Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 29: Mrs. Lancaster’s Empty Title

Ethan Lancaster never brought up the investigation into Miranda Cameron again, and Raina Reddington figured he must still believe her.

’This man has navigated the business world for years; there’s no way he couldn’t see through such a petty trick,’ she thought.

"By the way, when I saw that woman for her consultation, I specifically told her that I don’t recommend trying for a baby within the next six months. She should focus on getting her body healthy with medication first. So don’t you go doing anything reckless."

Ethan Lancaster’s brows furrowed. "What do you mean, *I* shouldn’t do anything reckless?"

Raina Reddington scooped up a mouthful of noodles and stuffed them into her mouth, only to jolt as the heat scalded her. Ethan Lancaster glanced at her. "Serves you right."

"I was just trying to give you a kind reminder, and you’re not even grateful."

Ethan scooted closer to her. "After all this, you can still act so nonchalant? I don’t believe for a second that you don’t know who put those files in your car."

"Then what do you want me to do? Go find her and pick a fight? Fourth Master, I have at least that much self-awareness," Raina said, poking a finger at Ethan Lancaster’s chest. "One is the wife you’re trying every trick in the book to divorce, and the other is the woman you cherish in your heart. If I really went after her, wouldn’t that be like an egg hitting a rock?"

’The only reason she’s this calm is because she doesn’t care, isn’t it?’

For some reason, Ethan grew inexplicably angry. "You’re like a block of wood. The more I look at you, the more irritating you are."

"Fourth Master, can we please refrain from personal attacks? Or are you actually giving me permission to meddle in your affairs?"

"You can try." With that, Ethan Lancaster turned and went upstairs.

When Raina entered the bedroom, Ethan had gone into the bathroom to shower. His phone and wallet were sitting on the nightstand.

She got her laptop, intending to deal with some work, but a ringtone suddenly reached her ears. She followed the sound and saw the name "Miranda Cameron" displayed on Ethan’s phone screen.

Raina reached out, her fingertip touching the answer button without a moment’s hesitation.

The woman’s voice came through, sounding urgent. "Ethan, please don’t be angry. Let’s talk about this calmly."

"What would he be angry about? He’s in the shower."

Miranda Cameron fell silent. Raina turned and leaned lightly against the nightstand. "Did you need him for something?"

"Mrs. Lancaster, I’m sorry. I was calling him about a work matter."

"Oh, you know I’m Mrs. Lancaster?" A smile touched the corner of Raina’s lips. "He has plenty of mistresses on the side—a fourth, a fifth, a sixth... For all you know, I could be the seventh."

Miranda Cameron understood that Raina was mocking her. "Mrs. Lancaster, I’m different from the others. At the very least, I would never threaten your position."

’Like hell she would,’ Raina thought. The woman had already brought the fight to her doorstep, and here she was, still playing the innocent little rabbit.

She tiptoed to the bathroom door and knocked twice. Ethan hadn’t had time to get dressed yet when he pulled the door open. "What is it?"

"Someone’s looking for you."

Raina was holding his phone to her ear, making it obvious she had answered his call without permission. She glanced at his state of undress. "Oh? Did you forget to grab your clothes again? It’s not proper to take a call while you’re naked."

As she spoke, Raina handed the phone to him. Ethan glanced at the screen and saw it was a call from Miranda Cameron.

On the other end of the line, the woman’s face was livid. Even though Ethan couldn’t see her, she had to force a smile, terrified that if she lost control for even a second, her tone of voice would turn sour.

But when Ethan took the phone, he hung up immediately.

The faint smile on Miranda’s face froze. It wasn’t until the mechanical BEEP of the disconnected line sounded in her ear that she snapped back to reality.

Raina turned to leave, but Ethan grabbed her by the collar. "You’re getting bolder and bolder. Who gave you permission to answer my phone?"

"You did. You told me to try meddling, so of course I had to take the call." Raina slapped the back of his hand twice. "Let go."

