30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 265: Aiko’s Final Words

"Why..." Aiko Nakamura rasped, her voice hoarse with anguish. "Why is it that even in death... Do you still... only think about Lily Anderson? I’m dying... I’m already dead... and you still won’t... won’t even hold me?"

"Fine, I’ll hold you!" Ethan Blackwood’s pupils contracted. His long arms shifted to wrap around her shoulders, pulling her into his embrace. His movements were rough, devoid of tenderness, driven only by urgency. "Is this enough? Now tell me—what’s the formula?!"

Ethan was anxious, more anxious than Lily herself.

Lily noticed the beads of sweat forming on Ethan’s forehead. He was genuinely on edge.

"You’re holding me... just for the formula?" Aiko murmured weakly as she rested limply in his arms. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, her words slurred and faint. "If that’s the case... why... why didn’t you marry me earlier? You waited until... until I was dying to... to register our marriage... and I didn’t even... didn’t even get to see the marriage certificate..."

A marriage certificate?!

Ethan... and Aiko... were married?!

Lily stared at Ethan in shock. He was kneeling on the ground, holding Aiko in his arms, his eyes filled with a sharp intensity. "Aiko! Stop playing games with me. Give me the formula! Hurry up!"

The final two words were shouted so loudly that Lily flinched at the sheer force of his rage.

She had seen Ethan’s ruthless side before, but never like this—never so raw and unrestrained.

"Lily..." Aiko suddenly turned her gaze to Lily, her eyes filled with confusion as her vision began to blur.

This wasn’t a good sign.

Aiko was on the verge of death...

And if Aiko died, Lily’s life would be filled with uncertainty and despair.

"Aiko, listen to me. The ambulance will be here soon. Just hold on a little longer," Lily said softly, her voice calm and steady, contrasting starkly with Ethan’s frenzied state.

"Don’t you want the formula?" Aiko asked, her voice growing weaker, fainter, as if it were dissipating into the air.

"Yes, I do," Lily admitted honestly. "If you had shared it earlier, you wouldn’t have endured all this suffering."

"Come... closer..." Aiko said.

Lily frowned but crouched beside her, her pregnant belly making the movement awkward. She leaned in, pressing her ear close to Aiko’s lips.

Aiko’s faint, trembling voice reached her ear. "I... married Ethan... I did it... This... is my final gift to you."

"I’m not the other woman. I’m his legally recognized wife. You... you’ll always be the second..."

Her words were halting and disjointed.

"What’s the point of all this?" Lily’s eyes stung with unshed tears.

Aiko was lying here, teetering on the edge of death. What was the point of saying all this now? Did she think Lily would feel jealous because of it?

"I really... hate you..." Aiko’s voice became increasingly slurred. Her words came out with great difficulty, each one a struggle. "We... we look so alike... but everything you have... I... I never did..."

"Why... why am I not you? I’m the one who’s supposed to be Ethan’s... wife..."

Hearing those words, something profound inside Lily was stirred. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

"The ambulance is here!" someone shouted.

Lily turned to see the paramedics approaching with a stretcher. She stood up and said to Aiko, "The ambulance is here. Hold on a little longer. You’ll be okay."

At this moment, all she could do was try to encourage Aiko.

Aiko stared at her, her pale lips moving soundlessly. Lily couldn’t tell what she was trying to say.

Ethan’s sharp gaze bore into Aiko as he leaned in close, trying to catch her faint whispers.

"Excuse me, please step aside!" one of the paramedics said as they approached to lift Aiko onto the stretcher.

Ethan was pushed aside, and his fury erupted. His eyes burned with rage as he kicked one of the paramedics out of the way. "Get lost!"

Ethan’s explosive anger stunned everyone into silence.

Lily looked at his furious face, wanting to tell him to let Aiko get in the ambulance first. But Ethan wasn’t listening to anyone. He shoved the paramedics aside and pulled Aiko back into his arms. "Speak! Tell me now!"

He wouldn’t let her drag his woman, his child, down with her.

Aiko lay limply in his arms, her dazed eyes fixed on him. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes as her gaze grew unfocused. Slowly, her eyes closed, and her pale face tilted to the side.

Ethan froze in place, beads of sweat forming on his brow. Refusing to accept it, he pressed hard on her philtrum again, trying to rouse her. But this time, Aiko didn’t wake up.

"Ethan, stop! Let the doctors help her," Lily said, her heart aching as she watched Ethan’s frantic desperation.

It took Lily’s firm instruction and the intervention of several of Ethan’s bodyguards to separate him from Aiko finally.

Ethan and Lily accompanied her in the ambulance.

Halfway to the hospital, the doctor announced Aiko’s death.

Lily sat in a daze, staring at Aiko’s bald head and pale face.

Aiko Nakamura... was dead?

"I’m Aiko Nakamura. You can call me Aiko."

"You can’t keep doing this. I know you’re upset with Ethan, but your body is your own... You can’t die for the sake of love, can you?"

Memories flooded back. Aiko had once told her that no one should die for the sake of love.

But now... what had she died for?

Aiko had infected Lily with the AuroraVirus, yet she had gone ahead of her...

