Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 161: Someone Else’s Showing Off

Once Ethan Lancaster left, he never returned.

But news of him still reached Raina Reddington’s ears from time to time. He was now brazenly bringing Gwen Sharp with him everywhere—to business functions and to gatherings with friends. Her face quickly became a familiar one in their circle.

The Lancaster Family tried to intervene, but after a couple of failed attempts, they realized Ethan Lancaster’s incorrigible nature couldn’t be changed. They couldn’t control him, so in the end, they could only turn a blind eye.

Inside the private room, several people, each with a date, were discussing where to go after dinner.

A cigarette dangled between Ethan Lancaster’s fingers. He said listlessly, "You guys go ahead. I’m not going."

"Don’t be a party pooper, Fourth Master. Come with us."

"I’m going home tonight."

Cameron Fairchild knew that Zachary Lancaster’s situation was a constant thorn in Ethan’s side. Even though he would still come out and gather with them, he could never let go of the matter weighing on his mind.

Zachary Lancaster was now in a vegetative state. The Lancaster Family had spent a fortune trying to wake him, but to no avail.

"Hey, sis-in-law!" Al shouted to Gwen Sharp.

Hearing this form of address, Ethan Lancaster couldn’t help but look up. It was what they had always called Raina Reddington. They had simply switched who they were calling it now. It was clear Gwen Sharp had taken her place, so this was what she had to be called.

Cameron Fairchild sneered. He’d never thought much of Raina Reddington, but that didn’t mean he had any respect for Gwen Sharp.

’A woman who crawled out of some sordid place, and they expected him to deign to call her "sis-in-law"? He couldn’t bring himself to say it.’

Gwen Sharp’s face flushed red, and she didn’t dare respond. Al immediately found it boring. "What, you’re not even going to acknowledge me?"

"No, that’s not what I meant."

Ethan Lancaster said nothing. Everyone at the table was staring at Gwen Sharp. Al, realizing she was in an awkward position, said, "I’m just kidding. Don’t be nervous, sis-in-law. As long as you’re genuinely good to Fourth Master, that’s more important than anything."

To be honest, there was no comparison between Gwen Sharp and Raina Reddington. One was poised and graceful, while the other was shy and awkward.

But Raina Reddington was a venomous snake, and that one fact was a fatal flaw.

After they dispersed, Gwen Sharp walked out beside Ethan Lancaster. He was talking with Cameron Fairchild. When they reached the car, Ethan stopped and said, "You handle it."

"Alright."

Seth Sinclair opened the car door, but Ethan Lancaster didn’t get in right away. Cameron Fairchild turned to leave but then heard Seth Sinclair speak softly, "Fourth Master, the Young Madam didn’t leave The Verdant Garden at all today."

Cameron Fairchild glanced back. Ethan Lancaster’s expression had clearly soured. "Is that supposed to be strange?"

"But she was supposed to go to the hospital today. It’s not her day off."

Ethan Lancaster had no desire to hear any news about Raina Reddington right now. "Maybe she took the day off. Or maybe she swapped her shift. Seth Sinclair, since when do you have time to meddle in her business?"

"I don’t. I just had someone keep an eye on things over at The Verdant Garden..."

Ethan Lancaster’s barely suppressed anger started to flare. "Stop watching her. Pull your men back. From now on, her business has nothing to do with me. Don’t tell me if she lives or dies."

Hearing this, the doubt in Cameron Fairchild’s eyes deepened. "Did something happen?"

Ethan Lancaster didn’t want to bring up that incident; it was a scar that couldn’t be touched. "Seth Sinclair, remember this. I want this to be the last time I hear anything about her from you. Pull everyone back. Miles Hawthorne isn’t around anymore. Let her do whatever she wants."

"Understood." Seth Sinclair could only agree.

"To be honest, she and I still have a score to settle," Cameron Fairchild said, his words laced with a probing tone. "Since you’re leaving her alone now, Fourth Master, does that mean I can finally settle my accounts with her?"

’Back then, if Raina Reddington hadn’t gotten involved, would Minnie Hale have been able to cause such a stir?’

Ethan Lancaster said, his face expressionless, "Do as you please."

Cameron Fairchild smiled and took a step back. "Head on home. We’ll hang out another time."

「The Verdant Garden.」

’Has it been a month or two since my diagnosis now?’

’If I didn’t look at the calendar, I wouldn’t even know what day it was.’

She lay on the sofa, bundled in a heavy coat. When she got up, her nose was stuffed. What she feared most now was getting a fever, so she’d rather pile on layers of clothing.

Raina Reddington was finding it hard to hold on. It looked like she wouldn’t be able to go to work for much longer.

Her illness had come on quickly, and the flare-ups were particularly severe. But she wasn’t ready to just quit her job. Besides, the subsequent treatments would be expensive. If she didn’t work, she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to afford the medical bills.

The next day, on her way home from work, Raina Reddington passed by a hair salon. She touched her long hair and walked inside.

The hairstylist glanced at the quality of her hair. "Are you looking for a cut, or a perm and color?"

"Just a cut. Cut it short."

"Your hair is so nice. It’s a real shame not to do something with it."

’A shame about what?’ Raina Reddington touched the ends of her hair, feeling reluctant. But it was all going to fall out soon anyway. She didn’t dare think about it any further. "Can I take the cut hair with me?"

"Sure."

Raina Reddington didn’t like wigs, but she could have one custom-made from her own hair. The thought was a small comfort.

A woman came out from the back after having her hair washed and sat down behind Raina Reddington. She had just gotten big, fresh curls, and her hair was dyed a chestnut color.

As the hairstylist blow-dried her hair, he complimented her, "Look how stylish this is. You have a lot of hair, so these curls look the best on you."

Gwen Sharp stared at her reflection in the mirror, satisfied. Then she looked closer and realized the person sitting behind her was actually Raina Reddington.

She pretended not to have seen her and averted her gaze. "My boyfriend loves to touch my hair. He says the texture is great, not frizzy at all."

Raina Reddington recognized her voice. The words held no overt aggression, but they still caught Raina completely off guard.

The hairstylist snipped off her hair with one cut of the scissors. The SNIP echoed in her ears, and Raina’s heart trembled. Gwen Sharp’s words sounded more and more like she was showing off.

"Your boyfriend must really love you, huh?" the hairstylist said, making small talk with Gwen Sharp.

"Do you think this color looks good on me? He said he likes seeing me with long hair. I’ve been growing it out for so long."

The hairstylist naturally played along. "He’ll definitely love it."

When Raina Reddington came back to her senses, she saw that her hair had already been cut short. ’Ethan Lancaster likes long hair, does he?’

Sadly, she wouldn’t even be able to keep her hair this short for much longer.

Gwen Sharp and Raina Reddington left the salon one after the other. Gwen headed toward the underground parking garage. The elevator was just a short distance ahead, and Raina saw Gwen break into a little trot.

She looked like a girl deep in the throes of first love, bursting with joy and eager to show the person she liked how she looked different today.

Raina Reddington saw a man leaning against the hallway railing, seemingly on the phone. Gwen Sharp rushed forward and threw her arms around him.