30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 48: Charity Clash

After taking a long, deep breath, Lily stepped on her high heels and walked over. Before she could get close, Ethan reached out with his long arm and directly scooped her into his arms, embracing her as he entered the hotel.

The charity auction dinner was held on the top floor of the Grand Hotel. High-class celebrities arrived one after another, including politicians, businessmen, celebrities, and big stars from the entertainment industry.

Ethan, though mysterious and low-profile in front of the media, was well-known in this upper-class circle. Even before reaching the banquet site, several celebrities approached to fawn over him and greet him.

"Mr. Blackwood, what a pleasure to see you here," one said.

"It’s rare to see you at such events, Mr. Blackwood. Your dedication to public welfare is admirable," another chimed in.

"Blackwood Enterprise seems to be interested in the neighboring province’s real estate recently. I wonder if Mr. Blackwood can reveal a little bit about it to me?" a third person probed.

Ethan answered calmly, his voice carrying indifference. He pinched Lily’s thin waist and whispered in her ear, "Go and sign in for me first."

Lily, who had been forcing a social smile, gratefully squeezed through the crowd to the sign-in table. She bent down to hold the pen, signing Ethan’s name in clear, beautiful handwriting.

The staff at the desk smiled politely. "You can give us the collection that the young lady prepared. Please write the name of the donor here."

Lily froze. Ethan hadn’t given her anything to auction. She turned to look back at him but was unable to get his attention because of the crowd.

Looking down at herself, Lily tried to undo her jewelry, but the clasps were too intricate. With people waiting behind her, she had no choice but to remove the ring from her hand and give it to them, writing "Ethan Blackwood" in the donor column.

As Lily waited aside, she overheard familiar voices behind her. It was Alice Johnson, Alex ’s fiancée, with another young lady. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"Alice, look, that’s Ethan," the friend said excitedly.

"What’s there to see," Alice replied airily.

Lily hid herself behind a column, listening to their conversation about the Carter Group’s recent troubles and Ethan’s involvement.

Ethan’s abrupt appearance startled Lily, who was deep in her own thoughts.

"Thinking about something?" he asked.

Before Lily could respond, Beth Samson approached her husband, Damien Kingsley. Beth immediately embraced Ethan, whispering suggestively about a lipstick she’d supposedly left in his pocket.

Ethan coldly pushed Beth away and glared at Lily. "Don’t come over yet," he said sharply.

Just then, Natalie Walker arrived, throwing herself into Ethan’s arms. Emily Prescott followed, looking displeased.

Emily, stirring up trouble, revealed Lily’s connection to <EYL> magazine - the publication that had exposed Natalie’s scandal.

Natalie’s face twisted with rage. "You’re from <EYL>? You wrote about my scandal? Bitch!"

Before Lily could defend herself, she witnessed a resounding slap that reverberated through the room. Ethan had struck Natalie with force, knocking her off balance and sending her crashing to the floor.

Ethan’s cold voice cut through the stunned silence. "I, Ethan Blackwood, have no qualms about hitting women. And my woman is not for you to insult."

Lily felt all eyes turn to her, and she wished she could disappear. The weight of being "Ethan’s woman" suddenly felt suffocating.

As they entered the banquet hall, Lily caught Alice Johnson’s mocking gaze. "Isn’t it awesome to be a rich man’s woman?" Alice’s whispered taunt cut deep.

The auction began, with Beth Samson as the host. Her tearful speech about helping the disabled rang hollow to Lily, who couldn’t shake the image of Beth’s earlier encounter with Ethan.

As the first item was presented - a stunning crystal necklace - Ethan leaned in close to Lily. "To make a pair for you," he murmured, referencing the gemstone ring he’d given her.

Lily’s heart raced. The ring she had just donated for auction. How would Ethan react upon discovering what she had done?

"This <Tears of Airlie’ necklace>," Beth announced, "has been generously donated by Miss Alice Johnson, daughter of Mayor Johnson."

As Alice took the stage to explain the necklace’s history, Lily’s mind churned with conflicting emotions. The intrigue, the rivalries, the secrets - it all swirled around her, leaving her feeling both exhilarated and overwhelmed.

After the auction concluded, Lily headed to the restroom before departing but found herself cornered by Natalie and Emily. Natalie still glared angrily with a red mark visible on her cheek where Ethan had struck her.

"You think you’re so special now, don’t you?" Natalie hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "Just because Ethan Blackwood decided to play hero for you?"

Emily chimed in, her voice sickly sweet. "Oh, Natalie, don’t be so harsh. I’m sure Miss Anderson here knows exactly what her role is. Don’t you, dear?"

Lily felt a mix of anger and embarrassment flushing her face. She attempted to respond but found herself speechless. She felt cornered by these two women determined to put her in her place.

"What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Natalie taunted. "Or are you just realizing that you’re way out of your depth here?"

Emily laughed, a tinkling sound that grated on Lily’s nerves. "You know, Lily, dear, you should be careful. Men like Ethan Blackwood... they have a habit of discarding their toys when they get bored."

Lily felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She wouldn’t give Natalie and Emily the satisfaction of seeing her cry.

As the tension mounted, Emily’s composure suddenly cracked. With a swift, unexpected movement, she lashed out at Lily, her manicured nails raking across Lily’s face.

Lily gasped in pain and shock, stumbling backward. She could feel the sting where Emily’s nails had scraped her skin, and the humiliation of the attack burned even more than the physical pain.

In that moment, Lily felt a surge of anger unlike anything she had experienced before. The frustration, the fear, and the tension of the entire evening coalesced into a burning rage that threatened to consume her.

This breath is not out, how to let go of the anger of the heart. Emily’s nails scraped her face.