Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 20: Driven Away by Him
’Let her cry. She could cry herself to death and no one would pity her.’
Ethan Lancaster ignored her, and Raina Reddington was only sniffling softly. She’d known since she was a little girl that the kids who cry and fuss get the candy—Mia Reddington was a master of that trick—but even after all these years, she still hadn’t learned how.
Hearing the sounds, the driver couldn’t resist sneaking a glance in the rearview mirror, only to be caught red-handed by Ethan Lancaster.
"What are you looking at? Don’t want your eyes anymore?"
Terrified, he immediately snapped his gaze forward.
Ethan Lancaster’s annoyance grew. "Stop the car!"
The driver didn’t dare hesitate, immediately cranking the wheel to the side and hitting the brakes.
Ethan Lancaster hardened his heart. "If you want to cry, get out and do it. Don’t bring your bad luck on me."
He never expected that Raina Reddington would actually shove the car door open. As she swung one leg out, a word rushed to Ethan Lancaster’s throat. "You—"
SLAM— The sound of the door slamming drowned out his word. Raina Reddington wasn’t wearing a coat, and the night air was chilly. She hugged her arms tightly and walked away without looking back.
’Wasn’t she supposed to be so adaptable? But now she was being so stubborn, acting as if *he* were the one at fault.’ "Drive!"
"Yes, sir," the driver said, pulling the car away from the curb.
The car grazed past Raina Reddington, then the engine roared as it sped out of sight. The streets were empty now, leaving her a solitary figure. It was just like that little girl she once was, abandoned in the countryside, her loudest cries met with nothing but silence.
Raina Reddington didn’t know where to go. Returning to the Reddington family home would be worse than sleeping on the street.
She wandered forward without a destination. The night air was cool and crisp, and a gust of wind swirled dry leaves around her feet. After crossing a street, she found she had wandered into a narrow alley.
When Raina Reddington came to her senses and realized it wasn’t safe, she turned to leave. Suddenly, a pair of bright headlights flashed on, and she instinctively raised a hand to shield her eyes.
Someone got out of the car. She couldn’t make out their face, and Raina Reddington immediately broke into a run.
"Raina."
Her footsteps faltered and stopped. Once her eyes, peering through the gaps between her fingers, adjusted to the bright light, she finally lowered her hand.
Miles Hawthorne was standing in front of the car, blocking her path at the mouth of the alley. Raina Reddington’s expression was cold and distant. "Mr. Hawthorne, can I help you?"
"I’ll take you home."
"Take me where? To the Reddington residence? The Lancaster estate? Or back to Hemlock Village?"
When Miles Hawthorne heard those two words, a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. No matter how he tried to hide it, he couldn’t conceal the fond memories of that time.
"It’s not safe for you to be out here alone so late."
"Being with you is even less safe."
She was covered in thorns, every word a needle-sharp barb.
"Come on." He stepped forward, reaching for her hand.
As Miles Hawthorne closed the distance, she hid her hands behind her back, avoiding any physical contact. "You were the one who called me, weren’t you? You have the video, don’t you?"
The man was tall, and she had to tilt her head up just to see his expression. "I can’t believe I didn’t recognize your voice."
"It’s been a long time."
"I’d rather we never see each other again."
Raina Reddington tried to leave, but Miles Hawthorne blocked her path. "I never thought you’d get dragged into this so badly..."
"Are you talking about this?" Raina Reddington gestured to her slapped cheek. "It’s fine. I’ll get used to it. But I need you, Mr. Hawthorne, to keep your word. Is the business with the video over now?"
"Raina, I was wrong about what happened back then."
Raina Reddington stood in the drafty mouth of the alley, shivering so hard her teeth chattered. "Don’t you dare bring up the past. I’m Mrs. Lancaster now, and you’re the future son-in-law of the Lynch family. I can’t afford the burden of our past, and neither can you."
Raina Reddington didn’t know where she found the strength, but she shoved Miles Hawthorne aside and hurried past him.
After Ethan Lancaster had forced Raina Reddington out of the car, the driver didn’t dare to speed. In the back seat, the man’s face was taut. ’The video incident hasn’t cost me anything—in fact, it’s turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It’s the thought of Raina being willing to help someone else hurt me... that’s what I can’t stomach.’
The traffic light ahead turned red. Ethan Lancaster glanced out the window. The area around the Wallace family’s estate was all villas, with very little foot traffic. It became quiet and deserted at night.
’I just left her stranded. I wonder if she’ll be able to hail a cab. What if she gets a driver with sinister intentions?’
Ethan Lancaster grew restless. As the driver started to pull away, he commanded in a low voice, "Go back."
"Yes, sir." The driver quickly turned the wheel, heading back the way they came.
Raina Reddington had only taken a few steps when Miles Hawthorne caught up to her. ’She’ll freeze like this,’ he thought. He took off his overcoat and draped it over her shoulders.
But she recoiled as if burned, ripping the coat off and throwing it to the ground.
She was still just as stubborn. Miles Hawthorne bent down and picked up the coat. Raina Reddington had already started walking away again. With a helpless sigh, he stepped forward and draped it over her once more. This time, he didn’t let go, holding the coat in place by wrapping his arms around her shoulders.
"What are you doing?" She struggled to get away.
"Raina, just wear the coat."
Raina Reddington wasn’t listening. "Let go!"
"If you don’t listen, we can just make a scene right here on the street. When word gets back to Ethan Lancaster, how are you going to explain yourself?"
Raina Reddington glared up at him. "Even if I put it on now, I’ll just throw it away the second you’re gone."
"Suit yourself."
"Fine. So can you leave now?"
Miles Hawthorne’s grip loosened slightly, and Raina Reddington broke free, walking into the glow of the next streetlight. He stared blankly at her receding figure. ’In my current situation, there’s no point in clinging to the past. This is the path I chose.’
Ethan Lancaster sat in his car, watching as Miles Hawthorne returned to his own vehicle and drove off.
The driver asked cautiously, "Fourth Master?"
They had been parked there watching for a while. Ethan Lancaster said nothing, his gaze locked on Raina Reddington’s figure. After she’d walked a little further, she threw Miles Hawthorne’s coat onto the ground. The driver snuck a glance in the rearview mirror and saw that Ethan Lancaster’s expression had finally softened.
The car followed slowly, stopping where she had dropped the coat. The driver got out, picked it up, and placed it in the trunk.
Raina Reddington had just turned a corner when she heard a car horn honk behind her. Thinking it was Miles Hawthorne, she quickened her pace.
Ethan Lancaster rolled down the window as the driver pulled up alongside Raina Reddington.
"What are you running from?"
She stopped in her tracks, and the driver hit the brakes at the same moment. Ethan Lancaster pushed the door open. "Get in."
Raina Reddington was freezing. Ethan Lancaster scooted over, and she ducked into the car, pulling the door shut behind her.
"Since you’re so proud, why get in my car?"
Her hands and feet were like ice; she wished she could throw herself directly on top of the car’s heater. "I’m too cold."
Hearing this, Ethan Lancaster looked over at her. He took off his own coat and tossed it onto her lap.
She clutched it to her chest, the fabric still holding the warmth of his body. Raina Reddington said nothing and obediently put it on.
Only then did the harsh line of Ethan Lancaster’s brow relax. Seeing her slender frame bundled up in his large coat, he felt his heart soften unexpectedly.
