30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 83: A Fictional Tale

Ethan’s voice dripped with sarcasm from the backseat. "Perhaps she’s forgotten the skills of a paparazzo, being a mistress for so long."

Lily’s face paled, her hands balling into fists.

"Mr. Blackwood, Miss Mitchell," the driver intoned, exiting the vehicle to open the door. Ethan and Vanessa alighted in succession.

Two sharp knocks on the window drew Lily’s attention to Ethan’s stern expression. She powered down the window, and his commanding growl filled her ears. "Exit the vehicle."

"For what purpose?" Lily inquired, her tone subdued.

"Get out, or I’ll remove you myself," Ethan threatened, his gaze fierce. Vanessa clung to him, casting envious glances at Lily.

True to his word, Ethan was a man of action.

Aware of the hurried passersby, Lily decided to step out, not wanting to draw unwelcome attention. Ethan’s lips curled in a self-satisfied smirk, his eyes conveying a clear message of victory.

Nanny had not removed her handcuffs but instead fastened them to one side, winding a diamond-studded chain around her wrist multiple times. It was still an odd sight, but it was preferable to drag a chain.

The opera house was booked for their private use. Lily needed help to keep pace, entering to find the seats deserted.

Ethan and Vanessa, inseparable, made their way to their seats. Lily chose a spot far from them and settled in. Before she could sit, Ethan’s voice cut through the silence. "Lily, don’t provoke me here."

Lily gritted her teeth, swallowing her annoyance, and sat behind them.

The opera started with the acoustics of the opera house amplifying Western classical music, filling the room.ls delivered a performance both humorous and philosophical.

An incongruous sound intruded on Lily’s consciousness as the actor’s poignant aria resonated.

"Uhm... Mr. Blackwood, please... uhm..."

Vanessa’s irritating whine punctuated the air.

Lily observed the couple before her, unable to see their actions but hearing Vanessa’s incessant, soulful panting.

Lily desperately tried to concentrate on the opera, but the sounds of Vanessa’s pleasure kept interrupting her.

"Mmmm... ah... it hurts, Mr. Blackwood..."

A sharp, piercing noise.

Lily’s head throbbed as she covered her ears and closed her eyes, seeking refuge from the auditory assault.

She didn’t understand what Ethan was doing, but Vanessa’s cries took on several tones. This torture was a different kind of torment to her spirit.

Why should she endure a live performance of such intimacy?

Suddenly, her head was yanked back.

Ethan had risen from his seat, his attire immaculate as if he had not been the source of Vanessa’s recent gasps.

Lily’s hand fell, numb from the strain.

The actor’s melodious voice continued to envelop them.

Ethan’s face darkened further in the dim setting.

Vanessa, beside him, stood and glared at Lily with a mix of jealousy and hatred. If looks could kill, Lily would have perished a hundred times over.

"What’s the matter?" Lily remained seated, her voice indifferent.

Ethan violently grabbed her collar, pulling her from her seat, and descended upon her lips, his teeth biting down harshly.

"Well—" Lily stifled a cry as Ethan’s hot tongue invaded her mouth, ravaging it with unrestrained enthusiasm.

This man...

He was not to be tolerated!

Lily’s anger propelled her to punch him. Ethan captured her resisting hands, his kiss growing more wicked, his tongue plundering hers over and over.

The audience consisted solely of the three of them, the actors’ singing fading into the background.

Ethan finally released her lips, his grip on her collar unwavering.

Lily panted, her glare filled with loathing. Her voice dripped with contempt. "Mr. Blackwood, kindly cleanse your mouth before kissing me!"

Some of Ethan’s anger dissipated at her words, and he responded coldly, "Is that a concern for you?"

"Absolutely!"

She broke free from his grasp, repulsed by the idea of sharing his kiss so soon after another.

It was repugnant!

Furious, Lily wiped her mouth, eager to erase all traces of him.

"Lily!" Ethan’s eyes darkened again at her action, his teeth grinding. "Cease that!"

Is this how she shows concern?

Lily!

Very well!

This man would resort to shouting!

Reluctantly, Lily lowered her hand. "No more opera?"

"Finished!"

Ethan’s words fell like a gavel, and he turned to leave, only to find Vanessa in his path. His fury returned. "Don’t wander off!"

Vanessa, startled, scurried outside.

Lily followed, limping.

Along the way, Vanessa attempted to appease Ethan’s foul mood, cooing in a grating tone.

How long must she endure this?

Would Ethan ever release her?

Soon after, Vanessa suggested visiting a jewelry store and a designer bag boutique.

In the boutique, Vanessa nonchalantly selected several bags and tossed them at Lily, her gaze scornful. "Here, hold these carefully. Don’t damage them."

Was this woman treating her like a servant?

"Miss Mitchell..."

Before Lily could protest, Ethan, who had been waiting on a sofa nearby, strode over, seized the bags from Lily’s arms, and hurled them at Vanessa, his voice icy. "Are you daft? She is under my protection!"

Was Vanessa’s mind addled?

Lily, being his, had the right to make her own decisions.

"It hurts...." Vanessa’s features contorted in pain, her beauty marred by her grimace.

Observing Ethan’s fury, Vanessa cajoled and clung to him again. "I merely asked for her assistance with the bags."

Lily had yet to hear a polite request.

Uninterested in their exchange, Lily moved to the front of the store and waited quietly.

She didn’t appreciate Ethan’s reprimand of Vanessa. She would have been subjected to Vanessa’s glares all day without him.

She wouldn’t have had to follow today.

Inexplicably, she watched him and Vanessa on their date, attending the opera, shopping for jewelry, and now bags.

