30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 121: Mutual Torment

The screen displayed Alice Johnson’s latest social media post at 4 a.m. It contained only a single sentence: We haven’t broken up. We won’t break up because of someone insignificant. I will wait for you until you come back.

"Who could Alice be referring to as the insignificant person? Could it be the foreign man, or is someone else involved?" the female host continued speculating.

The screen then shifted to photos of Alex and Alice at their engagement, their fingers intertwined, whispering sweet nothings. A picture of bliss that made others envious.

And just like that, the much-anticipated political and business union had ended...

Lily suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head.

"Hey, Lily, we’re leaving now."

A sweet voice interrupted her thoughts.

Lily bit her lip and turned to see Ethan wearing a casual black coat. Aiko Nakamura, wearing a black-and-white lace dress, held onto his arm as they slowly descended the stairs.

Nanny stood up from the sofa, bowing respectfully. "Mr. Blackwood, Miss Nakamura, take care."

Ethan’s cold, dark gaze fell on Lily. "We need someone to carry our things. Follow us!"

Last time, he had made her interview the starlet Vanessa Mitchell, watching their public displays of affection all day.

This time was even worse—he wanted her to be a servant, carrying their things while watching them act all lovey-dovey.

"My foot hurts; I can’t walk," Lily said casually.

"Then use a wheelchair to carry them!" Ethan pushed Aiko aside and walked toward Lily, his voice icy. "I don’t want to repeat what happens when you don’t listen."

Bastard!

Lily glared at him but reluctantly stood up from the sofa.

This outing was much better than the last one with Vanessa. Aiko, a sweet and innocent girl, didn’t do anything overly intimate with Ethan besides holding his arm.

They didn’t even go to high-end shopping malls or luxury jewelry stores.

Ethan accompanied Aiko as she strolled through the streets, occasionally casting cold glances back at Lily.

"I heard this is a street famous for its snacks. I’ve wanted to try it for a long time," Aiko said excitedly.

Their sports car stopped at a crowded street full of food stalls. It was the weekend, and the street was lively, with various delicious aromas wafting through the air.

Aiko pulled Ethan out of the car, and their appearance immediately caused a commotion on the busy street.

"Wow, he’s so handsome... Look, look, such a hottie..."

"Wow, are they here to play dress-up with their expensive clothes?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Are you just jealous of rich people?"

"That car... it’s a limited edition, right?!"

"Wow, they must be loaded!"

Lily was still sitting in the car, watching as onlookers surrounded them. It suddenly reminded her of when Ethan had taken her to buy a phone...

Back then, people had also crowded around them like they were some exotic animals.

Except back then, the person standing beside Ethan wasn’t Aiko—it was her.

In her memory, she had rarely held Ethan’s arm. It had always been him, possessively wrapping his arm around her shoulders as they walked.

"Are you going to sit there all day?!"

Ethan suddenly turned around and banged on her car window.

Lily had no choice but to open the door and get out. Aiko immediately handed her purse over to Lily.

"Thank you, Lily."

Lily didn’t even bother forcing a smile.

Aiko was thrilled by everything on the snack street and quickly filled her stomach with various snacks, including stinky tofu.

The stench was so pungent that Ethan immediately kept his distance from her.

Aiko looked at Lily with innocent eyes. "Lily, look at Ethan."

Indeed, the stinky tofu did stink.

Lily quietly took a few steps back as well.

Ethan’s dark eyes locked onto her retreating figure, and without realizing it, the corners of his lips curved slightly. He stood there watching her for a long time.

Sensing his gaze, Lily looked up, but Ethan’s eyes instantly turned cold as he walked ahead.

This man... he’s so strange.

In the end, Aiko had no choice but to chew gum to try and cover up the smell.

Ethan was a man who detested cheap things. He didn’t touch any snacks on the street, and when it was time for lunch, he dragged the still-excited Aiko back to the car.

"But I haven’t tried everything yet." Aiko pouted. "Ethan, I rarely visit China. Can’t you let me enjoy myself just a little longer?"

Lily sat in the front passenger seat, holding two large bags of snacks in her lap.

And she says she needs to eat more? Aiko’s stomach must be bottomless.

"Shut up," Ethan growled impatiently.

"Ethan..."

"Shut up!"

"Ethan, Ethan... mmm."

Suddenly, Aiko’s voice vanished.

Lily glanced into the rearview mirror and saw Ethan cupping Aiko’s face, silencing her with a kiss.

At first, Aiko’s eyes were wide with surprise, but soon they softened, and she wrapped her arms around Ethan’s neck, returning the kiss.

The atmosphere in the car instantly turned intimate.

Lily’s face remained expressionless as she stared blankly into the rearview mirror.

Unlike when Vanessa had clung to Ethan in the car, Ethan initiated the kiss with Aiko this time.

Whether he initiates it or not, what does it matter?

What does any of this have to do with me?

Ethan and she... had nothing to do with each other.

As if sensing something, Ethan, still kissing Aiko, suddenly looked up and locked eyes with Lily through the rearview mirror.

Lily immediately turned her head, staring out of the window. She blinked, and without warning, tears silently streamed down her face.

