Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 126: Be with Me

Raina Reddington hadn’t actually done much to offend Ingrid Quinn, but she had almost been slapped. It was easy to see what kind of person Ingrid was.

Cameron Fairchild was the type who loved to stir up trouble, and he already had a bone to pick with Raina Reddington, so his every word and action seemed barbed. Annabelle Spencer, who had previously been all bluster in Raina’s defense, was now like a mouse that had seen a cat in front of Cameron. It was a wonder she wasn’t running for her life.

"So... how exactly did my dear sister-in-law bully you? Did she hit you? Yell at you?"

Ingrid Quinn had wanted to let the matter drop, but she hadn’t expected Cameron Fairchild to bring it up. She stammered, "It was really nothing..."

"It was nothing," Raina Reddington interjected. "I just saw her slapping someone and offered a word of caution. I didn’t realize this lady hadn’t gotten her fill and wanted to continue on me."

Ingrid Quinn’s face turned livid, but she could only force a smile. Seething with resentment, she lowered her voice and said, "Fourth Master, that was what you promised me."

"Have a death wish?" Cameron Fairchild walked over to the sofa and stared down at Ingrid Quinn. "That’s Mrs. Lancaster. The woman the Fourth Master officially married. You think *you* can touch her? No one in this world would dare lay a hand on her."

Ethan Lancaster’s hands were clasped together. Raina Reddington watched his fingers stroke the back of his hand twice, then tap it gently a couple of times, as if he hadn’t heard a word Cameron Fairchild said.

"I was truly blind. I wasn’t thinking straight. Fourth Master, look... how about I drink all of your wine? Would that be okay? Please, consider it my apology to Mrs. Lancaster."

’Seeing him stay silent, Ingrid Quinn started to panic. It was a given that when men like these came out to play, they didn’t have much affection for their wives back home. But it was still a matter of pride. If she really dared to lay a hand on Raina Reddington, wouldn’t she be completely humiliating Ethan Lancaster?’

The more Ingrid Quinn thought about it, the more she realized how reckless she’d been. It was a classic case of shooting herself in the foot. Spotting the liquor on the table, she reached for a glass.

Ethan Lancaster grabbed her by the shoulder. "You have to honor a bet. I’m the one who agreed to it, and I can’t go back on my word."

"Fourth Master?" Ingrid Quinn stared at him, stunned. ’What does he mean by that?’

Annabelle Spencer gasped. ’That bastard Ethan Lancaster isn’t really going to let some floozy walk all over his actual wife, is he?’

The man raised an eyebrow. The atmosphere in the room grew suffocating; all the fun had evaporated. His tightly pursed lips finally curved into a smile. "Not done yet? You still want to hit someone?"

"No, no, no! I don’t! I’m done!"

"The truth."

Ingrid Quinn broke out in a cold sweat. "Fourth Master, please don’t do this."

The manager happened to come in just then, only to hear Ethan Lancaster asking in a soft, gentle voice, "I told you to be honest. You were halfway through letting off steam when my wife interrupted. It must be frustrating to hold that in, right? Do you want to continue?"

"Fourth Master, what exactly do you mean?" ’Ingrid Quinn couldn’t fathom what was going through Ethan Lancaster’s mind.’

Ethan Lancaster snapped his fingers at the manager, who was watching the spectacle from a short distance away. "Do you have a girl here..." He paused and turned back to Ingrid Quinn. "What was her name?"

"Gwen Sharp."

"Right, Gwen Sharp."

The manager nodded. "Yes."

"Bring her here."

"Right away."

Raina Reddington knew what he was about to do. Her lips parted, and she couldn’t stop herself from speaking. "This has nothing to do with that person."

Ethan Lancaster ignored her. ’Doesn’t she love to play the hero? Doesn’t she love to meddle and help everyone else? Her iron heart is probably reserved just for me.’

’This is her moral baseline, is it?’

’Fine. Then he would just shatter it.’

