Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 80: She’s Nothing Without Me

Raina’s voice was firm and calm. "Let’s get a divorce."

"You’re insane. You must be." ’For some irrelevant person? Over something so trivial, she wants a divorce?’

Ethan Lancaster planted a hand on his hip. "Do you think I’ll agree?"

"I don’t want anything. It’s not like I had anything to begin with."

"Raina Reddington, you dare bring up divorce with me?"

"Why wouldn’t I dare?" Raina lifted her chin slightly. Her eyes were still red, but she wouldn’t let the tears fall so easily again. "Or does the Fourth Master plan on using some other tactic to force my hand?"

The fire in his chest blazed, scorching his throat. Naturally, the words that followed were just as caustic.

"Fine. Let’s see how well you’ll fare once we’re divorced."

When Raina walked past him and left, Ethan Lancaster didn’t reach for her. He waited until she was in the elevator before Seth Sinclair pushed the door open and entered the room.

"Fourth Master."

"Tell me, isn’t she just a stubborn block of stone?"

Seth Sinclair was worried. "The Young Madam is still furious. Why did you agree to her request?"

"Am I supposed to beg her to stay?" Ethan Lancaster turned to stare at the doorway, long after Raina’s figure had vanished. "How many women lined up to marry into the Lancaster family? Doesn’t she realize that if she leaves me, she’s nothing!"

’I must have spoiled her rotten. Since when do I have to explain my actions to her?’

After work, Raina sat in her office for a long time before finally getting up to leave.

She drove out of the hospital parking lot with no idea where to go.

Raina gave Annabelle Spencer a call, but she was on a business trip and wouldn’t be back for another week.

Her grandmother was still in Stoneworth, and Raina was too embarrassed to impose on any other friends. After circling the streets aimlessly, she finally drove toward the Reddington family home.

As Raina walked in the door, she heard voices coming from the dining room. The family’s maid was the first to spot her.

"The eldest miss is home."

Her grandmother put down her bowl and walked over, pulling Raina to the dining table. "You haven’t had dinner yet, have you?"

"What brings you back so suddenly?" Zoe Scott told the maid to add a bowl and chopsticks. "You didn’t even call to say you were coming."

"This is Raina’s home, too. Why should she have to call before coming to her own house?"

"Mom, that’s not what I meant."

Raina took her seat. Mia’s resentment toward her had only deepened since their last encounter. "How come you didn’t bring my brother-in-law over today?"

Raina accepted the bowl and chopsticks from the maid; the bowl was already filled with rice. "Thank you."

"If I brought him here, wouldn’t you feel awkward?" Raina retorted before starting to eat, ignoring everyone else.

"You—"

Zoe Scott put some food into Mia’s bowl. "All right, that’s enough. Both of you, just drop it."

Raina quietly finished her dinner. Her grandmother didn’t ask too many questions. As Raina set down her chopsticks, she murmured, "I’m going to stay here for a few days."

"Did you two have a fight? Or did he dump you?"

Grandma slammed her bowl down on the table. "Is this the wonderful daughter you raised? Kicking her own sister when she’s down? In my opinion, she’s been asking for a good hiding since she was a child."

Mia’s expression changed. "She never bothered to come back before. Ever since she married up into the Lancaster family, look how arrogant she’s become. Now she wants to live at home? I bet Ethan Lancaster has finally shown his true colors. Did you really expect him to be faithful to you? Do you have any idea how many other women he’s keeping?"

Raina pushed her chair back and stood up. "He might keep other women, but he’d never keep you. He’d rather give money to strangers than accept someone who throws herself at him. I don’t even care what he does, so why are you so worried about it?"

’She had already made up her mind. If there was no place for her in this home, she would just go rent an apartment and live by herself.’ 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

「The Verdant Garden.」

Seth Sinclair walked into the kitchen, poured a glass of water for Ethan Lancaster, and handed it to him. "The Young Madam has gone back to the Reddington family’s home."

"Let her. If she enjoys going back there to suffer their sour expressions, that’s her business."

"They’re not likely to give her a warm welcome."

Ethan Lancaster drank half the glass of water in one gulp. "Then she should be used to it."

"Mr. Fairchild called just now. He said he’s reserved a table at The Pine Crane Pavilion and is asking you to come over."

"Tell him to go to hell!" Ethan Lancaster squeezed the glass. ’This is all his damn fault, and he still has the gall to ask me to dinner?’

"Alright. Should I tell him that verbatim?"

"Yes. Tell him to go straight to hell."

The next day, Raina started looking for apartments online. Renting a place on her own was too expensive; after looking around, she figured it was better to find a roommate.

She chose two listings relatively close to the hospital and planned to go see them after work.

The appointment with the landlord was for seven o’clock, which left Raina just enough time to grab some dinner beforehand.

She arrived at the entrance of the residential complex, which had its own bustling commercial area. Raina picked a shop at random and went inside.

"Excuse me, one bowl of beef and glass noodle soup, please."

"Okay, go ahead and have a seat."

Business in the shop wasn’t great; only two or three people were sitting scattered around. Raina took out her phone to continue looking for listings. ’What if this first place doesn’t work out?’

Someone walked over, and even though there were plenty of empty tables in the shop, he casually kicked out the stool opposite Raina and sat down.

"Looking for an apartment? What are you doing?"

Raina put away her phone and looked at the man across from her. "What are you doing here?"

"Just passing by."

Miles Hawthorne saw a simple paper menu taped to the wall. Besides the noodle soup, the only other thing they had was flatbread. "Why are you eating in a place like this?"

"We used to eat roasted sweet potatoes in an open field, remember?"

"That was a long time ago."

The owner brought over a bowl of the noodle soup, and Raina picked up a pair of chopsticks. Miles Hawthorne made no move to order. "I can arrange a place for you to live."

"There’s no need."

"Raina, don’t be so stubborn. Just let me help you out this once."

Ethan Lancaster stood outside. Through the grimy glass door, he saw Raina and Miles Hawthorne sitting face to face. ’No wonder she’s in such a rush to divorce me.’

He strode forward and reached out to push the door open. A tile by the entrance was loose, and the moment Ethan Lancaster stepped on it, he pitched forward, basically slamming the door open with his body.

Everyone in the shop looked up at the commotion, Raina included. Ethan Lancaster composed himself and sat down at the table next to hers.

Miles Hawthorne raised an eyebrow. The owner walked over to Ethan Lancaster’s table. "What can I get for you?"

"The same as her," Ethan Lancaster said, pointing at Raina.

"Okay."

Miles Hawthorne turned his gaze to Ethan Lancaster. "I never thought the Fourth Master would condescend to come to a place like this. Passing by?"

"Is that any of your business?" Ethan Lancaster didn’t mince his words. "Owner, this man hasn’t ordered anything. He’s wasting your space. Kick him out."

"I’m with her," Miles Hawthorne said, pointing a finger at Raina.

Raina couldn’t even eat in peace. Ethan Lancaster saw that she remained silent, showing no intention of contradicting him. ’Is she really just going to watch Miles Hawthorne act so audacious right in front of me?’