"You’d better not play these little games with me. You brought the phone to the bathroom. You think I don’t know what you were trying to do?"

Raina pulled Ethan’s hand off and turned to face him. "I wanted to make her upset. After what she did to me... Besides, you’re my husband. Am I not allowed to assert my claim?"

Ethan toyed with the phone in his palm, his expression unreadable. "Fine. Of course, you are. But you need to know your limits. You are not to hurt her."

A sour feeling pricked at Raina’s heart. She wanted to tell herself it didn’t bother her, but Ethan’s words were an undeniable reminder that besides the empty title of "Mrs. Lancaster," she had nothing.

Raina’s social circle had always been exceptionally simple. Even after she was taken back in by the Reddington Family, she never had to attend social functions.

Zoe Scott said she had an air of the countryside that couldn’t be washed away, that she wouldn’t fit into high-society events, so she might as well stay home and keep things peaceful. But Raina knew the main reason was that Mia Reddington was still in a wheelchair. If Raina were to go out, dressed to the nines and meeting new people, her sister would have a meltdown.

Raina was perfectly happy with this arrangement; she couldn’t have asked for anything better.

But now that she had married into the Lancaster Family, she had to accompany Ethan Lancaster to all sorts of functions.

By day, she was Dr. Reddington at the hospital. By night, she was Mrs. Lancaster, living in another world entirely.

Raina hated wearing formal gowns, especially the kind that were advertised as "purely handmade" yet were completely impractical in their design.

The gown was delivered directly by a store clerk, who said Ethan Lancaster had picked it out himself. Raina held it up against herself; it was heavy and long. The bodice was strung together with pearls that were identical in shape and roundness. How could something like this possibly be comfortable to wear?

In the evening, Ethan came home and saw Raina already dressed in the gown. He couldn’t help but offer a few words of praise. "It looks good. Very chic."

’Typical straight-guy taste,’ she thought.

But she played along. "Yes, yes, it’s drop-dead gorgeous. The Fourth Master has excellent taste."

When they arrived at the party, Ethan didn’t have to take the initiative to greet anyone, aside from a few Lancaster family elders.

Raina held a glass of wine, bored out of her mind. She swirled the liquid, wetting the sides of the glass as she idly played with it. A couple of gossiping voices drifted to her ears. "Look, that person’s gown..."

"She’s wearing the same dress. How dreadful."

Raina instinctively looked up and saw Miranda Cameron walking over gracefully on the arm of a middle-aged man. The gown she was wearing was identical to her own.

Ethan noticed it too. Raina lightly nudged his arm with her elbow. "Well, isn’t this awkward?"

"Whoever’s uglier is the one who should be embarrassed. Go on, go up and compete."

Raina straightened her posture. ’Looks like things are about to get interesting today.’

Ethan had other people to entertain and stepped outside to have a private word with someone. Raina stood in a corner, wondering when she could finally leave.

"Mrs. Lancaster."

She turned to see Miranda Cameron approaching her with a glass of wine. "I only just recognized you. Forgive me for my ignorance."

"It’s not too late to recognize me now."

A smile played on Miranda’s lips. "Mrs. Lancaster, you don’t need to be so hostile toward me. I’m merely one of the Fourth Master’s secretaries."

"I only ever thought of you as someone who sells him their labor, so there’s no misunderstanding on my part."

Miranda’s expression faltered. She pretended she had to go greet someone elsewhere. "If you’ll excuse me."

She walked behind Raina, then turned to glance back. There was a loose thread at the seam on the gown’s waist, but it was so small it would go unnoticed if you weren’t looking for it.

Miranda reached out and gave it a light tug. Raina didn’t even feel it. By the time she turned around, Miranda was already far away.

Raina also lifted her foot to leave. But as her right leg moved forward, she felt the top of her gown loosen. Alarmed, she quickly retreated into the farthest corner. But the pearls from the broken string still scattered, clattering to the floor with a series of TINKS.