The manager left and returned a few minutes later with Gwen Sharp in tow. The girl was young; she had only recently started working at The Regalia Palace. Head hanging low, she trailed behind the manager, clueless as to what awaited her.

Raina Reddington was incredibly agitated. Annabelle Spencer felt like she was seeing a ghost. ’What kind of damn twisted fate is this? Are Raina and Ethan Lancaster tied together by some cursed bond? It’s bad enough they run into each other everywhere, but it’s never for anything good.’

"This is Gwen Sharp." The manager gave her a push forward.

Ethan Lancaster’s thin lips parted. "Lift your head."

The redness and swelling on Gwen Sharp’s face hadn’t yet faded, which certainly marred her appearance, but one could still vaguely make out that she had delicate features. ’Whoever did this was ruthless. How many slaps must it have taken to leave a mark like that?’

Ethan Lancaster’s gaze shifted to Ingrid Quinn beside him. "You hit her?"

She replied awkwardly, "She doesn’t know the rules. I barely touched her, and there were others, too..."

"If you’re not satisfied, you can continue."

"Huh?"

"What do you mean, ’huh’? The Fourth Master is backing you up, you silly girl," Cameron Fairchild explained with a laugh from the side.

’Ingrid Quinn finally understood. She would never be allowed to touch Mrs. Lancaster. But to let her fully vent her frustration, a single Gwen Sharp was considered completely disposable.’

"In that case, thank you, Fourth Master."

"Go on."

Raina Reddington watched as Ingrid Quinn rose and walked toward Gwen Sharp. The girl was clearly terrified of Ingrid; she stood frozen in place, shoulders hunched, not daring to move.

The manager had seen enough to know it wasn’t his place to interfere. He left the girl there and quietly excused himself.

Ingrid Quinn stood before Gwen Sharp. The slap that followed was, in effect, a slap to Raina Reddington’s own face.

She raised her arm and swung hard. A metallic taste filled Gwen Sharp’s throat as her cheek flared with a burning heat. The pain made her see stars.

Raina Reddington clutched the hem of her dress, the sound of each slap landing in her ears, one louder than the next.

Annabelle Spencer ground her teeth in fury. ’If she wants to hit someone, she should do it in private. Why does she have to do it right in front of Raina? And this floozy is so arrogant, does she really think she’s landed a big shot like Ethan Lancaster?’

Ingrid Quinn slapped her from both sides, left and right. Gwen Sharp didn’t dare to even raise a hand in defense.

Cameron Fairchild let out a low whistle. ’Damn, these women are vicious when they fight.’

Raina Reddington grabbed her purse from the side, ready to leave, but Ethan Lancaster’s words stopped her in her tracks. "What made you two decide to come here? Or should I ask, what connection do you have to The Regalia Palace?"

Raina Reddington shot an imperceptible glance at Annabelle Spencer, then lowered the hand holding her purse. She was, at times, too considerate of others.

A slap from Ingrid Quinn sent Gwen Sharp sprawling to the floor. She propped herself up on the coffee table with one arm. The corner of her mouth, already split open, was now dripping blood down her chin.

Gwen Sharp reached up to wipe it away. The figures in front of her were all a blur.

"Feel better?" Ethan Lancaster asked.

Ingrid Quinn’s palm was bright red and hurt like hell, but her mood had improved immensely. She knew better than to make any more unreasonable demands. ’After all, these men have no real feelings for me; they won’t indulge me forever.’

"Much better. You’re the best, Fourth Master. Thank you."

"You beat her so badly, you’re pretty ruthless," Ethan Lancaster said as he leaned forward. He used the microphone from the table to tilt up Gwen Sharp’s chin. "I’m almost embarrassed for you. Are you alright?"

Gwen Sharp hadn’t begged for mercy or cried out in pain a single time. She just shook her head.

"Doesn’t hurt?"

"Thank you for your mercy, Fourth Master." When she spoke, the coppery taste of blood in her mouth intensified.

Ethan Lancaster looked at her swollen face; about the only thing left to look at were her eyes. "So pitiful. How about this? You can be with me. What do you say to me keeping you?"