30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 294: Mistress Exposed

On the television screen, Ethan Blackwood’s perfect features filled the frame. His cold expression and sharp, intimidating gaze fixed ahead, exuding a natural air of arrogance that warned others to keep their distance. Surrounded by bodyguards, he walked from the courthouse toward his car.

This was still the major news from the other day at the courthouse.

A crowd had gathered beneath the screen, chattering enthusiastically and swooning over Ethan’s striking face.

"He’s so handsome, it’s unreal."

"That face is practically godlike. Why doesn’t he go into acting?"

"Please, he’s Ethan Blackwood, a member of the Blackwood family. Their wealth alone could crush an entire nation..."

"Did you see the scar near his eye? It’s pretty noticeable."

"Doesn’t that make him even more manly? All these male celebrities these days are so soft. Look at him—his gaze alone is pure dominance."

"Do you think he was really behind the kidnapping?"

"The authorities cleared him, said it wasn’t him."

"Ugh, official news is always fake. People with power and influence can get away with anything."

Lily stood there, staring at the screen as if frozen, her eyes fixed on his face like a statue.

"Excuse me, coming through," someone said as they bumped into her, but she didn’t notice.

She couldn’t move her feet, rooted to the spot as she stared at that familiar face. Tears slid down her cheeks. Her heart still ached...

Ethan had sent countless people to search for her the last time she left.

The last time, he had fired a gun to force her to admit her love for him.

But this time, he had pushed her away with his own hands. His love... she didn’t know when it began or why it had suddenly ended.

Ethan...goodbye.

No, there would be no chance to say goodbye. By the time she reached the end of her life, she would never see him again...

Outside the airport—

A silver-blue convertible was parked among the cars by the roadside. Tommy lounged in the passenger seat, stretching lazily. Glancing at the expressionless Ethan in the driver’s seat, he asked, "The rabbit’s gone into the airport. Aren’t you going to go after her?"

"Shut up."

Ethan’s deep gaze remained fixed on the bustling airport entrance. His dark eyes were bottomless, and his thin lips were pressed into a tight line.

But Tommy wasn’t one to stay quiet. "That rabbit’s got some serious feelings for you, huh? I bet that Carter guy pulled out all the stops, yet she still chose to leave alone."

"Get out of the car," Ethan said coldly.

"No way. If I’m not here to keep you in check, you’ll lose control and rush in there," Tommy teased, only to be met with a hard punch to his chest.

The force made him wince—Ethan’s punches... damn!

Ethan’s phone rang, but he didn’t answer. His eyes never left the airport entrance for a second, as if he couldn’t hear the phone ringing.

From where he was parked, he couldn’t see Lily.

He had no idea if she had already boarded her flight.

"You’re not answering that?" Tommy raised an eyebrow before reaching over to answer the call, putting it on speaker. Before he could say anything, a frantic voice came through the phone.

"Mr. Blackwood, the child’s condition has been precarious these past two days. Today is worse than yesterday. If we don’t continue with the antidote treatment, there’s nothing more we can do."

Tommy’s playful expression froze. He glanced at Ethan.

Ethan’s fists clenched tightly, his breathing grew heavy, and his eyes burned with a chilling light as if they could consume everything in their path.

Seeing his brother like this, Tommy wisely stayed silent. Saying even one more word could earn him another beating...

"Tell the old man I’ll agree to all his conditions," Ethan finally said, his voice low and hoarse, each word forced out as though it pained him.

"Now you’re talking!" Tommy exhaled a sigh of relief. "Father has a good relationship with Aiko Nakamura’s mother. Though she’s grieving her daughter’s death, she wouldn’t dare defy Father’s orders. I’ll make sure the antidote formula gets sent over as quickly as possible."

Agreeing to all the conditions.

For the child...

Lily, you said you wanted to see our child grow up...

He would make it happen. He would ensure she lived to see their son grow into adulthood.

"I told you before, dealing with Alex was a dead end," Tommy said smugly. "What about that Carter guy now? He’s useless. Want me to take care of him for you?"

Alex is always taking advantage of situations.

Their father might be unable to deal with Ethan, but taking down Alex would be no problem.

"Not yet," Ethan said coldly. "I’m going to swallow up Carter Group completely. I’ll make it disappear entirely."

Tommy’s jaw dropped. Was his younger brother beginning his revenge?

Sacrificing his and his son’s entire future... Was it worth it? Yes, it was worth it. In this world, staying alive was what mattered most.

