Devilish secretary - Chapter 253

Chapter 253: Chapter 253 Ethan Dangerous Act
“Ahh!” she cried out, falling hard onto the ground.

Ethan skidded to a stop, his shoes throwing up dirt.

He turned around, saw her clutching her ankle, and without thinking, scooped her up into his arms.

Tara stared at him wide-eyed as he carried her bridal style, running full speed down the dirt path.

“You’re heavier than you look, lady!” he grunted, struggling a little but not stopping.

“Maybe you’re just weak!” Tara snapped back, holding onto him tightly.

“Excuse me? I’m pure muscle! It’s just… expensive muscle!” he defended himself, dodging another rock.

“How can someone so handsome be so useless in a fight?” Tara muttered.

Ethan gave her a look. “Looks are my first weapon, thank you very much! And right now, I’m using my second weapon—running skills!”

Tara hid her smile in his chest as he kept running, their crazy escape echoing through the forest while the mob chased behind them.

They were running fast, the sound of shouting and clashing footsteps behind them growing louder by the second.

Now, they were heading toward an old road bridge, a narrow structure that stretched across the river ahead. It looked worn out by time, the paint peeled away, the surface cracked, and most importantly…there were no safety walls or railings at the sides. Just a long stretch of open, dangerous road hanging above the river.

Ethan’s arms were getting tired from carrying Tara, but he kept running with everything he had, feeling her clutch tighter around his neck.

The villagers were gaining on them. Angry, armed, shouting louder with every step.

Ethan’s breath came hard and fast. His clothes clung to him with sweat, and still he pushed forward until suddenly, his mind flashed with a wild, reckless idea.

His steps slowed down as they reached the middle of the bridge.

And then he stopped completely.

“STOP!” Ethan shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice sharp and Cold.

The villagers pulled to a halt, glaring at him suspiciously, clutching their sticks and knives.

Ethan turned around to face them fully, still holding Tara protectively in his arms. The evening light hit his messy dark hair and determined face, making him look like a male lead straight out of a movie scene.

He raised his chin proudly.

“You people are ruthless!” he said loudly, anger rising in his chest. “Tara and I clearly love each other! But you’re destroying our lives!”

Tara stared at Ethan like he had lost his mind. Love?! They had known each other for less than twenty minutes!

Before she could say anything, Ethan turned his head slightly, winked at her with a mischievous sparkle in his eye.

Tara’s breath caught.

Somehow, behind all his crazy words and goofy acts, she saw it…the sincere look in his eyes. The trust me look.

He wasn’t lying about love. He was lying to save her.

And he needed her to play along.

The villagers were muttering angrily now, stepping forward again.

Without another second of hesitation—

Ethan jumped.

With Tara securely in his arms, he leapt sideways off the edge of the broken bridge road—

Straight down into the river below.

Tara barely had time to scream.

They plunged into the cold water with a loud splash, disappearing beneath the surface.

Back on the bridge, the villagers rushed to the edge and stared down in horror.

“They jumped!” one of them cried.

“If they die, there’ll be a police case! We’ll go to jail!”

“Run! Run!”

Panic broke out.

Without waiting to check anything else, the entire mob turned and fled into the trees, dropping their sticks and shouting in fear.

Even Tara’s father, red-faced and furious seconds ago, paled and stumbled away with the others.

Meanwhile, underwater—

Ethan moved easily.

He wasn’t just a good swimmer, he was almost like a merman, smooth, strong, natural in the water.

He kept Tara pressed close against his chest with one arm, kicking steadily with his legs and using his free arm to steer them toward the nearby forest shore.

The river wasn’t rough, but it was deep and Ethan handled it like a natural.

Water dripped down from his dark, messy hair. His soaked clothes clung to his muscles. His sharp jawline shined under the faint light as he swam, and his dark eyes burned with quiet fire and focus.

Tara clung to him tightly, her wedding dress heavy and pulling at her, but Ethan never let her slip.

He kept swimming steadily until they finally reached the muddy riverbank hidden beneath thick trees.

As he pulled them up onto the shore, both of them soaked and breathing hard.

Tara sat down carefully on the muddy grass, her heart still racing, her wedding dress heavy and dripping water all around her. She shivered slightly in the evening air.

Ethan, breathing hard from the swim, pulled off his soaked jacket and without a word, draped it over her shoulders.

It was heavy and warm, carrying a faint scent of fresh soap and sunshine.

Tara blinked up at him, touched by the small kindness. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice soft and real.

nothing, even though he looked a little embarrassed too. “Yeah, well… no point letting you freeze to death after all that running.”

Tara gave a tiny smile and looked away, not trusting herself to stare too long. His shirt wasn’t helping her nerves.

Ethan ruffled his wet hair roughly, sending little water droplets flying. Then he sighed loudly, looking around the thick trees and endless bushes.

“Great,” he muttered, squinting at the forest. “Now we’re stuck. No phone. No car. And no clue where we are.”

Tara raised an eyebrow. “Wow, what a perfect rescue plan, Mr. Stranger.”

Ethan turned to her with a deadpan face. “Excuse me? You’re the one who dragged me into your ‘running away from my evil wedding’ drama!”

Tara snorted. “Dragged you?! I barely met you! You were the one who screamed about love and jumped off a bridge like a crazy person!”

Ethan pointed at her dramatically. “Hey! I saved your life! And my acting was amazing, admit it!”

Tara looked at him, unimpressed. “You screamed louder than me.”

Ethan gasped, offended. “That was a strategic scream!”

Tara tried to hold it in, but a laugh slipped out. She quickly covered her mouth, pretending to cough.

Ethan gave her a side glare, pretending to be serious. “You know, a simple thank you and an apology would be nice. Like, ‘Thank you, handsome stranger, for risking your expensive life to save me.’ “