Chapter 36: Lily's Mistake!
"Alex, you've gone too far this time!" She muttered under her breath, her tone seething with frustration.
In just a few quick strides, Lily reached Rose's side and bent down to help her up.
"Who are you?" Rose asked hesitantly, her voice soft but cautious. She looked at Lily's face, noticing the faint resemblance to Alex. A glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes as if she had grasped onto a lifeline.
"I'm Alex's sister," Lily explained, her tone firm but laced with concern. "What are you doing kneeling out here?"
"Alex's sister?" Rose's face lit up with sudden excitement, as if she'd found the one person who could mediate. She gripped Lily's arm tightly.
"Does this mean Alex has forgiven me? Please, tell him I'm willing to do anything if he'll take me back! I've been kneeling here for so long, but he still won't come out to see me. I'm begging you, please help me!" Her voice cracked, filled with desperation.
Lily froze for a moment, taken aback by Rose's words. Then her brows furrowed in disbelief.
Lily stared at Rose, her disbelief evident in her furrowed brows. "You're still trying to get back with Alex?" she asked, her tone measured but sharp, as if trying to make sense of what she'd just heard.
Rose nodded hesitantly, her expression earnest.
Taking a steadying breath, Lily crossed her arms. "Rose, are you even aware of what you're doing?" she asked, her voice calmer now but firm. "Ethan went out of his way to ensure you'd be protected, yet here you are, groveling at Alex's feet. Do you understand the position this puts him in?"
Rose blinked, clearly confused. "Ethan?" she repeated, the name unfamiliar on her lips.
Lily's eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. "Yes, Ethan," she said firmly. "The man who has been looking out for you all this time. And yet, you don't even know his name?" Her words carried both incredulity and disappointment.
"I… I don't understand," Rose admitted, her voice uncertain.
Lily straightened, her posture radiating quiet authority. "Ethan has taken risks to ensure your safety and wellbeing. The least you can do is stop fixating on someone who's already made it clear he doesn't care about you," she said, her words deliberate. "Instead of kneeling here, think about what you're doing to yourself. Think about the people who genuinely care about you."
Rose bit her lip, the weight of Lily's words finally sinking in. "I… I didn't know," she said quietly, lowering her gaze.
"Now you do," Lily replied, her voice softening. "I won't stand by and let anyone take advantage of Ethan's goodwill—not even you. If Alex has wronged you, I'll confront him, but you need to start respecting yourself and the people who are truly in your corner."
Without waiting for Rose's response, Lily extended her hand. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up and sort this out."
Without giving Rose a chance to respond, Lily grabbed her wrist and pulled her to her feet.
"Come with me," Lily said decisively, her grip firm. "I'm going to settle this with Alex right now."
Rose stumbled slightly as Lily dragged her along, her mind still reeling from the whirlwind of accusations and declarations. She didn't know who she was talking about or why Lily seemed so adamant about protecting her, but she didn't dare to argue.
Although Rose found Lily's earlier words strange and difficult to follow, the latter part of her statement was crystal clear—Lily intended to help her confront Alex and seek justice. This realization filled Rose with an uncontainable sense of relief and joy.
"Let's go! Follow me!" Lily said decisively, her tone leaving no room for objection.
With Lily leading the way, Rose trailed behind her, and the two headed straight inside the villa.
When they reached at the gate of Alex's villa, Lily didn't waste a second. She stood at the front gate and shouted, "Alex! Get down here right now!" Her voice echoed through the quiet neighborhood.
"Did you not hear me? I said get down here!" she bellowed again, her impatience clearly showing.
Inside the villa, Alex furrowed his brows as Lily's shouting reached his ears. He glanced toward the window, his expression cold and indifferent.
Ignoring the commotion, he continued what he was doing, seemingly unbothered by the noise.
However, Lily wasn't one to back down easily. After shouting for a while with no response, her frustration boiled over. She placed her hands on her hips, took a step back, and began kicking the gate.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
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The sound of her kicks reverberated loudly thepugh the surroundings and she continued to do so.
