Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 34: Mr. Lancaster’s First Time

Ethan Lancaster’s face was calm, but his stomach was churning. Hearing that name made his blood boil.

Raina Reddington never expected her grandmother to pull a stunt like this. After all, her grandma was an incredibly shrewd woman and usually brilliant at handling things. Unless...

’She’s doing this on purpose.’

Ethan Lancaster looked at Raina Reddington. She wanted to smile but couldn’t manage it. Her grandmother walked straight to the wardrobe and pulled open the door.

With nowhere left to hide, Miles Hawthorne felt the awkwardness of the situation. As he started to leave, Grandma patted his arm. "You just came to visit me. What’s so shameful about that? If he’s going to get bent out of shape over a little thing like this, I can’t imagine how badly he must bully my Raina usually."

These words were clearly aimed at Ethan Lancaster. He had deliberately kept his visit from Raina Reddington to give her a surprise. ’Even if coincidences exist,’ he thought, ’they can’t possibly be *this* perfect, can they?’

Raina Reddington pressed her lips together. It was useless to say anything now.

’If I’d known this would happen, I shouldn’t have had him hide. This is a classic case of protesting too much.’

Miles Hawthorne didn’t know what to say, either. The atmosphere had turned as thick and cloying as Jell-O that had gone bad.

"Uh, I’ll go start dinner," Raina Reddington said, wanting to make a quick escape.

Miles shifted, ready to leave as well. "Grandma, I should get going."

"Don’t go. You’re already here," Grandma said, pulling him back. "Stay for dinner. I’ll have Raina make it."

’By what right?’ Ethan Lancaster fumed internally. ’That’s his wife. He’s never even tasted her cooking. Who the hell does Miles Hawthorne think he is?’

But this was his first visit. It wouldn’t do to act like an arrogant ass. He could only swallow his anger.

The house was owner-built, with a large, open-plan kitchen and dining area.

Grandma skillfully chopped meat on the cutting board while Raina Reddington helped by sorting vegetables beside her. Raina kept glancing over her shoulder.

Seth Sinclair and the driver had already left, using the GPS to find a hotel nearby. Ethan Lancaster and Miles Hawthorne were left sitting there, staring at each other in awkward silence.

The water came to a boil, and Grandma brought two cups and the kettle over to the table.

She opened the tea caddy, about to make them tea.

Seeing this, Ethan Lancaster thought, ’She’s treating me like a guest. I have to assert my position now.’ "Grandma, we’re family, there’s no need for formalities. I can get it myself."

Hearing this, Grandma found it reasonable. She nodded, her expression blank. "Fine. You can take care of our guest, then. Pour a cup of tea for Miles."

What?

Ethan Lancaster’s face froze. When had he ever performed such a task? He’d been served by others his entire life. Besides, this was Miles Hawthorne. He’d rather die.

’So stingy,’ Grandma thought, but she still picked up the kettle and poured each of them a cup of water.

"If you’re not going to help, at least don’t get in the way. Just sit."

Fuming, Ethan Lancaster picked up his cup to drink, only to scald his mouth. He remained seated, as composed as a statue, but his tongue was completely numb. "Why is Mr. Hawthorne here? You even know my grandmother?"

Miles Hawthorne scoffed. ’He’d been calling her Grandma back when Ethan Lancaster didn’t even know this place existed.’

"Yes, we know each other. We have a history."

"What exactly is your relationship?"

Some things can’t be hidden forever. Miles Hawthorne looked around the familiar room, a wave of complex emotions washing over him. "Classmates."

Raina Reddington, desperate to separate the two men, called out, "Can someone come help me with the fire?"

The house had a gas stove, but Grandma preferred cooking rice in a large iron pot over a wood fire. The rice and water were already in the pot, just waiting for the fire to be started.

Miles Hawthorne was just about to get up when Ethan Lancaster shot past him. "I’ll do it."

"Are you sure you can handle it?" Raina asked doubtfully. She really didn’t think Ethan Lancaster was cut out for this kind of chore.

"Don’t underestimate me." He sat on the low stool in front of the hearth. A lighter lay inside the firebox, and piles of straw and branches were stacked at his feet.

