30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 118: Alex’s Daring Rescue

His gentleness was a double-edged sword for her—something she couldn’t get close to but couldn’t escape...

She couldn’t stay any longer.

"Thank you for the birthday wishes, but you should go now," Lily said, wiping away her tears and forcing a small smile.

"Lily..." Alex frowned at her constant avoidance, but his lips curved into a smile again. He reached the back seat and pulled out a small, exquisitely wrapped gift box. "This is for you."

The box was beautifully packaged.

"Thank you."

"Open it," Alex insisted, not intending to let her out of the car.

Lily had no choice but to place the plush bouquet on her lap and open the gift box. Inside was a small, delicate hair clip, beautifully designed and sparkling with diamonds.

"Give it to me," Alex said, taking the clip out of the box. He leaned forward and gently placed it in her hair. "It looks beautiful on you."

After fastening the hair clip, he didn’t move away. The faint scent of mint lingered around her.

"Thank you."

Lily lowered her eyes, only to hear the sound of hurried footsteps. She looked up and saw Cipher leading a group of bodyguards out of the villa, surrounding their car.

Soon, the guests from the party followed, gathering around the car as well.

The crowd parted, and Ethan emerged with a cold expression, glaring at their car. Standing beside him was the young, sweet, and innocent-looking girl.

The car windows were closed, and Ethan couldn’t possibly see what was happening inside, yet his gaze made Lily feel as if he were staring directly at her...

Filled with hatred.

Panicking, Lily turned to Alex. "Alex, please let me out of the car! You need to drive away now!"

"Lily, I’m a man. I shouldn’t need you to protect me."

Alex glanced casually at the crowd outside and smiled calmly. He then pulled out two more gift boxes from the back seat, one large and one small. "These are the gifts I prepared for you last year and the year before."

"Alex..." Did he not notice that they were surrounded?

"Open them," Alex said, his tone filled with anticipation.

Lily bit her lip and opened one of the boxes. Inside was a framed sketch of a young girl playing in the water. The girl was her; her expression was playful and lively, and her smile was sweet and inviting, though her features were slightly different from reality.

"I drew this last year. I wondered what you would look like when you grew up, but I got a few details wrong. Alex chuckled softly.

She had often wondered what Alex would look like when he grew up too...

How tall? Was he slim or muscular? How handsome? Had his temper changed?

It turned out that he had been thinking the same way.

Lily stared at the sketch, unsure of what to feel...

"Bang—"

Several bodyguards kicked the car simultaneously, causing it to shake violently.

"Get out! Lily, I’ll burn this car if you don’t leave now!" Ethan shouted from outside, his voice filled with fury.

Lily trembled, her face turning ashen.

"Lily, you don’t love him, right?" Alex asked softly, looking at Ethan’s enraged face through the window. He took the sketch from her lap and set it aside.

Love? Not love?

No, she didn’t love Ethan. She didn’t... she couldn’t.

"Lily, do I still have a chance?" Alex suddenly whispered in her ear.

Lily’s eyes widened in shock.

What did he say?

Do I still have a chance, Lily?

"Give me the gun!" Ethan roared outside, snatching the gun from Cipher’s hand. His eyes burned with murderous intent as he circled the car, pressing the gun barrel against the driver’s side window.

"Alex!" Lily froze in terror, staring at the gun pressed against the window behind Alex. "He’ll shoot! Let me out."

"Lily, I love you," Alex said with a gentle smile. He cupped her face in his hands and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

"..."

Lily was utterly stunned.

"Don’t worry, Lily. Leave it to me."

With that, Alex swiftly pushed her down in the seat.

"Bang—"

The loud sound of a gunshot echoed in Lily’s ears. She felt something sharp graze her face, leaving a stinging pain as blood trickled down her cheek. Her ears rang from the shockwave of the blast...

"Ah—"

A scream erupted from the crowd.

The bullet had shattered two of the car windows.

Ethan stood outside, his face ashen, watching Alex shield Lily, who was taking the brunt of the blast. His hands were protectively covering her, having absorbed the impact himself.

Cipher signaled to the bodyguards, and they quickly moved in to pry the car doors open.

"Don’t be afraid."

Alex smiled at her reassuringly, holding her hand as they stepped out of the car. His gaze fell on the cut on her cheek, and he frowned. "You still got hurt."

As they stepped out, Lily saw Ethan’s terrifying look and tried to pull her hand away from Alex’s grasp, but Alex held her hand tightly.

Ethan’s black eyes bore into them, his lips curling into a bloodthirsty smile. "Alex Carter, you’re even bolder than I thought. Did you come to my house to steal her away? Are you asking for death?!"

Ethan yanked Lily out of Alex’s grasp and pressed the gun to Alex’s forehead.

"No!"

Lily cried out in horror, only to be grabbed by Cipher and the other bodyguards.

The crowd fell silent. In front of the Blackwood villa, all that could be heard was the wind.

Alex’s expression remained calm and composed. He stood tall, gazing at Ethan without fear. "I’m taking Lily with me. Name your price."

