Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 95: A Thorn in the Heart

The Verdant Garden.

Raina Reddington was picking at her dinner as Ethan Lancaster continuously placed the choicest morsels into her bowl. She put a hand up to cover it. "That’s enough, that’s enough. I can’t finish all this."

"Then eat more of the dishes and less rice."

Seth Sinclair strode in from outside, the cuffs of his pants soaked from the wind and rain. A gust of cold air followed him, and Raina Reddington felt a chill creep over her.

"Fourth Master."

"What is it?" Ethan Lancaster asked without looking up.

"Frederick Lynch is dead."

Raina Reddington’s chopsticks stabbed into her bowl. Unable to withstand the force, the bowl spun half a turn in place. Ethan Lancaster glanced at her. "How’d he die?"

"A sudden heart attack."

"How convenient for it to be ’sudden’," Ethan Lancaster said, placing a piece of fish in Raina Reddington’s bowl. "It seems Miles Hawthorne was well-prepared. Frederick Lynch couldn’t beat that venomous snake, right up to his death. Useless."

"Miss Lynch lost her child, too."

"Heh." A cold sneer lifted the corner of Ethan Lancaster’s mouth. "How ruthless. To be able to strike down his own flesh and blood. But I suppose Frederick Lynch was getting old. I gave him so much advice and help, and he still got taken out."

Raina Reddington’s scalp tingled in horror. "What do you mean, you gave him advice and help? How did you help Frederick Lynch?"

Ethan Lancaster noted her sensitivity, how she could latch onto just a few words in a sentence with such precision. ’In the end, isn’t it all because this has to do with Miles Hawthorne? Is she worried about him?’

"Your precious Hawthorne is slowly clearing away his obstacles. Now that Frederick Lynch is dead, he’ll probably have the Lynch Family in his hands soon, too. Don’t tell me his next move is to take you back, is it?"

Raina Reddington couldn’t tell if he was being serious or just taunting her. "That’s ridiculous."

"The more I think about it, the more plausible it seems. After all, he even got rid of his own child."

Raina Reddington, who already had a poor appetite, now found her food completely tasteless. She put down her chopsticks and moved to stand up.

Ethan Lancaster placed a hand on her wrist. "Stay seated."

"You two can talk on your own."

"Look how thin you’ve gotten. You need to gain it back." Ethan Lancaster added several large prawns to her bowl.

Seth Sinclair sensed the strange atmosphere and just wanted to finish his report and leave. "Mrs. Lynch is in trouble, too. Right after Frederick Lynch died, news of her affair was exposed. The rumor mill says he was literally angered to death."

Ethan Lancaster couldn’t help but clap. "One link after another. He even had a cause of death prepared for him. Impressive."

"Fourth Master, I’ll take my leave now."

Seth Sinclair saw an inexplicable viciousness in Ethan Lancaster’s gaze. He knew it was best not to linger and made a wise retreat.

Raina Reddington didn’t pick up her chopsticks, showing no intention of continuing her meal. She pushed Ethan Lancaster’s hand away. "I’m going to rest."

The man remained seated, watching as Raina Reddington stood and headed upstairs.

Raina Reddington’s mind was in turmoil. ’Miles Hawthorne’s methods are undeniably insidious. He’s stepped into the abyss with both feet. The bright, cheerful boy from the past now has blood on his hands. He really has no intention of turning back.’

The sound of footsteps grew louder and more urgent behind her. Raina Reddington didn’t look back, but she subconsciously broke into a run toward her room. The moment she entered the bedroom, a heavy force clamped down on her shoulder, shoving her forward.

Ethan Lancaster’s chest slammed against Raina Reddington’s back, pinning her firmly to the wall. He seized her arms, holding her still.

She was powerless to resist or fight back. "Ethan Lancaster, what are you doing?"

With one hand, Ethan Lancaster wrenched her chin up and kissed her recklessly. ’Has he lost his mind?’ she thought. Her question was smothered by his lips. When she struggled, he twisted her arm outward.

"Ah—!"

She cried out in pain. Ethan Lancaster’s breath fell on her face and neck, alarmingly hot and ragged, yet laced with an unidentifiable anxiety. "If you dare go with him, I’ll break your legs and crush his bones!" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"You’re a maniac!"

"Yes, I am. But I’ve never truly lost it in front of you before."

Raina Reddington realized he was the type who responded to persuasion, not confrontation; she couldn’t keep fighting him head-on. "Why would I go with him? He is who he is, and I am who I am. What’s going on? Did you agree to divorce me?"

"In your dreams!"

"Then that’s that," Raina Reddington said, trying to move her neck. "You’re hurting me. Can we please talk about this properly?"

Seeing her brows furrowed in a knot, Ethan Lancaster loosened his grip slightly but didn’t let her go completely. "Do you really not feel even a little bit of anticipation?"

"Anticipate what? That he’d still find me worthy and take me away?"

"Cut the crap. The way Miles Hawthorne looks at you, his eyes are practically overflowing. If you just gave him the word, he’d take you away in a heartbeat. Don’t you believe it?"

His anger seemed completely irrational to her. "I’m not leaving. Let me go."

Ethan Lancaster planted both hands on the wall on either side of her. Finally free, Raina Reddington turned around, only to find herself still trapped in his arms. "What are you doing?"

"I just want you."

His words were so blunt they cut to the bone. Raina Reddington lowered her head and tried to leave, but Ethan Lancaster blocked her with his arm. He leaned down to kiss her, but she turned her face away. "I’m a little tired."

He ignored her, cupping her face in his hands and kissing her anyway. Raina pressed her hands against his chest. "Don’t."

Ethan Lancaster’s voice turned cold, his gaze growing icy to match. "Why not?"

Ever since Cameron Fairchild found Minnie Hale, she hadn’t let him touch her.

Ethan Lancaster felt a pang of guilt and had been cautiously giving in to her wishes, but that didn’t mean he could endure it forever.

"I’m just exhausted from the day."

"Just lie back and relax. I don’t expect you to service me." Ethan Lancaster’s lips brushed against her ear. "You never put in any effort before, so why act so coy now?"

"I’m not in the mood."

His anger flared. "Then who are you in the mood for? You were so self-righteous when you questioned me, so why don’t you take a look at yourself? What was that thing you passed along for Felix Finch? For all you know, that little thing indirectly killed Frederick Lynch! If Miles Hawthorne really cared about you, would he keep dragging you into his messes?"

The color drained from Raina Reddington’s face. She shoved hard against Ethan Lancaster’s chest, but he didn’t budge.

"Tonight, you’re mine, one way or another."

’She must have heard what Seth Sinclair said, and now her heart is stirring.’

’Miles Hawthorne is the unattainable love of her life, the white moonlight in her heart. Now that his light is about to shine on her again, how could she not be radiant with hope?’

Burning with jealousy, Ethan Lancaster lunged forward to kiss her again. He pressed his elbow hard against her shoulder, completely pinning her down. Her words were muffled against his lips, her struggles useless. She had no choice but to go limp for the moment.

When Ethan Lancaster saw that she had stopped resisting, he eased his rough assault, only to feel a sharp sting on his lips.

He jerked back, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth. Raina Reddington wiped her own lips. "You have no problem calling me out, but what about you? Don’t act all high and mighty with me, pretending to be some patron saint of love. Did you even hesitate when you sold me out? I convinced Minnie Hale to trust you, and what happened in the end? You all but sold me to Cameron Fairchild along with her."