Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 10: The Home I Don’t Want to Return To
"You said it, not me. Don’t come begging for mercy later."
Seeing him start to turn away, Raina Reddington quickly grabbed his arm. "Fourth Master, what if I beg for mercy now?"
"Don’t you like acting tough? Keep it up. I happen to like hard-headed girls like you."
Raina listened, then reached out and patted Ethan Lancaster’s chest lightly. "Look, I’ve already been completely humiliated in front of my friend today. Making a bigger scene wouldn’t look good for you either. How could the esteemed Young Madam of the Lancaster family be seen soaked to the bone by everyone, right?"
"You’re the one being seen, not me." Ethan Lancaster drew a clear line between them. "I don’t mind at all."
’He’s completely impervious. This isn’t going to be easy.’ Raina felt her options dwindling.
Ethan Lancaster recalled her conversation with Annabelle Spencer and knew she didn’t get along with her family. "Your mother called me just now. She wants us to go back for dinner tomorrow night. I’ve already accepted."
Raina Reddington’s gaze shot up, and for a fleeting moment, he thought he saw panic in her eyes. But it was gone in an instant. "Alright."
The matter was set aside for the time being. The next day, just as Raina had gotten off work, she saw Ethan Lancaster’s car parked at the entrance.
Raina was silent the entire way, her face showing no hint of joy at the prospect of going home. When they arrived at the Reddington estate, Ronan Reddington and Zoe Scott personally came out to greet them.
"Raina, you must be tired from work. I knew you and Ethan were coming, so I had the kitchen start preparing early."
In front of Ethan Lancaster, Zoe Scott’s warmth was excessive. Raina, unaccustomed to it, went inside. Servants bustled about, serving tea, and the family settled down. This was Ethan Lancaster’s first visit to their home.
Ronan Reddington and Ethan Lancaster chatted about work-related matters while Raina sat to the side. Suddenly, the telephone on the table began to ring.
Ethan Lancaster saw Raina flinch. Her whole body tensed—an unconscious reaction she couldn’t hide.
Zoe Scott quickly stood up. "You two keep talking. Raina, make sure you keep Ethan company."
Raina dug her fingernails into the back of her hand as she watched Zoe Scott hurry upstairs. She knew exactly who was on the other end of that call.
Ethan Lancaster glanced discreetly at her hand and saw the back of it was covered in a messy pattern of nail marks.
She couldn’t find a way into the men’s conversation. Finally, seeing an opportunity when Ethan Lancaster was taking a sip of water, she said in a low voice, "I’m going to my room to get a few books."
"Alright."
Raina walked up the stairs step by step. Just as she reached the second floor, a shrill voice came from a room not far away.
"Why did you let her come back? I don’t want to see her!"
"Mia, don’t get so worked up..." Zoe Scott was trying to placate her.
After a moment’s hesitation, Raina tiptoed closer. The bedroom door was ajar, and the voices drilled clearly into her ears.
"Mom, I know. I’m a cripple now, so none of you even treat me like a human being."
Zoe Scott’s heart felt like it was being poked full of holes. "Mia, how can you say that? You’ll always be my most precious baby..."
"Baby? What a joke. Your ’precious baby’ married into the Lancaster family, a family everyone is dying to be connected with. Why weren’t you willing to give such a wonderful marriage to me?" Mia Reddington raised her hands and hammered them against her own legs. "I know! It’s because I’m a good-for-nothing!"
Zoe Scott’s heart ached as she grabbed Mia’s wrists. "Mia, it’s not like that! The Lancaster family is a pit of fire. Raina won’t have a single good day now that she’s married into it."
Mia Reddington quieted down. Zoe Scott brushed the stray strands of hair from her face. "Ethan Lancaster almost skipped his own wedding. Who could possibly expect him to treat Raina well? The man is constantly in the tabloids, and he still frequents Aristor Hall even after getting married. A man like that..."
At the doorway, a pair of feet took a step back.
’So my family knew about my situation all along.’
A bitter sting filled Raina’s eyes. She reached out, steadying herself against the wall as she forced herself to walk forward. Her nails scraped hard against the plaster, her heart feeling hollow and empty. She wanted to cry, but no tears would come.
When it was time for dinner, a servant came to Raina’s room to call for her.
She went downstairs carrying two books. Ronan Reddington was showing Ethan Lancaster to his seat when Zoe Scott came down, a troubled look on her face. She whispered to Ronan, "Mia wants to come down for dinner today, too."
"Of course. She hasn’t met Ethan yet. It’s perfect for the whole family to have a meal together."
Hearing this, Zoe Scott’s expression relaxed. "Ethan, Mia has trouble with her legs. Why don’t you help carry her down?"
Before marrying Raina, Ethan Lancaster had a general idea of the Reddington Family’s situation, but when Jessica Jacobs had mentioned Mia, he hadn’t paid any attention.
"I’ll go," Ronan Reddington said, rising from his seat.
Zoe Scott quickly and discreetly held his arm back. "Hasn’t your back been acting up these past two days? It’s better to let Ethan help."
Raina sat without saying a word. Ethan Lancaster could vaguely sense that something was off. "Does Raina have an older sister? Or is she younger?"
"A younger sister," Zoe Scott replied.
"She has trouble with her legs?"
"Yes, so we’ll have to trouble you..."
At that moment, Raina cut Zoe Scott off. "Mom, don’t we have a driver? He’s the one who usually carries her in and out of the car when she goes out."
"But Ethan is here, isn’t he? She’s his sister-in-law now..."
Raina knew Mia’s temperament all too well and knew exactly what she was plotting. Ethan Lancaster sat on the sidelines, watching the drama unfold, his gaze sharper than anyone’s. "You want me to carry her? I’m not sure that’s appropriate."
"There’s nothing inappropriate about it. We’re all family."
Ethan Lancaster draped his arm over the back of Raina’s chair, leaning closer to her. "As long as Raina agrees, I’ll agree."
"I don’t agree," Raina replied unequivocally.
"Raina!" Zoe Scott’s voice dripped with displeasure. "Don’t be so unreasonable."
Raina repeated herself. "I just don’t agree."
"Listen to yourself!" Zoe Scott’s voice suddenly rose, her expression changing completely. The slight smirk on Ethan Lancaster’s lips gradually faded. In Zoe Scott’s eyes, Raina was like an outsider who could be berated at will, and she was doing it right in front of him, giving Raina her foulest look.
Raina’s eyelids drooped slightly. Ethan Lancaster had seen her when she was baring her claws, and he had seen her when she was cunning and duplicitous, but he had never seen her like this.
She looked so pitiful, as lonely as an abandoned child.
"I came here to eat, not to provide free labor," Ethan Lancaster said, pulling his chair in closer. He had no intention of getting up.
Ronan Reddington shot Zoe Scott a look. "I’ll go carry Mia down."
Zoe Scott stood to the side, unable to say anything more. Raina wished she could leave right then and there. She took a deep breath and fixed her gaze on the staircase.
A moment later, Ronan Reddington came downstairs, carrying Mia.
Though she was paralyzed, she clearly didn’t skimp on herself; she bought every piece of clothing and jewelry she wanted. Ethan Lancaster glanced at what Mia was wearing—all the latest from top luxury brands. She had on exquisite makeup, and from the moment her eyes landed on Ethan, they never left him.
Ronan Reddington placed her in a chair, and Zoe Scott quickly set a bowl, plate, and chopsticks by her hand. "Time to eat."
A knot of anxiety tightened in Raina’s chest. She knew Mia wouldn’t let her off easy—she was definitely going to cause a scene.
