30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 231: The Model of Dreams

If Aiko Nakamura had not endured the pain, she would have handed over the antidote long ago. There was no need to resort to drugs.

Aiko would rather endure inhumane torture than give up the antidote. She was determined to have Ethan; if she couldn’t, she would rather die under torment.

After finishing her morning routine, Lily walked out of the bathroom and saw Ethan wearing a suit. She couldn’t help but ask, "Are you heading out?"

Could this mean there had been progress with Aiko Nakamura?

"Yes, I’m going out. Stay at home and don’t wander off. Understand?" Ethan said, picking up his tie.

"Let me help," Lily offered as she took the tie from his hands and stood on her tiptoes to help him tie it. Casually, she asked, "Where are you going?"

It didn’t seem work-related—he had insisted on staying by her side earlier.

Could Aiko Nakamura finally be willing to hand over the antidote?

"Just handling something," Ethan said, his expression cold and his brows slightly furrowed. He allowed her to finish tying his tie.

There wasn’t a hint of joy on his face. Was it bad news?

"The model is in the study. Go take a look if you want. I’m heading out now," Ethan said. Once she had finished with the tie, he immediately turned and left.

Lily stared in confusion at his retreating figure. What could have happened to make him leave in such a hurry?

A model?

The model he had spent the entire night working on? Lily walked toward the study, curious to see what Ethan had spent so much time building.

When she opened the door and saw what was on the desk, she froze in shock.

The entire desk was empty except for a massive model consisting of multiple interconnected houses. The houses ranged from vintage Hollywood mansions, mid-century estates, Spanish-style villas, to modern, minimalist architectural masterpieces.

So, what she had seen Ethan assembling on the bed earlier was just one of the houses.

At the front of the model hung a large sign with handwritten words in bold penmanship: "Lily Anderson Film Base."

In front of the houses, tiny models of cameras and director’s chairs had been painstakingly assembled through a complex process.

Lily hovered her hands above the model, not daring to touch it for fear of breaking its fragile structure—just like her dreams, which felt equally fragile and vulnerable.

Next to the model lay a voice recorder.

Lily pressed the play button and immediately heard Ethan’s voice, though he hesitated initially.

After silence, his voice burst angrily: "What’s the deal with packing all your books?! Are you giving up on being a director? Are you just casually throwing away your dreams?!"

Even through the recorder, Lily could vividly imagine his arrogant expression as he said those words.

"It’s not like I want to give up," Lily muttered bitterly.

"If you don’t want to give up, then don’t! Do you really think I won’t get the antidote?! Even if you end up stuck in bed, I can still invest in a team and let you produce your work!"

Lily froze. Could he hear her thoughts?

"I’ve put all your books back. If you dare pack them away again, I’ll beat you!" Ethan’s voice came through the recorder, cold and harsh. Then, after a brief pause, his tone softened awkwardly. "Have you seen the model? Lily, let me clarify: I will make your dreams come true! If you dare give up, you’re dead meat!"

Tears welled up in Lily’s eyes as she looked at the massive model on the desk, at the bold and unyielding words: "Lily Anderson Film Base."

So, he had stayed up all night building this model for her?

That jerk.

He had spent an entire night in silence, and she had thought he was just playing around.

From the beginning, he strongly opposed her dream of becoming a director. He had been against her studying filmmaking. And now... he was convincing her not to give up.

Tears streamed down her face.

She didn’t want to cry, but she couldn’t stop herself. Ethan... had done so much for her.

She turned to look at the bookshelf. Sure enough, half of it was once again filled with her textbooks. On top of one of her scripts was a sticky note.

Lily wiped her tears and picked it up, only to see Ethan’s bold handwriting: "Lily, your story sucks!"

Half of the emotions she had just felt instantly evaporated. It was like being struck by lightning.

Ever since she’d been with Ethan, her emotions had swung to extremes—one moment, she was overjoyed; the next, she was crushed; one moment, she was laughing; the next, she was in tears.

Her professors had even praised her script for its depth. Clearly, someone as shallow as Ethan couldn’t understand it.

Suddenly, a phone rang from outside. Lily wiped her tears and found Ethan’s phone buzzing on the bedside table.

He hadn’t even taken his phone with him?

What could have been so urgent that he left in such a rush?

Lily picked up the phone, and Cipher Stone’s anxious voice came through on the other end. "Mr. Blackwood, I’ve received word that the central government has dispatched troops. They’ll arrive in an hour. We’re evacuating the people at the base, but we likely won’t have time to move everyone. Before the military arrives, I’ll detonate the base to ensure no evidence is left behind."

The central government knows?!

Detonating the base would mean the deaths of many kidnapped innocents.

Lily’s eyes widened in shock. She asked urgently, "Ethan just left, and his phone is still here. Cipher Stone, is the situation really that serious?"

"Miss Anderson." Hearing her voice, Cipher Stone immediately stopped explaining. "It’s nothing serious. Please don’t worry and focus on recovering."

"Wait..." In a flash of inspiration, Lily blurted, "Make sure Bill Carter is evacuated safely."

