Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 33: Feeling a Little Sour

Ethan Lancaster finally understood. So that was what it was all about.

One of them was left permanently disabled after a fall. The sisters became bitter enemies. Mia Reddington swore she’d rather die than live under the same roof as Raina, which left Raina with no choice but to be driven out.

When they arrived home, Ethan Lancaster found the sight of Raina Reddington in a custom gown paired with floral cotton shoes utterly ridiculous. However, since he had just touched upon a sore subject, he mercifully held back his laughter.

Stepping into the bedroom, Raina Reddington finally felt a sense of relief and rushed to take off her shawl.

Seeing this, Ethan Lancaster stepped forward to help. The shawl was tied tightly in what seemed to be a dead knot. Raina tried to undo it a couple of times without success, and Ethan’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

As if a thought suddenly occurred to him, his voice sharpened. "Did Miles Hawthorne tie this for you?"

"I tied it myself. What’s wrong?"

Raina couldn’t see his expression, but she could hear how awful his tone was. Ethan was being snide and didn’t offer to help. "Go on, then. Untie it. Let’s see you do it."

Raina fumbled with it a few more times, but she couldn’t get it undone.

He swatted her hands away and, with considerable effort, finally untied the shawl. The moment it came off, her bare back was completely exposed.

Her skin was fair, and the pearls from the broken strap had etched a series of red marks across it. Raina crossed her arms over her chest as Ethan’s gaze traveled down from the broken line of pearls, settling on the curve of her waist.

"Miles Hawthorne tied this, didn’t he? He saw your entire back, didn’t he?" Ethan snapped, pinching her waist in anger.

With everything that had happened, how could she have worried about that? Raina freed her right hand to feel her back. "It’s fine. It wasn’t that revealing."

Ethan grabbed her dress with both hands, making a move as if to tear it. "So it only counts if you’re completely naked?"

"We were hiding in a corner. I wouldn’t say it was pitch-black, but you couldn’t call it bright, either. He didn’t see anything."

Ethan’s expression remained tight. "Why would he help you?"

"I was in such a pathetic state. Any decent person would have lent a hand."

The man said, his face impassive, "If it has nothing to do with me, I don’t get involved."

Raina cursed inwardly, ’That’s because he isn’t human.’ "I’m going back to Hemlock Village in a couple of days to see my grandma. I’ve already requested time off from the hospital."

"Mm," the man grunted in acknowledgment and said nothing more.

After finishing her work at the hospital, Raina took a car back to Hemlock Village.

Her grandmother’s house was a two-story building with a small yard, and the gate was usually left open until bedtime. Raina carried her luggage and bags of treats into the house, where the rich aroma of a home-cooked meal filled the air.

"Grandma."

The figure cooking at the stove hurried out. Her grandmother was naturally happy to see Raina, but she was still harboring some resentment, so her tone was a bit stiff. "You’re back."

"Grandma, I missed you so much."

Raina paid no mind to her grandmother’s cold expression and stepped forward to hug her. "Did you miss me?"

Her grandmother patted her back a couple of times. "Look how skinny you are! You’re nothing but skin and bones. Now, hurry up and go wash your hands."

"Okay."

The grandmother was angry with her own son for forcing Raina to marry into the Lancaster Family. She was also angry with Raina for not resisting and instead agreeing to such an absurd demand. ’What century are we living in? Who still has arranged marriages?’ she thought. Even though she adored her granddaughter and loved her more than life itself, she had been cruel enough to skip her wedding.

Raina clung to her, showering her with affection. In the end, this was the girl she had raised, and she couldn’t help but dote on her. She could never stay truly angry with Raina.

Early the next morning, Raina took her wallet and went to the small store at the village entrance to buy groceries. It was Hemlock Village’s only small market, stocking things like fresh shrimp, fish, and meat. She got lucky today and was even able to buy some fresh beef.

Raina returned home, lugging two large bags full of groceries. "Grandma."

