Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 205: Ethan Lancaster, Save Me

Ethan Lancaster waited outside the door for a moment and heard the sound of running water from inside. After deleting her chat history, Raina Reddington splashed cold water on her face.

Her face was dripping wet when she came out, and Ethan Lancaster frowned. "Don’t you know to dry your face?"

Raina leaned against the wall. "I want to go home."

His expression darkened. "You think this place is a wolf’s den?"

"I’m afraid those people will come looking for me."

"They wouldn’t dare. Besides, even if they did show up, I’m here. They wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you."

Raina’s legs gave out, and she sank to the floor. Ethan Lancaster rushed to pull her up, but Raina grabbed his wrist. "Do I have to live in terror like this from now on?"

As she spoke, her eyes began to well up with tears. The bathroom light, warm and honey-toned like beeswax, cast a clear glow on Raina’s face.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping from her chin.

Ethan quickly wiped at her face with his hand. "Don’t cry."

’Raina couldn’t help but admire her own acting.’ She hung her head, the tip of her nose flushed red from crying. Ethan swept her up into his arms, carrying her to the bed and setting her down gently. Raina repeated herself over and over, "I want to go back. It’s awful here. I don’t want to be here..."

Hearing this, Ethan lay down beside her and quickly pulled her into his arms.

’She must be thinking about the past,’ Ethan thought. ’But it’s better to face things than to run from them.’ He pulled the covers over her. "Get some sleep. We can talk about everything tomorrow."

She did quiet down obediently, but not long after drifting off, she jolted awake with a scream.

"No! Help me—"

In the dark, Ethan grabbed her hand as he heard Raina sob out a name. "Ethan Lancaster, save me!"

He felt something shatter in his chest—a sharp, bittersweet ache. His heart had been empty, but now, her words filled it to the brim.

"I’m here." He held Raina tightly, wishing they could melt into one. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, repeating the two words over and over. "I’m here. I’m here."

She gradually calmed down. Ethan nuzzled his cheek against hers. "What did you call out just now?"

Raina didn’t answer. It seemed she had fallen asleep again.

But Ethan was still incredibly satisfied. He knew he hadn’t misheard. She had called his name.

She lay with her back to him, her breathing even and deep. Holding Raina’s hand, Ethan slowly closed his eyes.

Raina shifted her shoulders, trying to push away the man behind her, but even in his sleep, Ethan held her tight and wouldn’t let go.

Raina’s eyes were wide open. ’How could I possibly sleep?’

’That cry of "Ethan Lancaster"—she had said it for him to hear. She hated this man to her very core. She had waited for him to save her right up until her death, but he never came. Did she really think she could count on him now?’

’What a joke.’

Later that night, Ethan was jolted awake by a ringing phone. Remembering Raina was still asleep in the bed, he quickly sat up and grabbed his mobile.

"Hello?"

"Fourth Master," Al’s voice came through the phone. "Cameron Fairchild is losing his mind. He’s completely lost it. I think he’s going to drink himself to death tonight."

Ethan replied coldly, "Ignore him. Let him die."

"We can’t do that! It’ll cause a huge scene."

Ethan turned, reaching out to touch the woman on the bed. The frustration that had been simmering inside him was already suffocating. He stood up. "Where are you?"

"The Regalia Palace."

Raina heard a rustling sound. Ethan had grabbed his jacket and left, locking the door from the outside after pulling it shut.

Raina sat up. A moment later, she heard a car engine start downstairs. She went to the door and tugged on the handle. As she’d expected, it was locked.

「Inside The Regalia Palace」 Cameron Fairchild was wasted, cursing at anyone and everyone. He had even hit his own subordinates, and now, only Al remained in the massive private room.

When Ethan pushed the door open and entered, Al looked completely defeated. His spirits lifted slightly upon seeing him. "Fourth Master, you’re finally here."

Ethan ignored him. He walked straight to the sofa, grabbed Cameron Fairchild by the collar with one hand, and punched him in the face with the other.

The punch left Cameron a bit dazed. Al scrambled up, trying to hold Ethan back. "Whoa, don’t, Fourth Master! There are plenty of ways to sober him up. You can’t just go and mess up that handsome face everyone loves..."

"Get out of my way!" Ethan shoved Al aside and landed two more punches on Cameron.

Cameron sobered up a little and shoved Ethan away forcefully. "You’re hitting me? Over a woman?"

"And what about your men?"

"What for?"

Ethan snatched a glass of liquor off the table and splashed it in Cameron’s face. Cameron squeezed his eyes shut, his face now reeking of alcohol.

"What for? I’m going to kill them!"

Al finally realized something was seriously wrong. He stepped in front of Ethan to block him. "Fourth Master, let’s talk this out. We’re all brothers here."

"You—" Cameron pointed a finger at him. "I told you before, you can’t keep that woman around! She probably came back to kill you! I told you she was putting on an act, and you didn’t believe me! She’s far, far too manipulative. There were so many of us there, and she just started taking off her clothes. She..."

Ethan shoved Al away, lunged forward, and punched Cameron again.

Cameron slumped sideways onto the sofa, his mouth filling with the metallic taste of blood. He clutched his lip. "You son of a bitch."

"I told you not to touch her."

"Fourth Master, calm down." Al had never seen Ethan get physical with one of his own men. He pushed him down onto the sofa.

When Gwen Sharp walked into The Regalia Palace, she kept her head down, wishing she could bury her face in her chest.

She had just gotten a call telling her that Ethan had arrived and that she should get there right away.

Gwen found the private room Ethan was in. She scanned her surroundings; thankfully, she didn’t run into any old acquaintances. After a moment’s hesitation, she pushed the door open and went inside.

Ingrid Quinn watched from a short distance. Only when she saw Gwen’s figure did a smile spread across her lips.

The last time they met, Gwen had made her slap her own face. Ingrid had to take a full week off for the bruising to heal. Now, she couldn’t even hold her head high in this place; everyone who saw her would stop to mock her.

Ingrid reached into her pocket and pulled out a small packet of powder. She poured it into a bottle of liquor, then expertly swirled it to dissolve the contents.

Someone was passing by, and Ingrid grabbed her arm. "Hey, wait. Can you deliver this bottle to a private room for me?" 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Why don’t you take it yourself?"

Ingrid draped an arm over the other girl’s shoulder with a wide smile. The girl was new and didn’t know how things worked yet. "The guy inside is a big spender. You’re guaranteed a huge tip. It’s just... he took me out once, but then he started ghosting me. I’m just trying to avoid the awkwardness, you know?"

The moment the young woman heard that, she eagerly took the bottle from Ingrid and hurried toward the private room where Ethan and his friends were.

Back at The Verdant Garden, Raina sat on the edge of the bed, her legs swinging idly. She looked up and out the window. She was waiting for an opportunity.