking too openly. Jane quickly lowered her eyes. A muscle twitched beneath Cain’s eye.
He found it unpleasant whether she stared directly or averted her gaze elsewhere.
It had been a long time since he’d felt his composure slip—and the fact that Jane was always the one disrupting it only made his mood plummet further.
Cain knew why. It was the residue.
The emotional residue Jane still carried. It wasn’t anything that could be described with sweet words like affection or love.
It was tangled with resentment, anger, and fury over how she’d trampled him and brought harm to his family.
Not that Cain wished to take revenge on Jane; after all, he was a gentleman.
At that thought, Cain cut short the direction his mind was about to stray.
Pursuing it further would only lead him to the same conclusion—that Jane was the sole mistake and unsolvable riddle in his life.
And that would only make him feel worse. Best to stop here.
“About yesterday’s proposal… please reconsider.”
Cain’s left eyebrow arched slightly.
“You have nothing to gain from it, do you?”
Cain’s eyes narrowed. Through the slit, his irises gleamed with an unsettling intensity.
He studied Jane for a long while, then clicked his tongue as if she were pathetic.
“Did you really think my proposal meant you had a choice?”
From the very beginning, Cain never intended to ask her permission.
Once he set his mind to something, he always saw it through. His decision meant they would marry—no matter what. Even if it ended in disaster the very next day.
The reason he hadn’t gotten her signature on the contract the first time he visited was simply because there had been no desk to place it on.
“Don’t waste your time thinking. Your opinion was never part of the equation to begin with.”
“Cain…”
Cain shook his head as if utterly exasperated.
“How astonishing. Do you still think you can harm me? Or that I still have feelings for you?”
“No.”
Jane replied instantly, her tone as sharp as if she were chopping vegetables.
“I believe there are no feelings between us.”
Cain let out a dry laugh. It was absurd—she was stating what he already knew.
“It’s the truth.”
“And I believe there never will be.”
“Exactly what I wanted to hear. So what’s the problem? Your debts are gone, and all you need to do is raise my child properly.”
Indeed—what was the problem?
Her head insisted Cain was right, yet her hand still hesitated to take his.
Jane bit softly at her lower lip.
“There’s no escape on my train. If you want off, you’ll have to jump from a moving carriage. You know the consequences without me spelling them out. Surely you’re not looking for a place to die?”
“No, it’s not that.”
Cain silently watched Jane.
It really bothered him—that fidgeting of her fingers.
If he kept watching, he was sure he’d end up grabbing them.
“It takes real talent to make me repeat the same thing four times. Pack your things.”
Cain turned around. Moments later, the carriage door opened and closed.
Jane let out a quiet sigh.
She understood his frustration. She’d accepted his proposal, then tried to back out after just one day.
And after already taking his money, no less—it was shameless.
Since she’d already agreed, there was no point in hesitating. Jane slapped both cheeks with her palms and stood up to pack.
She first pulled out the travel bag she’d used when first coming to the capital and placed it on her bed.
After packing a few outfits, her cherished cosmetics, ink and pen, and three books, the bag was already full.
Finally, Jane opened the bedside drawer and took out a small box wrapped in a fine handkerchief—far too luxurious for her current circumstances.
Her fingers moved with great care as she touched the box.
Jane glanced toward the half-open door. Outside, all was silent. It seemed unlikely Cain would ever step into this house again.
After a moment’s hesitation, she unwrapped the handkerchief with determination. Holding the faded box, she lifted the lid.
A pair of pearl earrings lay quietly nestled on deep-colored velvet.
They were the only piece of jewelry Jane still owned.
She had refused to sell them, even when starving or begging Victor for just one more day to pay interest.
Cain had bought them for her eighteenth birthday.
He probably didn’t even remember—but to Jane, they were so precious she’d wrapped the box in a handkerchief to keep it from wearing out.
Suddenly, like a crashing wave, she was overwhelmed by the realization that the Cain of seven years ago and the Cain of today were completely different people.
After seven years apart, he had become an entirely different man.
The sunshine-like smile, the gentle voice, the warmth in his eyes when he looked at her—none of it remained.
He had changed, and she should have changed just as much—but she hadn’t.
Jane let out a faint sigh.
She closed the box, rewrapped it in the handkerchief, and tucked it deep into her bag.
Contrary to her earlier belief that she had nothing worth taking, the bag was now so full she could barely close it.
She felt utterly drained, as if packing had taken all her strength.
She sat still for a moment, gazing at the many items she couldn’t fit inside.
Cain had told her to throw everything away, but Jane wanted to take it all.
The rug she’d saved for months to buy, the cutlery set she’d agonized over hundreds of times before purchasing—these meant more to her than mere possessions.
They were proof she hadn’t fallen all the way to rock bottom. They were what had kept her standing.
“Should I carry them anyway?”
Muttering wistfully, she soon shook her head in resignation.
She didn’t want to endure again that look Cain had given her home—his eyes scanning it as if it were filth, silently judging its lack of refinement. It had squeezed her heart tight.
Jane wasn’t numb to pain—but she wasn’t masochistic enough to willingly walk into it.
“Sadly… goodbye. Thank you for everything.”
So she bid farewell to her belongings and her home.
It was also a farewell to peace.
The life of Duchess Hastings could never coexist with peace.
Not for Jane, at least.
[This is the timeline separator]It was when the carriage, drawn by four horses, reached the outskirts of the city.
“Stop for a moment.”
Cain tapped the carriage wall. Once it halted, he stepped out first and looked at Jane.
“Get off here?”
“I have a quick stop to make. Follow me.”
Cain didn’t wait for her, so Jane hurried after him. She rushed to catch up with him, who was already far ahead.
Near the station, beggars crowded the streets.
“Please help me. I haven’t eaten a single meal since yesterday.”
Cain ignored the ragged old man’s plea and walked past him, stopping before a motionless child.
He lightly tapped the child’s begging bowl. The child slowly lifted his head like a sluggish grub.
“Ah…? You’re… back again?”
Dullness gave way to spark in the child’s eyes. Cain ignored his words and pulled a check from his coat.
Jane’s eyes widened.
The check he handed the child was for 20,000 marks.
To Cain, 20,000 marks truly was nothing more than “cheap charity.”
As he dropped the check into the beggar’s dented bowl, Cain locked eyes with Jane.
As if telling her to understand her place.
As if warning her not to mistake his small kindness for affection.
To him, she was just a beggar—nothing more, nothing less.
Jane’s heart sank like a stone.
Cain truly had not a single shred of feeling left for her. At last, Jane accepted this truth.
[This is the timeline separator]The carriage arrived at the Hastings estate—Somnium House.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
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Sure later Cain wil regret everything he’s done to jane..he only looked the bad side from opposite but never looked inside