She called out into the house, but there was no reply. Raina walked to her grandmother’s bedroom door and heard the sound of voices from within.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside. She was startled to see the figure standing there. "You—"

Miles Hawthorne was holding a photo album. He turned to look at her, and Raina’s expression turned grim. "How dare you come back here?"

"Raina, don’t talk like that." Her grandmother pulled over a chair for Miles Hawthorne to sit down. Raina’s gaze fell on the photo album, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What’s the matter? In a rush to see if you left a photo of us here? Scared of upsetting Miss Lynch?"

Miles Hawthorne’s expression darkened. He flipped toward the back of the album and, sure enough, found a photo of the two of them together.

Back then, Raina and Miles Hawthorne had been inseparable. He had to tease her even while taking a picture, holding his hand high above her head in a "Five Finger Mountain" pose as if to press her down. His fingers gently caressed the photo, his expression dazed, as if he’d been pulled back in time.

Raina strode forward, reaching out to snatch the album. "No need to panic. The photo was just left here by mistake. I’ll burn it for you right now!"

The moment Miles Hawthorne heard the word "burn," his expression changed drastically, and he jerked the album away from her.

Her grandmother tugged on Raina’s arm. "Raina, don’t be like this. Let’s all talk this out calmly."

"Grandma, what is there to talk about with him? If anyone saw him here, they might think his family is giving us money or something."

Miles Hawthorne’s grip on the album tightened. "Raina, are you that afraid of having any connection to me?"

"Yes!"

"Raina!" A man’s voice, booming as if to make sure the whole world could hear, cut them off. "Raina!"

Raina’s face went pale with shock. ’Is... isn’t that Mr. Lancaster? What is he doing here!’

Without a second thought, she hissed at Miles Hawthorne, "Quick, find a place to hide."

"Raina, who is that?" her grandmother asked quietly.

"I think it’s Ethan Lancaster."

Although her grandmother had never met Ethan Lancaster, she was certainly familiar with his name. Raina’s eyes darted around the room, finally landing on an old-fashioned wardrobe in the corner.

"I’ll go see." Her grandmother left the two of them and headed outside. Raina lowered her voice. "You don’t want Ethan Lancaster to see you here, do you?"

Ethan Lancaster’s arrival was quite the spectacle. Seth Sinclair was carrying bags of all sizes, and the driver wasn’t empty-handed either, hoisting a case of nutritional supplements on one shoulder and a bag that must have weighed twenty pounds in the crook of his arm.

Seeing this grand display, the grandmother’s brow furrowed so deeply it looked like a knotted rope. Ethan Lancaster stepped forward and greeted her, "Grandma."

"Who are you looking for?" Her grandmother’s anger had been simmering, and now she had found a target for it in Ethan Lancaster.

"Grandma, Raina’s back, right?"

"Mm."

Ethan noted her cold attitude, guessing it was because they had never met. He had Seth Sinclair take the gifts inside. "She told me she was back, and since I haven’t had the chance to pay you a formal visit yet, I thought I’d take the time to come over."

"Follow me."

Ethan Lancaster walked into a large, sparsely furnished living room. A cross-stitch that read "A Harmonious Family Prospers" hung on the wall. Her grandmother led him into the bedroom, where Raina was standing stiffly. Her expression was a little unnatural, but she smiled as soon as she saw him.

"What are you doing here?"

Ethan found it strange. ’I shouted so loudly, but she didn’t even come out to meet me.’ "I missed you, so I came over."

Raina clasped her hands together like a child caught red-handed. "Let’s, uh, let’s go talk outside."

Miles Hawthorne was still shut inside the wardrobe, the poor man. Her grandmother had watched him grow up, and her affection for him was much deeper than for Ethan Lancaster.

"Raina, where’s Miles?" The moment her grandmother spoke, Raina’s mind went blank, and it felt as if a million tiny ants were gnawing at her heart.