30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 281: Lily’s Pain and Despair

"Let’s go," Alex Carter said, his gaze dim as he lowered his hand, pretending to be unaffected. Seeing that Lily Anderson still stubbornly looked around, he added, "Don’t bother. He’s not here."

But he had to be here...

She just couldn’t find him.

"Lily..."

Lily turned to look at Alex and noticed the thin line of blood still dripping from his arm beneath his sleeve. Finally, she relented and nodded. "Let’s go."

As they walked out of the park, Lily glanced back countless times...

But the figure she knew so well never appeared.

When they reached Alex’s car, Lily’s AuroraVirus suddenly flared up. Her legs grew weak and painful, and she instinctively grabbed onto the vehicle to keep herself from collapsing.

It was a reflex—an instinctive reaction.

Alex noticed something was wrong. "What’s happening?"

"My... my AuroraVirus... it’s acting up," Lily stammered, her voice faint as the pain spread from her feet upward. She almost collapsed, her words broken by the agony.

AuroraVirus?!

"Come here."

Frowning, Alex quickly used his uninjured hand to support her waist. He opened the car door and gently placed her in the backseat. "I’m taking you to the hospital right now."

"No... no need..."

Lily’s legs were immobile, and she could only curl up in the backseat, enduring the unbearable pain. Her body trembled as the sharp, stabbing sensation coursed through her entire body.

For the first time, the AuroraVirus had caused her pain so severe that she couldn’t endure it—pain so intense that she didn’t even want to.

Ethan, where are you...

Do you know how much I’m suffering? Do you know how much this hurts?

Alex bent down at the car door, his back drenched from the rain. The soft interior light illuminated Lily’s pale face, contorted from the pain. Sweat or rain—he couldn’t tell which—dripped from her face. Her lips moved faintly as though she were saying something.

Alex leaned closer, trying to make out what she was whispering. After a moment, he realized she silently repeated the exact three words: Ethan Blackwood...

Alex’s fists clenched tightly, the veins on his hand faintly visible.

Bang!

Alex’s expression darkened as he slammed the door shut. He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the car, his tone still gentle despite his frustration. "Hang in there. We’ll be at the hospital soon."

Lily lay curled up in the backseat, her legs limp, staring blankly at the silhouette in the driver’s seat. For a moment, she was disoriented—it wasn’t Ethan.

Ethan wasn’t there.

Even if she were to die from the pain, Ethan wouldn’t appear... He wasn’t here.

"Stop the car..."

Lily’s weak voice broke the silence inside the car.

Alex immediately pulled over, turning to her with concern. "What’s wrong? Is the pain unbearable?"

Clenching her teeth to withstand the pain, Lily shakily pulled a painkiller injection from her pocket. Her trembling hands fumbled with the packaging, and the syringe slipped from her grasp, falling to the floor.

She couldn’t do anything right.

Without Ethan, she couldn’t do anything... She was useless... utterly useless.

Tears welled up in Lily’s eyes as she bit her lip hard, reaching out with trembling fingers to pick up the syringe. But her hands shook so violently that she couldn’t even grab it.

She was worthless... a complete failure...

"I’ll do it!" Alex said firmly.

He bent down, picked up the syringe, and filled it with the painkiller. Opening the car door, he prepared to give her the injection. "Let me help you."

"Give it to me!"

Lily’s sudden outburst startled him.

Alex hesitated, confused by her anxious reaction, but he handed her the syringe. "Are you sure you can manage?"

Was she... afraid of infecting him?

Lily’s trembling hands took the syringe and administered the injection herself. Her entire body shook as her pale face turned even whiter, drained of all color.

Watching the AuroraVirus flare up in real time left Alex deeply shaken.

Lily let the empty syringe fall from her grasp and collapsed weakly onto the backseat. Her eyes were glazed over, her teeth clenched tightly, and sweat dripped from her forehead.

Alex looked at her, at a loss for words. He didn’t know how to comfort her.

Could she genuinely endure this pain alone?

Lily lay on the backseat, the searing pain coursing through her body, making her want to die.

If she died, would Ethan be sad? Would he cry for her, like he had in the hospital?

If she died, would Ethan finally come to see her?

The thought flashed through her mind, and she couldn’t help but laugh—a laugh so hollow that it brought tears to her eyes.

Since when had she started thinking in such despairing ways? She had always hated the idea of solving problems through death.

"Lily..." Alex frowned. What was she thinking?

Lily didn’t respond. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face. Her soaked clothes clung to her skin, icy cold.

At Central Park, Ethan walked step by step through the pouring rain, his tall figure drenched.

His sharp, upright posture was shrouded in the dark, stormy sky. His steps were stiff, his expression devoid of any emotion.

At the Blackwood estate.

"This rain is really coming down! Nanny, get me two cups of coffee!" Tommy exclaimed as he walked in from the rain, an alluring woman clinging to him. The two of them were dripping wet, but that didn’t stop Tommy from passionately kissing her as they made their way inside, practically glued to each other. His hands roamed over her body, tugging at her short, tight dress.

Crash!

A wine bottle shattered at their feet, shards scattering across the floor and grazing Tommy’s foot.

