30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 161: Escape from the Carter Estate

Lily suddenly felt an inexplicable uneasiness, a strange sensation that something was about to happen. This feeling made her particularly anxious.

Before she knew it, the grand day arrived—the 100th anniversary of the Carter Group.

From early morning, all the news channels heavily reported the event. As part of the special celebration, the Carter Group was opening the largest mall in the country. The promotions and discounts were endless, and some people had even started queuing from the day before.

The media presence was overwhelming.

Lily glanced at the time on the TV. The celebratory banquet was scheduled for the evening, and at this moment, Alex should be busy at the mall.

Feeling her empty stomach, Lily stepped out of her room and headed towards the stairs. Suddenly, a middle-aged woman’s disdainful voice echoed from a nearby room.

"Bill Carter, we’ve been divorced for so many years, and yet, for this mere centennial celebration, you still want me to come back to save face for you?"

It was Alex’s mother.

Divorced?!

Uncle Bill and his wife had divorced?

Lily’s eyes widened in shock. Alex had never mentioned this to her.

"A businessman’s best image is a harmonious family," Bill Carter’s stern voice followed.

Bill Carter was the epitome of a businessman.

"Image? I’ve been revolted by you since I found out what you did back then. If it weren’t for Alex, I wouldn’t have come back at all," his ex-wife’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

Could it be that even Alex didn’t know about his parents’ divorce?

Lily didn’t want to eavesdrop on their argument and was about to leave when she heard Bill Carter coldly say, "Which incident? Ruining the Anderson family or sleeping with Henry’s woman?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Ruining the Anderson family or sleeping with Henry’s woman?

Lily froze in place, standing by the slightly open door, unable to move.

What was Bill Carter saying?!

What nonsense was this?! What did he mean by ruining the Anderson family or sleeping with her father’s woman?!

"They’re equally disgusting," his ex-wife snorted. "Henry Anderson has been released from prison. Aren’t you afraid he’ll come back for revenge? Maybe tamper with your centennial celebration?"

"That’s why I kept his daughter at the house. How could he not care about his own daughter’s life?" Bill Carter’s voice was filled with calculation. As long as he had Lily as leverage, he was certain Henry wouldn’t dare act recklessly.

"I’m telling you, Henry has always been smarter and more resourceful than you. You might not be able to beat him."

"Things are different now. Do you think I can’t handle an ex-convict? After the centennial celebration, I’ll use Lily to deal with Henry properly."

Lily was stunned by their conversation. It was no wonder Bill Carter kept her in the house; it was to prevent her father from seeking revenge.

Her suspicions had all been correct...

Why had her father hidden such a significant matter from her? She had already guessed most of it, but her father kept it a secret... And he was even pushing Alex to marry her. What was her father thinking?

No, she needed to find her father.

She had to understand what was really going on.

Holding her breath, Lily quietly returned to her room, taking out the phone Alex had confiscated earlier. As she turned it on, the flood of missed call notifications nearly made the phone vibrate off the table, the ringtones overlapping chaotically...

Lily quickly set the phone to silence.

Knock knock—

Suddenly, there were two knocks on the door.

Lily’s heart jumped into her throat. Suppressing her emotions, she said, "Come in."

Alex’s mother stood at the door, dressed in an elegant dress, smiling warmly at Lily, a far cry from the sarcasm from earlier. "Lily, your Uncle Bill and I are off to the mall to prepare for the opening ceremony. Later, I’ll have Alex come and pick you up."

"Okay. Let me walk you out."

Lily steadied herself, nodding calmly without revealing any emotion.

"No need, no need. You just watch some TV," Alex’s mother said with a smile, turning to leave.

Lily walked to the window and pulled back the heavy curtains to watch. After a while, she saw Uncle Bill embracing his ex-wife as they entered the car, looking like a loving couple.

Watching the extended car drive away, Lily finally looked at the phone in her hand. It was full of missed calls from Ethan. She dialed her home number...

No one answered.

She had to find her father and figure out what had happened between the Carter and Anderson families all those years ago.

She was weighed down by a mountain of unanswered questions.

Lily descended the stairs. The servants were busy with their tasks, not paying her any attention.

Lily surveyed her surroundings, her eyes darting around. Since Bill Carter was intent on keeping her at the house, he wouldn’t let her leave quickly, so she couldn’t use the front door.

She stood in the hall, observing the servants’ movements.

After some thought, Lily slipped out through the side door used by the maids when no one was looking.

The side door led to the back of the Carter estate. Once outside, she saw the rear gate wide open.

The back gate was clearly where the maids went in and out, and only a few older maids stood there tidying up the trash.

She should be able to get out.

Lily breathed a sigh of relief and began walking toward the gate...

Suddenly, several tall shadows blocked her way. One spoke coldly, "Miss Anderson, the master has instructed you to stay inside."

It was a group of burly bodyguards.

Had they been watching her this whole time?!

"Are you imprisoning me?!" Lily asked in disbelief.

