Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 74: Following

Jessica Jacobs pointed at Raina’s back, her voice a low whisper. "Is she asleep?"

’She’s obviously faking it,’ Ethan Lancaster thought, glancing at the bowl Jessica Jacobs was holding. "Mom, I just ate. I’m stuffed."

"This is good stuff. You need to push through and finish it all." After saying her piece, Jessica Jacobs quietly placed the bowl on the nightstand. "She’ll definitely wake up again in a little while. This is the perfect time for you to build up your strength."

"You’re unbelievable..."

Raina heard the footsteps fade away. Only after the door clicked shut did she sit up.

"You really can’t blame me for that. It was just an offhand comment. I never thought Mom would take it so seriously..."

’How much bizarre stuff had Ethan been forced to eat just to "build up his strength"?’

Raina glanced into the bowl. ’Oh, great. Now there’s even bull pizzle.’

But the smile on her lips quickly froze. ’Usually, at times like this, she was the one Ethan would take it out on.’

「The next day.」

Raina didn’t open her eyes until a knock sounded at the door. Ethan was still asleep. She picked up her phone and saw that it was already almost eleven o’clock.

Raina hurried out of bed and gave Ethan a hard shove. "Wake up."

"Let me sleep a little longer."

"You can keep sleeping, but I have to go to the hospital this afternoon." She couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Minnie Hale there all alone, especially during the New Year. It just made everything seem even more desolate.

Raina had brought her some toiletries and food. But whenever she asked about Minnie’s boyfriend, the girl clammed up, so Raina couldn’t press the issue.

On the third day of the New Year, Raina had promised Ethan they would visit their elders. With the morning free, the two of them went to a shopping mall.

The mall was bustling with people—some were entire families on an outing, others were young couples on a romantic date.

Raina was on a mission, heading straight for the gift shops, but Ethan grabbed her hand. "Let’s just browse for a bit."

A long line snaked ahead, all for a trendy boba tea. Spotting a nearby boutique with nice clothes in the window, Ethan nudged Raina inside.

Just as they were entering, he thought he saw a furtive figure, but it vanished in the blink of an eye.

Raina took a quick look around and came back out, saying nothing had caught her eye. Ethan then led her to the second floor. Near the elevators was a famous pastry shop, and Raina went inside to buy some treats to take home.

Ethan followed her into the shop but immediately stepped to the side. He peered out through the front window and saw the figure again.

He whispered to Raina, who was busy making her selection, "I’m going to step outside to make a call."

"Okay."

After saying that, Ethan walked out quickly. The person tailing them clearly noticed and turned to run.

Ethan caught up to her in just a few strides. She was leaning against the wall, unable to move quickly, and he easily grabbed her arm.

His grip was powerful. He shoved the girl hard against the wall, the impact so forceful she felt like she might fall apart. Ethan finally got a clear look at her face. "It’s you."

Minnie Hale didn’t dare to meet his gaze. "You... let me go."

"Why are you following us?"

"I wasn’t following you. I just wanted to thank Raina."

There was no way Ethan would fall for that. He hadn’t gotten a good look at her face in the hospital room that day. Now, staring at Minnie Hale’s features, he grew more certain he’d seen her somewhere before. "You want to thank her, is that it? Fine. I’ll take you to her right now."

"No, don’t!"

"Let’s go."

"No—" Minnie Hale thrashed her arms as if she’d been triggered. "Let go of me! Don’t touch me! Get away!"

A nerve was struck in Ethan. He abruptly retracted his hand, his eyes locking onto the girl. Minnie covered her head and tried to leave, but Ethan yanked her back.

"What are your motives for getting close to Raina?"

Minnie Hale shook her head. "I never intended to get close to anyone. I just ran into her by chance."

Ethan glanced toward the pastry shop, worried Raina might come out at any moment. "Go. Don’t ever show your face to her again. And make sure I never see you again, either."

Minnie Hale slowly lowered the hands that had been covering her face. "Does Raina know what kind of man her husband is? She’s such a good person. Why..."

"Shut up!" Ethan’s glare was murderous. His eyes narrowed, and the hand on the girl’s shoulder tightened. Minnie Hale looked up, meeting his gaze. Fear was still there, but a wave of hatred rose within her, powerful enough to drown out everything else.

"I can give you money. I know your family isn’t well-off. With this money, you could live comfortably for the rest of your life. You could even buy a home here in Stoneworth."

Minnie Hale clenched her jaw, saying nothing.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ethan saw Raina walk out of the shop, looking around for him. He released Minnie’s shoulder. "If you don’t want the money, fine. I’ll just make you leave Stoneworth. I’ll send you far, far away."

"Fine. I’ll take the money."

"Smart girl." Ethan stared down at her. "I’ll have someone contact you."

Raina pulled out her phone, apparently about to call him. As Ethan stepped away, he shot one last look at Minnie. "Go."

Minnie hid in the shadows, watching as Ethan strode over to Raina. "All set?"

"Mhm. What took you so long on the phone?"

"It was work. Something came up." Ethan said, draping his arm over Raina’s shoulder as they continued walking.

But his mind was already elsewhere. "Has that young friend of yours been discharged yet?"

"Not yet."

"You two seem pretty close."

Raina nodded. "Yeah. She used to like hanging out with me, and I liked her, too. We got along way better than my actual sister and I ever did."

Ethan’s heart sank. He was lost in thought as Raina pointed to a nearby store. "I want to buy a pair of sneakers."

"Okay."

He went into the store with Raina but came back out a moment later.

Leaning against a nearby railing, Ethan made a call.

Cameron Fairchild’s lazy voice drifted through the receiver. "Well, well. To what do I owe the pleasure, Fourth Master? Fancy you calling me..."

"Cut the crap. Let me ask you, do you remember a college student named Minnie Hale?"

"Minnie who? What are you talking about?"

Ethan tapped his fingers impatiently on the railing. "You guys brought a few college girls over that day. One of them was named Minnie Hale. The one who was reluctant. Did you do something to her afterward?"

Cameron Fairchild racked his brain for a moment before sitting up in bed. "Yeah, I did. What’s wrong?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Did you force her?"

"Why are you so interested?"

Hearing Cameron’s still-cavalier tone, Ethan snapped, "She got pregnant, and it almost killed her! You clean this mess up, now!"

Raina walked up behind him, just in time to hear his last few words. Ethan turned, saw her standing right in front of him, and swallowed whatever else he was about to say.

"Clean what up?" Raina asked softly.