Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 73: I’m a Man, There’s Nothing Wrong With Me
Ethan Lancaster felt like he was being framed. "Why do you always blame me for everything? I waited for you to get off work with the best of intentions, and what do I get? You’re not suspecting me and her again, are you...?"
"That’s not what I meant."
"I’ve been on my best behavior lately, coming straight home every day." Even as Ethan Lancaster said this, his mind was on something else.
Raina’s words did remind him of something. The way Minnie Hale had acted when she saw him was just too strange, as if he were some kind of monster.
The more he thought about it, the more he felt he’d seen her face before, but he just couldn’t place where.
On the way back, Cameron Fairchild called. Since Ethan Lancaster was bored, he started to chat with him.
"Instead of staying home on New Year’s Eve, you’re going out to party?"
"I’m not going..."
The moment Raina heard that, she knew it was that crowd of his asking him out again. She rested her cheek on her hand and looked at him. "Go ahead. You don’t have to mind me."
"You guys are just asking for a beating..."
Cameron Fairchild mocked him from the other end of the line. "So what if you got married? Weren’t you the one who said a marriage certificate isn’t worth shit and you’d still party whenever you wanted?"
"I just don’t feel like going out, okay? Enough of your crap." When Ethan Lancaster got stubborn, he was a force to be reckoned with. He hung up on him right then and there.
Raina suddenly remembered something and quickly grabbed Ethan Lancaster’s arm. "Don’t you have a license? Why are you driving? You’ll be in serious trouble if you get caught. Pull over, now!"
"It’ll be fine as long as you don’t report me."
Raina forced him to pull over to the side of the road and then pushed him out of the driver’s seat.
By the time they returned to the Lancaster residence, it was almost time for dinner. The round table was already laden with a sumptuous feast, and Jessica Jacobs was still busy in the kitchen.
Raina wanted to go help, but Jessica Jacobs quickly brought the last dish to the table.
The family all took their seats. Zion Lancaster had even made a rare appearance downstairs. The atmosphere at the table was relaxed. Ethan Lancaster cajoled Raina, saying that as the newest member of the family, she had to toast everyone.
After a few glasses of red wine, Raina was already feeling a bit tipsy.
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, Grandpa was the first to take out a few red envelopes. There was one for everyone, even for Jessica Jacobs and Zachary Lancaster.
Raina accepted it, stunned. She hadn’t expected to still be receiving red envelopes at her age. "Thank you, Grandpa."
"Raina, I wish you a successful year at work, and hurry up and give me a great-grandchild to hold."
Raina’s face grew even redder. The envelope felt heavy in her hand; it was obviously stuffed with cash.
Then, Zachary Lancaster and Jessica Jacobs each gave her one, followed by Zion Lancaster.
Raina grew anxious. ’It seems it’s not just the elders who give them out; the younger generation is expected to prepare them too.’ But she didn’t know about this custom! Raina quickly tugged on Ethan Lancaster’s sleeve.
’How embarrassing would it be when it’s my turn and I can’t produce any red envelopes? Seriously, Ethan. He didn’t even give me a heads-up.’
The man shot her a reassuring look, then grabbed a nearby coat and pulled out a thick stack of sealed red envelopes.
"Alright, here we go. These are from me, and these are from Raina." Ethan Lancaster had been particularly thoughtful, even preparing separate sets of envelopes for himself and for her. She had to admit, he had handled this perfectly. It was incredibly considerate.
"Oh, how thoughtful of you." Jessica Jacobs accepted the envelopes. "Thank you, son and daughter-in-law."
As she sat back down, Raina heard a faint *KLINK*. She saw a coin spinning on the round table, round and round, before it finally clattered to a stop next to Jessica Jacobs’s chopsticks.
At first, Raina didn’t understand what had happened. It wasn’t until she heard Ethan Lancaster laughing that she realized the envelopes he’d prepared in her name each contained a single coin. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
Ethan Lancaster then pulled another red envelope from his coat pocket. "Here, this one’s for you."
Raina glanced at it. The envelope was bulging. If it wasn’t ten thousand, it was at least several thousand.
She gave Ethan Lancaster a hard punch, but he just laughed uncontrollably. "They don’t care about the amount. It’s the thought that counts."
"Exactly! The sentiment is what matters."
That night, the couple stayed over at the Lancaster residence. Ethan’s and Zion Lancaster’s rooms were always kept for them, but ever since Ethan had moved out, he rarely stayed over.
Raina was leaning against the window on the phone. Ethan Lancaster walked over, reeking of alcohol. "Who’re you calling?"
"What’s going on with Minnie? I keep calling her, but she won’t pick up."
"Just let her have some time to herself. After something like this, have you seen her boyfriend show his face once?"
Raina lowered her phone. "I had some food sent to her at the hospital, but I don’t know if she’s eaten."
"She made her choices, so she has to face the consequences." Ethan Lancaster said, pulling Raina by the hand over to the bed. "Look at all this money. Come on, let’s count it."
Raina looked at the red envelopes, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Ethan Lancaster gathered his own and presented them to her. "They’re all yours."
"Those are yours, I don’t want them." Raina opened one of them. It was stuffed so full of hundred-yuan bills that it was about to burst. "This is insane. This one must be from Grandpa."
Ethan Lancaster pulled all the money out and tossed it onto the bed. As the bills scattered, he pushed Raina down onto her back.
"How does it feel, lying on a pile of money?"
Her cheeks were flushed, a lingering effect from the wine. Ethan Lancaster couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her.
Raina kept trying to turn her head away, so Ethan simply cupped her face in his hands. "Don’t squirm. Let me give you a proper kiss."
"You’re crushing me. Get up."
Ethan Lancaster wrapped his arms around her waist. With a push to the side, he rolled over, pulling Raina on top of him.
The new position was even more awkward. Raina tried to scramble up, but Ethan cupped the back of her head with one hand, pulling her face down toward his.
Staring at each other from so close, Raina felt every breath turn charged and hot. Her eyes darted from side to side, but she knew Ethan’s intense gaze was locked on her, and it felt as if bubbles were fizzing in her chest. Flexing his core, Ethan lifted his upper body slightly and pressed his lips to hers. "You’re so warm."
He murmured against the corner of her lips. Raina tried to turn her head away.
"Don’t move, or I’ll bite you."
Raina’s brow twitched, and she moved anyway.
Ethan opened his mouth and bit down. It wasn’t hard, but Raina still let out a soft, pained whimper.
The sound was more than Ethan could take. He immediately pushed Raina down onto the bed beside them.
KNOCK KNOCK—
The knock came with impeccable timing. Ethan’s hand was still on Raina’s waist. "Who is it?"
"It’s me. I’m coming in."
"Mom, don’t—" But before Ethan could finish, Jessica Jacobs had already pushed the door open.
He scrambled up in embarrassment and sat primly on the edge of the bed. "Mom, what are you doing?"
Jessica Jacobs held a bowl in her hands. "Hurry, I just made this. Drink it while it’s hot."
"Stop feeding me all that weird stuff. There’s nothing wrong with me, I’m not sick! If you don’t believe me, ask Raina..."
Raina lay there, perfectly still. ’Don’t ask me. I’m asleep. I don’t know anything. The bed is a total mess—what else can I do but play dead?’
