30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 195: You’re an idiot

Lily was moving toward her dream step by step, and the feeling was unlike anything she had ever experienced.

At a top-tier restaurant, she bought a sushi platter to take away. Ethan always chose food based on its price rather than its taste. She had never understood his skewed value system but had no choice but to cater to his preferences.

Ethan’s views on money were indeed like those of a nouveau riche.

A few times, she had asked him where he had gotten such a distorted perspective. He would glare at her as if he wanted to devour her but never said a word.

It left her wholly puzzled.

Handing a stack of books to Cipher and the others, Lily held the sushi as she took the elevator to the top floor, heading toward Ethan’s office.

After his meeting, he would probably be hungry.

As she walked through the spotless hallway, the door to the conference room suddenly opened, and a familiar figure appeared in the doorway.

Lily stopped in her tracks, staring in shock.

Alex stood in the doorway, his tailored shirt fitting perfectly, his long legs straight, his short, sandy-brown hair soft. His head was slightly bowed, and his face looked tired, lacking the usual warm glow.

Suddenly, Alex’s lips curved into a faint, somewhat bitter smile.

Lily was taken aback.

Sensing her gaze, Alex abruptly looked up. His brown eyes widened in surprise, and his smile froze as he scanned her from head to toe in shock.

What was she doing here?!

She was dressed in designer clothes, holding a sushi platter, her hair freshly styled. She looked fashionable and beautiful, her face fuller than before. She looked so much better than the last time he had seen her.

When he had last seen her in the hospital, her eyes had been lifeless.

She hadn’t left?

Even after discovering that Ethan and Henry had devised a scheme to trick her, she still chose to stay with Ethan.

Why?!

Why, after everything, had she still chosen Ethan?!

After a long silence, Alex quietly closed the conference room door behind him and looked at her, his voice soft. "I thought you had already left."

"I was planning to," Lily replied, her voice hoarse and her gaze lowering. It was difficult to speak.

She had never left.

She had stayed by Ethan’s side, while Alex believed he had succeeded and made her leave.

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of Alex’s lips, though it was forced. "You stayed but didn’t think to call me?"

No matter how much he had begged, she had used the grudges of the previous generation as an excuse to reject him. She refused to take a DNA test and didn’t even leave room for friendship between them.

Ethan had tricked her, yet she could still stay by his side.

"Why would my woman need to call you?!"

Ethan’s cold, arrogant voice suddenly cut through the air as the conference room door was flung open.

Ethan stood in the doorway, his gaze filled with disdain as he stared at Alex. He reached out and pulled Lily to his side, wrapping an arm around her possessively, making his claim clear.

Alex’s eyes darkened as he looked at Ethan’s hand around Lily’s waist.

"Maybe you’re only strict with me," Alex said with a bitter smile, his gaze fixed on Lily’s face.

Her rejection had been absolute, leaving no room for compromise.

Her acceptance of Ethan, however, was beyond anything Alex had expected.

Lily looked at Alex, unable to say a word. Her heart ached. She didn’t know what to say. Hurting Alex was the last thing she wanted to do.

But she had hurt him ultimately.

She felt so guilty toward him that she didn’t know what to do.

"My woman doesn’t want to talk to you! The elevator’s over there, Mr. Carter." Ethan’s cold voice cut through again as he glared at Alex.

To Ethan, Alex looked at Lily like a thorn in his side.

Even now, Alex still harbored feelings for Lily!

Alex let out a mocking laugh. "How do you know she doesn’t want to talk to me?"

"Because she’s my woman!" Ethan declared again, asserting his dominance.

"Heh." Alex turned his gaze back to Lily, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do you have any freedom with a man like him? Is this really your choice? You don’t regret it?"

That mocking smile... Lily had never seen that expression on Alex’s face before.

He had always been gentle and kind, rarely speaking harsh words to anyone...

He had never spoken to her like this.

Lily’s face paled. She had hurt him deeply...

"What the hell did you just say?!" Ethan exploded, grabbing Alex by the collar. "Alex, say that again if you dare!"

What did he mean by "a man like him"?!

Was this guy looking for death?! He had already spared Carter Group, letting Henry and the Carters fight among themselves.

And now Alex dared provoke him!

"Enough," Lily quickly intervened. "Ethan, don’t."

Both men turned to look at her—one furious, the other cold and mocking.

Lily gave Ethan a pleading look, silently asking him not to start a fight.

The way she looked at Ethan made Alex feel a sharp, stabbing pain in his chest.

Now... it seemed like Ethan was the only one in her eyes.

Ethan clenched his jaw, suppressing his anger as he released Alex’s collar with a forceful shove.

Alex’s collar was now wrinkled from Ethan’s grip.

"Alex, I’m letting you off because you’re her brother!" Ethan said coldly, glaring at Alex, his eyes burning with anger.

The word "brother" was spat out with extra venom.

Alex’s face went pale, all color draining from it.

Several people began filing out of the conference room, stopping at the door to witness the scene. Leading them was Henry Anderson, dressed in a sharp suit.

Lily tugged at Ethan’s sleeve, signaling for him to stop speaking.

