30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 123: Devastating Humiliation

"What did you just say?!" Uncle Robert shot up from the sofa in shock.

"M-Mistress?!" Aunt stammered, equally stunned and at a loss for words.

She had always suspected that Lily wouldn’t amount to anything good, but to think she had become someone’s mistress?!

They were a proper family, after all...

This girl really has some nerve.

"What else would it be?" Ethan leaned back against the sofa, watching the paleness spread across Lily’s face. The satisfaction of revenge surged through him.

Exposing all her fake pretenses gave him a twisted sense of pleasure.

Yet, seeing the lifeless look in her eyes cut something deep within him, like a blade slicing through his heart.

"Don’t talk nonsense! Lily is a good, respectable girl!" Uncle Robert protested, still in disbelief.

A respectable girl?

Respectable enough to lie in his bed while calling out another man’s name? Decent enough to drug him with sleeping pills and steal confidential documents for Alex?

This was Lily’s version of respectability?

The ice in Ethan’s gaze deepened as he sneered. "You didn’t actually think your niece was cut out to be the wife of the CEO of Blackwood Enterprise, did you? She’s not even worthy—she doesn’t have the qualifications."

"Lily is what he’s saying true?!" Uncle Robert demanded, his voice harsh.

"..." Lily sat rigidly on the sofa, unable to speak and too terrified to meet her Uncle’s eyes.

No way to live, no way to die.

Ethan had countless ways to torture her, each one more devastating than the last.

Whatever she feared, whatever she cherished, he would destroy.

Everything about her had already been exposed...

Her dignity, her integrity—all trampled by Ethan Blackwood.

He was out for revenge, and he had succeeded.

Right now, she just wanted to die.

Seeing her remain silent, Uncle Robert’s voice shook with sorrow. "So, it’s true, then?!" Lily closed her eyes in despair.

Suddenly, Uncle Robert moved toward her and slapped her hard across the face, shouting, "Have you really stooped so low as to become someone’s mistress?! For what? Money?!"

Her cheek stung with a burning pain.

Tears fell from her eyes as Lily slid off the sofa and knelt on the ground, her voice choked with sobs. "I’m sorry, Uncle. I’m so, so sorry.

For nine years, her Uncle raised her as if she were his daughter.

He had taught her to live with dignity and respect herself.

And in the end, she hadn’t lived up to any of it. She had failed in everything.

Ethan sat on the sofa, watching as Lily knelt, trembling. A flicker of surprise crossed his dark eyes.

All this over being a mistress?

In today’s society, that’s hardly shocking anymore.

Why are these people reacting so strongly?

And why is she kneeling to her Uncle? He’s not even her father... She doesn’t owe him her life story, does she?

"You’re a disgrace! How could you betray your dead mother like this? After everything I taught you, how could you go and do something so shameful?!" Uncle Robert was so furious he could barely speak. He raised his hand again, ready to strike her.

Ethan suddenly stood up, blocking Uncle Robert’s hand. His eyes were cold and dangerous. "She’s my woman now. If you hit her, it’s like slapping me in the face!"

"I’m her uncle!"

"So what? Without me, none of the money you’ve earned would have ended up in your pocket!" Did he really think the magazine’s success was just luck? That the exclusive scoops had come without a price?

"We don’t need your dirty money!" Uncle Robert retorted.

"That money was earned with your niece’s body. You should be thanking her, not hitting her!"

Ethan’s words were as sharp and cruel as a blade.

Lily knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.

"What are you crying for?!" Aunt suddenly yelled, joining in. "You’ve disgraced the entire family! All you do is cry, but you sold yourself for money! Were you smiling when you spread your legs for a man?!"

"Shut up!"

Both Ethan and Uncle shouted simultaneously.

Aunt flinched, immediately silencing herself and shrinking back.

"Lily ended up like this because of you!" Uncle shouted at his wife. "Every day, you nag her about money, money, money! You turned a good girl into someone who threw away her dignity!"

He had raised Lily for nine years, hoping to see her father finally get out of prison. And now, this had happened. How could he ever explain this?

"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry..." Lily could only kneel and apologize, her tears falling uncontrollably.

Ethan looked down at her trembling figure on the floor, a strange discomfort welling up inside him.

She became his mistress for the sake of the magazine.

So why was she apologizing to her Uncle?

All he had wanted was to see her humiliated in front of the people she cared about most. But her reaction was far more intense than he had expected...

He hadn’t anticipated that she would kneel...

"How is this my fault?" Aunt protested loudly. "I didn’t tell her to sell herself! Our family and Anderson families are respectable people—how could we have produced such a lowly creature? Out of all the things she could have done, she chose to be a whore!"

Ethan clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Aunt.

If this woman insults Lily again, I’ll tear her mouth apart.

"What have you ever taught Lily? What have you ever done for her besides treating her like your personal servant?" Uncle Robert shouted angrily at his wife. "Get all the bank cards and bring them here!"

"..."

Uncle was usually a mild-mannered man. This was the first time he had ever shouted at his wife like this.

Lily closed her eyes in pain, her tears flowing freely.

When I sold myself, I should have known this would be the outcome...

I didn’t help my Uncle—I destroyed his family.

Ethan watched her, his lips pressed into a tight line.

What kind of life has she been living in the Uncle’s family?

