Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 90: I’m Sorry, I Don’t Want to Implicate You
Fine.
Raina figured he was about to leave on a long trip, so she decided not to argue with him. The most important thing was to see him off quickly.
She crouched down and started folding his clothes. Having been self-sufficient since she was young, she handled such tasks with natural ease.
Ethan Lancaster had to go abroad for an urgent matter and left in a hurry, saying he wouldn’t be back for a week.
Once he was gone, The Verdant Garden felt even more deserted, but Raina found it much more relaxing.
Her grandmother had already returned to Hemlock Village, and Raina hadn’t visited the Reddington Family home since she got back.
Raina had just driven out of the hospital entrance when she got a call from Ethan Lancaster.
"Hello."
"Come pick me up."
Raina saw the constant stream of people at the hospital entrance. "Where are you?"
"Just got off the plane."
"Isn’t Seth Sinclair with you?"
Ethan Lancaster’s tone turned sour. "Isn’t picking me up and taking me home something you’re supposed to do? I’ll wait for you here."
Raina liked to make the most of her time. "It’ll take me at least an hour to get there. In that time, you could have called a car and been home already."
"Other people’s cars aren’t safe. Hurry up."
By the time Raina drove to the airport, it was already dark. The streetlights on both sides stood in neat rows. Ethan Lancaster was alone; there was no sign of Seth Sinclair.
He put his luggage in the trunk, then got into the car.
"Let’s go."
A powerful song by Hannah Miller was playing on a loop inside the car. Ethan waited for a while, but Raina showed no sign of wanting to speak.
He reached out and turned off the music.
"You don’t like it?"
"Raina, you’ve got some nerve. Besides asking me for help, you really have no habit of contacting me on your own, do you?"
Raina kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "You’re so busy with work. How could I possibly bother you?"
"Cut the crap. You’re cold, heartless, and cruel."
Raina glanced at Ethan. ’How did I manage to piss him off this time?’
Ethan reached into his jacket pocket. Inside was a velvet box containing a gift he had specially chosen for Raina.
"We’re in different time zones. You know, day can’t understand the darkness of night." Raina finally found the perfect excuse.
Ethan scoffed. The car soon entered the highway, and he closed his eyes to rest, trying to adjust to the time difference.
Raina glanced at the rearview mirror from time to time, seeing a large truck pass dangerously close. Some drivers completely disregard safety just to overtake someone.
BANG—
A huge crash suddenly echoed from ahead. The car behind them didn’t even have time to brake and slammed right into the pile-up.
Raina had no time to react. She instinctively wrenched the steering wheel. The guardrail was right beside them. Raina grabbed Ethan. "Watch out!"
The man opened his eyes. Fortunately, Raina hadn’t been tailgating the crashed vehicle. Their car came to a stop after hitting the guardrail.
"Are you okay?" Ethan leaned over to check on her. Raina’s hands were still gripping the steering wheel tightly.
Ethan took her hands. "It’s okay now."
It was a chain-reaction crash. At least four or five cars had been wrecked.
The driver of a car up ahead got out. "What’s going on?"
Raina saw the speeding truck from earlier stopped horizontally across the highway. It was the main culprit of the entire accident.
Thick smoke billowed from up ahead. The driver who had gotten out of his car stumbled back several steps. "Oh my god, it’s going to catch fire."
Raina unbuckled her seatbelt. Ethan didn’t have time to stop her, so he had no choice but to get out of the car with her.
The highway was already congested. Many people had gotten out of their cars to look. Raina squeezed through the crowd toward the front and saw a black car that was severely mangled, but its license plate was still clearly visible.
Ethan grabbed her arm. "It’s smashed up that badly. You can’t help even if you go over there."
"Do... do you think that car looks familiar?"
Ethan yanked Raina back. "It’s Miles Hawthorne’s car."
"It is, right? You recognize it too?" Raina pried Ethan’s hand off her and took a step forward. It was as if she was trying to convince Ethan, but even more so, herself. "It doesn’t matter whose car it is. I’m a doctor. I can’t just stand by and watch someone die."
Someone retrieved a fire extinguisher from their car and started spraying the source of the fire. Several other drivers caught on and joined in to help.
The fire was extinguished, but the ambulance hadn’t arrived yet. Raina’s legs felt as if they were filled with lead. She saw a group of people gathered around the driver’s side, but no one was reaching out to open the door.
Raina pushed into the crowd, then pushed her way back out, ending up in the spot closest to the car door.
The car window was shattered, the upper half reduced to smithereens. She saw the man in the driver’s seat at a glance.
He was pinned tightly between the seat and the steering wheel, his face and hands covered in blood. No wonder no one had tried to help him; there was simply no way to get him out.
Raina’s eyes immediately reddened. The man moved his head, clinging to his last shred of consciousness.
The person in the car wasn’t Miles Hawthorne. It was Felix Finch. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"Raina?"
Raina tried to pull the door open, but it wouldn’t budge. She could only get as close as possible. "Felix, can you hold on?"
"Didn’t think I’d run into you again..." Felix forced a smile. He had no obvious external injuries, but the simple act of smiling made his face twist in agony. "Why are you so unlucky? The last thing Hawthorne wanted was to get you involved, but... it always ends up like this. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry..."
"Don’t talk. The ambulance will be here soon."
Felix shook his head. He moved his arm with great difficulty, reached into his pants pocket, and when he pulled his hand out, his right fist was clenched tightly.
He extended his hand toward Raina. "Raina, my old classmate..."
Ethan Lancaster walked to Raina’s side. His tall frame blocked the view of almost everyone behind him. He saw Raina extend her hand as well, as if wanting to take Felix’s.
Without hesitation, Ethan pushed her hand down.
’Didn’t they cause Raina enough misery last time at the Lynch Family’s home?’
Felix had no strength left. His arm dropped, landing softly on the steering wheel, but his fist remained tightly clenched.
A bitter wind whipped across Raina’s face. Ethan took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
"Let’s go. You can’t do anything here. The ambulance is already here."
Raina could also hear the urgent wail of sirens, but because of the traffic jam, it was difficult for the vehicle to get through.
Her icy body gradually began to warm up. Ethan put his arm around her shoulders, intending to lead her away, but her feet were rooted to the spot. She had no intention of leaving.
"Raina!"
Raina gently pulled away from his embrace. She reached out her hand. The jacket Ethan had draped over her shoulders fell to the ground. Raina placed her hand over the back of Felix’s. "Don’t be afraid. The ambulance is here. You’re going to be okay."
Felix’s eyes were full of a complex mix of emotions, but he had no other choice.
He grasped Raina’s hand in return, transferring the object hidden in his palm into hers.
Raina gripped it tightly and quickly pulled her hand back.
