Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 28: A Chain of Schemes

"You think this is enough to make me believe you?"

Raina Reddington handed all the documents back to Ethan Lancaster. "If I had really sent someone to investigate, I wouldn’t have been stupid enough to leave everything right under your nose when I knew you were getting in the car."

The man had to admit, that would have been incredibly stupid.

Raina gripped the steering wheel with both hands. "If I wanted to know about your romantic escapades, I would’ve just asked you directly. Why waste time investigating? Fourth Master, it seems your little wildflower on the outside is getting impatient. She feels the need to challenge me."

Ethan Lancaster tapped the folder against his leg, then suddenly leaned in close. He asked with a roguish grin, "So, do you want to meet this little wildflower?"

"I already have. She had an appointment at my clinic today. She asked me to help her get her body in shape, saying she’s preparing to have a child. Congratulations, Fourth Master."

Ethan glared at Raina, who clapped her hands lightly, her tone full of mockery. "You’re just so formidable, Fourth Master. So many women out there are lining up to have your children."

"That’s right! And it’s all thanks to you. Those super-nourishing soups are finally paying off."

"Alright, alright, I’m starving. Let’s find a place and grab a bite to eat."

Ethan watched her restart the car. "You still have the appetite to eat?"

"Don’t worry. As long as she doesn’t come looking for trouble, I’ll continue to act as if she doesn’t exist." Though Raina said this, she had other plans in mind.

’Miranda Cameron is definitely different from that other woman who came to the hospital. I’ve never even heard this name before, which means Ethan has hidden her well. Does that also mean he has some real feelings for Miranda?

Some men play around until they end up kicking their wives to the curb. My situation is awkward. I definitely don’t want to go back to the Reddington Family, and if I get labeled an abandoned wife on top of that, I’ll be the very definition of a tragedy.

Instead of letting someone else kick me out, I might as well find a way to get rid of the mistress myself.’

After dinner, the two of them went home. Neither mentioned Miranda Cameron.

「The next day.」

After a meeting, Ethan Lancaster went to The Veridian Tower to rest. He had Seth Sinclair intentionally leak his whereabouts to Miranda Cameron.

When Miranda arrived, she was carrying several bags. Hearing the door open, Ethan feigned surprise and said, "What are you doing here?"

"I haven’t seen you in so long. I asked Seth Sinclair how you were doing, and he told me."

Miranda carried the bags into the kitchen. "I’ll cook dinner for you tonight, okay?"

"Okay."

As she put the items into the refrigerator one by one, Ethan leaned against the doorway. "Don’t bother with all that. Isn’t it easier to just call for a maid?"

"It’s not the same." Miranda closed the refrigerator and walked over to Ethan. She stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips forward to kiss him. Ethan turned his face away. Miranda was a little surprised, and he himself was a bit taken aback.

It was the simplest gesture of intimacy, and it wasn’t as if they hadn’t done it before, but now he felt a distinct lack of interest.

Ethan pulled Miranda’s arms down. "What are you making for dinner?"

"All your favorites." She sensed something was off but didn’t show it.

Miranda was thoughtful and discreet, which made her very pleasant to be around. After she placed four dishes and a soup on the table, she went to get some wine.

"No need. I’m not drinking."

Miranda stopped in her tracks. "Are you in a hurry to go back?"

He hadn’t even realized it until she asked. From the very beginning, Ethan’s mind hadn’t been here. He had actually started getting used to going back to The Verdant Garden every day.

"I just don’t feel like drinking."

"Alright then." Miranda poured two glasses of water. Ethan picked up his chopsticks, ready to eat, but then he saw her open her purse and take out two boxes of medicine.

"Are you sick?"

"No."

"If you’re not sick, why are you taking medicine?"

Miranda was evasive. "Well, you know women. There are always times we don’t feel well."

Just as she was about to pop the pills into her mouth, Ethan grabbed her wrist. He used his other hand to pick up a medicine box from the table. "Prescribed by a hospital?"

