30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 198: Aiko’s Interference

Ethan watched Lily’s retreating figure, his dark, ink-like eyes filled with affection. He stood up and began clearing the fireworks from the balcony.

The flickering light from the fireworks illuminated his handsome face.

Lily, don’t forget what you promised—to always take photos with him from now on...

He didn’t want to take solo photos anymore.

He didn’t want to be alone anymore.

The consequence of setting off fireworks in the middle of the night was that Lily didn’t get enough sleep. Being pregnant already made her extremely sleepy, and now she was even more exhausted.

"If you’re tired, don’t go to class!" Ethan said, frowning as he watched Lily yawn while putting on her shoes. "All this just to become a director? After you’ve had the baby, I’ll invest in a movie for you."

Why was she working herself to the bone and attending these classes daily?

"I need to learn the basics first. You can’t just make a movie without knowing how; it’s not like taking photos," Lily said, rubbing her sleepy, tear-filled eyes as she bent down to tie her shoelaces.

"Don’t move!" Ethan suddenly ordered, stopping her. He knelt in front of her and tied her shoelaces for her.

Because she was pregnant, she wore sneakers all the time now.

"Thank you," Lily said with a smile, watching him struggle with the task. His left hand still wasn’t fully functional. "How’s your arm? Maybe I should go with you to physical therapy?"

Ethan had been avoiding physical therapy, but his left hand was still weak, and she was worried he wouldn’t fully recover.

"I’m not going," Ethan replied, finishing tying her shoes with some difficulty. He moved his left arm a bit. "I’m fine."

"I’ll go with you," Lily insisted.

"Lily, you’re too naggy!"

She was showing concern for him—this man...

Lily attended a specialized directing academy, which was in the opposite direction from B.E. Group’s headquarters. Still, Ethan would first drop her off at school every day before heading to the office.

Rain or shine.

Even if he had meetings scheduled, Ethan would push them back. Lily had told him several times that it wasn’t necessary, but his response was always the same: I’m the CEO. I can hold meetings whenever I want. Who dares complain?!

Arrogant, domineering, and overbearing...

What more could she say? If he wanted to take her to school, she just had to let him.

"What classes do you have today?" Ethan asked, pulling her into his arms.

"Hmm..." Lily took out her phone and opened her schedule for him. "Besides theory classes, I’ll be observing the filming of a sports drink commercial."

"You’re watching an ad being filmed?" Ethan swiped through her schedule on the phone, checking the time. If he left work early, he could pick her up. "Where’s the shoot?"

"In the old city on the east side," Lily replied, leaning into his arms. After a moment, she added, "I wonder when I’ll get to direct something of my own."

Even just a tiny commercial would be fine...

Just something with her name on it.

"You can direct whenever you want," Ethan said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. Producing a movie or TV show came down to money.

They could get the best costumes, the grandest sets, and the biggest stars with enough money.

And if there was one thing Ethan had plenty of, it was money. What was there to worry about?

"I want to rely on my abilities," Lily replied hesitantly. Sure, Ethan could bankroll her into becoming a director, but that was too far from her dream.

"Stubborn!" Ethan concluded with a single word.

When the car pulled up in front of the school, Lily stepped out only to be pulled back in for a long kiss.

After finally releasing her, Ethan said, "Make sure everyone at school knows you have a man. Got it?"

He stared at her slightly swollen lips, his dark eyes filled with desire. He licked his lips, his voice deep and husky.

Was that even necessary?

With Cipher and the other bodyguards waiting outside the school every day...

"They already think I’m being kept," Lily sighed. Because of that, she had no friends at school and was even ostracized.

Fortunately, her goal was to study directing, and she wasn’t particularly interested in making friends.

"Perfect!" Ethan said with a smirk, gripping her chin. "That way, no one will dare mess with my woman!"

She had a naturally clean and pure face, and her inherent pride in her eyes made men want to conquer her.

If someone else managed to catch her eye, he’d be losing out!

He thought that was a good thing... Good for what?

Lily got out of the car and shut the door. Ethan’s car immediately drove off, and as she approached the school gate, some of her classmates glanced at her with strange expressions again.

Those looks clearly said: There she is, the woman being kept...

Lily turned to enter the school, but a bright red convertible pulled up in front of her, making her instinctively step back her brow furrowing.

"Lily!"

A cheerful voice called from the car.

Lily looked at the driver’s seat and saw a woman wearing pink athletic clothes. She had a curvy figure, long chocolate-colored hair, a pretty, clean face, and bright, sparkling eyes. She radiated sunshine.

Aiko Nakamura...What was she doing here?

Lily’s gaze remained calm as she looked at Aiko’s bright smile. She couldn’t help but think of that day in the office when Aiko had rushed up to kiss Ethan.

A wave of discomfort washed over Lily.

She had thought Aiko would disappear from her world for good.

