Ethan Lancaster waited outside the door for a mont and heard the sound of running water from inside. After deleting her chat history, Raina Reddington splashed cold water on her face.
Her face was dripping wet when she ca out, and Ethan Lancaster frowned. "Don’t you know to dry your face?"
Raina leaned against the wall. "I want to go ho."
His expression darkened. "You think this place is a wolf’s den?"
"I’m afraid those people will co looking for ."
"They wouldn’t dare. Besides, even if they did show up, I’m here. They wouldn’t dare lay a finger on you."
Raina’s legs gave out, and she sank to the floor. Ethan Lancaster rushed to pull her up, but Raina grabbed his wrist. "Do I have to live in terror like this from now on?"
As she spoke, her eyes began to well up with tears. The bathroom light, warm and honey-toned like beeswax, cast a clear glow on Raina’s face.
Tears stread down her cheeks, dripping from her chin.
Ethan quickly wiped at her face with his hand. "Don’t cry."
’Raina couldn’t help but admire her own acting.’ She hung her head, the tip of her nose flushed red from crying. Ethan swept her up into his arms, carrying her to the bed and setting her down gently. Raina repeated herself over and over, "I want to go back. It’s awful here. I don’t want to be here..."
Hearing this, Ethan lay down beside her and quickly pulled her into his arms.
’She must be thinking about the past,’ Ethan thought. ’But it’s better to face things than to run from them.’ He pulled the covers over her. "Get so sleep. We can talk about everything tomorrow."
She did quiet down obediently, but not long after drifting off, she jolted awake with a scream.
"No! Help —"
In the dark, Ethan grabbed her hand as he heard Raina sob out a na. "Ethan Lancaster, save !"
He felt sothing shatter in his chest—a sharp, bittersweet ache. His heart had been empty, but now, her words filled it to the brim.
"I’m here." He held Raina tightly, wishing they could lt into one. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, repeating the two words over and over. "I’m here. I’m here."
She gradually cald down. Ethan nuzzled his cheek against hers. "What did you call out just now?"
Raina didn’t answer. It seed she had fallen asleep again.
But Ethan was still incredibly satisfied. He knew he hadn’t misheard. She had called his na.
She lay with her back to him, her breathing even and deep. Holding Raina’s hand, Ethan slowly closed his eyes.
Raina shifted her shoulders, trying to push away the man behind her, but even in his sleep, Ethan held her tight and wouldn’t let go.
Raina’s eyes were wide open. ’How could I possibly sleep?’
’That cry of "Ethan Lancaster"—she had said it for him to hear. She hated this man to her very core. She had waited for him to save her right up until her death, but he never ca. Did she really think she could count on him now?’
’What a joke.’
Later that night, Ethan was jolted awake by a ringing phone. Rembering Raina was still asleep in the bed, he quickly sat up and grabbed his mobile.
"Hello?"
"Fourth Master," Al’s voice ca through the phone. "Caron Fairchild is losing his mind. He’s completely lost it. I think he’s going to drink himself to death tonight."
Ethan replied coldly, "Ignore him. Let him die."
"We can’t do that! It’ll cause a huge scene."
Ethan turned, reaching out to touch the woman on the bed. The frustration that had been simring inside him was already suffocating. He stood up. "Where are you?"
"The Regalia Palace."
Raina heard a rustling sound. Ethan had grabbed his jacket and left, locking the door from the outside after pulling it shut.
Raina sat up. A mont later, she heard a car engine start downstairs. She went to the door and tugged on the handle. As she’d expected, it was locked.
「Inside The Regalia Palace」 Caron Fairchild was wasted, cursing at anyone and everyone. He had even hit his own subordinates, and now, only Al remained in the massive private room.
When Ethan pushed the door open and entered, Al looked completely defeated. His spirits lifted slightly upon seeing him. "Fourth Master, you’re finally here."
Ethan ignored him. He walked straight to the sofa, grabbed Caron Fairchild by the collar with one hand, and punched him in the face with the other.
The punch left Caron a bit dazed. Al scrambled up, trying to hold Ethan back. "Whoa, don’t, Fourth Master! There are plenty of ways to sober him up. You can’t just go and ss up that handso face everyone loves..."
"Get out of my way!" Ethan shoved Al aside and landed two more punches on Caron.
Caron sobered up a little and shoved Ethan away forcefully. "You’re hitting ? Over a woman?"
"And what about your n?"
"What for?"
Ethan snatched a glass of liquor off the table and splashed it in Caron’s face. Caron squeezed his eyes shut, his face now reeking of alcohol.
"What for? I’m going to kill them!"
Al finally realized sothing was seriously wrong. He stepped in front of Ethan to block him. "Fourth Master, let’s talk this out. We’re all brothers here."
"You—" Caron pointed a finger at him. "I told you before, you can’t keep that woman around! She probably ca back to kill you! I told you she was putting on an act, and you didn’t believe ! She’s far, far too manipulative. There were so many of us there, and she just started taking off her clothes. She..."
Ethan shoved Al away, lunged forward, and punched Caron again.
Caron slumped sideways onto the sofa, his mouth filling with the tallic taste of blood. He clutched his lip. "You son of a bitch."
"I told you not to touch her."
"Fourth Master, calm down." Al had never seen Ethan get physical with one of his own n. He pushed him down onto the sofa.
When Gwen Sharp walked into The Regalia Palace, she kept her head down, wishing she could bury her face in her chest.
She had just gotten a call telling her that Ethan had arrived and that she should get there right away.
Gwen found the private room Ethan was in. She scanned her surroundings; thankfully, she didn’t run into any old acquaintances. After a mont’s hesitation, she pushed the door open and went inside.
Ingrid Quinn watched from a short distance. Only when she saw Gwen’s figure did a smile spread across her lips.
The last ti they t, Gwen had made her slap her own face. Ingrid had to take a full week off for the bruising to heal. Now, she couldn’t even hold her head high in this place; everyone who saw her would stop to mock her.
Ingrid reached into her pocket and pulled out a small packet of powder. She poured it into a bottle of liquor, then expertly swirled it to dissolve the contents.
Soone was passing by, and Ingrid grabbed her arm. "Hey, wait. Can you deliver this bottle to a private room for ?"
"Why don’t you take it yourself?"
Ingrid draped an arm over the other girl’s shoulder with a wide smile. The girl was new and didn’t know how things worked yet. "The guy inside is a big spender. You’re guaranteed a huge tip. It’s just... he took out once, but then he started ghosting . I’m just trying to avoid the awkwardness, you know?"
The mont the young woman heard that, she eagerly took the bottle from Ingrid and hurried toward the private room where Ethan and his friends were.
Back at The Verdant Garden, Raina sat on the edge of the bed, her legs swinging idly. She looked up and out the window. She was waiting for an opportunity.
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