Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 146: Hurting Each Other

The blow stunned the man, sobering him up a bit.

He raised a hand to touch his face. Raina tried to get up, but just as she sat up, Ethan pushed her back down.

"You think I’m wrong, don’t you?"

He held her shoulders, pinning her down. "It’s all because I spent your money, isn’t it, Ethan? If you didn’t want me to touch it, you shouldn’t have given me the card. Now you’re going to be petty about it? Aren’t you afraid you’ll be a laughingstock if word gets out?"

Ethan wasn’t buying it. He leaned in for a kiss, but Raina quickly turned her head away. "Don’t touch me."

"What? Had your fill, have you?"

Ethan gripped her chin, forcing her to face him. "He’s got plenty of stamina, I see. Maybe I should find a few more people to ’take care’ of him."

As he spoke, his grip on Raina’s shoulder loosened. His words were utterly vile, more sickening to her than any curse. Summoning strength from nowhere, she propped herself up on her elbows and lunged, ramming her forehead toward Ethan.

He dodged instinctively, but she still slammed her head into the corner of his mouth, narrowly missing his nose. He cried out in pain and clutched his jaw. Raina fell back onto the bed, her own head spinning from the impact. Ethan hissed; the blow had likely left a bruise on his lip.

"Ethan, after everything you’ve just said about me... if you touch me, won’t you find me dirty?"

The man’s face was grim as he stared at her.

Raina opened her mouth, as if to say something more, but Ethan abruptly clamped a hand over it. "Shut up! Just shut up!"

He let out a low roar, as if her words had struck a raw nerve, causing an agony he couldn’t face or accept. Her voice was smothered, turning into muffled cries. Not wanting to hear her speak, Ethan pressed his hand down even harder.

Raina thought she was going to die tonight. She couldn’t tell if Ethan was being careless or if this was deliberate, but she couldn’t breathe at all with her mouth and nose covered.

A terrifying sense of suffocation washed over her, and she clawed at Ethan’s hand in panic. The more she struggled, the harder he pressed down.

’She knew he hated hearing those words, but she said them anyway. Why did she have to be so cruel in front of him?’

Raina’s nails dug into the back of Ethan’s hand, leaving long, red welts that swelled instantly. That was when he finally snapped out of it. He quickly pulled his hand away, watching as Raina gasped for air, choking until her eyes blurred with tears.

Ethan reached out to touch her face. "Are you okay?"

Raina slapped his arm away. He leaned over, pinning her hands and peppering her cheeks with soft kisses.

"Ethan, let go of me."

"You’re mine. You won’t even let me touch you. What gives you the right?"

’He’s being ridiculous,’ Raina thought. ’What’s the point of keeping Gwen Sharp on the side, then? And he’s running back to The Verdant Garden every day now. I can’t believe Mr. Lancaster’s words are that effective on him.’

"Because you’re filthy, alright? Get away from me. Don’t touch me." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"I’m not as filthy as Miles Hawthorne," Ethan was determined to plunge a thorn deep into her heart, one that could never be removed. Even if they ever truly tried to go back to the way things were, this thorn of shame would torment them endlessly. "I’m much better than him. Really. Try me if you don’t believe it."

He used the last vestiges of his intoxication as an excuse to do as he pleased. This way, he could convince himself that he was only touching her because he was drunk, not because he missed her, not out of desire.

Raina was no match for his strength. Her arm felt like it was about to pop out of its socket where he pinned it. She didn’t dare to fight him head-on; after all, she knew she’d be the one to suffer in the end.

A long while later, Ethan lay down beside Raina. She felt disgusting all over and wanted to get up to take a shower.

The man lay sprawled on the large bed, an arm thrown across her body, preventing her from getting up.

Raina couldn’t push him off, so she gave up. As for Ethan, he had to see his act of being drunk through to the end.

The next day, Raina woke up early. Ethan was still asleep, his arm draped across her shoulder. No wonder she’d dreamed of being strangled in her sleep.

She got up, took a shower, and changed her clothes before heading to the hospital.

On the way, she got a call from Annabelle Spencer. Raina realized she should tell her about Miles Hawthorne. "Annabelle, I found him."

"You found him? Where is he?"

Raina sighed softly. "Thank you so much for your help. And please, thank your boyfriend for me, too."

"Raina, do you really have to be so formal with me?"

Annabelle chatted with her for a little while longer. "Have dinner with me tonight."

"I can’t tonight, I have to work late."

"Then how about this weekend? I want to see you."

Raina agreed. Annabelle had gone to great lengths to help find Miles Hawthorne; she definitely owed her thanks.

As her car pulled into the hospital lot, Raina remembered she’d forgotten to get the morning-after pill. She was a doctor herself and could easily get it at the hospital. But after a moment’s thought, she dismissed the idea. Her period had just ended yesterday; it was definitely her safe window.

Ever since Hannah Lynch had caused that scene at the hospital, many people watched Raina’s every move, even if they didn’t say anything outright. She didn’t want to give them any more ammunition for gossip.

Raina finally had a day off and had arranged to meet with Annabelle. She didn’t have much else to do besides mope around at home by herself.

They had agreed to meet at the entrance to the mall. Annabelle arrived before Raina, who spotted her from a distance, holding up her phone and taking selfies in front of the fountain.

"Annabelle."

Annabelle waved Raina over. "Hurry, come take a picture for me! A full-body shot."

Amused, Raina pulled her phone from her pocket. "Alright, get in position."

"Make me look skinny!"

Raina never knew what to do with her. She snapped several photos of Annabelle in a row, then walked over to show her the phone. "What do you think? Good enough?"

"Gorgeous! Absolutely gorgeous! Quick, send them to me."

Raina was exiting the photo gallery when her hand slipped. She scrambled to catch her phone but could only watch helplessly as it plunged into the fountain basin.

"Holy shit!" Annabelle yelled. Raina quickly squatted, fished out the phone, and shook it a few times. Annabelle pulled a tissue from her bag and handed it to her. "Quick, wipe it down."

It was no use; the phone had already shut off.

Raina wiped it dry with the tissue, her heart aching a little at the loss. Annabelle took it and glanced at it. "How many years have you had this?"

"I can’t remember. Several years, at least."

"Then you should just get a new one."

Raina wasn’t particular about electronics; as long as a phone worked, it was good enough for her. "We’ll see."

"Didn’t the new model just come out? Let’s go, we’ll go take a look."

The thought of spending nearly ten thousand on a phone made Raina’s heart ache. She wandered around the ground floor of the mall but didn’t settle on anything. "There’s a supermarket on my way home. I’ll just check there."

"Honestly, Raina. A new phone costs less than one of your husband’s shirts. Why are you being so frugal?"

"It’s not about being frugal. I just don’t need anything that fancy."

"Pah!" Annabelle was so frustrated she looked ready to curse. "If you don’t spend his money, he’ll just spend it on someone else! If I were you, I’d be spending it like there was no tomorrow..."

She stopped mid-sentence, suddenly falling silent. Annabelle tugged on Raina’s shoulder, motioning for her to look upstairs.

Raina looked up and saw Gwen Sharp on Ethan Lancaster’s arm, taking the escalator to the second floor.