"I’m warning you! Stop having inappropriate thoughts about your own sister! It’s disgusting!" Ethan sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.

Alex’s face grew even paler.

"Ethan..." Lily frowned, tugging at his sleeve again. Why did he have to say such things?

Ethan shot her an annoyed look and said coldly, "Fine! I won’t say anything else!"

This woman... He wasn’t even hitting anyone, just saying a few words. Why was she so worked up?

"Ethan, I’ll take back everything one day!" Alex finally said, staring at Ethan. His voice, usually gentle, now carried a sinister edge.

Straightening his collar, Alex shot a dark glance at Lily, his eyes unreadable. He turned and walked away, his posture stiff.

His fists were clenched tightly at his sides, veins bulging.

As he passed the stack of books the bodyguards held, he saw the top one: Basic Theories of Screenwriting.

Screenwriting?

She had started studying to become a director? And she was pursuing her dreams by Ethan’s side?

She must have forgotten the promises he had made to her... she must have forgotten them by now.

Pulling his gaze away from the stack of books, Alex walked briskly down the hall, his brown eyes flashing with malice.

"Let’s go!" Ethan said, glaring at Alex’s retreating figure before pulling Lily along. Lily, feeling stiff, followed him.

Just as they reached the door to Ethan’s office, a voice called out from behind them.

"Lily."

That voice was unmistakable—it was the voice of the father she had once longed for, day and night.

Lily froze. Ethan could feel the change in her, and he turned to face the approaching Henry Anderson, his voice ice-cold. "Get lost!"

Cipher was such an idiot! He was supposed to take Lily shopping, yet she still ended up here at the company!

"The court date is approaching, Lily. Will you be testifying?" Henry asked.

Was that all her father cared about?

He was still set on seeking revenge against Mayor Johnson for the investigation years ago.

"No," Lily replied coldly. She didn’t want anything to do with that part of her past. Whether Alice Johnson went to prison or not, she didn’t care anymore.

That was all behind her.

With that, Lily pushed open the door to Ethan’s office and walked inside.

"Lily..." Henry frowned and made to follow her.

"Didn’t you hear what she said?!" Ethan blocked Henry’s path, his gaze icy. "Henry Anderson, I’m warning you—don’t come looking for her again! Or don’t blame me for what happens!"

Whether or not Henry was actually Lily’s biological father didn’t matter. A man who could sell out his daughter had no right to bother her anymore.

Seeing that Ethan was furious, Henry forced a smile. "Mr. Blackwood, there’s no need for anger. I just wanted to talk to my daughter for a moment."

He wasn’t ready to burn bridges with Ethan just yet.

"She has nothing to do with you anymore!" Ethan said coldly.

"Very well. With you taking care of her, I’m relieved," Henry said, trying to smooth things over. His gaze lingered on Lily’s slender back as he said, "Take care of yourself. I’ll be leaving now."

With that, Henry didn’t push the matter further and turned to leave.

Lily stood with her back to the door. Hearing her father’s words of concern made her nose sting with emotion.

His concern felt so fake it made her want to cry.

Bang—

The door closed, and a warm, broad chest pressed against her back.

Ethan hugged her from behind, holding her silently, his warmth radiating into her.

Lily tilted her head back and blinked away her tears, refusing to let them fall.

"If you need to cry, just cry in front of me," Ethan said, holding her from behind. His voice was filled with a strangely tender authority.

The sushi slipped from her hands, and Lily turned around, wrapping her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

His scent, his embrace, his shoulder—all of it gave her a sense of security.

Her voice choked as she said, "Ethan, let’s promise... to never lie to each other again."

She didn’t want to keep discovering the truth at the very last moment...

She couldn’t change the past and didn’t want to dwell on it anymore.

From now on, Ethan and their baby were the most important people in her life. She couldn’t handle being deceived again.

"As long as you stay by my side, I won’t lie to you about anything," Ethan promised, his voice deep as he held her tightly, offering her warmth.

At that moment, Lily suddenly felt relief that she hadn’t left.

There were so many things that she might not have been able to face alone without his shoulder to lean on.

After a moment, as if she had just remembered something, Lily looked up from his chest and exclaimed, "The sushi!"

"I bought sushi! Do you want some?" Lily quickly left his embrace to pick up the platter from the floor. Fortunately, it hadn’t spilled everywhere.

This woman... She sure knew how to switch moods quickly.

He had thought she would be upset for a long time.

Ethan watched her intently, and Lily, noticing his gaze, managed a weak smile. "I have to stay positive for the baby."

A pregnant woman’s mood could easily affect the baby. She didn’t want their child to be born with a frown on its face.

Ethan reached out and ruffled her hair. "You’re such an idiot."

Who forces themselves to be happy like that?

Lily frowned at him, her brows furrowing. "I brought you sushi, and you’re calling me an idiot?"

She should’ve gone shopping or for a spa treatment instead. Then, she wouldn’t have run into her father or Alex.

"Nobody’s asking you to fake a smile for the baby," Ethan said coldly, pulling her in for a kiss on the forehead as if trying to comfort her.

Even when he tried to be caring, Ethan’s words still carried that familiar, domineering edge.