30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 167: A Battle of Wills

"Put me down; my things are all over the place." Lily struggled in Ethan Blackwood’s arms, trying to get free—she had just printed out those resumes...

Ethan carried her without flinching and angrily tossed her into the car, shouting, "Lily Anderson, get your act together!"

"What’s wrong with me?" Lily asked coldly. Why had he suddenly thrown her into the car?

"You..." Ethan was about to yell but realized he didn’t know what to accuse her of.

She was responding calmly, not crying, not throwing a tantrum... She seemed perfectly normal.

But there was something... off.

Something just didn’t feel right about her.

"There’s something I need to do." Lily reached for the car door, trying to leave.

Ethan suddenly gripped her injured wrist. He glared at her, his gaze domineering, and ordered, "Lily! You’re not going anywhere!"

Why was she running around at a time like this?

"Ethan, let me out of the car." Lily looked at him coldly, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

Sitting in the front seat, his secretary, Helen, turned to observe Lily’s calm eyes and then looked at Ethan’s hand gripping Lily’s wrist, a hint of surprise in her gaze.

"Mr. Blackwood, Miss Anderson’s hand is bleeding." Helen couldn’t help but speak up.

Hearing this, Ethan glanced down and finally noticed that he had been gripping Lily’s hand, which was now bleeding even more from the cuts his nails had made earlier...

Damn it!

Did she not feel pain?

"Lily! Can’t you tell when something hurts?!" Ethan snapped, releasing her hand. His palm was stained with her blood.

"I’m fine," Lily said calmly, pulling her sleeve to cover her wound. "I need to get out of the car."

"I’m taking you home right now!" Ethan roared in frustration, turning to the driver and shouting, "Why aren’t we moving?!"

Home?

What home did she have now?

"Miss Anderson, at least wipe the blood," Helen said, handing her some tissues.

Lily looked at her quietly—a woman in her thirties or forties. Had Ethan changed his preferences?

"I’m Mr. Blackwood’s secretary. My name is Helen. We’ve spoken on the phone before, do you remember?" Helen smiled as she introduced herself.

"Thank you."

Lily took the tissues and began wiping the blood from her hand. The blood soaked into the tissues bit by bit.

Even after wiping, the blood continued to seep out.

Lily wiped harder, pressing the tissues harshly against her injured skin.

"Lily Anderson, stop it!" Ethan, seeing her actions, roughly pushed her hand aside. Was she planning to scrub her skin off entirely?! Did she really not feel any pain?

Helen quickly handed him more tissues.

Ethan snatched them up and gently took Lily’s soft, pale hand. Carefully, he wiped away the blood, his movements cautious, making sure not to hurt her further.

It was the first time Helen had seen Mr. Blackwood act so "gentle," and she couldn’t help but be surprised.

Lily glanced at Ethan briefly before gazing out the window, allowing him to clean her wound.

The car stopped in front of Ethan’s mansion in the Clearwater Bay community.

Lily looked calmly at the grand villa. It felt like... she hadn’t been here in a long time.

Ethan grabbed her hand and dragged her inside the house. Before they entered, he said, "Nanny, bring the first aid kit over!"

"Yes, Mr. Blackwood."

Lily was forced to sit on the couch while Ethan lifted her hand and gently blew on her wound. The cool air brushing over her injury felt soothing.

Lily sat quietly, her expression unchanged. On the TV, a news broadcast was playing.

The anchor was delivering a report: "The shocking scandal of an extramarital affair in a prominent family has come to light. A mistake from the previous generation has led to two young people, who were about to get married, discovering they are half-siblings."

"Chairman Bill Carter of Carter Group immediately issued a statement denying the affair and claiming he has no illegitimate child."

Suddenly, the screen went black.

Bang—

Ethan had thrown the remote at the TV, shattering it, his face dark with anger.

"Who told you to watch TV?!" Ethan snapped at her. Why were the maids in his house watching the news?!

It wasn’t like she had turned on the TV.

"Miss Anderson’s here..." Nanny rushed over with the first aid kit, and when she saw Lily’s face, her expression softened with sympathy. "Miss Anderson, is there anything you’d like to eat? I can make something for you right away."

Seeing the pity in Nanny’s eyes, Lily wasn’t sure what she felt. She simply shook her head. "No, thank you. I have things to do."

She had to print her resumes again.

She needed to find a job. She was busy—too busy to stay here and eat.

"What do you have to do?! You’re staying here, and you’re not going anywhere!" Ethan’s voice was commanding, leaving no room for negotiation. But his hands were gentle as he cleaned her wound, careful not to cause her any pain.

"I need to find a job." She had a lot to do. She didn’t want to stay in this house or any place that would make her stop and think.

"I’ll pay you a salary. Just stay here and don’t go anywhere!" Ethan interrupted her arrogantly, leaving no room for argument.

Lily didn’t know how to respond to Ethan’s overbearing nature. She couldn’t argue with him—anything she said would be dismissed.

He was always like this. He never cared what others thought, never cared what others wanted. His word was law, his truth was the only truth, and no one could challenge him.

Ethan’s gaze was intense as he focused on cleaning her wound. He carefully applied a bandage to her wrist, his lips parting slightly. "Don’t let your hand get wet for the next few days."

