30 Days of Passion and Revenge-Chapter 323: Secrets in Flames

"Is that a fire?" Lily asked softly.

But before she could finish, Ethan slammed his foot on the gas.

Lily gasped as the car surged forward, cutting through the streets like lightning.

When they finally arrived, the scene was pure chaos.

A sprawling private estate was engulfed in roaring flames, the fire so intense that it painted the night sky in hues of violent orange. Firefighters battled the blaze, streams of water arching high, but the inferno raged on, swallowing everything in its path.

Ethan parked at a distance, but Lily could feel the heat licking at her skin even from here.

She glanced at a street sign nearby.

Two bold letters stood out: PRIVATE CLUB.

"Why did you bring me here?" Lily turned to him, confused.

But when her eyes met him, her breath caught.

Ethan was frozen in the driver’s seat, staring vacantly at the flames. His usually sharp features were drained of color, his lips pressed into a bloodless line.

His hands, clenched on the wheel, trembled slightly.

And his eyes—

They weren’t just shocked. They were terrified.

Bang!

Ethan threw the car door open and bolted.

"Ethan!"

Lily barely had time to react before he was running straight toward the fire.

Her heart lurched. What the hell was he doing?!

Two firefighters rushed forward, grabbing him before he could get any closer.

But Ethan was relentless.

He punched one of them with a sharp twist, knocking the man back, and broke free.

"Ethan, stop!" Lily’s voice cracked with panic.

But he wasn’t listening.

He was charging straight into the flames.

"What the hell is he thinking?!" A firefighter cursed as he and his team lunged to restrain him again.

Ethan fought against them, his strength fueled by something raw—desperation, rage, pure, blinding fear.

Crash!

A flaming windowpane collapsed from above, shattering just inches from Ethan’s feet.

Sparks erupted in the air, and for a split second, he looked like he was standing in hell.

"ETHAN!" Lily screamed, her legs moving before she could think.

But before she could reach him, strong arms yanked her back. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Are you both insane?! You trying to die together?!" A firefighter barked, holding her back.

"Pull him out of there!" Lily shouted, her voice raw with urgency.

Why was Ethan doing this?!

What was inside that fire?!

The firefighters surged forward, trying to drag him away again. Still, Ethan kicked one of them back, his entire body straining toward the flames.

Another window collapsed, forcing them all to stumble back.

Finally—

Ethan stopped.

His chest heaved, his breath ragged, his entire body shaking.

Only then did he seem to hear her voice.

Slowly, he turned, his gaze locking onto Lily’s.

And what she saw shook her to the core.

Ethan Blackwood, the man who never showed weakness, never lost control—

Looked utterly destroyed.

Eyes wide, panic-stricken.

A man on the brink of losing everything.

Then, he ripped his phone from his pocket and dialed as if snapping back to reality.

The call connected instantly.

Tommy Blackwood’s voice came through the line.

"Father’s men took the boy. The fire? That was them, too. You’ve seen it by now, haven’t you?"

Lily froze.

Boy?

Ethan’s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles turned white.

A muscle in his jaw twitched.

"They took him?" His voice was dangerously low.

"You should’ve told me sooner, you son of a—!"

He didn’t finish.

Because something inside him snapped.

The phone nearly crumpled in his grip as a single, gut-wrenching truth settled over him.

His father had taken his son.

And now—The war had truly begun.

"I didn’t want to ruin your reunion with the rabbit."

Tommy’s voice was almost amused.

Ethan’s jaw clenched.

Damn you, Tommy.

With a sharp exhale, Ethan cut the call.

Lily stood in front of him, eyes filled with concern. "What’s going on? What happened?"

Why was he acting so strangely? What was this place?

Something wasn’t right.

Before Ethan could answer—

"Watch out—!"

A shout rang out.

Lily barely had time to register it before Ethan shoved her aside.

Boom!

Her body hit the ground hard as a fiery chunk of debris crashed down right where she had been standing.

Ethan’s weight pressed over her, arms shielding her face. His heart pounded against her back.

The heat was suffocating.

For a long moment, neither of them moved.

Then, finally, Ethan pushed himself up, his breath shaky.

Lily turned her head—and her stomach twisted.

Mere inches away, flames danced wildly, licking at the pavement.

If Ethan hadn’t—

She swallowed.

Ethan inhaled sharply, then gripped her wrist, pulling her up.

"Are you both trying to die here?!"

A firefighter’s exasperated voice cut through the chaos.

"Wait! Look at him—doesn’t he look like that CEO from the news?!"

"The CEO of Blackwood Enterprise? No way!"

"Think about it! A private club this exclusive—who else would own it?"

