30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 221: Ethan’s Plan Unfolds

"Miss Anderson, why haven’t you been to the set for two days?" Aiko Nakamura asked in confusion, her voice brimming with youthful energy. "I miss you! I’ve been calling your phone but can’t get through."

I don’t want you to miss me, okay? Lily Anderson thought to herself. Why is Aiko Nakamura always so clingy?

Ethan had thrown her phone away, so it wasn’t reachable.

"I already called Director Williams to resign," Lily said calmly. To be precise, Ethan had made the call, yelling at Director Williams until the matter was settled.

"Don’t quit! Come back! You love directing, don’t you? Come on, please!" Aiko pleaded over the phone, her voice almost whining.

"Aiko, we’re not that close. But thank you for calling to check on me. Goodbye," Lily said flatly, preparing to hang up.

But Aiko’s panicked voice immediately came through the receiver. "When can I come to the Blackwood estate to see you?"

"You want to come here?"

To the Blackwood villa?!

Who asked her to come? They weren’t even that close!

Lily felt extremely frustrated and was about to refuse when a long, slender hand reached out and covered the phone. Startled, she saw Ethan standing before her, silently mouthing the words, Say yes.

Lily’s eyes widened in disbelief. Ethan removed his hand from the phone, and though still confused, she reluctantly said, "Sure, come over."

"Great! I’ll head over after finishing this scene. See you soon, Miss Anderson," Aiko said enthusiastically, blowing an audible kiss over the phone.

After hanging up, Lily turned to Ethan, her confusion evident. "Why did you want her to come here?"

"You’ll understand when she gets here," Ethan replied cryptically.

This was the perfect opportunity to capture Aiko Nakamura. No matter how powerful her connections or who backed her, Ethan was determined to secure the antidote before Lily suffered.

"I don’t like her," Lily said with a slight frown. The longer she spent around Aiko, the more exasperated she felt.

"I know," Ethan replied, reaching to pinch her cheek. "I won’t let her bother you for long. I’m stepping out for a bit. I’ll be back soon."

"Alright."

Lily nodded, and Ethan bent down to kiss her on the cheek. "Be good while I’m gone."

Am I a puppy he’s raising? Lily thought, annoyed at his choice of words.

After Ethan had been sent off, Lily went to the study and opened the computer to look at the photos and videos Ethan had taken. When she clicked on the folder, she was stunned to find that more than half of the pictures were of her.

Lily froze.

Wasn’t he the one who always refused to take pictures of her? Yet he had taken so many...

Not a single photo was posed; they were all candid shots. He had captured her sitting, standing, walking—all seemingly random moments. And yet, he had managed to make her look beautiful in every shot.

This guy...

Lily thought she should ask someone to print these photos later. A knock came at the door as she scrolled through them one by one.

"Come in," she said without looking up, her eyes still fixed on the photos. A faint smile lingered on her lips.

"Miss Anderson, Miss Nakamura has arrived," Nanny reported as she walked in.

She’s here already?

"Has Ethan returned?" Lily asked.

"Not yet."

Lily frowned slightly. Ethan had said she would understand everything once Aiko arrived, but now he wasn’t even here.

So, do I have to deal with her myself?

Lily closed the computer and went downstairs. Aiko Nakamura stood in the living room in a lovely dress, beaming with a bright smile. "Miss Anderson, are you okay? Why did you suddenly resign? Are you still upset about those people bullying you? Didn’t you forgive them already?"

Her rapid-fire questions left Lily at a loss for words.

"Would you like something to drink?" Lily asked flatly, not even bothering to force a smile.

"Lemonade!" Aiko chirped, her youthful energy practically bouncing off the walls. "Lemonade is my absolute favorite!"

Still the same... Lily thought. The first time they met, Aiko drank lemonade that Lily had spiked.

"I’ll prepare it," Nanny said respectfully.

"Take a seat," Lily said, gesturing toward the sofa.

"Okay," Aiko said, nodding enthusiastically before sitting down. "Miss Anderson, you’re really starting to look like the mistress of this house."

"Is that so?" Lily replied indifferently.

Aiko seemed momentarily thrown off by Lily’s cold response but quickly recovered with an awkward smile. "Where’s Ethan?"

"Are you here to see me or Ethan?" Lily’s tone was sharp.

"Both, of course," Aiko answered innocently, her smile never faltering. "I haven’t seen him in so long. I wonder how he’s doing."

How Ethan is doing has nothing to do with you, Lily thought bitterly.

"Miss Anderson, Miss Nakamura," Nanny said as she brought over two glasses of lemonade.

"I don’t think I owe you an explanation for resigning. You didn’t need to come all this way," Lily said coldly, sipping her lemonade.

Her words were a clear hint for Aiko to leave.

"But don’t you want to be a director? Why give up such a great learning opportunity?" Aiko exclaimed, suddenly leaning forward and grabbing Lily’s arm in excitement. She shook it vigorously as she spoke.

"Ugh—" Lily choked on her lemonade as Aiko’s shaking caused half the glass to spill onto her dress, soaking one side.

Lily felt a headache coming on. Am I naturally at odds with Aiko Nakamura?

"Oh no... I’m so sorry, Miss Anderson! I didn’t mean to," Aiko said apologetically, her face full of guilt. "I really didn’t mean to."

