The text ssage was unsigned and succinct. It was brief, yet its intention was so obvious that Ethan Lancaster had no doubt who sent it.
He placed the phone back on the nightstand. Miles Hawthorne’s aning was crystal clear. He still hadn’t touched Hannah Lynch. ’By telling Raina this,’ he thought, ’does he think there’s still a chance for them?’
’Perhaps he thinks that as long as he doesn’t cross that line, he can still co back to Raina in the future.’
’How utterly ridiculous.’
When Raina Reddington ca out of the shower, Ethan Lancaster acted as if nothing had happened, continuing to flip through the book in his hand. "Did you eat dinner?"
"Yes, the housekeeper saved so for ." Raina Reddington threw back the covers and lay down, her hair hastily dried. She rolled over, turning her back to Ethan Lancaster. "I’m exhausted. I’m going to sleep."
Ethan Lancaster stared at her back. ’This is a dead giveaway,’ he thought. ’That ssage from Miles Hawthorne must have stirred sothing in her. No wonder she’s looking at , her own husband, like I’m an eyesore she wants to kick to the curb.’
Raina Reddington was asleep almost instantly, having already put the text ssage out of her mind. Ethan Lancaster threw his book at the nightstand beside him. The SLAM startled Raina, who mumbled drowsily, "What are you doing?"
’If he hadn’t seen how dead tired she was, Ethan Lancaster would have shown her exactly what he wanted to do right then and there.’
Seth Sinclair was always thorough when it ca to investigating people and matters. And whether the task was good or bad, as long as Ethan Lancaster assigned it, he would always arrange things flawlessly.
Ethan Lancaster listened to what he had just said without a word. Seth Sinclair watched the pen twirl between his fingers.
After a long mont, Ethan Lancaster finally gripped the pen tightly. "Are you saying that Miles Hawthorne and Hannah Lynch went to rcy Seas Hospital, and they specifically requested an appointnt with Raina?"
"Yes. Miss Lynch had a physical exam. It was likely in preparation for pregnancy."
Ethan Lancaster couldn’t suppress a smirk, his gaze sweeping over Seth Sinclair’s icy face. "Must have been tough on you, running around investigating won."
"It wasn’t any trouble. Just a matter of pulling up so dical records."
"How are the arrangents I asked you to make coming along?"
Hearing this, Seth Sinclair looked troubled. "Miles Hawthorne is a very cautious man. He watches his every step, which makes it difficult to get him to fall into a trap."
"Everyone has a soft spot, a weakness. Just like with the incident at The Clearwater Hot Spring Hotel. He must have a few places he frequents. It’s fine. We’ll wait for the right ti. I can afford to wait."
"Understood."
Ethan Lancaster stood up. Seth Sinclair glanced at him, hesitating as if he wanted to say sothing.
He had been by Ethan Lancaster’s side for so many years that their mutual understanding was a given. Ethan kicked back the chair behind him with his leg. "If you have sothing to say, just say it. Don’t beat around the bush."
"Fourth Master, the water conservancy charity project ended long ago. You won. Are you targeting Miles Hawthorne now because of your wife?"
"And what if I am?"
It wasn’t that he couldn’t, it just seed a bit unnecessary in Seth Sinclair’s eyes. "You and your wife don’t have any feelings for each other, let alone love. Even if you let her be, nothing serious would happen..."
Ethan Lancaster exploded at his words. "What do you an, no feelings?"
Seth Sinclair was taken aback, montarily stumped. But he wasn’t wrong. "Fourth Master, don’t tell you... like your wife?"
Ethan Lancaster’s handso features were practically twisted into a knot. His throat felt as if it were stuffed with cotton. ’She’s my woman,’ he thought. ’The woman I married and brought back to The Verdant Garden. Am I supposed to just let her make a cuckold out of ?’
Ethan Lancaster tossed out one last sentence before walking out. "Serves you right for being single."
Seth Sinclair shrugged. ’Nothing wrong with being single,’ he thought. ’It’s much more peaceful.’
Ethan Lancaster never brought up the incident at The Clearwater Hotel again, and Raina Reddington never explained it further, but she had a feeling it wasn’t over just like that.
That person not only knew Joanna Lloyd’s itinerary but had also calculated that Ethan Lancaster would be there. Setting aside Miles Hawthorne’s appearance, who could have that kind of ability?
The first person Raina Reddington thought of was Miranda Caron.
After getting off work at the hospital and heading ho, Raina Reddington walked into the parking garage, only to see another car parked next to hers.
As she approached, the driver honked the horn. Ethan Lancaster rolled down the rear passenger window. "Get in."
"What are you doing here?"
"Picking you up for dinner." Ethan Lancaster opened the car door. "I’ll have the driver bring you back tomorrow morning."
Raina Reddington sat down next to Ethan Lancaster, and the car drove off. The places he chose were always high-end, ranging from flashy entertainnt venues to secluded hideaways. This ti, however, their destination was a teahouse.
Raina Reddington followed Ethan Lancaster into one of the private rooms. Her first impression was that it was huge. It was decorated in a completely Japanese style, with tatami mats and a television. It looked just like a hotel room and had everything one could possibly need.
A server brought in tea, and less than fifteen minutes later, returned with a full Japanese al to go with it.
"Just eating like this is boring. Let’s watch so TV," Ethan Lancaster said as he got up, walked over, and grabbed the remote to turn on the television.
Raina Reddington was starving and couldn’t be bothered to watch TV. She picked up her chopsticks, chose a piece of sushi, and popped it into her mouth.
"Is it good?"
"Mhm."
Ethan Lancaster didn’t sit across from Raina Reddington. Instead, he squeezed in right beside her. The space could barely fit one person, and she placed a hand on his chest to push him away. "Go sit on the other side."
"But then I’d be blocking your view of the TV."
"I’m not watch—" Raina Reddington started to say, but her gaze was involuntarily drawn to the television screen.
On the screen was a teahouse, its decor identical to the room she was in now. The only difference was the person sitting at the low table.
Raina Reddington forgot to chew, her mouth stuffed full of sushi. Her heart sank, and she whipped her head around to look at Ethan Lancaster beside her.
"Go on, eat. It’s the salmon you love." Ethan Lancaster picked up a plump piece of salmon and dipped it into the soy sauce mixed with wasabi.
Raina Reddington put down her chopsticks and managed to swallow the food in her mouth. "What is the aning of this?"
Ethan Lancaster sat cross-legged, his left hand propped behind him and his other arm resting on Raina Reddington’s waist. "It doesn’t an anything. I just turned on the TV randomly. How was I supposed to know he’d be on?"
On the television screen, Miles Hawthorne was looking down, sipping his tea. He seed to be waiting for soone.
Raina Reddington tried to get up and turn off the TV, but Ethan Lancaster pulled her back. "It’s not a cri to watch. Don’t be so nervous."
Miles Hawthorne kept checking his watch. On the table were a pot of tea and so small snacks. He drank several cups of tea, and even though the room wasn’t particularly warm, he began to break out in a sweat.
Raina Reddington watched him take off his jacket and loosen his tie. He had been sitting upright, but now he was starting to look restless.
"What did you do to him?" Raina Reddington asked, seeing that sothing was wrong.
Miles Hawthorne had clearly noticed it too. He grabbed his jacket and stood up to leave, but at that exact mont, the door from outside was pushed open.
Raina Reddington saw Hannah Lynch walk briskly into the room. At the sa ti, the door was closed behind her.
Ethan Lancaster raised his cup to the television in a toast. ’Here’s to them successfully consummating their relationship.’
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