Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 100: Disgusted by Her Touch

"Impossible? Do I have to slap photos in your face before you’ll admit it?" Each breath felt as if it was being painfully sucked from Ethan Lancaster’s lungs. Just as he felt completely breathless, a sharp pain flared in his chest, like a man deprived of oxygen in his death throes.

"I really didn’t do it. I could never harm Dad like that."

But Ethan Lancaster couldn’t hear a single word she was saying. All he knew was that his father had collapsed, and the best-case scenario was that he would be in a vegetative state.

Ethan Lancaster’s eyes were bloodshot. "It’s because you wanted to help Miles Hawthorne achieve his goal! Who knows what he promised you in return? Now that the Lynch Family has fallen, tossing someone like Hannah Lynch aside is nothing to you, is it?"

Raina Reddington’s face alternated between pale and ashen. Trust was out of the question; from the very beginning, this man had been convinced she was having an affair with Miles Hawthorne.

"That time in the Lynch family’s study, you were backed into a corner, but you still refused to hand over what was stolen from Frederick Lynch. And before Miles Hawthorne’s special assistant died, did you really not know how many pairs of eyes were watching you? You knew, but you helped him anyway."

Raina tried to explain again. "That was because it didn’t involve the Lancaster family, and it didn’t involve you. Otherwise, I never would have helped."

Under normal circumstances, those words would have moved Ethan Lancaster beyond measure.

"If my dad really had that evidence, would he have just casually tucked it into a book you gave him? The book was barely in the study before the investigation team showed up. Are you going to claim that what was inside didn’t come in with you?"

Raina was starting to piece things together. ’When I hunted down those two sets of antique books, I flipped through them. There was absolutely nothing tucked inside.’

She remembered leaving The Triple Archway District, how Miles Hawthorne had inexplicably gotten into her car and said a few strange things. She had been on the phone with Ethan Lancaster at the time. ’He must have used that opportunity to slip it inside the book.’

"I saw Miles Hawthorne yesterday, but I never imagined he would do something like this."

Ethan Lancaster laughed, his anger boiling over. "You never imagined it, or did you just let it happen? Or maybe, you were in on it together."

"Think whatever you want." Raina didn’t want to argue anymore. She turned to go upstairs, but Ethan Lancaster grabbed her and pulled her back. "Miles Hawthorne... I won’t let him get away with this."

"And what about me?" Raina met Ethan Lancaster’s gaze, only to find his deep, ink-black eyes completely clouded by hatred. "In your eyes, I’m already one of the masterminds. Will you spare me?"

Her question struck a blow to Ethan Lancaster’s heart. He ground the two words between his teeth for a moment before forcing them out. "I won’t."

The tip of Raina’s nose stung, and her eyes burned. "I’m genuinely curious. How are you going to deal with me?"

"Have I not been good enough to you all this time?"

’More than good enough.’

So good that Raina had almost filed away all her thorns. ’Looking back, I’m glad I kept one or two hidden.’ She had begun to revel in his kindness and didn’t want it to be so easily destroyed. "Ethan Lancaster, can’t you just trust me this one time?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Is there a difference?" Ethan Lancaster finally delivered his cruelest blow. "Whether you planted it yourself or someone else used you to plant it—what’s the difference? Even if it was the latter, it was you who gave him the chance to strike when we were vulnerable. The Lancaster family is now fish on a chopping block. My dad was cautious and meticulous his entire life, guarding against every threat. Why on earth didn’t he guard against you?"

Whatever Ethan Lancaster was about to say next was cut off by his ringing phone. The screen showed a call from Zion Lancaster. His eye twitched. He didn’t want to answer, but his finger swiped across the screen anyway.

"Sis."

"Ethan, Dad’s condition has gotten worse..."

Raina’s heart leaped into her throat. Ethan Lancaster’s face was etched with exhaustion, but he managed to hold himself together. "Don’t panic. I’m on my way."

He hung up. When he looked at Raina again, his eyes were devoid of any emotion save for chilling coldness and indifference.

Ethan Lancaster strode quickly toward the door. Raina moved to follow, but before she could even take a step, the sound of a door slamming echoed through the house.

SLAM—

A door in the house had been closed, but it felt as if the door to Ethan Lancaster’s heart had been slammed shut along with it.

Having already taken leave from the hospital, Raina waited at home for news, but by evening, Ethan Lancaster still hadn’t come back.

A maid glanced at Raina, who was staring blankly in the living room. "Young Madam, should I prepare dinner?"

"Go ahead and prepare it. He definitely won’t eat a proper meal while he’s out."

"Yes."

Raina curled her legs up on the sofa, turned on the television, and watched the news on a loop.

Miles Hawthorne’s counterattack had been swift and fierce. Even a family as deeply rooted as the Sterling Family had been torn out just like that. He knew that if his one strike failed, all his efforts would be in vain, and he would face a brutal, miserable end.

Since Samuel Hawthorne’s case was being investigated, Miles’s only choice was to make an official, public accusation.

Raina was utterly exhausted. She closed her eyes in a stupor and must have dozed off, because it felt like no time had passed before she heard a voice. "Young Madam? Young Madam?"

Raina thought Ethan Lancaster had returned and quickly looked up, but there was no one in the vast living room except for her and the maid.

"It’s time for dinner."

"Okay."

Raina ate half a small bowl of rice, then told the maid to leave the dishes on the table. "When Fourth Master gets back, don’t forget to heat this up for him."

"Yes."

Lying in bed, she couldn’t fall asleep. She turned off the lights. The other half of the bed was empty, and the sheets were cold to the touch where she reached out.

Late into the night, Raina heard the front door open. Though the room was pitch black, she quickly squeezed her eyes shut.

The man dragged his exhausted body inside without turning on the lights. Raina held her breath. ’In the past, no matter how late he returned, he would always tease me a little before heading off to shower. This time, however, it’s as if I don’t even exist in his eyes.’

Ethan Lancaster grabbed a change of clothes and headed for the bathroom. When Raina heard the sound of water running, she pulled the blanket tighter and peeked out toward the bathroom door.

He turned on the shower, and hot water sprayed onto his face. The sudden, suffocating sensation made his vision go black. Ethan Lancaster swayed, and, unable to keep his balance, he collapsed to the floor.

Raina heard the noise from inside and jumped in fright. Without a second thought, she threw back the covers and pushed open the bathroom door.

Ethan Lancaster was slumped on the floor, leaning against the jacuzzi. He had one arm braced on the edge, trying to push himself up, but he clearly lacked the strength.

He had barely eaten or had a drop to drink since the previous night; his body was completely spent.

Raina stepped through the puddles on the floor, bent down, and took his arm to help him. Ethan Lancaster was dazed, his mind blank for a moment. "Raina?"

"I’m here."

But the sound of her voice was like a splash of cold water, shocking Ethan Lancaster back to his senses.

He recoiled from her touch, disgusted by it. With all his strength, Ethan Lancaster flung her arm away. The shove sent Raina stumbling back. The floor was already slippery, and caught off guard, she fell backward, her back slamming hard against the wall.

"Get away!"