Lily pulled her hand back and flexed it a bit. It was okay now.

"I’m leaving." She spoke softly, standing up to leave. But before she could take a step, Ethan grabbed her and pulled her back onto the couch, pinning her down.

Lily found herself lying on the couch, with Ethan kneeling beside her. His short hair hung slightly over his forehead, and his dark eyes gazed down at her, filled with something more.

For a moment, the air between them grew thick with tension.

Ethan stared down at her face, which he hadn’t seen in what felt like forever. There was a particular greed in his eyes. His fingers, filled with desire, traced her smooth, pale skin, his gaze deepening with every second...

"Ethan, let me go. I’m leaving." Lily’s cold voice shattered the intimate atmosphere.

Ethan gritted his teeth in frustration. "Lily! Do you not understand what I’m saying?!"

He had already told her he would pay her to stay home comfortably, so why was she still insisting on leaving?! Why go out and work when she didn’t need to?!

Lily stared at his handsome face, her voice cold as she asked, "Do you understand what I’m saying?"

"You..." Ethan’s anger flared.

"I’m leaving. Did you hear me, Ethan?" Lily insisted, her tone calm and devoid of emotion, as if she were merely repeating a simple statement.

Ethan was so furious he nearly punched something.

This woman... Did she not understand? Right now, she could get hit by a car and not even feel it. Letting her leave was practically sending her to her death!

"Nanny, bring the chains for Lily!" Ethan ordered coldly.

She wanted to leave?

He’d make sure she couldn’t get past the door!

Chains...

Hearing this, Lily’s gaze dropped, still devoid of any light.

"What?!" Nanny gasped, her mouth opening as she looked at the expressionless Lily beneath Ethan. She couldn’t help but plead, "Mr. Blackwood, please, let it go. I’ll watch over Miss Anderson and make sure she doesn’t run off."

After everything Miss Anderson had gone through, locking her up would break her. No one could handle that.

"Tell me! Are you still going to leave?!" Ethan demanded, grabbing her chin and glaring at her with a threatening look.

The soft feel of her skin still pleased him.

Every inch of her body was something he liked.

"I’m leaving." Lily stubbornly answered, her face expressionless.

Ethan’s eyes darkened, and his grip on her chin tightened. He yelled at her again, "Lily! Are you still going to leave?!"

It was as if another word of defiance would make him crush her right there on the couch.

Anyone with common sense would know when to give in.

"I’m leaving," Lily repeated calmly, sticking to her decision. She had things to do; she couldn’t stay here.

Fascinated, Ethan punched the couch next to her face, his fist sinking deep into the cushion.

"Lily Anderson!"

"My answer is the same. I have things to do. I don’t want to stay here," Lily said calmly, showing neither rejection nor acceptance of him.

Ethan’s anger boiled over. He lowered his head abruptly and captured her lips in a fierce, punishing kiss as if he wanted to devour her whole.

This time, Lily didn’t resist or struggle. She let him kiss her.

It felt like an eternity since he had last kissed her.

The warmth and softness of her lips made his heart race, intoxicating him with desire. She tasted so damn good.

Ethan kissed her as if he were addicted, his hot tongue slowly and skillfully licking and savoring every part of her lips, lingering over every inch...

Seeing this, Nanny quietly turned and left, feeling an overwhelming resignation.

Mr. Blackwood really was experiencing the thrill of reunion after a brief separation.

He must have been living restlessly in the office these past few days.

Ethan kissed Lily passionately, oblivious to everything around them. Dissatisfied, he tried to pry her lips open.

Lily didn’t resist, and he quickly slipped his tongue inside, exploring the warmth of her mouth, tasting every corner, sending shivers down his spine...

Ethan’s kiss grew more intense. One hand cradled the back of her head, lifting it slightly to bring her closer and deepen the kiss.

A pleasurable tremor spread through his entire body.

Ethan kissed her wildly, relentlessly, his hand wandering over her slim, soft body, igniting flames of passion wherever he touched.

Lily endured his fiery kiss silently. She neither resisted nor responded.

Suddenly, a wave of nausea surged through her, and she couldn’t suppress it.

Lily shoved Ethan away with all her strength, got off the couch, and rushed to the bathroom, covering her mouth as if fleeing for her life...

Gag—

Inside the bathroom, Lily collapsed by the toilet and began to vomit, bringing up the food she had eaten earlier.

This time, she didn’t vomit as violently as before, only bringing up a little, but her stomach still felt unbearably uncomfortable.

When she was done, her mouth was filled with a bitter taste, completely erasing the warmth left on her lips by Ethan’s kiss.

Lily slumped against the toilet, feeling a deep sense of defeat. Even her body was betraying her?

She wanted to keep pushing forward, but her body wouldn’t allow it?

She had survived once before, going from a wealthy daughter to a girl living under someone else’s roof. She could survive that, so indeed, she could survive this...

Ethan stood at the bathroom door, watching her for a long time, his frustration simmering below the surface.

Suddenly, Ethan strode over, crouched down in front of her, and roughly grabbed her delicate neck. His eyes were filled with fury, and his voice came out as a menacing growl, "Lily! Do I disgust you that much?!"