Back at The Verdant Garden, Raina first went to the restroom.
She had hidden the letter inside her underwear. The envelope was crumpled into a ball; she carefully unfolded it and saw a piece of paper tucked inside.
Raina pulled the paper out. It was already yellowed with age. Her eyes scanned it from top to bottom. ’No wonder there were other n in the Lynch Family’s study,’ she thought. ’So they weren’t strangers—they were all in it together.’
After Samuel Hawthorne’s accidental death back then, these n had jointly written this letter of guarantee, promising that the matter would sink like a stone into the sea and that they would never betray each other. It was also the best weapon they had to threaten one another. The bottom of the paper was signed and marked with thumbprints. Each of them probably had a copy of this docunt.
Raina stuffed it back into the envelope. She stood before the mirror and wiped a hand across its surface.
Her face was still there, but her best smile was gone.
’So that ans Frederick Lynch was among the people who killed Samuel Hawthorne.’
’Miles Hawthorne being with Hannah Lynch is definitely no coincidence. He’s lying low next to that hungry wolf, Frederick Lynch, and could be devoured by him at any mont.’
Ethan Lancaster knocked on the door from outside. Raina hid the letter before going to open it.
The man was leaning against the doorfra, his arms crossed over his chest. "For the New Year... are you going back to the Reddington Family’s ho?"
"Grandma’s coming over here."
"If you want to go back, we’ll go back. If you don’t, we won’t."
A smile touched the corner of Raina’s lips. "Wouldn’t it be bad if we didn’t? People will start saying that after marrying you, I’ve beco even more thoughtless, to the point of abandoning my own family."
"If outsiders are going to bla soone, they’ll bla . After all, I’m the one who burned down the Lynch Family’s ho. You just have to hide behind and keep quiet."
Hearing this, Raina couldn’t help but stand on her tiptoes. She reached out, wanting to wrap her arms around the man’s shoulders, but then she thought it wasn’t right to be so forward and pulled her hands back.
Ethan saw this. He grabbed her arms and made her wrap them around his waist. "If you want a hug, just say so. Can’t bla you for not being able to resist ."
Raina punched him lightly on the back. She decided she didn’t want to get involved in Miles Hawthorne’s affairs anymore, nor could she. Now that she finally had a shoulder to lean on, she just wanted to live her own life well.
The next day, Miles Hawthorne contacted Raina early in the morning. She had just gotten in her car and was about to leave.
"Hello."
"Raina, are you okay?"
Raina started the car and closed the door. "I’m fine. Has Frederick Lynch started to suspect you?"
"No. What happened last night was all Hannah Lynch’s doing. She admitted she didn’t see Felix Finch with you, but that doesn’t an Frederick Lynch will let his guard down."
Raina glanced at the bag on the passenger seat. "Do you want to expose what happened back then? Those n are all prominent figures in Stoneworth. You can’t win against them..."
"Raina, I’ve already had soone register for an appointnt with you. The appointnt number is eight. I can’t et you directly right now. Just give the item to her."
Raina agreed. "Okay."
"I’m sorry." The man’s voice was filled with helplessness. All he could do last night was watch. "But sooner or later, I will make them pay back double for this."
Raina ended the call. She knew Miles Hawthorne was on a path of no return, and no one could stop him.
When she arrived at the hospital, Raina began seeing patients. A woman whose registration slip showed the number 08 ca in. Without a word, she handed her dical record to Raina.
She opened a drawer and slipped the letter inside the dical record. The woman still said nothing, took back the record, and left.
On the day of Little New Year’s Eve, Grandma personally called Raina, telling her she had arrived in Stoneworth and that Raina should bring Ethan Lancaster ho for dinner.
The two of them first went to the mall to buy New Year’s gifts. It was still early when they arrived at the Reddingtons’ ho. As soon as Raina got out of the car, she saw her grandmother waiting at the door.
"Grandma!"
The driver helped take the things out of the trunk. Hearing the commotion, the people inside the house ca out as well.
The Reddingtons’ ho was decorated festively, clearly ready for the New Year. When Mia Reddington saw them co in, she called out sweetly, "Sis, Brother-in-law."
Zoe Scott brought over washed fruit and pastries. Mia wheeled herself over to Raina’s side. "Sis, you look like you’ve lost weight. Have you been too busy with work?"
Raina forced a slight smile. "Mm, maybe."
"Mia was so excited to hear you were coming. She dragged to the supermarket early this morning and picked out all your favorite things," Zoe Scott said, handing Raina a bag of pork jerky.
She held the heavy bag of food, lost in thought. Her grandmother, sitting beside her, gently took her hand. "Stay here tonight. Keep Grandma company. Have Ethan stay here too."
Raina glanced at the man sitting next to her. Ethan Lancaster agreed readily. "Alright."
After dinner, Ronan Reddington ntioned that the lanterns by the door hadn’t been hung yet. Ethan Lancaster volunteered and carried a chair outside.
"I’ll help you," Raina said, about to get up.
Zoe Scott quickly pulled her back. "Why are you being so thoughtless? Grandma ca all this way to see you, and she dotes on you the most. You should stay and chat with her a while longer."
"Mom, I’ll just go take a look," Mia said before wheeling herself over.
Ethan Lancaster opened the door, and the cold wind that had been held at bay rushed in wantonly. He stepped onto the chair, but it seed he still couldn’t quite reach, so he stood on his tiptoes. The muscles on his sides stretched upward, making the man’s figure seem even more tall and straight. Especially from Mia’s perspective in her wheelchair, his face, illuminated by the light from the eaves, was absolutely, impeccably perfect.
’She couldn’t help but stare, srized. If she hadn’t injured her leg, there’s no way it would have been Raina’s turn to marry into the Lancaster Family.’
Ethan Lancaster hung one lantern, and Mia held up the other one from her lap, offering it to him.
The man couldn’t reach it, so he had to jump down from the chair. He lost his balance for a mont and braced himself against Mia. She imdiately grabbed his hand. "Brother-in-law, are you okay?"
"I’m fine." Ethan Lancaster kicked the chair beside him. He tried to pull his hand back but found that Mia was gripping his fingers tightly.
A aningful smile played on the man’s lips. "Your sister is still inside."
"Brother-in-law, do you think my sister is pretty?"
Ethan Lancaster pulled his hand away. "She’s alright."
"What about ?"
He took the lantern from Mia’s hand and placed one foot on the chair. "You want to compare yourself to your sister?"
"The doctor said there’s a chance my leg could recover."
"That’s just a chance. Besides..." At this, Ethan Lancaster leaned down close to her, placing both his hands on the armrests of her wheelchair. "I like won who can climb into my bed on their own. Can you do that?"
Mia’s lips trembled. After hanging the last lantern, Ethan Lancaster pushed her wheelchair back inside.
Raina was in the kitchen washing fruit. When Ethan Lancaster walked in, she heard him but didn’t turn her head. "Are they hung?"
"Mhm." The man ca up from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist. His tone was a bit aggrieved as he rested his head against her neck. "Your sister tried to seduce ."
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