Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 44: Enraged

Raina ran back and pounded on the door twice. "Open up!"

"Raina?" Upon hearing the voice behind her, a chill shot up Raina’s spine.

Raina turned around. There was no fainting patient here, only Miles Hawthorne, soaking alone in the hot spring.

It was the kind of situation that became more terrifying the more you thought about it.

"What are you doing here?"

Miles Hawthorne rose from the hot spring. He wore nothing but a pair of swim trunks, his toned physique on full display. Raina wasn’t in a much better state. She was drenched, her swimsuit clinging to her body, barely concealing her long legs or the curve of her bust. Worst of all, they were completely alone.

Miles picked up a nearby bathrobe and draped it over his shoulders. "I come here a few times a month."

"Is Miss Lynch here?"

"No."

’So the plan wasn’t for Hannah Lynch to catch us in the act.’

Then another thought struck Raina, and her heart sank. ’I’m screwed. Ethan must be here too.’

She glanced around. There was only one exit. Trapped here with Miles, both of them looking as they did... no amount of explaining could clear this up.

’If what happened at Hemlock Village could be passed off as a coincidence, what about this?’

’If Ethan saw this, he’d skin them both alive.’

Raina frantically called Joanna Lloyd, but the line was busy. It seemed she was still on the phone.

"What’s wrong?"

"Can’t you see? Someone will be here any minute! I’m trying so hard to distance myself from you, but I just can’t seem to. Why?" Raina was frantic. It was impossible to avoid these things; she couldn’t possibly be on guard against people’s schemes twenty-four-seven.

Miles took out his phone and called the hotel manager.

Ethan Lancaster followed the directions from the photo. Several of the hot spring pools were connected, and he followed the path forward, deeper into the trees.

The attendant from earlier saw him approaching. She tiptoed to the door and silently unlocked it from the outside.

As Ethan walked over, the attendant stepped forward to intercept him. "I’m sorry, sir, but this pool is not open to the public."

"What do you mean, not open to the public?"

"This... This area has been reserved."

Ethan’s gaze followed hers to the closed door. "Who dares use the word ’reserved’ in front of me? I’d like to see who it is."

Raina, who was standing inside, had already heard Ethan’s voice from such a close distance.

The attendant seemed to want to block Ethan, but he simply pushed her aside. He strode to the door and placed his hand on the handle.

Raina’s hands by her sides clenched into fists. She watched as the door was pulled open a crack. After a moment of what seemed like hesitation, Ethan yanked it open with all his strength.

A wave of heat rushed out from inside. Then, before he could react, a hand reached out and covered his eyes.

Raina rose onto her toes and pressed her lips to his. His body stiffened, and his hand shot out to grip her wrist.

Her lips trembled with nervousness. Ethan tried to pull her hand away, but Raina broke the kiss. "Can we talk about this when we get back?"

"Talk about what?" Ethan’s hot breath ghosted over the corner of her mouth. Her hand remained firmly over his eyes. "There are some things I need to explain to you, but I’m afraid I won’t explain them clearly. Can we please talk when we get back?"

Outside, the attendant had long since vanished without a trace.

The line of Ethan’s lips tightened. He ground his teeth and bit out a single word. "Fine."

Raina quickly grabbed his arm to turn him around. After taking two steps with her, Ethan suddenly shook her hand off. Her meager strength was no match for his. He spun around again and charged forward, his peripheral vision having already caught a glimpse of Miles Hawthorne sitting inside.

"Ethan!" Raina scrambled after him, but it was too late.

Miles stood up. Ethan rushed forward and punched him square in the face. Of course, Miles wouldn’t back down, but the edge of the pool was slick with water. As he swung back, his movement was too wide, and his foot slipped. He fell, dragging Ethan down with him.

Raina paced anxiously by the side of the pool. "Stop fighting, you two! Can’t you just talk this out?!"

The two men clearly weren’t listening. The wounds from Miles’s last car accident hadn’t even fully healed yet. He wiped the water from his face and sneered at Raina. "So this is the husband you picked? Are you blind? You said he’d believe you, but in the end, didn’t he refuse to even give you a moment to explain?"

Raina’s brow furrowed. She had never said anything like that to Miles. Ethan shot her a look, his eyes terrifyingly dark.

"See? That’s why I said there’s no point in explaining. Raina, what do you think you are in his eyes? At best, a free bed warmer. He’ll play with you when he’s happy, but when he’s not, you’re worth less than one of his flings on the side!"

Miles’s words were vicious, each one a merciless slap to Raina’s face.

Ethan lunged forward and punched him again. Miles pressed a hand to the corner of his mouth. Ethan jabbed a finger in his direction, then turned to leave.

Raina clutched her phone. Since things had blown up like this, there was nothing more to say. She hurried out, hearing the footsteps behind her growing closer and closer. Ethan was soaked to the skin and hadn’t even been wearing a jacket. His thin white shirt clung to his body, perfectly outlining his broad shoulders and narrow hips. His messy hair was plastered to his forehead. Right now, he was like a dangerous beast. He caught up to Raina in a few long strides and yanked her around to face him.

"You dare run again?"

Raina was already wet, and now that she was outdoors, the wind made her shiver uncontrollably. "Let go."

"You’ve got some nerve."

"I didn’t do anything."

"So what? Having your dress ripped and letting Miles Hawthorne help you was a coincidence? Me catching him hiding in Grandma’s room was a coincidence? You being with him in the bamboo forest was another coincidence? And now, the two of you, a lone man and woman, half-dressed and hiding in a place like this—you’re going to tell me this is also a coincidence, are you?" Ethan’s presence was overwhelming, his words practically ground out through clenched teeth.

Raina’s wrist ached from his grip. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t pull her hand free.

"It’s not a coincidence. Someone set this up."

"Then tell me, who set you up? And how did they get you to walk right into it?"

Raina’s lips parted, but her words felt feeble. Looking into the man’s almost bloodshot eyes, she felt there was no point in explaining.

"Ethan, I don’t meddle in your affairs. Didn’t you say we’re just husband and wife in name only? In that case, shouldn’t you stay out of my business, too? Why are you here interrogating me like this?"

Raina thought her tone was calm, but she never expected that this sentence would completely and utterly enrage Ethan.