"Alex, get out here this instant!" she yelled furiously between kicks.
She didn't stop there. Her voice grew louder and sharper as her anger escalated. "Why did you make Rose kneel outside at the entrance of the villa? Are you out of your mind? Don't you know she's someone Ethan cares about?"
Her declaration was loud enough to carry through the entire complex. Curious residents peeked out of their windows, their attention now fully drawn to the escalating scene.
"Do you think you're invincible or something?" Lily shouted, her voice dripping with disdain. "How dare you treat Ethan's woman like this! Get down here and apologize to her right now!"
Inside the villa, the commotion hadn't gone unnoticed. As the noise grew louder, Mr. Waters, Alex's long-time butler, decided to intervene. He walked briskly to the door and stepped outside, his demeanor calm but firm.
"Miss Lily," he began, bowing slightly, "please understand that Sir Alex is currently occupied with important matters. I kindly ask that you lower your voice and avoid disturbing him."
"Occupied?!" Lily's voice rose, her anger flaring. "Do you even know who I am? I'm his sister! Get out of my way!"
"Forgive me, Miss Lily, but I cannot allow you to enter without the Sir Alex permission," The butler intervened and replied, his tone polite but unwavering.
Lily's patience snapped. Her eyes narrowed, and she took a menacing step forward. "MOVE. NOW."
When Mr. Waters didn't budge, Lily's fury erupted. "You think you're something special, huh?" she spat. "Fine, if you won't move, then I'll make you!"
Without warning, Lily raised her hand and slapped Mr. Waters across the face.
Smack!
The sound of the slap echoed in the air. A bright red handprint instantly appeared on Mr. Waters weathered cheek, but he remained rooted in place, his expression calm despite the humiliation.
"Are you going to move now?" Lily demanded, her voice dripping with anger.
Mr. Waters didn't flinch. He stood firm, silently enduring her outburst.
Seeing his defiance, Lily's temper flared even hotter. "Still not moving? Fine, let's try this again!"
Smack!
Chapter 37: Slap her back!
Seeing his defiance, Lily's temper flared even hotter. "Still not moving? Fine, let's try this again!"
Smack!
The second slap landed on the opposite cheek, leaving another vivid red mark. Yet, Mr. Waters still refused to yield.
"Are you deaf?" Lily growled. "I said move!"
Despite the pain and humiliation, Mr. Waters remained silent, his resolve unshaken.
Just as Lily raised her hand for another strike, a deep, icy voice rang out. "Enough!"
The sound stopped Lily in her tracks. She turned to see Alex descending the stairs, his expression as cold as a storm and clear irritation in his eyes.
In truth, Alex had started making his way downstairs after the first slap. However, the moment he saw Lily strike Mr. Waters a second time, his gaze slapped, and his anger became palpable.
Walking up to Mr. Waters, Alex placed a hand on the older man's shoulder, his voice softening as he asked, "Are you alright, Mr. Waters? I'm sorry because of me…" but before he could…
Mr. Waters, moved by the concern in Alex's eyes, shook his head. "Sir, I'm fine. And you should not be apologising to me instead it should be me that should be apologising… I apologize for not handling the situation better."
Alex's gaze lingered on the red marks on Mr. Waters's face, his jaw tightening. Though the butler's words were humble, Alex couldn't suppress the anger simmering beneath the surface.
"You've done nothing wrong," Alex said firmly, his voice carrying an unyielding authority. "From now on, no one is allowed to lay a hand on you—no one… not even me."
The warmth in Alex's words stirred a deep sense of loyalty in Mr. Waters, even as he felt guilty for causing trouble. "Sir… Thank you… for such Kind Words…" he murmured, bowing his head.
"No… there is no need to apologise for such matters… instead I should have prevented something like this."
Lily stood to the side, her expression twisting in fury as she watched Alex descend the stairs.
