Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 66: Humiliation

Miles Hawthorne was still leaning against the staircase. When he saw them approach, he straightened up and took a couple of steps forward, his voice tight with tension. "What’s going on?"

"Mr. Hawthorne, Miss Lynch isn’t feeling well. Mrs. Lancaster is a doctor, so we’re just asking her to take a look," the butler explained. He glanced back at where Raina had been sitting. ’Thankfully, Ethan Lancaster isn’t back yet.’

"What’s wrong with Hannah?"

The maid’s grip was tight. Raina struggled but couldn’t break free. "Let go. I can walk on my own."

Felix Finch, who was greeting guests nearby, paled when he saw what was happening. Seeing Miles Hawthorne about to follow them, he quickly called out, "Hawthorne, someone’s looking for you."

Seizing the opportunity, the butler quickly led Raina upstairs.

Felix Finch reached Miles Hawthorne’s side in a few quick strides. "Hawthorne, I think something’s about to go down."

"What is it? Is the item in place?"

Felix Finch leaned in and whispered something in his ear. The color drained from Miles Hawthorne’s face, and a storm brewed in his eyes. "Why did you drag her into this?"

"I had no choice. I didn’t expect..."

Miles Hawthorne didn’t wait for him to finish, bolting up the stairs.

He saw Raina get shoved into the study, the door about to be slammed shut. Miles Hawthorne rushed over and blocked it with his body. "Wait."

Hannah Lynch’s voice came from inside. "Miles..."

Miles Hawthorne gave the door a hard shove. The butler couldn’t stop him and had to let him in.

Forcibly schooling his expression, Miles walked over to Hannah Lynch. "What’s wrong? Where does it hurt?"

"My... my stomach hurts." Hannah Lynch pointed at Raina. "I don’t know what she put in my milk, but my stomach is killing me."

Raina couldn’t help but scoff. "Miss Lynch, when did I ever put anything in your milk? And for that matter, when have I been alone with you at all today?"p>

"Someone saw you. Don’t even think about denying it."

"Who?"

"It was me." The maid who had brought Raina upstairs stepped forward. "I saw it."

"That’s ridiculous. If you saw something, why didn’t you stop me then?"

"Enough nonsense! Search her bag. The proof that she was trying to harm me must be in there." Hannah grabbed Miles Hawthorne’s hand and held it tight.

The maid lunged for Raina’s purse, but Raina clutched it behind her back. "So this is how the Lynch Family treats its guests."

"Mrs. Lancaster, please cooperate," Frederick Lynch said, his tone just as aggressive.

"You know I’m Mrs. Lancaster. Aren’t you afraid this will escalate into a situation you can’t contain?"

Mr. Sheffield, the most senior person present, was sitting to the side. He had deep ties to the Lancaster Family and felt he was in a position to speak. "There’s a reason for all this. I’ll be sure to explain everything to Ethan later."

"The most important thing right now is getting Hannah to a hospital," Miles Hawthorne said, trying to pull her to her feet. "I’ll arrange for a driver."

"That won’t be necessary." Frederick Lynch’s gaze remained fixed on Raina. "I’ve already sent for a doctor. The house is full of guests downstairs; it’s best not to make a scene."

The maid tugged at Raina’s arm, but she refused to yield. Miles Hawthorne watched, a fire building in his chest, but he knew that intervening now would only make the situation more difficult.

The Lynch Family’s maid was powerfully built, and Raina was no match for her. She couldn’t hold on as the purse was ripped from her grasp, falling to the floor with a THUD.

The clutch burst open, spilling its contents across the floor.

But aside from lipstick, a makeup compact, and other cosmetics, the letter Frederick Lynch was looking for was nowhere to be found.

Miles Hawthorne shot Raina an inconspicuous glance, his heart a tangle of complex emotions. The worry in his eyes was almost impossible to hide.

When Ethan Lancaster finished his call and returned to his seat, he didn’t see Raina. Someone next to him leaned over and whispered, "Miss Lynch wasn’t feeling well, and Mrs. Lancaster was asked to go upstairs."

Ethan Lancaster shoved his chair back. ’To hell with that. If she’s sick, she should go to the hospital. Who knows what crooked scheme they’re plotting.’

He strode toward the staircase of the Lynch residence, but a security guard, clearly under orders, blocked his path. "My apologies, Fourth Master, but you can’t go up."

Without a word, Ethan Lancaster grabbed him by the collar and hurled him off the steps. The guard staggered, lost his balance, and crashed into a nearby potted plant.

They didn’t dare to use real force against him, so they could only trail behind him as he reached the second floor.

Inside the study, the tension was palpable. Hannah’s gaze swept over Raina’s body. "Dad, since it’s not in her purse, it must be hidden on her. Search her."

"Who dares!" Raina snapped. "I am a guest of the Lynch Family today. It’s bad enough that you’re treating me this way, but you dare to search me?"

’Even with the status of Mrs. Lancaster, they’re still treating me like this. If I were just Raina Reddington, would they skin me alive?’

"And why wouldn’t we dare?" Hannah slammed a fist on the nearby sofa. "You tried to harm my unborn child. We’re just looking for the evidence."

Frederick Lynch seemed to be weighing his options, but the importance of that letter crushed the last of his reservations. He turned his back. "Search her."

Raina instinctively crossed her arms over her chest. "Don’t you dare."

Miles Hawthorne was panicking, but he forced his tone to remain level. "And what if you search her and still find nothing?"

Mr. Sheffield and Frederick Lynch exchanged a look. Mr. Sheffield then stepped forward. "I’ll explain everything to the Lancaster Family. And I will personally go to their home and offer my humblest apologies."

’Hah. A bunch of crooks. What face do they even have to lose?’

Miles Hawthorne started to speak, but Hannah Lynch squeezed his hand tightly.

The maid lunged forward and grabbed Raina’s collar. The fire in Miles Hawthorne’s chest erupted, and he could barely restrain himself. Raina retreated until her back hit the door. "Get away! Don’t touch me!"

Ethan Lancaster’s anxious voice echoed down the hallway. "Raina! Raina!"

She spun around to open the door. "Ethan Lancaster! Help me!"p>

The maid shoved her aside, blocking the door with her own body. Unsteady in her high heels, Raina lost her balance and collapsed to the floor.

"Raina!" Following her voice, Ethan Lancaster reached the study. He tried the handle. The door was locked from the inside. "Open the door!"

He took two steps back and kicked the door. Mr. Sheffield grew anxious, practically wanting to do it himself. "Hurry up! Don’t just stand there!" he urged the maid.

The maid advanced on Raina again, grabbing at her clothes. With everyone watching, Raina could only struggle pathetically. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Miles Hawthorne’s fists clenched, a vein throbbing in his temple. The study door was thick and solid; it would be hard to kick down. Ethan Lancaster glanced around, then hurried away.

The maid was yanking on Raina’s collar, but Raina held it shut with a death grip. This stalemate wasn’t working, so the maid reached out and viciously pinched her on the neck.

Tears of pain welled in Raina’s eyes, but she refused to loosen her grip.

Suddenly, Mrs. Lynch’s scream echoed from outside the study. "Frederick, help me—"

"Fourth Master, we can talk about this! Don’t set a fire! Sto-stop—"