Lily looked at her coldly and said, "I’ll change."

"I’m so sorry! Should I buy you a new dress to make up for it?" Aiko offered.

If you just stayed out of my sight, that would be the best compensation, Lily thought to herself.

Aiko, however, didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving. Lily had no choice but to go to the bathroom, quickly clean herself up, and change into fresh clothes. When she returned, Aiko immediately stood up and bowed in apology.

"I’m really sorry, Miss Anderson," Aiko said sincerely. She picked up her untouched lemonade and handed it to Lily. "Here, you can have mine. I haven’t drunk from it yet."

"No need. There’s plenty of lemonade in the house," Lily replied coolly as she sat down, silently staring at Aiko, waiting for her to leave.

She honestly couldn’t understand why Ethan insisted on having Aiko come over, especially when he wasn’t even here.

"Come on, drink it," Aiko said, pushing the lemonade toward Lily. Concerned about another spill, Lily quickly pushed it back.

Aiko’s flashy ring scratched Lily’s finger in the brief struggle, causing a sharp sting. Lily immediately pulled her hand back, wincing.

What kind of ring is she wearing? It’s so sharp!

"What’s wrong? What happened?" Aiko asked, moving closer in concern. She set the lemonade down and held Lily’s hand to examine it.

"Don’t touch me—ah!" Lily cried out as Aiko’s ring scratched her again during the commotion. Blood began to flow from Lily’s hand, dripping onto Aiko’s.

"I’m so sorry..." Aiko apologized frantically, her movements clumsy and disorganized.

Lily stared in shock at the blood on Aiko’s hand and immediately shouted, "Go wash your hands! Nanny, take her to wash her hands now!"

"It’s fine, Miss Anderson. You’re the one who’s hurt," Aiko said, seemingly more concerned about Lily than herself.

"Stop talking and go wash up!" Lily insisted, her voice frantic. She couldn’t afford for Aiko to get infected if she wasn’t already.

Aiko looked at her strangely, confused as to why Lily was so insistent on washing her hands despite Lily being injured.

"Why are you still standing there?" Lily shouted, growing more anxious. She couldn’t bring herself to touch Aiko’s hands.

A maid walked over, and Lily quickly instructed, "Take Miss Nakamura to wash her hands. Use hot water."

"Yes, Miss Anderson," the maid replied, leading Aiko away.

"Ah—!"

As Lily stared at her bleeding hand, she suddenly heard Aiko scream. Startled, she looked up.

In the distance, she saw the maid attacking Aiko with a karate-style chop. Quickly reacting, Aiko blocked the attack and countered with a kick, sending the maid sprawling to the ground.

Lily’s eyes widened in shock. What’s going on? Aiko Nakamura knows martial arts?! What is happening here?

The maid quickly got back up, and the two began fighting again.

"Freeze!" A booming voice rang out as a dozen bodyguards stormed in, surrounding Aiko with their guns drawn. "Don’t move! Hands on your head!"

"What are you doing?!" Aiko exclaimed, letting go of the maid and looking around in confusion. She turned to Lily with a pitiful expression. "Miss Anderson, are you having me attacked?"

Who has the time to bully you? Lily thought, equally confused by the scene unfolding before her.

"So, you know martial arts," a cold voice sneered.

Lily turned toward the entrance and saw Ethan walking in, his presence dark and ominous.

Ethan’s gaze was icy as it locked onto Aiko. "Catching you wasn’t easy."

"Why, Ethan? Why are you arresting me? I just came to see Miss Anderson!" Aiko cried, looking hurt. Tears began streaming down her face.

"Kneel!" one of the bodyguards barked, kicking the back of Aiko’s knees and forcing her to the ground.

Aiko knelt reluctantly, tears falling even harder as she looked pitifully up at Ethan.

"Where’s the antidote?" Ethan demanded coldly, standing before her with a murderous glare. "I, Ethan Blackwood, don’t show mercy to women. If you don’t want to be tortured, hand over the antidote!"

"What antidote? I don’t know what you’re talking about!" Aiko stammered, her tears falling like pearls from a broken string.

Hearing their exchange, Lily finally understood.

Aiko Nakamura was also suspected of poisoning her. Ethan had used this opportunity to capture her.

"Don’t play dumb with me!" Ethan roared, his voice filled with rage and menace.

Aiko flinched, her body trembling. She gasped in fear as a bodyguard pressed the barrel of a gun to the back of her head, forcing her to stay still.

"Ethan..." Lily stepped forward, standing beside him as she glanced at Aiko’s bloodied hands. "At least let her wash her hands and disinfect them first."

If Aiko wasn’t the culprit but became infected with AuroraVirus, wouldn’t it be Lily’s fault?

Ethan glanced at Lily’s injured hand, his brows furrowing. "Go take care of your own wound first."

"You need to disinfect her hands too—"

"I said, take her away!" Ethan barked coldly.

"Yes, sir," the bodyguards responded in unison, aiming their guns at Aiko. "Move! Don’t think anyone’s coming to save you. Your bodyguards have already been dealt with!"

Hearing this, Aiko’s eyes widened in fear. She turned to Ethan in disbelief. "How did you know I had people protecting me?!"