30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 305: Alex’s Breaking Point

Alex turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over the open suitcases and scattered documents on the floor. His eyes darkened for a brief moment, but when he looked at Lily again, his expression was nothing but warmth—gentle, like sunlight filtering through a window.

"Why are you suddenly going through these things?" he asked casually.

"I..." Lily faltered, unsure of what to say. "I was just... looking through them."

"Just looking?" Alex crouched beside her, his gaze soft yet piercing, like a starry night full of hidden depths. His voice carried a note of concern. "But you don’t seem okay."

"I’m fine. Really."

Alex’s eyes flickered toward the stack of papers on the floor. "These are the documents your father never signed, aren’t they? Do you miss him?"

He asked the question naturally, his face betraying no emotion beyond quiet understanding.

Lily stared at him, her chest tightening like a heavy stone had settled there. Under his gaze, she nodded stiffly. "Yeah."

"You keep laying out all the painful memories in front of you, but that’s not good for your recovery." Alex took her hand in his, his voice gentle yet firm. "Think of Bali as a vacation. It’ll help you relax."

His fingers curled slightly, reassuring. "You’ll finally be able to live like a normal person again. That alone is something to be happy about, isn’t it?"

His words were carefully chosen, each one meant to soothe her.

Lily studied his face.

No deception. No cracks in his expression.

He was worried about her.

He was taking care of her.

He wasn’t pretending... was he?

Yet doubt gnawed at her.

Alex watched her closely. When she didn’t respond, he chuckled lightly. "Why so quiet?"

Lily hesitated. "Why are you here, anyway? Don’t you have work?"

"Even if I’m busy, I’ll always make time for you." His voice was indulgent, his gaze soft—like she was someone precious to him.

Lily’s heart clenched.

"Alex, we..."

"Alright, enough thinking. Let’s go get something to eat."

Before she could say anything more, Alex cut her off, standing up and pulling her to her feet.

"I should clean up first," Lily said, withdrawing her hand. She crouched down, beginning to gather the scattered papers.

"I’ll help."

Alex knelt beside her, assisting her in packing things away.

Then, out of nowhere, he asked, "Why did you look so scared when I walked in?"

Lily’s breath hitched.

Why had she reacted that way?

Her fingers froze on a stack of papers before forcing herself to answer. "Oh... I was just focused on these documents, and you startled me."

Alex chuckled. "Do I really look that scary?"

Lily shook her head, trying to smile, but the corners of her lips refused to curve.

She couldn’t force it.

To break the tension, she quickly changed the topic. "How’s the Carter Group doing?"

"The Carter Group?" Alex repeated, nodding slightly. "It’s stable, for now. But..."

"But what?"

Alex hesitated before answering. "After the authorities arrested the supposed mastermind behind the kidnapping case, most of the hostages were released. But my father... he still hasn’t been freed."

Lily’s eyes widened. "He hasn’t been released?"

Ethan was still holding Alex’s father?

Why?

What was really going on?

"Yes," Alex said, his expression darkening slightly. "And he’s not in good health. I’m really worried about him."

Lily stayed silent, unsure of what to say.

Alex exhaled and looked at her intently. "Lily."

"Hm?"

"You know where my father is being held, don’t you?" His voice was calm and measured. "Now that the kidnapping case is over, releasing him wouldn’t harm Ethan in any way."

Lily’s breath caught.

"You want me to take you to him?"

"He’s my father, Lily. I can’t just sit back and let something happen to him."

Alex’s voice was steady, but his expression carried an unusual weight.

Lily studied him carefully.

"Ethan has most likely moved him by now," she said, her gaze lingering on Alex’s face, searching for even the slightest flicker of emotion. "There’s no way he would’ve left him in the same location."

Alex let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "You’re probably right."

Lily hesitated, then asked, "You really care about your father, don’t you?"

It was difficult for her to even say, father.

"Of course. He’s my father," Alex said, nodding with a faint, weary smile. He continued helping her pack her things into the suitcase.

Lily closed the luggage lid slowly.

Alex looked so bright and warm in the sunlight—his concern for his father was genuine.

If he truly loved his father this much, how could he have risked exposing Ethan’s base, knowing it could have cost his father his life?

Had he somehow anticipated that she would spare his father?

No. That wasn’t possible.

There was no reason for it.

She had to be overthinking.

Alex wasn’t wearing a mask.

He was just a kind, caring man.

That had to be the truth.

The yacht drifted lazily along the shoreline as Alex expertly steered them out to sea.

Lily sat on the deck, letting the salty breeze wash over her. The sunlight was warm, shimmering across the water, while seagulls soared above in lazy arcs.

For a moment, everything was peaceful.

Alex soon joined her, carrying two glasses of fresh juice. "Here, have some."

"Thanks." Lily took the glass from him.

"Doesn’t the ocean feel different when you’re here like this?" Alex smiled, his voice light and relaxed.

Lily nodded. "Yeah."