Whispers rippled through the gathered crowd.

Ethan shot them a sharp, warning glare, but he didn’t linger.

"We’re leaving."

His voice was low, firm.

Without another word, he grabbed Lily’s hand and strode toward the car.

She didn’t resist.

Once inside, Ethan slammed the door shut.

But he didn’t start the engine.

Instead, he sat still, staring ahead, his features unreadable.

Lily studied him quietly.

His robe was covered in dust, streaked from the fall.

Without thinking, she reached into the shopping bag.

"I wasn’t doing anything reckless," she said, placing the bag in his lap. "I was just buying you clothes."

Ethan blinked.

"Buying clothes?" His tone was flat.

"Your clothes were wet, weren’t they?" She nudged the bag toward him. "You should change."

Ethan didn’t move.

Then, slowly, his expression darkened.

"Why didn’t you tell me?!" His voice rose, frustration clear. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?!"

He had broadcasted a missing person alert across the entire city.

"I did tell you," Lily muttered, her voice small. "But you were in the shower... and didn’t hear me."

Ethan stiffened.

"I even left a note," she added cautiously. "You didn’t see it?"

A note?

Ethan’s fingers twitched.

Damn it.

When he had left and found her gone, his mind had gone straight to the worst. He hadn’t thought to check for a stupid note.

With a frustrated growl, Ethan slammed his fist into the car door.

Bang!

The sound echoed in the silence.

His chest rose and fell sharply, his teeth gritted.

Lily flinched.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

"This private club..." Lily hesitated, glancing toward the flames still raging outside. "Is it yours?"

Ethan snapped his head toward her.

"No!" His denial was instant.

Too instant.

Lily frowned.

"Then why do you look like it is?"

Did he really think she wouldn’t notice?

"You looked terrified back there," Lily said softly, watching him closely. "You were ready to run straight into that fire. Why?"

Ethan didn’t answer immediately.

Something in his expression flickered—too fast to catch.

"Was there something important inside?" she pressed, voice hoarse but steady.

Something important enough that Ethan Blackwood, a man who never lost control, had almost thrown his life away for it?

His fingers twitched.

Important?

Beyond important.

But his lips barely parted before he shut the thought down. "It’s nothing."

Then, as if to erase the conversation entirely, he gripped her hand tightly.

Lily stiffened.

"Then where are we going?" she asked.

For a moment, Ethan didn’t speak.

"The opera house."

Lily blinked. "The opera house?"

Ethan released her hand, shifting gears as the car pulled away from the burning wreckage.

Lily’s brows furrowed.

The opera house.

Was he talking about that opera house?

The only time they had gone—

The memory wasn’t exactly pleasant.

That night, he had brought that actress, Vanessa Mitchell, draping her over his arm like she was something to be admired, knowing Lily was watching.

And now, he was taking her back?

Her chest tightened.

As expected, Ethan had bought out the entire venue.

The theater was empty, save for the two of them.

The performance was the same—a playful, lighthearted Western opera with dramatic gestures and exaggerated humor.

But Lily couldn’t focus.

All she could remember was how Vanessa’s moans had echoed in her ears that night and how Ethan had let it happen—wanted it to happen.

And now—Why was he doing this?

Was this his twisted idea of making her happy?

Was he reliving their past?

Or was he reliving his past with someone else?

She shifted uncomfortably.

Ethan’s arm suddenly wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her close.

"Sit still." His voice was firm, leaving no room for protest.

Lily clenched her jaw but didn’t resist.

The opera carried on.

Her mind was still stuck in the fire, lingering on Ethan’s reckless desperation and wondering what was inside that building.

Why had he whispered earlier, "Even if you want to die, I’ll make sure your last moment is a happy one"?

Did he actually think this was where she would be happy?

If anything, her memories of this place were tainted.

The only thing she remembers clearly from that night is Vanessa’s voice, which is sultry and breathy, murmuring things meant for Ethan alone.

Her heart twisted.

"I need to step out for a moment."

Ethan’s voice broke through her thoughts.

He stood abruptly, turning toward the exit.

Lily’s fingers twitched, instinctively wanting to reach for him.

But before her hand could grasp him, she hesitated.

And just like that, he was gone.

She stared at her empty hand.

She wanted to hold onto him.

But she was too afraid.

Too afraid to fall again.

As Ethan’s figure disappeared into the shadows, Lily sat frozen, her gaze distant.

The opera continued, but she wasn’t listening.

Because deep down, she knew—

He was trying.

He was trying so hard to fix things. To fix her.

And yet, the truth was—

She didn’t know if she could be fixed.

Could she really find the courage to love him again?

Did she even deserve to?