"Ethan already left," Lily said coldly. If Aiko was here for Ethan, she had missed him.

"He refuses to see me lately!" Aiko pouted, her pink lips forming a slight, sad frown, her big eyes filled with disappointment. "Every time I go to B.E., I get kicked out!"

Lily didn’t show any reaction on her face, but inside, she couldn’t help feeling pleased.

Aiko had tried to see Ethan, and he had kicked her out.

At least Ethan was keeping his promise.

"Is that so? Well, that has nothing to do with me. Goodbye." Lily said indifferently, turning to leave.

Aiko’s sunny, innocent demeanor made her hard to dislike. But Lily couldn’t be friends with someone involved with Ethan.

Lily could have been more generous.

"Lily, are you with Ethan now? Are you not letting him see other women?" Aiko suddenly called out, raising her voice. Some of the students entering the school turned to look.

Was Aiko trying to cause trouble for her?

Lily turned around, her face cold. Aiko was leaning against the car door, her wide eyes staring at her innocently.

"Aiko, he’s my man. Find someone else," Lily said coldly before walking away again. Still, Aiko immediately added, "Lily, are you that afraid of losing him to another woman?!"

"You want to take him?" Lily asked icily.

"I don’t want to take him. I want fair competition," Aiko said, blinking her big, beautiful eyes with a pure expression. "But you don’t let him see other women—that’s too selfish."

Selfish?

Was not letting her man see women he had been involved with selfish?

"Aiko, I don’t need you to tell me how to handle my relationship," Lily said sharply, her tone icy. "Please don’t shout my name at the school gates again. Just leave."

With that, Lily turned and walked away.

The strange looks around her were growing more frequent, making her feel increasingly uncomfortable.

Just as Lily was about to quicken her pace, Aiko called again, "Lily, do you think by holding onto him like this, your relationship with Ethan will last forever?!"

Was Aiko ever going to stop?!

Lily turned back, her face cold, and bent down to speak directly into Aiko’s face. In a low voice, she said, "Are you telling me this because you want me to give up on Ethan? Do you think Ethan will ever care about you?!"

"...You." Aiko’s sunny expression dimmed, her eyes filling with hurt and anger. "Lily, that’s a hurtful thing to say! I thought we were friends!"

"Real friends don’t covet each other’s men," Lily said coldly.

Besides, her real friend was Sophia Bennett. Aiko Nakamura would never be that to her.

"I just want a fair competition!" Aiko insisted, sticking to her logic. "I was in Japan for a while, and you used that time to monopolize Ethan!"

"Aiko, I’ll repeat it—he’s my man now," Lily said firmly. "The only way he’ll pay attention to you again is if we’re done."

She didn’t want to hear another word of Aiko’s nonsense.

"You..." Aiko was left speechless, frustration written all over her face. "You said ’for now.’ Who knows whose man he’ll be in the future."

"Is that so? Then we’ll see."

Lily straightened up. Why was she even having this argument with Aiko at the school gate?

"Your relationship won’t last. Ethan won’t marry you!" Aiko suddenly shouted.

Lily froze for a moment but quickly regained her composure. "That’s none of your concern."

"The Blackwood family is huge and powerful—they won’t let you marry into the family!" Aiko said confidently. "I bet Ethan hasn’t even proposed to you!"

Lily found herself at a loss for words.

"Lily, you’re just living with him. He’ll never marry you. You might as well give up now and find someone more suited to you," Aiko continued as if she were offering helpful advice.

Give up and find someone else?

Right now, she was Ethan’s girlfriend... Was Aiko being too presumptuous? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"This is between us. It’s none of your business!"

Lily said coldly, turning to leave. Aiko opened her mouth to speak again, but Lily cut her off. "Shut up! My relationship with him is none of your concern!"

Lily shot a sharp glare at Aiko, her voice firm. Aiko was startled by her sudden assertiveness.

Lily turned and walked away.

This time, Aiko didn’t shout after her.

Lily breathed heavily, trying to calm herself. Weren’t she and Ethan in a solid relationship? Why did everyone seem so sure that Ethan wouldn’t marry her...

Ethan had shot himself for her—how could he not marry her because of some family status issue?

If the Blackwood family didn’t accept her, she could do nothing about that.

But Ethan wouldn’t refuse to marry her.

Maybe he hadn’t proposed yet because he had his reasons. Was she supposed to pressure him into proposing?

Even though she tried to reassure herself, Lily couldn’t help but feel anxious, a vague sense of unease settling in her heart.

Men and women were different. Once a relationship reached a certain point, women would naturally think of marriage, but marriage wasn’t that important for men.

They were already together, and she was carrying his baby. The only thing that needed to be added was a marriage certificate.

As long as he loved her, as long as there were no other women in his life, and he wasn’t promiscuous anymore, did it matter whether they got married or not?