"Use the straw as kindling first. Light it, toss it in, and then add the branches on top."

Ethan Lancaster grabbed a handful of straw and flicked the lighter. The straw caught fire, and he quickly shoved it into the hearth. He fumbled to add branches on top, but the flame only dwindled until it finally went out.

"How’s it going? Did you get it?" Raina asked as she chopped vegetables.

"It’s lit. Almost there."

He grew anxious as he watched the pile of branches smoke without catching fire. He leaned his handsome face in and blew. A few embers flared, and it looked like there was hope.

He blew with all his might, again and again, until his eyes were nearly blinded by the smoke.

WHOOSH—

The fire in the hearth suddenly roared to life. A blast of heat hit his face, nearly scorching his hair.

’Fuck!’ Ethan Lancaster cursed under his breath, scrambling backward. He knocked over the low stool and fell right into the pile of branches behind him.

Raina heard the noise and rushed behind the hearth in a few quick steps to check on him. "Are you okay?"

He righted the stool and sat back down. "I’m fine. The fire’s going."

Miles Hawthorne had been sitting idly, since Grandma wouldn’t let him leave. He decided to get up and help. "Grandma, I can cook."

"What are you going to cook?"

"I’ll cook with whatever you have. I see beef and bean sprouts, so I can make some Poached Beef in Chili Oil. I can also make some Braised Pork Belly and a fish soup."

Hearing this, Grandma beamed and cleaned another pot. "We have a single-burner gas stove. You can use that for now."

"Alright."

Miles Hawthorne was an excellent cook. Worried about time and burner space, he found a seldom-used rice cooker to stew the meat in.

Ethan Lancaster’s sole purpose, it seemed, was to feed firewood into the hearth.

With the sizzle of stir-frying, the kitchen filled with an irresistible aroma. The spicy fragrance of the Poached Beef in Chili Oil quickly whetted everyone’s appetite. Seated on his low stool, Ethan Lancaster sneered. ’What’s so good about this? Can it possibly compare to my personal chef’s cooking? Don’t think that just because you add a lot of peppers you know how to cook. It’s so spicy, even a pig wouldn’t eat it!’

He snapped a branch and shoved it forcefully into the fire. Seeing the flames leap up, Raina Reddington exclaimed, "Stop feeding it! Slow down, you’ll burn the rice."

By dinnertime, several dishes were already on the table. All the main courses had been prepared by Miles Hawthorne.

Ethan Lancaster felt awkward, but then he thought, ’This is my wife’s home. I have no reason to be the one feeling uncomfortable.’ He sat down at the table with the air of the man of the house.

There was no alcohol in the house, only cola, so Raina Reddington poured everyone a glass. Grandma picked up a pair of chopsticks and handed them to Miles Hawthorne, ignoring Ethan Lancaster completely. He had no choice but to get his own.

’Of all the dishes on the table,’ he thought, ’if I recall correctly, Raina only stir-fried some greens. And I was the one who lit the fire for it. Since the heat wasn’t controlled well, the leaves are all burnt.’

Grandma kept placing food in Miles Hawthorne’s bowl. "Eat up. You cooked all this. Eat."

She disliked the Lancaster Family, and by extension, she disliked Ethan Lancaster. ’Fine,’ he thought, full of pride, ’I’ll just eat the dish Raina made.’

Ethan Lancaster picked up a few strands of the greens and put them in his mouth. The burnt taste was overwhelming—acrid and disgusting. ’Looks like Raina is only suited for wielding a scalpel,’ he thought. ’She’ll never be a gentle homemaker.’

"Raina, you’re usually so busy with work, do you still have to cook when you get home?" Grandma asked out of the blue.

Hearing this, Ethan Lancaster naturally seized the opportunity to make a good impression. "Grandma, we have servants at home. Raina doesn’t just not have to cook, she doesn’t even have to wash a single dish."

Grandma nodded, seemingly very satisfied. Her chopsticks reached for the plate of greens, and she placed a large helping into Ethan Lancaster’s bowl. "In that case, you really should eat more. This is a token of Raina’s affection. Don’t let it go to waste."