"I’m telling you now, Lily will no longer be your mistress. Whatever money you gave her, we don’t want it. We’ll give it all back to you! Now get out of here!" Uncle suddenly turned toward Ethan, his voice raised in anger.

She won’t be his mistress anymore?!

Do they think they have a say in the matter?

In this game, the only one who controls the ending is me.

Ethan let out a cold laugh, yanking Lily off the floor and tossing her back onto the sofa.

He couldn’t stand to see her kneeling any longer.

"The thing I hate most..." Ethan said, stepping in front of Uncle, his voice cold and menacing, "Are poor people pretending they have integrity."

"You could sell everything you have, and it still wouldn’t be enough to repay me."

Aunt returned, holding several bank cards reluctantly in her hand. She handed them to Uncle, who snatched them and threw them at Ethan’s face.

Ethan didn’t dodge. He closed his eyes and let the cards hit him.

Cipher Stone was the first to react, pulling out his gun and pointing it at Uncle Robert. The surrounding bodyguards followed suit, all aiming their weapons at him.

Aunt cowered behind Uncle, terrified.

They hadn’t expected these people to pull out guns. Even Uncle, usually so composed, was shaken. His plump body trembled, his face a mix of shock and fear.

This man... Ethan Blackwood... seems to be much more dangerous than I’d imagined.

"Ethan, if you so much as touch my uncle, I’ll make sure you regret it!" Lily shouted in fear, standing up from the sofa and staring at him with determination.

Even though her threat sounded weak and powerless.

"Oh? Are you trying to show off your family’s unity?" Ethan sneered.

Is this woman really that stupid?

Her Uncle and aunt just called her every name in the book, and she’s still standing up for them?

All because they took care of her for nine years?

I’ve done plenty for her, too, yet she treats me like an enemy!

Ethan raised his hand, and Cipher immediately tossed him the gun.

Ethan arrogantly pointed the gun at Uncle Robert’s head. "So, what will it be? Withdraw the police report, or do I need to leave?"

"We’ll withdraw it; we’ll definitely withdraw it," Aunt stammered, trembling with fear.

Oh my God, what kind of person has this girl gotten involved with?

Uncle Robert, who had been righteous and dignified moments earlier, was now silent. He could resist the temptation of money but not the threat of a gun.

Seeing their reactions, Ethan spread his hands smugly, his arrogance palpable. "The so-called dignity of poor people is the most laughable thing."

With that, Ethan grabbed Lily’s hand and dragged her out.

Her Uncle and aunt stood frozen, staring after them in shock.

As they stepped outside, the sun cast its light over the small courtyard, and Lily was forced to walk alongside Ethan, his grip tight on her hand.

"Are you satisfied?" Lily suddenly asked.

Does this make him happy?

To humiliate her and her family until there’s nothing left?

Did he finally get the satisfaction of revenge?

Ethan’s face stiffened momentarily, but then he turned to her, his expression cold and mocking. "Satisfied? Yes, seeing you like this makes me very satisfied."

"Lily, from head to toe, nothing about you can compete with me."

"Betraying me, putting a green hat on me, was the worst mistake you could have made!"

"Slap—"

Lily slapped him across the face.

"Lily Anderson!"

Ethan’s eyes blazed with fury, his face turning an ashen gray as he gritted his teeth.

She dared to hit me?!

Does she have a death wish?!

Tears still streaked her face, but her expression was cold and lifeless as she stared at him. Her voice was icy as she spoke. "I’ve never hated anyone as much as I hate you, Ethan Blackwood. You disgust me."

"..." Ethan grabbed her by the collar, pulling her close. "Say that again, I dare you!"

I disgust her? But Alex Carter doesn’t?

I treat her well and badly—it’s all the same to her! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"You think destroying me is your way of getting revenge?"

"I never betrayed you because I never saw you as my man in the first place. There was never any question of betrayal."

"Ethan Blackwood, you’re nothing but trash," Lily said, her words cutting like knives as his grip on her collar tightened.

The flames of anger in his eyes grew even more intense.

But there wasn’t a trace of fear on her pale face. She stared back at him defiantly, refusing to back down.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her stomach.

The sour bile rose in her throat, mixed with the spicy taste of the rice cakes she’d eaten earlier...

Lily clenched her fists, trying to suppress the pain.

"Take it back, Lily Anderson!" Ethan roared, his voice filled with rage. He wanted nothing more than to punch her in the face.

Yet, inexplicably, he couldn’t bring himself to hit her.

Every time he was around her, he wanted to strangle her, but he could never bring himself to actually hurt her.

"Why should I take it back? Ethan Blackwood, you make me sick... Urgh—"

The nausea hit her hard, and Lily vomited, the contents splattering all over his arm.

"Lily Anderson!" Ethan recoiled in disgust, glaring at her.

Is she insane?

She dares to puke on me?!

She’s so filthy!

Ethan furiously shook his arm, trying to rid himself of the mess.

Lily’s vision blurred, and Ethan’s face slowly faded into a white haze. The fog was so thick she could barely see anything...

Clutching her stomach in pain, Lily swayed, trying to focus on something...

And then everything went black. Her body collapsed to the ground.

"Lily!"

Ethan, shocked, caught her as she fell, cradling her unconscious body. Her waist was so thin, her body so light... Had she lost even more weight? How had she gotten so frail?