And talking to some servant and not her. Clearly ignoring her for some mere servant. He should be facing her right now… yet, instead of addressing her directly, his first concern was for Mr. Waters, his faithful servant. This disregard only fueled her anger.
"Alex!" she snapped, her voice laced with impatience. "I'm talking to you! Are you deaf, or are you just ignoring me?"
Her words went unanswered. Alex inspected Mr. Waters's injuries with calm precision, his expression darkening with each passing moment. Finally, he spoke, his voice carrying a chilling authority.
"Mr. Waters, whoever hit you—return the favor. Exactly as they did to you." Alex said, looking at Lily.
"What did you just say?" Lily's disbelief was palpable, her voice rising in shock.
"You'd hit me, your own sister, over a mere servant?" she exclaimed, incredulous. "Am I hearing this right?"
Even Mr. Waters, who had long served by Alex's side, was stunned by this order.
"Sir…" he began, his tone uncertain, as though questioning whether he had heard correctly.
Alex's gaze sharpened, his voice turning colder. "Do it. Hit her back."
Mr. Waters hesitated for only a moment before nodding. Turning toward Lily, he raised his hand, and with a swift motion…
Smack!
A crisp slap echoed through the room.
Lily staggered slightly, her cheek instantly reddening from the force of the blow. Her eyes widened in disbelief. This… this was unprecedented.
In the past, no matter how outrageous her behavior, Alex would never lay a hand on her. But today…
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"Thank you, Sir," Mr. Waters murmured, his voice trembling with emotion.
The warmth in his chest was overwhelming. For years, he had served the Reid family without complaint, enduring countless slights in silence.
Never had he expected Alex to stand up for him—especially not against his own sister.
But this time, Alex had proven otherwise.
Lily finally snapped out of her daze, clutching her reddened cheek. Her voice rose in an enraged screech. "Alex, you're insane! You had him hit me—for a servant?!"
"Servant?" Alex's tone was calm, but the underlying edge was sharp enough to cut. "He's more loyal than you've ever been."
Then, without sparing Lily a glance, he issued another command.
"Mr. Waters, from what I heared it wasn't just one slap… hit her again." Alex said or more like order him and likely Mr. Waters hesitated no longer.
Smack!
The sound echoed again, louder this time.
"Not hard enough. Do it again," Alex ordered, his expression unchanging.
Smack!
Another slap landed.
"Nah… nah nah nah the angle was a little but off. Do it again but with the right angle."
Smack!
"You're holding back Waters. Use more force."
Smack!
"The posture isn't right. Try again."
Smack!
"Again."
…
…
…
…
…
Time after time, Mr. Waters followed Alex's instructions, each slap ringing louder than the last. By the end, Lily's once-pristine face was swollen and red, her cheeks puffed up like a pig's snout.
Mr. Waters's hand trembled with pain from the repeated strikes, his palm red and raw. Yet, every time Alex issued a command, he obeyed without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Lily stood frozen, her pride and dignity shattered alongside her composure. Tears welled in her eyes, but her anger rendered her speechless.
"Enough," Alex finally said, his tone calm but cold.
Mr. Waters stepped back, lowering his hand. His gaze was filled with gratitude, yet a trace of guilt lingered as he glanced at Lily.
Alex turned his piercing gaze toward Lily, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. "Remember this, Lily. I won't tolerate anyone disrespecting the people loyal to me, especially someone who is here for me rather than even my own family—not even you. If you can't grasp that, then don't bother showing your face to me or here ever again."
Lily's lips quivered, but she said nothing. She turned and stormed off, her steps heavy with humiliation.
Behind her, Mr. Waters bowed deeply to Alex, his voice thick with emotion. "Sir, thank you for standing up for me…"
Alex's gaze softened slightly as he responded, "You've earned it, Mr. Waters. You were always by my side no matter the circumstances. And I won't allow anyone to trample over you—not even my own FAMILY."
Chapter 38: It's Time Now!
After comforting Mr. Waters Alex turned towards Lily who was storming off like a thief, Alex shouted at her not letting her off that easily.