From the moment he started circling Shallow Bay in his car, from the moment he saw the bandage on Lily’s face, he knew he wouldn’t let her go again.

His Lily wasn’t going to be trampled on by anyone.

If staying by Ethan’s side meant her life would only gain more scars and bandages, he wouldn’t allow it.

"Take her away?" Ethan sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You’re dreaming."

"What’s the price?" Alex asked again, ignoring the scorn in Ethan’s voice. He was calm, stubborn, and resolute.

Lily, held by the bodyguards, could only watch helplessly as Ethan’s expression grew darker and darker. The gun was still pressed against Alex’s forehead. A single pull of the trigger, and Alex would be dead.

"Who do you think you are, Alex?" Ethan snarled, kicking Alex in the knee. Alex grunted in pain, stumbling back against the car.

"And me?" Now leaning against the car, Alex looked at Lily with a soft gaze before returning to face Ethan’s furious expression. His lips curved into a proud smile. "I grew up with Lily. We were engaged at eight. If it weren’t for the troubles in our family, we’d already be married by now. What do you think I am?"

Alex’s voice was calm and quiet.

But each word was a direct challenge.

Ethan’s fist flew into Alex’s face, knocking his head to the side and causing him to spit out blood.

Ethan straightened his arm, pressing the gun back against Alex’s head, his finger tightening on the trigger.

"No—" Lily screamed, tears streaming down her face in terror. "Ethan, don’t! Please, I won’t leave with him, I promise.

Ethan’s face darkened even further.

She’s begging me?

She’s begging me for another man?!

"Fine, I’ll give you what you want!"

Ethan suddenly turned the gun on Lily and pulled the trigger.

Lily shut her eyes in despair.

The women in the crowd gasped and covered their ears in fear.

But there was no gunshot, and no searing pain hit her.

Lily opened her eyes in confusion, only to see Ethan glaring at her, his eyes clouded with something other than hatred—something more complicated...

Her heart skipped a beat.

"This type of gun only holds one bullet," Alex said calmly. "In some foreign countries, elite bodyguards carry guns like this, designed for them to commit suicide if they fail in their duties."

Lily was stunned. So Ethan never intended to kill Alex from the start?

Ethan continued to glare at Lily, his expression as dark as ever. After a long pause, he finally turned his gaze back to Alex. "You’ve got guts."

"Let’s settle this with a shooting competition. If I win, Lily comes with me."

"Alex, I didn’t kill you because I never let people I hate die easily." Ethan tossed the gun aside, his voice filled with disdain.

"Are you afraid to lose?"

"Lose? To a pampered little rich boy like you?" Ethan scoffed. "Who do you think you are, Alex?"

"In seven days, on the South Sea gambling ship," Alex said, issuing the challenge, his elegant demeanor laced with stubbornness.

Ethan responded with another punch to Alex’s face.

Alex doubled over in pain, blood dripping down his neck.

His neck... had he been injured before?

Lily stood there, frozen, staring at Alex.

"Take her inside."

With a cold snort, Ethan turned and walked away, not bothering Alex further. His face was filled with cold anger.

Seven days?

He can discuss whether Alex can still make it to the gambling ship in seven days.

He was already bleeding from his neck—he must be seriously injured...

He’s no match for me.

The scene ends as everyone silently follows Ethan back into the villa.

Alex raised his head and gave Lily a reassuring smile as the bodyguards dragged her inside.

His heart ached.

If he could help it, he didn’t want her to ever walk through those doors again.

Alex climbed back into the now-damaged car, struggling to remove his jacket. The back of it was soaked in blood.

He didn’t have the strength to fight Ethan today...

Reaching for his phone, Alex dialed a number, barely holding consciousness. "Dr. Hanson, this is Alex Carter... I need an ambulance to pick me up from Shallow Bay. Yes, a bullet grazed my back... There are probably shards of glass in my body as well... My neck might be cut.

After hanging up, Alex turned his head to look at the luxurious Blackwood villa. Lily had already been dragged inside. He reached up to touch his shoulder, his fingers coming away stained with blood.

"Ugh..."

Alex groaned in pain.

Inside the villa, Ethan looked at the grand hall’s chaotic lighting and shouted, "Get lost, all of you!"

They’ve turned my house into a mess.

The bodyguards quickly ushered all the guests out, and the so-called midnight party ended abruptly.

Ethan dragged Lily upstairs to the master bedroom and threw her onto the bed. His voice was harsh as he demanded, "What were you doing in the car with Alex?"

"Nothing!" Lily protested, but Ethan lunged at her, grabbing her by the collar and pulling her up, his eyes filled with fury. "Locked up in here, you haven’t seen your lover in so long, and you expect me to believe you did nothing?!"

The moment he had pointed the gun at Alex, Lily had almost cried. In front of all those people, she had begged him.

She had done everything for Alex.

She always acted so high and mighty in front of him, but when it came to Alex, she was willing to do anything—even beg...