Bang!

Ethan smashed the IV stand against the ambulance wall, glaring at Aiko’s lifeless body. "Get up! Get the hell up!" he roared.

The paramedics froze, too terrified to move.

Lily sat silently, saying nothing. Ethan had always been confident he’d find an antidote for her. But now... Aiko Nakamura was dead.

Just like that... she was gone.

The official cause of Aiko’s death was determined to be a combination of factors: drug abuse, malnutrition, physical abuse, and extreme psychological stress.

Because of the unusual circumstances, the police were required to investigate. Ultimately, Ethan’s brother, Tommy Blackwood, intervened to mediate the situation.

When the three of them returned home, Lily and Tommy followed behind Ethan.

As soon as they entered the villa, Ethan erupted in rage. He kicked over a floor lamp and began smashing everything in sight, sending the maids scurrying into the corners in fear.

The tension in the air was suffocating. Lily watched as Ethan destroyed the room, his every movement brimming with fury as if he were ready to kill. It was chilling to witness.

Lily didn’t know how to console him. She could only stand there and watch as he vented.

"This is only the second time I’ve seen him this angry," Tommy said quietly, standing beside Lily. "The first time was in Denmark when I pointed a gun at you."

Lily remained silent.

"I don’t know if you’re Ethan’s blessing or his curse," Tommy added with a shrug. "You still have time to back out. Aiko was chosen by Father to be Ethan’s wife. Now that she’s dead, things won’t be as simple as you think."

"..." Lily turned to look at Tommy, who let out a dry laugh. "The real test of your love starts now."

Lily didn’t fully understand what Tommy meant.

Bang!

Ethan continued smashing things, his bloodied hands dripping red onto the floor.

Lily’s eyes grew red-rimmed with tears. She turned to Tommy and said, "Go help Ethan bandage his wounds."

"Okay," Tommy agreed with a nod.

Lily walked into the kitchen, put on disposable gloves, and began making cookies.

Perhaps Aiko had planned for this day all along. That would explain why she had pushed to film her later scenes ahead of schedule, leaving her death scene for the end.

Aiko had likely decided to end her life on Lily’s set. That’s why, in her final scene, she had thrown herself backward with such reckless abandon...

Speeding up her demise.

With Aiko’s death, the hope for the antidote had vanished. In an instant, even that faint glimmer of hope was gone.

Ethan was far more distraught than Lily. Watching her grow weaker, watching her transition from being able to walk to being wholly paralyzed—perhaps that pain was even worse for him than it was for her.

But what could she do now?

She couldn’t afford to grieve or show weakness. Her weakness would only make things harder for Ethan.

She needed to be strong and optimistic, not consumed by despair.

Lily blinked back her tears, silently cheering herself on.

You can do this, Lily. You can do this. Be the most muscular patient and the lightest burden for Ethan. You’ve got this!

But as much as she tried to convince herself, the tears still fell. Leaning against the counter, Lily felt the weight of everything crashing down on her. No amount of self-encouragement could make her strong enough to face it all.

She wasn’t strong enough to endure the nine-plus years of pain the AuroraVirus would bring...

She still couldn’t accept the relentless agony of the virus, the reality of a life spent in constant pain and reliant on injections...

And Ethan’s anger and outbursts were like knives cutting into her heart. She knew how much he was suffering—how desperately he needed to vent.

Being a burden to Ethan... was the most painful thing for her.

After baking the cookies, Lily removed her gloves and put her emotions aside. She then walked out of the kitchen.

The room was a mess.

Ethan stood in front of a cabinet, his eyes blazing with anger. His hands were wrapped in layers of white bandages, and Tommy was sitting casually on a chair nearby.

"Want a cookie?" Lily asked, holding a box of freshly baked treats as she approached Ethan. Her bright eyes sparkled, and a small smile graced her lips. "I just made these."

Ethan’s rage instantly subsided. He looked up at her, his deep gaze lingering for a moment before he hesitantly took a cookie and popped it into his mouth.

"How is it?" Lily asked as if the only thing that mattered was whether her cookies turned out well.

"Good," Ethan said quietly, his voice subdued.

"I want one too!" Tommy exclaimed, jumping up and grabbing a cookie. He grinned and said, "These are great Rabbit. I didn’t know you could bake. You’re talented."

Tommy was trying to lighten the mood. Still, the air in the Blackwood villa remained heavy, weighed down by Ethan’s earlier fury.

Ethan didn’t say another word all night. He silently ate every last cookie in the box.

That night was destined to be anything but peaceful.

The entire household remained tense. The maids cleaned up the mess cautiously, terrified of making another mistake.

The following day, Lily was awakened by the sound of gunshots.

She stepped onto the balcony and looked down to see Ethan standing on the lawn, shooting at a target far in the distance. Each shot was filled with raw emotion, an outlet for his frustration.

"Why is he going crazy so early in the morning? I can’t even get a good night’s sleep..." Tommy’s lazy voice came from behind her.

Stretching, Tommy walked out onto the balcony and stood beside Lily. Looking down at Ethan, he let out an exaggerated sigh. "He’s reached his limit this time."