Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 189: Follow Her, Watch Her Date

After Ethan Lancaster finished his business, he had the driver take him back to The Verdant Garden.

The villa had been completely vacant for three years. Aside from the garden, which had been replanted, the house felt utterly lifeless the moment he pushed the door open.

Seth Sinclair stood hesitantly at the door. "Fourth Master, I can have someone come over and clean."

Ethan Lancaster said nothing. Standing in the entryway, he opened the shoe cabinet. Raina Reddington’s slippers were still inside. He hadn’t dared to set foot in this place for three years. He turned to look at Seth Sinclair. "You can head back for now."

"Fourth Master, this place isn’t livable."

Ethan Lancaster closed the door. He walked to the dining table and rested his hand on its surface. It came away covered in dust.

’He could almost see Raina hunched over the table, writing her suicide note. Her body had been pushed to its absolute limit, yet when she picked up the pen, she didn’t know what to write.’

’But she couldn’t bear to leave without a single word; after all, there was still her grandmother in this world, someone she couldn’t let go of.’

Ethan Lancaster walked to the foot of the stairs. As he looked up, it was as if he could see Raina’s figure running around. He couldn’t imagine how she had endured it all by herself, from discovering her illness to being driven to a dead end in just a few short months. ’Who isn’t afraid of death?’ She had been thrown into this cage, left to wait for death all alone. Every time Ethan thought about it, his heart began to bleed, and the pain was unstoppable.

Nothing inside The Verdant Garden had changed; it was still exactly as it was when Raina had left. Ethan Lancaster walked into the master bedroom. The air was thick with a damp, musty smell. He didn’t open a window, simply lying down on the bed.

’That feast she made for him back then... it must have been a farewell meal, right? That’s why her words held no resentment, and her expression was one of complete release.’ Ethan Lancaster raised an arm and pressed it over his eyes. Only after losing her did he realize that Raina had come to occupy his entire heart.

In the three years since she’d been gone, it was as if she had dug out his heart and taken it with her.

「The Regalia Palace.」

Gwen Sharp had booked a private room for herself and ordered the best wine available. A row of glasses, all filled to the brim, was lined up on the table.

Kneeling before her was a woman, repeatedly slapping her own face.

The floor manager glanced in, said nothing, then turned and left.

Gwen Sharp was drunk, her words slurring. "I never did anything to you. Why would you do this to me? Why? Does hitting me feel good? Is that it?"

Ingrid Quinn’s cheeks were badly swollen, but she didn’t dare make a peep. She knew that Gwen Sharp had successfully latched onto someone powerful and was now enjoying his exclusive favor. Ingrid herself had been there the day Ethan Lancaster took Gwen away right in front of Mrs. Lancaster.

"Hit yourself. Harder."

Ingrid Quinn’s face was numb, as were her hands. The door to the private room was wide open, but the passing guests were unfazed; no one cared what was really going on inside.

Cameron Fairchild was walking past when he glanced up and saw the scene inside. He strode right in. "Quite a show of authority."

Gwen Sharp started at the sound of his voice and scrambled up from the sofa. Cameron Fairchild walked over to Ingrid Quinn and nudged her in the side with his foot. "Get out. And close the door behind you."

Ingrid Quinn nodded profusely. "Thank you, Mr. Fairchild."

She scrambled to her feet and hurried away. Only after the door clicked shut did Cameron Fairchild speak. "So you’ve got the time and energy to be in here teaching someone a lesson. You really hold a grudge, don’t you? To remember something from three or four years ago so clearly."

Gwen Sharp’s breath was heavy with the smell of alcohol. "You must know, Mr. Fairchild. Raina Reddington is back."

"But she’s denying it, isn’t she?"

"But we both know it’s her. That she’s Raina Reddington."

"So what?"

Gwen Sharp lacked his composure. "If Fourth Master finds out that her bone marrow was stolen, we’re all screwed."

"Since you’re aware of that, you should know what needs to be done."

Gwen Sharp looked at Cameron Fairchild, her expression hesitant. "You orchestrated this whole thing. You..."

"Shh." Cameron couldn’t be bothered to waste another glance on Gwen Sharp. "As long as Raina keeps quiet, that incident will never be dug up. You should be thinking hard about how to keep her mouth shut. You haven’t even been able to get near the Fourth Master for the last three years. If she’s really back, do you think you’ll still be able to so casually book a private room at The Regalia Palace?"

Having said his piece, the man turned to leave. "You and I have never been in the same boat. After all, my relationship with the Fourth Master is plain to see. If you lose this meal ticket, your life is going to get very uncomfortable."

Gwen Sharp slumped back down, her gaze sweeping over the mess on the table. She lived every day on pins and needles. ’How wonderful it would be if Raina had never come back.’

「The Zenith Maternity and Children’s Hospital.」

When Raina Reddington finished her shift and was about to head home, a male colleague who had been waiting by the information desk called out to her. "Dr. Ainsworth."

"Are you on duty today?"

"No," Jordan Zane said, walking over a bit sheepishly. "Could I possibly catch a ride with you? I’m heading to The Auspicious Star Plaza, and it’s a bit of a hassle to get there from here."

"Of course. You helped me assemble my bookshelf the other day, and I said I’d treat you to dinner. Let’s go."

"Oh, I couldn’t let you do that. I was just looking for a ride."

Raina smiled, pulling out her car keys. "No dinner, no ride. It’s up to you."

The two walked into the parking lot, laughing and chatting, completely oblivious to Ethan Lancaster’s car parked nearby.

As Raina pulled out of the lot, she said, "There are plenty of places to eat at The Auspicious Star Plaza. Look up somewhere good."

Ethan Lancaster’s car followed behind. Seth Sinclair felt the air in the car grow increasingly thin, and he didn’t dare glance back.

’Raina and this man obviously have a close relationship,’ Seth thought. ’She’s so cold to Ethan, but the moment she turns to someone else, her smile is radiant.’

’They look like a good match, too. They must have been deciding where to eat on their way over here.’

Ethan Lancaster followed them to The Auspicious Star Plaza and watched Raina and the man get out of the car together.

He reached for the door handle, but Seth Sinclair, after much hesitation, tried to stop him. "Fourth Master, perhaps it’s best if you don’t go."

But Ethan wasn’t in any mood to listen. He got out and strode after them. Seth’s head throbbed; he was terrified Ethan was about to make a scene in public.

Raina and Jordan Zane sat down in the restaurant. A waiter brought over the menus, and Raina motioned for Jordan to order.

"Things like this should be left to the lady, especially when she’s as beautiful as you are."

They were colleagues and would be seeing a lot of each other, so Raina didn’t want to waste time on pleasantries. "Well, is there anything you don’t eat?"

"Don’t worry, I’m not a picky eater."

Ethan Lancaster walked into the restaurant to see Raina and Jordan Zane sitting face to face. She seemed to be asking what he wanted to eat, and the man was just staring at her, his gaze impossibly tender and affectionate.

There was a vase with a few small flowers on the table. Jordan Zane waved a hand in front of Raina. "Let me show you a magic trick."

"You know magic tricks?" Raina asked without looking up, continuing to scan the menu.

Jordan Zane plucked a flower from the vase and offered it to Raina. "A beautiful flower for a beautiful woman. A perfect match."

Ethan Lancaster watched this unfold, and only one phrase came to mind.

’A fresh flower stuck in cow dung.’