"I just need to wrap up some things at the company, then I’ll come with you for your treatment."

"Alex, you really don’t have to—"

"Stop refusing me," he interrupted, clinking his glass lightly against hers. "Right now, I’m the only one who can care for you."

Lily’s grip tightened around her glass. "You have a family."

"I’ll let Alice know."

"That’s not the point," she said, shaking her head. "I can go alone. You should be focusing on your family—on your wife."

Alex’s gaze lowered slightly, a shadow passing through his eyes.

Then, after a long pause, he met her gaze. "Lily... You know how I feel."

Lily’s breath caught.

"Alex..."

"I won’t be at peace until you’re fully recovered." He lifted his glass and took a sip, then smiled. "This juice is good. Butler Aston made it. Try it."

Lily had no words left to argue.

The following days were a blur of preparation.

Alex was constantly busy—finalizing work matters, accompanying Lily to the hospital, and listening to doctors analyze her condition.

Meanwhile, Lily underwent pre-treatment procedures, receiving IV drips and taking prescribed medication.

She kept looking for something—some sign, some crack in Alex’s facade.

But at the same time, she resisted the thought.

The contradiction tore at her, leaving her lost in uncertainty.

Then, on the eve of their departure—

Disaster struck.

The Carter Group suffered a devastating business blow.

No one knew exactly what had happened, but the company was in chaos. The damage was catastrophic—so severe that recovery seemed impossible.

News outlets flooded the headlines, all predicting the same outcome:

The Carter Group was on the verge of collapse.

Lily wasted no time.

She hailed a cab straight to Carter Group’s headquarters.

Inside, the building was in complete disarray. Employees rushed back and forth, voices hushed but frantic. Tension weighed heavily in the air.

Alex was in a meeting.

Everyone looked overwhelmed, their faces grim and tight with stress.

Lily was directed to his office, where she sat waiting.

Her eyes wandered across the room until they landed on a framed wedding photo on Alex’s desk.

It was a picture of him and Alice.

They are a perfect couple. A golden pair.

Beautiful, untouchable.

She stared at it, her thoughts tangled.

Why had Alex married Alice?

Was it loneliness?

Or was it because of her father’s political power?

Before she could sort through her thoughts, the door swung open.

"You’re here?"

Alex’s voice was tired as he stepped inside, his sharp features now softened with exhaustion.

Lily stood up, taking in the fatigue etched into his face.

"Yeah."

He gave her a faint smile. "Sit, it’s fine."

But she didn’t sit. Instead, she stepped aside, allowing him to take his chair.

"I saw the news," she said, overseeing him. "How bad is it?"

Alex hesitated for a moment before sighing.

His smile turned bitter. Defeated.

"I don’t think I can save the Carter Group."

Lily’s eyes widened in shock. "How could it be this serious?"

Then, after a beat, she asked hesitantly, "Was it... Ethan?"

Alex let out a dry laugh. "Who else could dismantle the Carter Group overnight?"

He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "It’s not just him—the power behind the Blackwood family. Ethan alone couldn’t have moved this fast. This... this has his father’s influence written all over it."

Lily’s stomach twisted.

Ethan’s father?

Why now?

Ethan had let her go. He had walked away.

So why attack Alex now, right when Alex was planning to take her away for treatment?

The timing was too precise.

Too deliberate.

Her thoughts tangled further, the situation becoming a mess of unanswered questions.

Nothing made sense.

It was like trying to untangle a knotted thread—every pull only made it worse.

"Go home and rest," Alex said suddenly. "We’re leaving tomorrow."

Lily snapped her gaze back to him. "Tomorrow?"

He nodded.

"But your company—"

"I can’t save the Carter Group," he repeated, his voice steady. "But I can protect you."

Lily’s breath caught.

"Because of you, Ethan has hated me for years," Alex continued. "I knew he’d come for me eventually. I didn’t expect it to be now. But your health can’t be delayed any longer. I don’t trust what else Ethan might do."

Lily frowned.

Ethan wouldn’t do anything reckless.

Not like this.

And if this was really about her, why wait until now?

Ethan had already cut ties with her.

So why come after Alex now?

Her thoughts must have shown on her face because Alex studied her closely. "What’s wrong?"

Lily shook her head. "Nothing."

"Then go home and rest. Get ready to leave."

She hesitated, then asked, "What about your father? What if something happens to him?"

When the words left her lips, she saw something flicker in Alex’s eyes.

Despair.

Raw, unfiltered despair.

He sank into his chair, pressing his hands over his face.

"I don’t know," he admitted, his voice hollow. "I don’t even know if he’s still alive..."

Lily froze.

The grief in his voice wasn’t something that could be faked.

She knew Alex.

Knew that, no matter what, he would never gamble with his father’s life.

Which meant...

Could she believe Alex had anything to do with exposing Ethan’s base?

With her father’s death?

No.

She couldn’t believe it.

"Alex..."

She stepped forward hesitantly, placing a comforting hand on his back.

But she had no words of reassurance.