Tommy looked up, startled, to see Ethan standing by the bar near the wine cabinet. Ethan was soaked entirely, his piercing gaze like a blade as he glared at Tommy. His expression was terrifying, filled with a bloodthirsty intensity, as though he was ready to kill. "Get out of here."

Tommy smirked inwardly. Now that Lily was gone, it seemed like there would be a thunderstorm at the estate every day.

"Wait for me in that room," Tommy said, patting the woman on the backside and pointing her toward a room.

"I’ll wait for you," she said coyly, planting a wet kiss on his cheek before obediently walking away.

Several empty wine bottles littered the floor—red wine...

Ethan stood by the bar, downing another bottle in one gulp. His entire demeanor screamed hostility, his wet coat dripping onto the floor.

Tommy raised an eyebrow, taking a seat beside Ethan. Picking up an unopened bottle of wine, he exclaimed, "Wow! Lafite? You’re drinking Lafite to get drunk? Can this even get you drunk?"

Their father, ever the wine enthusiast, would probably enforce house rules if he saw Ethan wasting wine like this.

"If you don’t want to get hit, leave," Ethan snapped, his glare cold and dangerous as he snatched the bottle from Tommy’s hand.

Dominant, arrogant, and untouchable—Ethan seemed perfectly normal. His usual temper flared at the slightest provocation, proving he wasn’t drunk.

"You can’t get drunk on just one type of wine," Tommy said, walking to the cabinet. He pulled out several different bottles, mixed them into a single glass, and placed it in front of Ethan. "This blend will knock you out. Want to try?"

"Get out!"

Ethan’s icy gaze darkened, his tone laced with a murderous edge. His hand clenched into a fist, his knuckles cracking ominously.

Tommy felt a chill run down his spine.

Tommy knew he was in for severe bruises whenever Ethan gave him that look. His instincts screamed at him to retreat.

Clearing his throat, Tommy said, "Lily isn’t as fragile as you think. I saw her during an AuroraVirus flare-up—she’s strong enough to give herself an injection. Don’t let her small size fool you; she’s got a strong spirit—"

Smash!

Before Tommy could finish, Ethan landed a punch squarely on his face.

Tommy cried out, clutching his face in pain. "Damn it, Ethan! Don’t think I can’t fight back! I’m just letting you win, you hear me?!"

Ethan’s punch was unrelenting.

"Fine! Let’s fight!" Ethan growled coldly, grabbing Tommy by the collar and yanking him over the bar. Without another word, he threw another punch.

This time, Tommy was prepared and dodged. But Ethan was quick, landing a kick that sent Tommy sprawling to the floor.

"Alright! I’ll spar with you, but I’m not going easy this time!" Tommy shouted as he scrambled to his feet, glaring at Ethan, whose entire presence radiated rage.

Tommy clenched his fists, trying to find the right moment to strike.

He should’ve brought someone more challenging to take the hits. Clearly, Ethan needed to vent, but this was overkill.

Ethan’s eyes burned with fury. Memories of Central Park flashed through his mind, fueling his anger.

He saw Alex shielding Lily with an umbrella, holding her hand, and lifting her into his car.

Alex Carter!

Tommy swung a punch at Ethan.

Ethan didn’t even blink. He caught Tommy’s arm and twisted it with all his strength—

Crack!

Tommy screamed, "It’s broken! It’s broken!"

Ethan had never gone this far in a fight before. This time, Tommy knew his arm was done for.

Tommy’s pained cries snapped Ethan out of his rage.

Releasing Tommy’s arm, Ethan stepped back, breathing heavily. His chest felt tight, suffocating.

"You dislocated my arm!" Tommy groaned, his face pale from the pain.

"You brought this on yourself," Ethan said coldly, though his expression was strained.

"What’s your problem?! You’re the one who dumped Lily! Are you venting or trying to kill me?!" Tommy shouted. He had come to keep Ethan company, but Ethan treated him like a punching bag.

"Shut up!"

"You lose it whenever someone mentions Lily, don’t you?!"

"Shut the hell up!" Ethan roared, his rage boiling over. He grabbed a vase from the side and hurled it at the ground.

Crash!

The vase shattered at Tommy’s feet, shards scattering everywhere.

Tommy wisely kept quiet.

Ethan’s current state was dangerous—he might actually kill someone.

Ethan shot him a fiery glare before turning back toward the bar.

Tommy watched him warily.

Suddenly, Ethan’s body swayed. With a loud thud, he collapsed to the ground.

"What the hell?!"

"Ethan? Ethan!"

Tommy froze in shock before rushing to his brother’s side. Ethan lay motionless, his face flushed, eyes shut tightly as if he had passed out.

"Nanny! Nanny, get over here! Someone, help!" Tommy shouted, panic evident in his voice. Ignoring his own pain, he propped Ethan up in his arms.

Ethan’s clothes were soaked and ice-cold.

"What’s going on... Oh my God—Mr. Blackwood!" Nanny and a few maids ran over, gasping in alarm as they saw Ethan. Nanny touched his forehead and immediately pulled her hand back, startled by the heat. "He’s burning up! Mr. Blackwood has a high fever—call a doctor immediately!"