Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 39: Flaunting Their Affection

The driver was hired by Ethan Lancaster, so when it came down to it, he listened to him.

After bumping along a rugged path, the road ahead cleared up. But the driver didn’t dare speed up, continuing to crawl forward at a snail’s pace.

Raina Reddington endured it as long as she could, but finally, her patience ran out. "Can’t you drive any faster?"

The driver didn’t answer, cautiously glancing at Ethan Lancaster in the rearview mirror.

The man settled back into a comfortable position. His white shirt accentuated the elegant curve of his neck, making it look all the more alluring. He took out his phone, seemingly handling some business. Raina Reddington saw that their car was about to enter a small town.

"Stop up ahead."

Ethan Lancaster lifted his gaze and saw a humble-looking restaurant. "Seth, let’s eat before we go."

"Yes."

The car pulled up to the restaurant’s entrance. The moment it stopped, Raina Reddington pushed the door open and quickly got out.

There were cars coming and going here; it shouldn’t be hard to hail a cab to the hospital. The car that had been following them pulled up as well. Once it was properly parked, she went up and tried to open its door.

The door was like it had been welded shut; it wouldn’t budge. Standing a short distance away, Ethan Lancaster waved at her. "Time to eat."

"Have them unlock the door."

He walked a few steps closer and saw Raina Reddington pressing against the window, trying to see what was going on inside. Ethan Lancaster leaned against the car next to her, tapping his fingers lightly on the glass. "And what if I do have them unlock it for you?"

"Fourth Master, I won’t trouble you. I’ll call a car myself and take him to the hospital. That should be fine, right?"

"Oh? Looking half-dead like that, what driver would dare to pick him up?"

Raina Reddington thought about it and realized he was right. Miles Hawthorne looked like he was on death’s door; he’d be lucky not to scare someone to death. "Then I’ll call an ambulance."

"The road gets rough again up ahead. Are you sure calling an ambulance will be any faster than your current situation?"

"I can’t worry about all that! All I know is that you’re deliberately wasting time!"

Ethan Lancaster crossed his arms, staring at Raina Reddington with a half-smile. "Let me give you a suggestion. See that pharmacy across the street? You can give him some basic first aid. I’ll allow it."

"Let me see how he is now."

Ethan Lancaster knocked on the window, and the driver unlocked the door. Raina Reddington yanked it open and saw that Miles Hawthorne was awake.

"Are you okay?"

Miles Hawthorne managed a weak nod, but he was still lying on the seat, unable to get up. Raina Reddington went to the pharmacy and bought antiseptic and gauze to clean his wounds. She bent down, squeezed into the back seat, and crouched awkwardly as she started treating Miles Hawthorne’s injuries.

A man’s pained grunt reached Raina Reddington’s ears. Her hands paused. "What is it?"

Miles Hawthorne’s gaze shifted to behind her. Raina Reddington turned her head and saw Ethan Lancaster had gotten into the car. There was no extra space, so he was now sitting right on Miles Hawthorne’s injured leg.

"Ethan Lancaster, you—"

"You just keep going. Don’t mind me," Ethan Lancaster said, raising his hand and patting Miles Hawthorne on the knee.

Another grunt escaped him, but he forced himself not to cry out. Raina Reddington’s expression soured. "Can you wait outside for me?"

Ethan Lancaster acted as if he hadn’t heard her. He leaned forward, making sure Miles Hawthorne could see his face clearly before he spoke slowly. "So Mr. Hawthorne and Raina actually have a history. What a shame, though..."

Ethan Lancaster picked up a torn piece of a photograph and held it in front of Miles Hawthorne. "Your last memory, is it? I tore it up for you. You should be a good boy and stay with your Miss Lynch. Don’t go coveting people who aren’t yours."

Miles Hawthorne had been in a daze. Even though he’d seen Ethan Lancaster tear the photo, it was only now sinking in. He reached out his hand frantically. "Give it back!"

"Fine, here you go." Ethan Lancaster handed him a few more scraps. Raina Reddington hastily finished bandaging the wound, only to see Miles Hawthorne struggling to sit up. The freshly wrapped gauze was already turning red again.

"Can you stop moving? You’re going to get yourself killed, you know that?"

"The photo? Give it back to me."

Ethan Lancaster stood up, backed out of the car, and then reached in to pull Raina Reddington out as well. "It was torn to shreds long ago. You want it? Go ahead and pick up the pieces yourself."

Miles Hawthorne glared at him with hatred, but he was too weak to get up. Ethan Lancaster wrapped an arm around Raina Reddington and, catching her off guard, planted a kiss on her cheek.

Through all these years, the one thing Miles Hawthorne had mastered was endurance. Although the sight stung his eyes, he didn’t lose control. He lay back on the seat and stopped moving.

Ethan Lancaster smiled, cupping Raina Reddington’s chin and turning her face toward him.

She struggled in his arms. "What are you doing—"

The rest of her words were smothered by Ethan Lancaster’s mouth. He braced one hand on the roof of the car and wrapped his other arm around Raina Reddington, giving her no chance to escape. The two of them put on a passionate show right in front of Miles Hawthorne. Raina’s right hand was the only thing she could move, and she swung her palm, slapping it hard against his chest several times.

"Let her go!" Miles Hawthorne propped himself up on his elbows, trying to get up. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to, Ethan Lancaster tightened his arm, trapping Raina Reddington firmly against his chest.

A THUD came from inside the car. Miles Hawthorne had tried to sit up but fell back, his strength failing him.

When Ethan Lancaster had kissed her to his satisfaction, he finally lifted his head. Raina Reddington’s lips were red and swollen, and the corner of her mouth throbbed with a faint pain. He leaned his weight against her. "What’s with all the excitement? We’re all adults. Are you telling me you and Miss Lynch have never done something like this?"

"Didn’t you want to eat?" Raina Reddington lightly wiped the corner of her mouth. "Let’s not waste any more time. Can we just eat and get going?"

"Fine. Whatever you say." Ethan Lancaster slammed the car door shut and walked away with his arm around Raina Reddington. Unused to it, she tried to shrug off his hand, but Ethan Lancaster gripped her shoulder and refused to let go.

Inside the restaurant, the owner brought over a menu for them to order.

Raina Reddington randomly pointed to a few dishes. "Please bring them out as quickly as possible."

"What did you order?" Ethan Lancaster snatched the menu and glanced at it. "Not refined at all. I’ll do it."

He pointed out a few items. The owner stood beside them, nodding and taking notes. "The free-range chicken is killed and prepared to order. Are you able to wait?"

"No rush, no rush," Ethan Lancaster said, also pointing to a shredded eel dish. "We’ll have this too."

"Everything you’ve ordered is prepared fresh after you order."

"I know. Isn’t that what it says on the menu?" After saying this, Ethan Lancaster glanced at Seth Sinclair. "Want some wine?"

Seth Sinclair knew Raina Reddington was burning with anxiety, wishing they would leave immediately. However, he had just seen Miles Hawthorne, and the man wasn’t going to die anytime soon. When his eyes met Raina’s, he quickly looked away. "Sure."

"Owner, bring us some wine."

"Right away!" 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The meal dragged on like this. In the middle of it, Raina Reddington tried to call an ambulance, but Ethan Lancaster had already taken her phone.

As they were paying the bill, the driver rushed over. "Fourth Master, that guy passed out."

"What happened?"

The driver stammered, "I-I’m not sure. He probably fainted from the pain."