She barely processed the words before saying them. Her first reaction had been him.

"Understood, Miss Anderson."

With that, Cipher Stone ended the call.

How did the government find out so quickly...?

"Knock, knock."

A gentle knock sounded at the door, followed by Nanny’s voice. "Miss Anderson, there’s a call for you."

A call for me?

Lily grabbed Ethan’s phone and went downstairs to pick up the landline. "Hello, this is Lily Anderson."

"It’s me." Alex Carter’s calm, gentle voice came through the receiver.

Alex...

Lily paused momentarily before asking, "How are your injuries?"

"Nothing serious. Just two punches," Alex replied with a low chuckle. "Do you have some time? I need to talk to you about something important."

"Something important?"

"Yes. Can we meet for a drink? It won’t take long. I’m just outside Clearwater Bay."

Was it already outside her neighborhood?

"Alright, I’ll be out soon."

Lily hung up the phone. Nanny, standing nearby, asked, "Are you going out, Miss Anderson? Should I accompany you?"

Remembering her current condition, where she could collapse at any moment, Lily knew she couldn’t afford to be reckless. She nodded. "Have a car follow me."

"Of course, Miss Anderson," Nanny said with a nod.

Outside Clearwater Bay, a sleek white sports car was parked, its elegance matching Alex’s refined demeanor.

The window lowered, revealing Alex in the driver’s seat, smiling at her. "Lily, get in."

Lily wore a light-colored dress with a coat draped over it. She smiled faintly at him before getting into the car.

Alex observed her fresh and simple outfit, his gaze soft but tinged with sorrow. "I didn’t think you’d agree to meet me. Is it because I took two punches from Ethan, and you feel bad for him?"

He hit the nail on the head.

If Alex hadn’t taken those punches without complaint, Lily wouldn’t have agreed to meet him.

Feeling slightly awkward, Lily smiled and glanced at the bruise at the corner of his mouth. "Are you okay?"

Alex’s expression darkened slightly. "Are you asking on your behalf or on Ethan’s?"

"..." Lily fell silent.

"I don’t need you to act as Ethan’s spokesperson," Alex said with a bitter smile. "But if it’s your concern, I’d be happy."

Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

She didn’t even care about him anymore.

When had the distance between them grown so vast?

Lily sat quietly in the passenger seat, her silence heavy.

Alex started the car, noticing the three vehicles following them. He chuckled. "Ethan Blackwood really doesn’t trust you alone, does he?"

A flash of resentment flickered in Alex’s eyes.

"It’s not that," Lily said, her laugh strained. "You know my current condition—someone has to be with me."

She was pregnant, and if she collapsed somewhere with no one around, no one would know.

"Still no sign of an antidote?" Alex asked with concern.

"No."

"I have a college friend, Elliot, who knows many prominent medical experts abroad. I’ve already asked him to arrange for a consultation with you here. What do you think?" Alex offered, his voice gentle.

"No need. He’s already found everyone worth consulting," Lily said politely, referring, of course, to Ethan.

Alex’s grip on the steering wheel tightened. Though his expression didn’t change, his voice remained calm and warm. "It wouldn’t hurt to try. After all, you still don’t have the antidote yet, right?"

They had found the culprit, but the antidote remained out of reach. She still had to endure.

Lily smiled faintly, placing her hands on her lap. "Is this what you wanted to talk about?"

"Are you in such a hurry to leave after just a few words?" Alex looked at her, his eyes filled with sadness, and his smile was bitter.

Lily was stung by his sorrowful gaze. There was so much emotion there that she couldn’t decipher. It made her feel uneasy, and the atmosphere was heavy and suffocating.

She reached out and pressed the window button, letting the breeze blow in to clear the stifling air.

Alex parked the car outside an upscale restaurant. They sat at a table by the window while the three vehicles from Ethan’s security detail waited outside. Nanny sat in the front passenger seat, keeping an eye on them.

Lily smiled reassuringly at her through the window, and Nanny returned the smile.

Alex sat across from her, quietly observing. "How have you been?"

"I’m fine," Lily replied with a faint smile, her tone distant.

"Fine? Even with AuroraVirus?"

As the server brought tea, Alex handed her a cup of green tea, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.

"It’s already happened. I don’t want to dwell on it anymore."

Some things were inevitable. Dwelling on them wouldn’t make the antidote appear out of thin air.

"Do you ever regret being with Ethan? If you hadn’t chosen him, your life wouldn’t be as chaotic..." Alex said gently, though his voice carried a trace of suppressed anger. "And honestly, I never thought he was your type."

He had always believed Lily would prefer someone who pampered her, someone gentle and refined—someone like him.

When they were kids, she only played with him and even chose the same extracurricular activities as him. But after nine years apart, everything had changed.

How could someone as soft and delicate as her fall for a man as domineering as Ethan?

"Some people and things are destined," Lily said with a bitter smile as she took a small sip of tea. Talking about this with Alex felt unnatural, leaving her uncomfortable.