The Fallen Heiress: Contract Marriage with the CEO Who Hates Me
Chapter 27: The Honor

Chapter 27: The Honor

The day, so dreaded by Jane, had finally arrived. Vernon’s graduation ceremony was held in the same park behind the campus as the Spring Expo, it was a rather popular event spot, especially during warmer seasons, as the myriad of tall trees and the colorful explosion of flowers and flower bushes were creating a picturesque background for both video and pictures, which was always appreciated by the socially-active young students and their families.

Despite Jane’s objections, Charles still insisted on taking her to and from the ceremony, backing it up with a rather reasonable excuse of wanting to spend more time with his girlfriend before leaving for the whole summer. However, Jane could not help but feel a hint of jealousy in his voice, and it made her a little happy.

"You look way too pretty today."

Jane, somewhat baffled by that comment, took a look at the dress which she ordered specifically for this day and widened her eyes. There was absolutely nothing extraordinary about the dress itself––it was a plain blue summer dress with a short frilly skirt imitating the one she saw in the brochure, and a thin golden belt, outlining her delicate waist.

She rarely wore any makeup, mostly because she was blessed with a good complexion and big blue eyes, framed with a thick layer of dark lashes that never required even the slightest touch of mascara. And just like on any other day, the only makeup she was wearing was the lipstick that turned her sensual lips into two pink rose petals.

"Y-You’re exaggerating! I l-look normal."

Charles planted a light kiss on Jane’s forehead and smiled.

"Nothing is ever normal about you, you stand out no matter what. But..."

The guy carelessly snatched the ribbon out of his girlfriend’s hands and examined it once again with a rather irritated expression.

"This is too beautiful, you should not have worked so hard on it, it’s just a stupid ribbon."

Jane could not help but roll her eyes, Charles’ occasional jealousy was way too cute.

"C-Come on, d-don’t be like that!"

"Princess, when I am graduating as an all-star student of the Business Management Department, I’ll make sure that you will be the one giving me the ribbon. And I will expect something much more beautiful than this!"

The girl scoffed and Charles offered her another kiss. He then finally freed her from his gentle embrace and returned the ribbon.

"Alright, I’ll be waiting with the rest of the crowd so come find me once the ceremony is over."

"S-Sure."

The Ribbon Ceremony was the last part of the Graduation event, therefore, Jane still had plenty of time to spend with Charles, but she decided to join the other girls who were unfortunate enough to share the fate of being the ribbon girls with her.

Jane did not really need any additional preparation. The whole ribbon-giving ritual was rather simple: the girl was supposed to tie the ribbon somewhere on her body, usually around her wrist, the graduate had to untie it, and then the girl would tie it on the same part of his body in return.

It would have been that simple if it were not for Vernon’s request.

***

"And now, for the last, but no less important part of the graduation ceremony, would our wonderful Ribbon Girls please ascend the stage?"

The Dean clapped his hands enthusiastically, inviting the rest of the crowd to join him, while the Ribbon Girls were almost marching toward the stage, smiling as if they were at some kind of an award ceremony.

Every single one of them was waving their hands happily, showing the blue silk ribbon tied around their elegant, thin wrists, and the only exception in that bunch was Jane Devold with her blue ribbon tied carefully around her neck.

Once the marching was finally over and the girls lined up right in front of the graduates from their respective departments, Jane lifted her head, facing the guy standing before her, and noticed his cunning smile as his eyes were slowly moving over her long neck, and while all she could do was furrow her eyebrows, Vernon Lin, on the other hand, tapped his index finger on his own neck and let out a subtle scoff, clearly enjoying the girl’s frustration.

"Let’s now begin the ritual! Graduates, please take the lead."

As if they were well-trained soldiers or knights, the graduates all at once took a big step toward the Ribbon Girls and proceeded to untie the ribbons with their hands. Vernon, however, had a different way of doing that.

He took another, now smaller step toward Jane, their bodies almost colliding, leaned forward, ensuring that his head was on the same level as her neck, and started untying the ribbon... with his teeth.

The whole park seemed to have been shaken with a loud "woo" sound that echoed through it like a thunderstrike. Both the crowd and the people on the stage became restless, their rounded eyes wandering amongst each other in search of an explanation for that outrageous act.

Charles, utterly bewildered and confused, nearly jumped toward the stage and tugged one of the Professors on the sleeve of his blazer, his face red with rage,

"What is going on?! Is this even allowed? Stop it immediately!"

However, Professor Martin, clearly unfazed by the student’s exaggerated reaction, only shrugged his shoulders and shook his head in response.

"Young man, watch your manners. Although I agree that such behavior is definitely unorthodox, there is no rule that states that what he did is prohibited. Please step back and calm yourself down."

Despite the loud commotion caused by Vernon’s behavior, the guy was solely focused on Jane and her trembling, embarrassed body, paired with a prominent blush on her beautiful face, and when the ribbon was finally loose, he watched it fall down her chest, then pressed his hand right under her breasts, ensuring that the ribbon does not fall lower, and smirked, savoring the moment of Jane’s unconscious submission.

His enjoyment was interrupted by the Dean’s loud announcement, "Now, the Ribbon Girls."

Jane clenched the ribbon, glaring at Vernon from underneath the thin arches of her eyebrows, then raised her arms in an attempt to reach Vernon’s neck, and as the guy leaned forward again, helping her in that important mission, he placed his chin on top of the girl’s left shoulder, and whispered, looking straight into Charles’ eyes,

"Your Highness... Will you do me the honor of becoming my girlfriend?"

Jane, completely startled by that unexpected question, jerked her body away and yelled, unable to control the volume of her voice,

"Huh?! B-But I have a b-boyfriend!"

This chapter is updated by freew(e)bnovel.(c)om