Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 50: To the Bitter End

Raina Reddington was at a loss for words. She had finally managed to finish the plate of salmon Ethan Lancaster had served her. "I’m full. Let’s go home."

Ethan reached out again. Just as his fingers touched Raina’s chin, she slapped his hand away.

"Such a temper."

"I want to go home."

With a smirk, Ethan showed no intention of getting up. "I haven’t eaten yet."

He picked up his chopsticks, then reached out with his free hand to wipe her eyes. She instinctively flinched away.

"Let me wipe your tears."

"I’m not crying."

"Is that so?" Ethan leaned forward, peering into the still pools of her eyes. "Good. Raina, let’s see if he ever dares to try anything funny with you again."

"He never tried anything with me."

Her denials were useless. Besides, Ethan had already achieved his goal, so there was no point in wasting breath on a war of words.

"Just sit there and let your food settle. We’ll go home after I finish eating."

Raina felt as if she were sitting on pins and needles. The image of the young man from her memories seemed to grow increasingly faint, blurring until only a shadow remained.

Passion had subsided in the tea room. Hannah Lynch’s body was still trembling. Miles Hawthorne lay beside her; the effects of the drug had worn off, leaving him feeling utterly drained. His limbs were weak, but his mind, in stark contrast, was growing ever clearer.

Her expression shy, Hannah pulled a nearby jacket over herself as a makeshift cover. She then went to a cabinet, took out a blanket, and moved to cover Miles.

The man stirred, picking up his clothes from beside him and putting them on piece by piece.

"Miles, let’s get dinner before we head back. I’m hungry."

Miles acted as if he hadn’t heard her. He didn’t even go into the bathroom to shower. His steps were still unsteady, and beside him, Hannah was also scrambling to get dressed.

Ethan hadn’t eaten much. He picked up the remote and turned off the TV. "Let’s go."

Raina felt a wave of relief. As she pushed herself up, she realized her legs had gone numb. Ethan took her hand, but she immediately snatched it back.

The two of them walked outside, and Ethan pulled the door shut behind them. Raina heard a noise from nearby. She looked up and saw Miles Hawthorne.

Hannah Lynch was wearing boots today, which were difficult to pull on, so she was still sitting on a low stool by the door. When Miles saw Raina, he was visibly startled; the panic and disbelief on his face were impossible to hide. A flash of pain crossed his eyes. Ethan stood pressed against Raina, draping an arm over her shoulder. "Fancy running into Mr. Hawthorne here. What a coincidence."

Hearing voices, Hannah poked her head out. After finally wrangling her boots on, she stood up. The moment her eyes met Raina’s, she looped her arm through Miles’s.

"You two are here, too."

"We are," Ethan said, waving at Hannah. "And just look at Miss Lynch. So delicate, so bashful... positively glowing. It’s obvious you’ve just been... sampling the morning dew."

His string of colorful descriptions made Hannah blush furiously.

As for Miles, his face was paler than a sheet of paper, almost translucent.

"Miles, let’s go," Miss Lynch said, her face flushed with bashfulness as she tugged Miles away.

The man brushed past Raina. Her face was a frozen mask, incapable of forming any other expression, yet she still forced the corners of her lips upward. ’A bitter smile... this must be what it feels like.’

Ethan patted Raina on the back. "Let’s go."

’Yes, time to go. The road ahead was long, and it seemed she would have to walk it strong, and alone.’

Miles Hawthorne got into his car, and Miss Lynch slid right into the passenger seat. Hannah’s heart was still racing. She nervously fastened her seatbelt. "Miles, I want to go to your place tonight. I don’t want to go home."

Miles rubbed his forehead. ’It seems I’m destined to walk this path to its bitter end. Since there are some things I can no longer protect, I have no choice but to follow my original plan.’

"Alright."

When Hannah heard Miles finally relent, she happily planted a kiss on his cheek.

Back at The Verdant Garden, Raina showered and got into bed. Ethan turned on the TV, the volume blaring. Raina’s temples throbbed. Finally, unable to take it anymore, she threw back the covers and sat up.

Ethan, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, turned to look at her. "What is it?"

"Aren’t you going to sleep?"

"I am. I’ll just watch a little TV first." Seeing her livid expression, Ethan chuckled. "You’re always so fiery. Is it menopause already?"

The sound of a ringing phone cut through the blare of the TV. After looking around for a moment, Ethan’s gaze landed on the nightstand.

Raina shot up and lunged for it, but the man’s reflexes were faster. With the advantage of his long arms and legs, he snatched the phone a split second before she could.

Ethan glanced at the caller ID, and his expression shifted. He turned off the television before answering the call.

Raina watched him sit back down on the edge of the bed and take the call right in front of her.

"Just got back from dinner."

"What about you? Have you eaten? What did you have?"

’He’s being so gentle,’ Raina thought. ’Who else could make him speak in such a tone besides Miranda Cameron? He has absolutely no regard for my feelings. He’s desperate to extinguish the tiniest spark between me and Miles, even though we’ve done nothing, but when it comes to himself?’

’Suave and dashing? Bullshit!’

’To put it bluntly, he’s just a philanderer.’

"I miss you. A day without you feels like an eternity. Really."

Raina felt nauseous just listening. Ethan continued patiently into the phone, "Of course, I’ll go with you. I’ll rearrange my schedule tomorrow, spend the afternoon with you, and then take you to dinner, how does that sound?"

"You’re all I see, all I think about. Really..."

The cold sneer on Raina’s lips deepened. She quietly rose, scooted forward slightly, and snatched the phone from Ethan’s hand.

He hadn’t expected that and was caught completely off guard. His palm was still cupped to his ear as he watched Raina press the phone to her own cheek.

"Don’t you know how to pick a better time to call? We were already in bed. I never thought you’d be so shameless. I figured you’d at least know how to be discreet, but I guess I overestimated you."

There was no response from the other end of the line, but it was clear they were still listening.

Raina’s voice grew even sharper. She pressed the phone back to Ethan’s ear. "You were crying out so happily just a moment ago. Why so quiet now?"

Ethan pointed at himself. "What was I supposedly crying out?"

"Just the usual things between a husband and wife. Don’t tell me the great Fourth Master is shy? Her call came at just the right time to douse your fire, didn’t it? If you’re still not satisfied, you can always go find her for another round..."

Instead of anger, Ethan broke into a smile. "Raina, do you have any idea who you’re talking to?"

"Oh, does your heart ache for her?"

"It does. It hurts so, so much," Ethan said, rubbing his own chest. "Please, continue."

A look of confusion crossed Raina’s face. Only then did she glance at the caller ID. The screen displayed two words: "The Empress Dowager."

The phone suddenly felt scalding hot, and she dropped it onto the bed.

It was a call from Jessica Jacobs.