Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 30: I Like Tit for Tat

Raina Reddington clutched her hands tightly over her chest. The pearls on the back of her dress had all scattered, and if she were to let go, her entire upper body would be exposed.

Luckily, there was no one else in the corner, or she would have been utterly humiliated.

Raina Reddington was anxious to call Ethan Lancaster, but she felt a sudden warmth as a suit jacket was draped around her shoulders.

She looked up and saw Miles Hawthorne.

Raina Reddington tried to shrug off his jacket, but Miles Hawthorne held it in place. "Before long, she’ll make sure someone finds you."

"You saw?"

"Even if I didn’t see it myself, I could guess what happened."

Raina Reddington knew this wasn’t the time to be pushing Miles Hawthorne away. "Can you help me find something to wear? The sooner, the better. I can’t walk out of here wearing your jacket."

"Alright."

The corner was shrouded in heavy curtains, and Raina Reddington quickly slipped behind them. ’Miranda hasn’t shown up yet because she wants to wash her hands of this completely, making sure no one can pin the blame on her.’ 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Miles Hawthorne worked quickly and returned in no time with a woman’s blazer and a shawl.

Raina Reddington removed his jacket, wrapped the shawl around her chest, and turned her back to Miles Hawthorne. "Tie it for me."

He grasped the ends of the shawl and tied a firm knot behind her, freeing her from having to hold it in place.

"Thank you for saving me the other day."

Raina Reddington hesitated before asking, "What... what exactly happened to you that day?"

"It was nothing serious. Just anaphylactic shock."

’If she hadn’t made him drink so much, he wouldn’t have ended up in that state.’

’She felt a twinge of resentment, but it all stemmed from him leaving without a word all those years ago.’

She put on the blazer and turned to leave, but Miles Hawthorne grabbed her wrist. "You have no proof she’s the one who ruined your dress. Raina, don’t be rash."

"So you’re saying I should just let this go?"

"Wait for the right opportunity. You can get your revenge then—an eye for an eye."

Raina Reddington pulled her hand free. "Fine, I understand."

Miles Hawthorne left, and Raina Reddington stepped back into the crowd. After a careful search, she spotted Miranda Cameron.

Raina Reddington circled around from the other side. Miranda Cameron was with two friends, and they were heading toward the very corner where Raina had just been hiding.

Raina Reddington crept up behind her, lifted her foot, and stepped on the train of Miranda Cameron’s dress.

But just her luck, the very moment she put her foot down, Ethan Lancaster saw everything.

Miranda Cameron walked forward, completely unsuspecting. With the train of her dress still pinned under Raina Reddington’s foot, her gown slid right down. Underneath, she was only wearing sheer pasties. By the time she realized what was happening and tried to cover herself, it was far too late.

"Ah—" Miranda Cameron shrieked, but she quickly choked it back.

She was in full view of everyone. The room was packed, and all eyes had turned toward her.

Raina Reddington retracted her foot. Miranda Cameron’s two friends were quick to react, dropping down to shield her.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Ethan Lancaster strode forward and, without a moment’s hesitation, took off his jacket and draped it over Miranda Cameron.

Raina Reddington remained perfectly calm, showing no panic at being caught red-handed. "It was an accident."

"You deliberately stepped on Miranda’s dress." One of the women stood up, her tone resolute.

Miranda Cameron huddled on the floor, shoulders hunched in fear, not daring to stand. Her friend tried to pull the gown back up for her as she knelt there, tear-streaked and trembling. "Ethan, I can’t get up."

Miles Hawthorne stood not far away, watching the scene unfold with perfect clarity. ’She really has to settle a score the moment it happens. Does she not consider the consequences at all?’

Ethan Lancaster looked down at Raina Reddington, his eyes filled with fury. An icy chill seemed to radiate from him. She lightly clutched her own dress. "I really didn’t do it on purpose. I was just walking behind her and accidentally stepped on her dress."

No one there believed a word of it.

Miranda Cameron tugged at Ethan Lancaster’s trouser leg. "Ethan, I’m too humiliated to face anyone..."

She sobbed softly. Who could endure such humiliation? Raina Reddington knew exactly how mortifying it was. Just moments ago, her own situation had been even more precarious.

Ethan Lancaster’s expression was thunderous. After all, this was a high-profile event, and far too many people were aware of his connection to Miranda Cameron.

"Fourth Master, I saw it with my own eyes. She did it on purpose." As the woman spoke, her finger nearly jabbed Raina Reddington in the face.

An argument like this was bound to attract onlookers. "I wonder if Mrs. Lancaster found something out?"

"She must have..."

Raina Reddington stared at the pointing finger but didn’t slap it away. "Do you have eyes in the back of your head?"

"How can you live with yourself, hurting people like this?"

Ethan Lancaster raised his hand, placed it on the woman’s arm, and pushed it down. Raina Reddington saw his profile, cold and shadowed, his eyes deep and unreadable.

’My luck has run out,’ she thought, bracing herself for Ethan Lancaster to finally have it out with her.

A quiet voice drifted through the air, carrying an authority that permitted no argument. "It was an accident."

Miranda Cameron stopped crying and looked up at Ethan Lancaster in disbelief.

"Fourth Master, how can you say that? It’s obvious that..." Her friend couldn’t stand by and watch, jumping in to her defense.

Ethan Lancaster cut off the pointless argument. "Having someone step on your dress is a common occurrence. Just be more careful next time."

He bent down and helped Miranda Cameron to her feet. She kept her arms clutched tightly over her chest, tear tracks still visible on her face, her eyes still red.

"This is so unfair to Miranda! This is meant to utterly humiliate her, to drive her to despair!"

More and more people gathered around to watch. Ethan Lancaster stood between the two women. Not only were they wearing identical gowns, but their current, disheveled states were also the same.

"Did she do it on purpose?" Ethan Lancaster asked suddenly. Miranda Cameron met his gaze and realized he was asking her.

Miranda Cameron’s expression shifted rapidly. The gazes of the crowd, tinged with schadenfreude, were all fixed on her, waiting for an answer.

Ethan Lancaster had already made his stance clear. What else could she say?

She could only swallow her pride. "Mrs. Lancaster didn’t do it on purpose, she just... accidentally stepped on my dress."

"Miranda!"

Ethan Lancaster cut her off at the perfect moment. "There we go. I’ll have the driver take you home."

Though reluctant, she could only nod. "Okay."

Ethan Lancaster led Miranda Cameron away, and the crowd of onlookers quickly dispersed. Raina Reddington stood rooted to the spot, her breathing tight and suppressed. ’I was just getting an eye for an eye,’ she told herself. ’I didn’t do anything wrong. If I hadn’t stepped on her dress, no one besides Miles Hawthorne would ever have known what a huge injustice I’d just endured.’

’But why should I have to endure it?’

’I’m not the one who was in the wrong.’

Raina Reddington felt completely out of place, but the banquet hadn’t officially begun, so she couldn’t just leave.

Outside the venue, there was a large garden. The hosts, who were fond of Suzhou-style landscape design, had spent a fortune building a covered bridge and rockery. Raina Reddington decided to find a quiet corner there to escape the crowd.

When Ethan Lancaster returned, he scanned the entire room but couldn’t find Raina Reddington anywhere.