"After the centennial celebration, the master will allow Miss Anderson to go home," replied the leading bodyguard.

Just as she suspected—

Bill Carter had no intention of letting her attend the celebration.

Lily was forced to sit back on the couch in the living room. The bodyguards tied her legs with ropes. When she tried to struggle, one of the bodyguards warned, "Miss Anderson, if you don’t want your hands tied as well, you’d best stay still."

Damn it!

The bodyguards surrounded her closely, watching her every move.

Lily sat quietly, desperately thinking of a way to escape. She had to get out of there. Staying at the Carter estate was not an option.

But how could she escape under the watchful eyes of these tall, strong bodyguards? Her legs were tied up with ropes. This was no different from kidnapping!

Lily scanned the room, but her mind kept drifting back to the conversation between Bill Carter and his ex-wife—

"Which incident? Ruining the Anderson family or sleeping with Henry’s woman?"

Her father’s woman? What did that mean? Was he referring to her mother? How could her mother possibly have been involved with Uncle Bill?

Only today did she learn the Anderson family had been ruined by Bill Carter...

She had been foolishly thinking that the Andersons and Carters were close family friends.

Bill Carter had destroyed her family, yet her father never told her, hiding everything. He even pushed Alex to marry her...

Dad, are you plotting something? What are you really planning?!

Lily’s lips pressed into a pale line.

Crackle—crackle—

The enormous TV screen began broadcasting the lively sound of fireworks. The camera turned to the front of the Carter Group’s new mall, which was packed with people.

As they approached the mall, a large group of bodyguards surrounded Bill Carter, his ex-wife, Alex, and a host of directors and staff.

The grand opening ceremony was being conducted lavishly, with a red carpet entrance and a ribbon-cutting.

Bill Carter cut the ribbon amid a flurry of camera flashes, flanked on either side by his ex-wife and Alex and the board of directors.

The grand event showed Bill’s importance in this centennial celebration.

The scene was chaotic with the noise of the crowd.

Lily stared at Bill Carter’s stern face on the TV. She had to escape. There was no way Bill would let her go after today...

Alex was all smiles on the screen, and the camera followed him the most. He knew nothing about the feud between the Andersons and the Carters. He was still hopeful that their marriage would reconcile the two families.

But how could this grudge be reconciled now?

Her family’s downfall could never be forgiven...

For the next hour, the Carter family proceeded with the ribbon-cutting ceremony, receiving glowing praise from the media.

The largest mall in the country was officially open.

A flood of people rushed into the mall to shop.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated in her pocket, continuously buzzing. It must be a call.

Was it from her father?

Lily’s eyes shifted, and without drawing attention, she discreetly took off her short jacket, folded it behind her, and slipped the phone into the jacket pocket before answering the call.

The bodyguards immediately looked over, watching her closely to ensure she wasn’t up to anything.

"You’re just going to keep me locked up here until tomorrow?!" Lily suddenly raised her voice, confronting them. "I can remember your faces. I’ll report you!"

The lead bodyguard stepped forward. "We’re just following orders."

"Even if you follow orders, you’re still breaking the law. Release me immediately!" Lily grabbed the remote and turned down the TV’s noise, purposely raising her voice again. "Otherwise, I’ll report you as soon as I get out for illegally detaining me at the Carter estate and restricting my personal freedom!"

She had no idea who was on the other end of the line, but whoever it was... they needed to call the police and help her! Immediately!

The bodyguard replied coldly, "Miss Anderson if the master couldn’t handle it, he wouldn’t have left us to watch over you."

"Fine, then you just keep watching."

Lily stopped arguing with the bodyguards and turned her attention back to the TV, not revealing any further emotions.

Hopefully, the person on the other end of the line understood her plea for help.

But she couldn’t rely solely on this call. She had to find a way to escape.

Bill Carter definitely wouldn’t let her go quickly. He would continue to hold her hostage to threaten her father. She had to escape... and then confront her father for answers.

On TV, after the opening of the Carter Mall, reporters struggled to follow the crowd inside while introducing the various promotional events.

Famous singers from both domestic and international scenes were performing on the mall’s stage.

"I need to go to the bathroom."

Lily raised her bound legs and said coldly, "Untie me!"

"Miss Anderson, don’t try anything," the bodyguard warned.

"I need to go to the bathroom!" Lily pushed herself up from the couch but nearly stumbled.

One of the bodyguards grabbed her and untied the ropes from her legs instead of binding her hands. "You can go to the bathroom now."

Lily struggled against the tight restraints on her hands, her face stern. "Do you think I can manage like this?"

"Someone, come here." The bodyguard grabbed a maid and brought her forward. "Miss Anderson, do you have any more questions?"

Lily glared at him angrily. "What do you take me for?!"

"We’re just following orders. Don’t try anything."

The bodyguards pushed her and the maid into the bathroom, where the maid moved to help her undress. Lily quickly stepped back. "Don’t touch me!"