"Yes, it’s all very legitimate."

Miranda knew Ethan had a dedicated family doctor who had looked after him since he was a child. He was meticulous, especially when it came to medication; he had to know every detail before approving its use.

Ethan glanced at the instructions on the back of the box. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. "Let Dr. Sheffield take a look."

"Okay."

Ethan called Dr. Sheffield, explained the situation, and then sent him photos of the two medicine boxes.

In no time at all, Dr. Sheffield called back.

Miranda watched as Ethan’s expression grew tense, his brows knitting together tightly.

After a long moment, he said just one thing, "Okay, I understand."

Miranda saw him put his phone down on the table. "What’s wrong?"

"Which hospital did you go to?"

"Mercy Seas Hospital."

"Which doctor did you see?"

Miranda searched her memory carefully. "She was quite young and very beautiful, but I didn’t catch her name."

"It should be on the registration slip, right?"

"Yes. What’s going on?"

Ethan held the two boxes of medicine in his hand. "This medicine has certain side effects. You’d better not take it."

"Side effects?" Miranda looked completely shocked. "That’s impossible. The doctor even told me I could keep taking it if I were trying to conceive, that it wouldn’t affect the baby..."

Ethan shot a sharp glance at her. "Trying to conceive?"

The rest of her words caught in her throat. She knew this was a taboo subject; besides, Ethan hadn’t come to her once since his marriage. "That’s not what I meant. I mean, that’s what the doctor said. She specifically told me that even if I were to get pregnant, it wouldn’t be a problem."

"If you took this medicine while pregnant, it would directly cause a miscarriage. Understand?"

Miranda’s face went pale with fright. "How is that possible? I don’t even know that doctor. Why would she do this?"

Her reaction was just as he’d expected. In an instant, Ethan lost his appetite, no matter how hungry he’d been. "Is the registration slip still here? Let me see it."

The woman grabbed her bag from the side and rummaged through it, finally pulling out a palm-sized piece of paper. "I just tossed my medical records in my bag after leaving the hospital."

Ethan took it and saw Raina Reddington’s name printed clearly on it.

"Do you know who this doctor is?"

"Who?"

"My wife." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Miranda was stunned, her expression shifting repeatedly. "She... Ethan, does she know about us?"

"I know she’s been investigating you. She has all your information," Ethan said, playing along.

She tossed the pills in her hand aside. "She must have found out about me, and since I happened to go to Mercy Seas for a check-up, I walked right into her trap. She was afraid I might have your child, so she prescribed me that medicine."

Miranda had already constructed this entire narrative on her own. She put on a weak and pitiful act. As long as Ethan believed her, Raina would surely be in for a world of trouble.

"I never thought someone could be so malicious." Ethan’s face was grim. Miranda cautiously tried to soothe him, "Mrs. Lancaster is just afraid of losing you."

"I’m going back to settle the score with her."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he stood up. Miranda quickly grabbed his sleeve. "At least have dinner before you go. I made it especially for you..."

"No need."

Ethan grabbed his phone and jacket and strode out. Miranda felt a pang of disappointment, but the reflection in the distant floor-to-ceiling window soon revealed a face with a faint, knowing smile.

When he returned to The Verdant Garden, Raina was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, holding a cup of instant noodles. The living room was filled with the smell of pickled vegetable noodles. Ethan changed his shoes and walked in. "Are you crazy? We have perfectly good food at home, and you’re here eating instant noodles."

"I was just craving it."

Ethan walked over to the sofa, his gaze dropping to look at her. "I’m hungry, too."

"Didn’t your little girlfriend on the outside make you something good to eat? That’s not very up to par, then."

Ethan smiled and patted Raina’s leg. "The ones on the outside need to be spoiled. The ones like you... you need to serve me."

The words were utterly vile. Raina wanted nothing more than to kick him squarely in his damned leg.