Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 172: I Won’t Leave, I’m Staying Here

Chapter 172: Chapter 172: I Won’t Leave, I’m Staying Here

Raina Reddington hid alone in the yard and began to sob aloud. Her phone lay at her feet.

At first, she only choked on her sobs, but then she broke into a full-blown wail. Finally, she slid off the swing and onto the grass, hugging her legs tightly.

’It would have been better if they hadn’t given me any hope at all. I just want to live, but I never imagined it would be this hard.’

As evening fell, her grandmother called. Raina Reddington forced herself to pull it together and answer the phone.

"Grandma."

"Raina, I’m coming to Stoneworth in a couple of days. I’ve slaughtered a sheep and saved up a bunch of eggs..."

Tears streamed down Raina’s face uncontrollably. "Don’t bring so much. It’ll be too exhausting."

"It’s fine. Your dad arranged for a car to pick me up, so it won’t be tiring at all..."

She wiped her face, but her voice was still thick with emotion. Her grandmother seemed to notice. "What’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing. Just a small cold."

"Honestly, you. Once you get busy with work, you neglect everything else. As soon as I get to Stoneworth, you have to come see me right away..."

Raina hurriedly cut in, "Grandma, I’m swamped with work. How about on the Little New Year? Is that okay? I promise I’ll come be with you then."

"And bring Ethan with you."

At this point, Raina had no choice but to agree. "Okay."

’She knew she couldn’t put it off any longer. The moment Grandma saw her, she’d know something was wrong. Grandma raised her; she could never hide anything from her. Grandma would press her for answers relentlessly. Besides, Ethan Lancaster wasn’t going to go home with her this year.’

’This was the first time Raina had ever felt so helpless. Even when she was first diagnosed, she hadn’t felt this desperate.’

’She knew she couldn’t hide the truth any longer. She was terrified.’

Gwen Sharp left with her arm linked through Ethan Lancaster’s. Just as they walked out of the apartment building, Gwen suddenly stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Ethan Lancaster stopped in his tracks and looked at her. "What are you doing?"

"The New Year is almost here. I’m just trying to get some good luck."

Ethan Lancaster pulled his arm from her grasp and said, enunciating every word, "You think walking around with me like this is something to be proud of? Are you afraid people won’t see you?"

Gwen Sharp’s face paled. "I’m sorry. It won’t happen again."

’People were constantly coming and going, and no one cared about anyone else’s business. It was just that Ethan Lancaster refused to acknowledge her.’

"Are you going back for the New Year?"

Gwen Sharp shook her head. "I want to stay here..."

’to be with him.’

Ethan Lancaster’s tone was indifferent as his gaze swept over Gwen Sharp’s face. "You can have your mother come stay with you."

"You... you don’t mind?"

"I have to go home for the New Year."

’Gwen Sharp’s heart sank. She didn’t dare ask more. Did "home" mean The Verdant Garden, or the Lancaster family estate?’

The moment her grandmother arrived in Stoneworth, she called Raina Reddington.

Raina could only make the excuse that she was too busy with work and wouldn’t be free until the Little New Year. Mustering her energy, she decided to go to the mall and pick out a couple of outfits for her grandmother.

Raina hadn’t even stepped out the front gate when she saw a courier standing outside, his hand raised to ring the doorbell.

"Excuse me, are you Raina Reddington?"

"Yes."

"I have a delivery for you."

He handed her a large envelope. After signing for it, Raina stood where she was and tore it open.

Inside were several photos. She didn’t even have to pull them out; a single glance was enough to see them clearly.

One of them showed Gwen Sharp on her tiptoes, kissing Ethan Lancaster’s cheek. His expression was hard to read—was it happiness or anger? But his eyes were so bright... ’He must have liked it, right?’

’Why show me these photos?’

’Was it to make my heart ache? Or to make me face reality and stay away from Ethan Lancaster?’

Raina casually tore the photos to pieces. ’In her current state, did she really care about this man’s philandering and shameless affairs?’

’Raina had been a fool once, and that was enough. The only reason she’d let her guard down was because she’d been in a good mood, emboldened by the news of a bone marrow match. That’s what gave him the chance to humiliate her again.’

When she left the house, she was bundled up so tightly there wasn’t a single gap for the wind to get through. As Raina passed a trash can, she tossed the shredded photos inside.

She didn’t have the energy to shop for long. After buying two outfits for her grandmother, she returned home.

Raina called a locksmith and had the lock on the front gate changed. ’Since Ethan Lancaster wanted to trap her here until she died, then fine. He could leave her completely alone to live or die on her own.’

After his business dinner, Ethan Lancaster had the driver take him directly to The Verdant Garden.

Seth Sinclair opened the car door for him. Seeing that Ethan was quite drunk, he reached out to steady him. "Should I call the Young Madam to come out?"

"No need." Ethan Lancaster braced himself against the car door. "I’m not drunk."

"Fourth Master, are you staying here tonight?"

Ethan Lancaster didn’t answer directly. He looked straight at Seth Sinclair and gave his shoulder a light pat. "The New Year is almost here. Make sure you spend some good time with your family. I’ll give you a big red envelope."

"Thank you, Fourth Master."

Ethan Lancaster walked straight toward the house. When he reached the front gate, he slid the cover of the keypad lock up, but after he keyed in the code, the gate wouldn’t open.

Ethan Lancaster tried a few more times. He stared at the lock for a long while before realizing it looked different.

’She changed the lock?’

He then reached out and pressed the doorbell, but no one came. After a long wait, Ethan Lancaster started pounding on the gate, shouting, "Raina Reddington! Open the door! Open up!"

Raina sat at the dining table, her gaze fixed on the glass of water in her hands, acting as if she couldn’t hear the shouting outside.

Seth Sinclair had been about to leave, but he grew worried when he heard the commotion and hurried back.

"Fourth Master." Seth Sinclair saw him pressed flat against the gate, looking as if he wished he could just phase right through it. He glanced at the lock. ’It looks like Raina replaced it.’

He quickly pulled out his phone to call Raina Reddington. She saw the incoming call but didn’t answer.

Unable to get in, Ethan Lancaster began to throw a tantrum like a child denied a piece of candy. "Open the door! You open this door for me!"

’This was his home! What right did she have to keep him out?’

A ringing filled Raina’s ears. She picked up her glass of water and started for the stairs. As she passed the staircase, the noise outside grew even louder.

"Raina! If you don’t open this door right now, I’ll smash it down!"

She glanced toward the front door, then her gaze quickly and coldly shifted away. Her glass was full, but her hand was trembling so hard she could barely hold it.

The water in the glass sloshed violently. Raina heard Seth Sinclair trying to reason with him. "Let’s just come back tomorrow. The Young Madam must be asleep already."

"What time is it? She’s not asleep. She just doesn’t want to see me! What right does she have to change the lock..."

Seth Sinclair was at a loss. "Maybe... How about we just come back tomorrow? The New Year is coming up, you can pick up the Young Madam and go back to the Lancaster family’s place for the holiday."

’That’s right.’ A faint, cold smile touched Raina’s lips. ’I don’t want to see him ever again. Not even on my deathbed.’

Raina turned and headed upstairs. Ethan’s hearing was especially sharp tonight. He pointed at the gate and said, "I heard footsteps! She’s in there!"

"Fourth Master..."

"I’m not leaving! I’m staying right here."