What role was she playing?

"Silence, take the bags, and pay the bill!" Ethan’s uncomfortable and intense gaze pushed away from Vanessa’s clinging form and headed for the exit.

The designer bag store was in an exclusive mall catering to the affluent.

At this hour, during the lunch rush, the mall was bustling with activity.

Like an indomitable force, Vanessa continued to ping Ethan despite his repeated rebukes, speaking in a sickly sweet tone as if unaffected.

"Mr. Blackwood, where shall we dine later? There’s an Italian restaurant I’m quite fond of, oh...."

Ethan’s back was as cold as stone, and Vanessa, hooking his arm, chattered away, receiving no response.

Lily trailed behind them, silent.

Her foot, sprained from too much walking, began to throb slightly.

But she remained quiet, unwilling to show weakness in front of Ethan.

If this continued, her foot might become genuinely crippled.

Amidst the mall’s foot traffic, Lily’s gaze fell on a fire alarm by the wall, and she devised a clever plan for a respite.

Watching the two ahead, she slipped through the crowd to the corner unnoticed and struck the fire alarm with a small hammer.

The alarm blared, sending the mall into chaos as people rushed for the exits.

Would her fingerprints be on the hammer? She hoped not to be held accountable.

Lily extracted a paper towel from his pocket and meticulously cleaned the small hammer. Exhausted, she settled onto a nearby bench, removing her shoes and socks to inspect her feet. The swelling had subsided, but the lingering ache from the prolonged walk was a constant reminder of the day’s exertion.

Cursing Ethan under his breath, he wondered why the man had to involve Vanessa in their outing.

"Lily! Lily!" Ethan’s voice, tinged with alarm and urgency, pierced through the din of the fleeing crowd.

Startled, Lily looked up, thinking she had imagined it, only to find Ethan standing amidst the crowd, his eyes scanning the area as he moved against the tide of people heading into the mall.

Hadn’t he heard the fire alarm? Hadn’t he seen Vanessa fleeing?

Yet, there he was, pushing his way back towards her.

Lily’s eyes widened in disbelief as she watched Ethan standing out in the crowd.

As if sensing her gaze, he abruptly turned towards her, his strides purposeful as he navigated the panicked masses.

Ethan shouldered his way through the crowd, his stern gaze fixed on her. "Are you deaf to the fire alarm? Can’t you run?!" he barked, his tone a mix of frustration and concern.

Lily was speechless, her mind racing with questions.

Without waiting for a response, Ethan noticed her bare feet, and his brow furrowed in a scowl. "Fool!" he muttered, pulling her up and hefting her over his shoulder as he followed the stream of people out of the mall.

Lily’s thoughts were frozen as she watched the world tilt around her. Ethan’s hand was a firm anchor on her leg, while his other arm created a protective barrier, shielding her from the jostling crowd.

The memory of Alex carrying her along the beach that night flashed before her eyes.

"Has your boyfriend ever carried you?"

"No."

"Hmm."

Ethan’s back was unlike Alex’s—solid and unyielding, a wall capable of bearing the world’s weight.

As the mall’s occupants spilled outside, Ethan carried her with steady determination, his pace measured, ensuring her safety amidst the chaos.

She couldn’t quite name the feeling that washed over her.

But she understood he was worried about her, as the Nanny had said.

He had risked his safety, not knowing the severity of the fire, to ensure hers.

And once again, he had.

Despite the countless silent curses she had hurled his way, he had given her an inexplicable sense of security.

What kind of man was Ethan?

Good? Bad?

Righteous? Sinister?

Lily’s expression was a mask of shock as Ethan settled her into the car, her thoughts a whirlwind. She had never anticipated Ethan’s sudden return to her side.

Would he have charged into the flames to save her if it had been a real fire?

"What’s wrong, scared out of your wits?!" Ethan’s voice broke through her reverie as he patted her pale, stiff cheek.

It was then that Lily realized she was now in the backseat of the car, with no sign of Vanessa.

"Where’s Ms. Mitchell?" Lily inquired, her voice still shaky from the recent events.

"Gone," Ethan replied curtly, his tone leaving no room for further questions.

He had never been fond of such a vibrant woman, her constant chatter grating on his nerves like a fly’s incessant buzzing.

He would have sent her packing long ago if not for her ability to provoke Lily. How could he have endured her company all day, the overpowering perfume she wore enough to suffocate anyone?

His previous companions were accustomed to this lifestyle, their makeup thick, their perfumes overpowering.

It had never bothered him.

But since Lily’s arrival, his tastes had evolved.

Now, only the scent of Lily brought him comfort.

Any other fragrance was met with disdain.

"Then where are we headed now?" Lily asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she recalled moments ago. "Just now... thank you."

The words were forced, her tone stiff.

Ethan’s eyes flashed with a mixture of emotions as he cupped her face, his lips descending onto hers. His tongue traced the outline of her lips, his voice a seductive whisper, "Say you love me."

Lily remained silent, her gaze locked onto his dark, enigmatic eyes. "I’m very grateful to you," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

There were moments when she was genuinely thankful for his actions.

But gratitude and love were not the same.

She couldn’t fathom why Ethan insisted on her love, but she knew she couldn’t.

No matter what he did, her heart was already claimed, occupied since childhood, leaving no room for anyone else.

It would never change.

"Who needs your gratitude!" Ethan growled in displeasure, his lips capturing hers again, turning a simple kiss into an intoxicating, lingering, and profound dance.

Her sweet breath was a tantalizing tease on his tongue, eliciting a satisfied sigh from him. This woman’s taste, he would never tire of it.