Tommy lowered his eyes, a bitter smile forming on his lips. If he had understood this truth before and made the same choices as Ethan, perhaps his beloved wouldn’t have died. Maybe he wouldn’t have spent his life in a haze of regret.

Living was what mattered most...

"Why are you still here?!" Ethan glared at him.

"... Can’t you be a little nicer when you ask me to do something?" Tommy raised an eyebrow, clearly annoyed.

"Do you want me to kick you back to Europe?!"

"No! I’ll stay here and enjoy myself for a bit longer. Then we’ll both head back and be Father’s workhorses," Tommy muttered bitterly, opening the car door and stepping out.

Ethan remained in the driver’s seat.

He had thought he could control Alex, obtain the antidote, and then deal with Alex before taking Lily far away.

But now, that was no longer possible...

The child couldn’t wait. The child wouldn’t survive without the antidote.

He had chosen this path, and he could only keep moving forward. Lily, live well.

Inside the airport—

The crowd beneath the television screen continued their excited chatter. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Lily stood there quietly, letting her tears fall.

A hand suddenly rested on her shoulder, but Lily didn’t react.

"Do you love him that much?" A refined female voice spoke softly beside her.

Lily turned to see Alice Johnson holding her bag and dressed stylishly. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the man on the television screen.

"You followed me?" Lily asked, startled.

"I’m sorry," Alice apologized, taking a tissue from her bag and offering it to her.

"Are you afraid I won’t leave?" Lily didn’t take the tissue.

"I’m just too nervous about Alex. I love him," Alice said, pressing the tissue into Lily’s hand. Her gaze lingered on Ethan’s perfect face on the screen. "Seeing you cry in front of the TV... it felt like I was looking at myself."

Lily lowered her eyes and used the tissue to wipe her tears.

"After Alex and I broke up, I used to sit at home watching every news report about him... Every time I saw his face, I would cry," Alice said. "I never want to go back to those days."

Never go back?

That was why she was desperate to hold onto her marriage with Alex. She couldn’t bear the consequences of losing him...

Lily said nothing and turned her attention back to the television. The news was now recounting the full story of Ethan’s kidnapping case, even dragging her into the narrative.

The headline read: Blackwood Enterprise CEO’s Mistress Exposed.

The footage showed her at a press conference, followed by a clip from the celebration party at Alex’s house. She was soaking wet, standing there while the camera zoomed in on the "Mistress Manual" falling from her bag.

How had the TV station even gotten this footage?

"This footage..." Alice was also surprised as she stared at the screen. "I had someone film that at the time. But I didn’t submit it to the TV station. How did it end up here?"

"You had someone film it?" Lily asked, stunned.

Alice looked even more embarrassed. "Yes. I planned to leak it to the media then, but after Alex and I broke up, I was so devastated that I forgot about it."

Lily stared at the screen, speechless. The video cut off shortly after zooming in on the "Mistress Manual" title page.

The lighting and cinematography... They looked so familiar!

"Did you have them film a longer segment? Including Ethan’s performance on stage later?" Lily asked urgently.

"I think... I think so," Alice replied, clearly uncertain.

Lily’s memory clicked. There had been no media or reporters at the celebration party that night. Who else would have filmed it?

The USB drive Aiko Nakamura had given her... If connected to the video on the TV, could it form a complete sequence?

Aiko said it had come from someone at the party.

A thought began taking shape in Lily’s mind, demanding uncovered.

Suddenly, Lily turned and ran. Alice quickly grabbed her arm. "Where are you going?"

"I need to figure something out," Lily said seriously, shaking Alice off. "Don’t worry. Once I do, I’ll leave. I’m not trying to take your man."

"What are you trying to figure out?!" Alice asked, confused.

"Let go."

Lily didn’t answer and pried Alice’s hand off before running out.

She didn’t even know exactly what she was trying to uncover.

But something felt off, something inexplicable that she had to get to the bottom of...

Lily ran out of the airport, scanning her surroundings for a taxi when a silver-blue convertible caught her eye.

Lily froze in place. Ethan’s car?!

As she approached, the convertible immediately turned around and drove away. She recognized the license plate instantly—it was one she could never forget.

Ethan!

Without thinking, Lily ran after the car. The heavy traffic around the airport slowed the convertible down, and Lily weaved through the cars, running recklessly.

Was it Ethan?!

It had to be him...

Why else would he drive away the moment he saw her? Hadn’t he said he didn’t want her anymore? Why was he still following her? If he wanted to disappear from her life, why couldn’t he do it completely?!