How strange. Why am I crying?

This doesn’t make any sense.

Lily Anderson, you’re becoming more and more nonsensical...

The long kiss ended, and Aiko leaned back against Ethan’s chest, her face glowing with happiness, no longer saying a word.

The phone rang, its tone monotonous.

Ethan answered the call, his deep gaze never leaving the front passenger seat.

"Mr. Blackwood, the Carter Group is planning to bid on a plot of land in the neighboring city," his secretary said in a voicemail.

"Buy it. I want any land the Carter Group is interested in. Disrupt all their development plans." Ethan’s voice was cold and filled with malice.

Sitting in the front, Lily couldn’t help but turn her head, her brows furrowing in concern.

Ethan stared at her, catching the glimmer of tear streaks on her face.

His hand tightened around the phone.

She’s crying for Alex Carter again?

Does she even know whose car she’s sitting in right now?

Lily Anderson!

"Notify me the moment anything happens with the Carter Group! I want them crushed within six months!" Ethan added coldly before throwing his phone against the car door.

"Bang—"

The phone hit the inside of the car with a loud crash.

Lily bit her lip as the phone fell at her feet, the screen still glowing. Ethan hadn’t changed the wallpaper—it was still a picture of them kissing and holding each other... looking so sweet.

And yet, the woman in his arms now was Aiko.

Isn’t this just a ridiculous joke?

"What’s wrong, Ethan?" Aiko sat up from his lap, glancing at his dark expression, her voice small. "Are you upset?"

"Finish everything you bought," Ethan growled, glaring at Lily in the front seat.

Lily remained silent.

"Lily! I’m talking to you!" Ethan shouted. "Eat everything Aiko bought!"

"I don’t have her appetite," Lily replied coldly, not even turning her head. She lifted the two heavy bags of snacks. How could she possibly eat all of that?

Ethan’s eyes flashed with anger, his voice dangerously low. "Drive to AK magazine headquarters."

The car immediately changed direction.

"Ethan, are you out of your mind?!" Lily shouted, her reaction unusually fierce. "You always use the magazine to threaten me. Don’t you think that makes you pathetic?"

"Pathetic?!" Ethan’s eyes blazed with fury. "Say that again!"

The car continued toward the magazine office.

Lily glared at him, then angrily opened the bag and pulled out a box of spicy rice cakes. The rich aroma filled her mouth, but she still felt no appetite.

Aiko sat frozen, staring at them as they argued...

Sensing the tension, the driver quickly made another turn, steering the car away from the magazine office.

After finishing the rice cakes, Lily thought momentarily, then reached for a box of stinky tofu from the bottom of the bag. The pungent odor immediately filled the car.

In the rearview mirror, Ethan’s face darkened ominously.

Lily felt slightly satisfied as she speared a piece of stinky tofu with a skewer and brought it to her mouth.

No wonder Aiko enjoyed it so much—this stinky tofu was delicious.

"Lily, isn’t it great?" Aiko leaned forward excitedly. "Stinky tofu is so good, right? Can I have a piece?"

"Oh." Lily handed her a fresh skewer.

Is Aiko part pig or something?!

Why is she inserting herself into my conversation with Ethan?

"Eat that, and I’ll throw you out of the car!" Ethan barked, glaring at Aiko’s eager face.

Aiko immediately dropped the skewer and playfully stuck out her tongue at Lily before leaning back against Ethan, resting her head on his shoulder. "Ethan, you should try it too. It’s perfect, I’m not lying."

"I don’t eat cheap food."

Ethan shot a cold glance at Lily in the front seat, still eating the stinky tofu, each bite covered in cheap chili sauce.

Her stomach couldn’t handle this.

The tension in the car remained thick until they arrived at an Italian restaurant.

Ethan barked at the driver when they got out, "Get another car!"

The whole car reeked of stinky tofu. He couldn’t tell if he was torturing Lily or himself.

"Lily, the sun is a bit strong today. Could you buy me a hat?" Aiko asked sweetly as she walked up to Lily.

Buy a hat?

Lily blinked, confused. Aiko’s big eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together, pleading softly, "Please, Lily. I want to have lunch with Ethan alone. Could you disappear for a little while? I promise next time you make Ethan mad, I’ll help put in a good word for you."

"I don’t need your help," Lily replied coldly, turning to leave.

Ethan’s gaze followed her retreating figure as Aiko pulled him into the Italian restaurant.

Good.

Not having to deal with Ethan was a blessing.

They wanted a private lunch, and she didn’t want to be a third wheel.

Lily wandered into a hat shop, quickly picking out a women’s sun hat, and then walked down the street, her mind wandering. She found a public phone booth and dialed her friend Sophia’s number.

After several rings, Sophia finally picked up. "Hello?"

"Sophia, it’s Lily."

Leaning against the glass of the retro-style phone booth, Lily asked, "How’s your alcohol allergy?"

"Oh my God, Lily!" Sophia’s excited voice rang out. "Something huge has happened—you won’t believe it. Your uncle found out you have a boyfriend, and when he couldn’t reach you because your phone was off, he freaked out and went to the police! I didn’t know what to tell him!"