The Rise of the White Lotus Chapter 38 – It's not your fault, alright?

Lexi and Ethan were thrown inside another empty Van from the corner of the wide parking space like a bag of luggage. Apparently, both of their hands were tied behind them and their feet as well.

“Zipped your mouths and you’ll get away here unscathed.” A man who’s half of his face covered by a black cloth warned them. His eyes were akin to a beast that with one wrong move from them, he’ll surely do something they don’t hope for.

Seeing that Ethan and Lexi were obedient, he slightly nodded before shutting the door of the Van.

—

Earlier, when Lexi and Ethan saw that mind-boggling scene, Ethan shouted for her to enter the car. Alas, Lexi was too shocked and luck seemed it wasn’t on her side as for that brief moment, she finds it hard to search for her keys despite the small size of her branded handbag.

Hence, just as she grabbed a hold of her keys, the two men pounced at Ethan. He was trying to hold them back by fighting back but since they are the three of them, he was overpowered.

When they successfully subdued Ethan in a matter of seconds, one of the men then jumped skipped towards Lexi who was panicking to unlock her car. Thus, before she could near her escape, Lexi was already captured by the man.

—-

Now that everything was done, both of them ended up being hostage in a small van. If anything that can they’d be thankful for was that aside from the few punches Ethan received from his retaliation earlier, they didn’t harm them any longer.

Ethan glanced at Lexi who was evidently terrified of their escalated situation. They were just enjoying themselves earlier and had a little argument which seemed they nearly reconciled. However, how did it turned out like this? Them being tied up inside a small van? No, the real question was, who are these people? And what are their purpose?

Since the Van they were in was on the corner of the vast parking space, their only source of light was the faint light from the outside which made the inside of the van slightly dim. Though Lexi was evidently scared, it was too obvious that she was fighting it and not letting it overwhelm her anymore.

“Are you…” Ethan wanted to ask her if she was alright alas before he could even finish his question, he realized how dumb it is. Lexi on the other could feel her shoulder’s trembling began to get uncontrollable. Her hands and toes slowly felt cold and beads of sweat started to form on her forehead. Yet, she wanted to clear her head.

“It’s my fault… I’m sorry,” Lexi mumbled heedlessly recalling her earlier action. She found it laughable actually — acting without using her head.

“No, it’s not.” Ethan brows creased as worries flashed across his eyes. Though he liked teasing Lexi and seeing her different action, he never wanted to see this one expression. He budged his tied hands alas to no avail, it was rope was tightly secured. Surely, these men were professional and won’t let another mistake by giving them a chance to escape.

Feeling a little helpless, Ethan gritted his teeth and move to Lexi with great effort. Scrutinizing her bemused front, he demanded in a low and patient tone.

“Hey, look at me.”

Alas, Lexi as if trapped with her own little words heed him no mind. Hence. Ethan continuously attempted to snap her back to reality while his tone slowly increased with every time he calls her out and not receive any response.

“Hey, Miss Yang? Lexi!”

With his last call, Lexi finally got a hold of herself and her disoriented eyes raised to meet his. She didn’t think much about Ethan calling her first name despite the distance of their connection.

She was utterly scared. Granting that she always had a strong front, alas, this kind of situation… it was hard for her to play pretend. It only reminds her of a dark childhood past that no matter how much she tries to forget, she won’t.

Despite the dim surrounding, Ethan could clearly see the tears that forming on the corner of her eyes and was urging to fall any moment. Before him was a vulnerable Lexi — a scarred warrior after taking off her battle gears.

“It’s not your fault, alright? None of this is your fault.” Repeating his words, Ethan reassured with a meek smile.

“If only I went to the valet, I… we won’t be here.” For some reason, since Lexi was now able to spot her faults, she justified. She added; “also if only I didn’t walk out –“

“Tch.” Ethan clicked his tongue which halted Lexi from her sentence. “If only I didn’t tease you too much then, you wouldn’t walkout. If only I didn’t get on your nerve, then probably, your safe and sound not stuck here. So, it’s my fault in the first place.”

Admitting his wrongs to put the right scenarios, for some unknown reason, it put a slight smile on his lips. For a while, both of them neither spoke a word as they stared each other under the faint light through the tinted window.

“Pfft–” Realizing their petty words and reflection, both of them let out a light chuckle. Just then, they hushed as they heard a voice coming from outside.

“F*ck! How can you guys be so careless?! You actually let yourself get caught and now were detaining them. F*ck! We’re so dead… I’m doomed!”