The Billionaire’s Secret Quartet (Thalassa and Elowen)

Ethan tilted his chin up even higher, a defiant gleam in his eye. "Go on, hit me. Then I'll go straight to Dr. Funke and tell him you're violent. See how quick he'll drop you as an apprentice!" Lydia huffed angrily, her fists clenched at her sides before she finally let them fall. "If you think I'm such a quack, why on earth do you keep coming back here?"

"These injuries? You gave them to me! No other clinic can deal with them. Who else am I supposed to turn to?" Ethan tried to glance over his shoulder at the wounds on his back, but couldn't quite see them. At home, however, he'd seen the bruises and cuts in the mirror - all Lydia's handiwork.

"If you're here for treatment, then act like it and stop your whining," Lydia snapped back. "I've never seen a man moan as much as you."

Turning on her heel, Lydia strode out, momentarily forgetting about Thalassa and Lysander's presence. Remembering her guests, she quickened her pace to catch up to them, just in time to see their car pulling away.

Ethan was quick to follow, still arguing. "Who's the real complainer here? Or are you trying to out-man a man? What's with all these acupuncture needles anyway if it's just a superficial wound?"

Lydia spun around, her stare fierce enough to make Ethan visibly shrink back.

"I know it's a superficial wound, Ethan. You complained about the smell of the herbs, said the ointment was too painful to peel off. You didn't want to drink the bitter herbal teas either! So, acupuncture - the quickest, simplest solution. But no, that's too much for you as well. You're too sensitive and yet it's my medical skills you question? Unbelievable."

If it weren't for the fact that she was responsible for his injuries, Lydia wouldn't have bothered with him at all.

"Sure, I don't like the herbs, the ointment, or the teas," Ethan admitted, albeit grudgingly.

"Then stick with the acupuncture. You chose this," Lydia said, her patience wearing thin. "Why blame me?"

She couldn't believe she was arguing over such trivial matters with a grown man.

"I'm not blaming you, it's just "

"Just what?" Lydia pressed.

Ethan faltered, then abruptly changed the subject. "When do you get off work?" "None of your business!" Lydia shot back, not in the mood to entertain him any further.

She turned and headed back to her clinic with Ethan trailing behind.

"How did any of your exes Pet

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with you? They must've left because they couldn't stand it, right?

Lydia spun around, her gaze fierce. "Say one more word, and I swear I'll sew your mouth shut!"

Ethan clamped his mouth shut immediately.

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Lydia huffed and continued walking, then paused to throw over her shoulder, "What are you still doing here? Go on, get lost!"

It was only

all Carden Ethan played his

, you can't just leave

needles in my back. I look

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like a porcupine here!"

Only then did Lydia remember the acupuncture needles still sticking out of his back. "Fine, get on the bed and lie down!"

"Right away!" Ethan's tone suddenly shifted, eager and compliant as a puppy.