Private Marriage, Secret Love-Chapter 169: How Good It Is to Be Alive

Raina Reddington wore a mask, her crossbody bag filled with the medicine she had just picked up. She kept her eyes lowered, terrified of running into someone she knew at the hospital.

"Raina—" A voice called out from behind her. A chill ran down Raina’s spine. She didn’t even need to turn around to know it was Ethan Lancaster.

’But why would he be at the hospital?’ 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Ethan Lancaster obviously wasn’t sure if it was her. After all, even her silhouette had changed. If it weren’t for the thick, long coat filling out her frame, she would probably look like nothing more than a skeleton.

"Raina?"

If it really was her, Ethan couldn’t understand why she would be at this particular hospital.

Raina saw the restroom just ahead. Though she felt weak, she quickened her pace.

As she reached the entrance, she nearly collided with someone coming out. Raina mumbled an apology and brushed past the person’s shoulder to get inside.

Gwen Sharp saw Ethan Lancaster’s figure outside. She stepped back into the restroom and looked at the woman standing beside her. Even though she was bundled up tightly, Gwen still recognized her.

"Doctor Reddington."

"You don’t have to call me that. I’m not a doctor anymore."

Gwen always felt a sense of guilt when facing her. She studied Raina’s appearance, remembering how stunning she had been when they first met. Even though Ethan had put her through hell, Raina’s vibrant face alone had been enough to make Gwen feel inadequate.

’Who would have thought she’d get an illness like that?’ Raina leaned back. She had used up all her strength just now, and the pain in her bones made them feel like they were about to fall apart. She rested against the cold wall, her body slowly sliding down.

Gwen Sharp clenched her fists and started to walk out.

Ethan Lancaster was still standing outside. He was rather surprised to see her come out. "What are you doing here?"

"Just using the restroom."

His gaze went past the top of her head, looking inside. "Did you run into anyone in there?"

"No, I didn’t."

"Did you see Raina?"

A flicker of nervousness appeared in Gwen’s eyes. She quickly looked away. Luckily, Ethan’s attention wasn’t on her.

She hesitated, unsure of what to say. If Ethan found out Raina was at this hospital, he would definitely find it strange. He might even investigate why she was here.

Gwen fiddled with the hem of her clothes. The last shred of her conscience urged her to tell the truth, but her rational mind pulled her back.

"No, why would she be here?" Now that Gwen had made up her mind, her expression and gaze became perfectly natural. "You must have seen wrong."

Ethan had only caught a fleeting glimpse, so he hadn’t seen clearly.

Gwen glanced at the things in his hands. "Should I go up with you?"

The man shook his head slightly. "Go wait in the car."

He could bring her out with him, but he could never let her appear before his relatives and elders. Gwen took Ethan’s arm and walked him toward the elevators.

Only when she saw their figures receding in the distance did Raina come out of the restroom. She didn’t dare leave through the main entrance anymore; she might run into Seth Sinclair.

Back in the car, Gwen was preoccupied with her thoughts. As an outsider, she could actually see things with perfect clarity.

’Raina has that kind of illness. Without Ethan’s help, will she end up losing her life?’

Raina had skipped her most recent chemotherapy session. She couldn’t stand seeing herself in this state.

When the call from the hospital came, she was lying on the bay window seat. She didn’t dare open the window, so she could only bask in the sun through the glass.

Raina listened as the person on the other end spoke word by word, their tone excited. For the first time in a long time, she felt her whole body fill with strength. She pushed herself into a sitting position with little effort. "Could you say that again?"

"We’ve found a bone marrow match for you. You can have the transplant."

Raina laughed through her tears, still finding it hard to believe. "So soon?"

"Yes, you’re incredibly lucky. The donor’s information was just entered into the marrow registry, and it happens to be a perfect match for you..."

Raina didn’t know what to say besides "thank you." The caller gave her a heads-up about the treatment costs and the many subsequent arrangements, but right now, Raina wasn’t afraid of anything. In the face of a chance to live, all the "what ifs" and hardships seemed trivial.

After hanging up, Raina lightly pressed a hand to her chest, afraid that if she got too excited, her heart wouldn’t be able to take it.

The treatment would cost at least half a million. She didn’t have that kind of money, but she had already made a plan. The car Ethan had given her was parked in the garage. She would just sell it.

There were also some jewelry and clothes at home. Combined with the money she had transferred from his bank card last time, she could scrape together enough for the treatment no matter what.

Raina felt quite fortunate. Even though it was still Ethan’s money she was spending, at least she hadn’t sunk so low as to have to beg him for the money to save her own life.

In the afternoon, Raina drove out. Her physical condition had been a complete mess that morning, but now she felt refreshed and clear-headed. It was true what they say: for a person, mindset is everything.

Raina knew it was very possible that once she entered the hospital, she would never come out again.

She might die on the operating table. Her body might reject the transplant.

If that happened, there were many people she would never see again in this lifetime.

Her grandmother—she didn’t dare see her now. And her family wouldn’t want to see her either. Raina stood dazedly in the fresh produce section and, for some reason, her thoughts drifted to Ethan Lancaster.

Raina put several cooked dishes into her shopping cart, then added some fresh vegetables and meat.

After paying, she moved everything to her car. Raina closed the trunk and took out her phone.

After thinking it over and over for so long, she finally dialed the number.

When Ethan Lancaster saw the caller ID, he was more surprised than pleased. ’Did Raina dial the wrong number,’ he wondered, ’or maybe she just hit the call button by accident?’

He hesitated to answer, afraid he would be met with Raina’s icy voice. But the phone kept ringing. Ethan finally swiped his finger across the screen and answered. "Hello."

He first adopted an impatient tone. "Why are you calling me?"

"Ethan Lancaster, are you free tonight?" Raina paid his tone no mind as she opened the car door and got in.

A look of confusion crossed Ethan’s face. "What is it?"

Gwen Sharp had cut up a small bowl of fruit and walked over to the man’s side. Just as she was handing the glass bowl to him, Ethan waved a hand at her, signaling her to be quiet.

"Let’s have dinner together tonight. At The Verdant Garden. I’ll cook."

Ethan felt as if he were hearing things. "What are you plotting now?"

"It’s just dinner. If you’re really busy, then forget it. Besides, what else could I possibly need to ask you for? You don’t have to be so guarded."

This was the first time in a long while that she had reached out to him on her own. Even if she really did have something to ask of him, he wanted to hear it.

"Okay."

"Then I’ll head back and start cooking."

Ethan listened to the dial tone after the call ended. Gwen finally chimed in from the side, "Was that Mrs. Lancaster?"

"Yeah."

"She was looking for you to..."

Ethan put his phone back in his pocket. "I won’t be eating here tonight. Tell the housekeeper what you want to eat, and have her make it for you."

"Okay." Gwen grew nervous again. Her greatest fear right now was Ethan and Raina meeting face-to-face.