"And where do you think you are going?" Alex shouted at Lily from behind. Lily stopped midstop, she didn't even cross the gate which she came from Rose by her side.
Of course Rose wasn't storming off like Lily she stayed behind as she was inside the villa now.
"I'm not done yet." Alex looked at Lily with his cold and calm eyes.
Lily just didn't and couldn't able to grasp the whole situation. She could accept her face being slapped until it swelled like a pig's head—that wasn't what shocked her the most.
What truly baffled her was how Alex, the brother who had once been utterly obedient to her, had completely changed. The man who used to comply with her every whim, no matter how unreasonable, now seemed cold, distant, and untouchable.
Lily couldn't comprehend it.
Meanwhile, Rose stood frozen nearby, paralyzed by what she had just witnessed. Her carefully rehearsed words, meant to win over Alex, evaporated from her mind in an instant.
When the slapping show was hapoening…
"Speak," Alex finally said, his cold voice breaking the silence.
Mr. Waters stepped back respectfully, positioning himself behind Alex.
"I…" Lily stammered, clutching her swollen cheek. Words escaped her, her mind blank. She had been so utterly stunned by what had happened that she no longer knew what to say.
This brief pause gave Rose the opening she needed.
Realizing her chance, she took a step forward, her voice trembling but determined.
"Alex, I know I was wrong!" she pleaded.
"I shouldn't have treated you the way I did before. Please… give me another chance. I'll do anything to make it right!" Her tone softened, growing almost pitiful.
"I promise to go along with whatever you want. You can do whatever you like, and I won't ask for a monthly allowance of a million anymore. Half will be enough." Her gaze flickered with hope as she continued.
"Also, I won't treat you like a backup anymore. I'll make sure you're my top priority. Just don't take back the ask for those things you gave me, and please… don't sever the Winter family's business ties with your company." Her voice grew quieter, almost a whisper.
"Can't we go back to the way things were?"
Rose thought she had made a massive concession, enough for Alex to relent. Surely, with her 'generous' offer, he wouldn't refuse her.
On the side, Lily stood frozen, her mind reeling at the absurdity of the situation.
'Didn't Ethan say Rose was his woman?' Lily muttered to herself in disbelief. 'Then why is she begging Alex like this?'
Alex listened to Rose's words in silence, his expression unreadable.
After a moment, he let out a quiet, almost mocking chuckle. "Even now… you still think you're in the position to bargain with me?" he said coldly, his gaze sharp enough to pierce through her remaining confidence.
"Unbelievable." He didn't bother explaining further. There was no point in reasoning with someone so… DELUSIONAL.
Alex's eyes flicked to the clock on the wall before returning to Rose.
"Enough with the pointless nonsense," he said, his tone like ice. "You've got ten minutes left until five o'clock. If I were you, I'd start preparing the money."
Without sparing her another glance, Alex turned his back to Rose and walked away, his back straight and unyielding.
"Alex, you—!"Rose's expression twisted as her pleas fell on deaf ears. Realizing there was no hope left, her frustration boiled over into fury. The mask of humility she had worn moments ago shattered, revealing the venom beneath.
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Her voice turned sharp, her face contorted with anger.
"Alex! You ungrateful fucking bastard!" Her hands clenched into fists as she let her rage spill out.
"Back then, when you were groveling at my feet like a dog, I only ignored you! Was that really so unforgivable?" She took a step forward, her tone dripping with malice.
"And now you're turning the tables on me? Fine! Let me tell you something, Alex. I'm not giving you a single cent of that Two Hundred Millions!" Her voice grew louder, harsher, her eyes glinting with spite.
"Not only that, but I'm going to expose you. I'll make sure the entire world sees the pathetic things you did while chasing after me. Everyone in the city will know that the mighty CEO of the Reid Industries was nothing but a lowly simp!" She smirked, her words laced with venom.
"You want to humiliate me? I'll make sure you're the one who's left with no face to show in this city!" Her hateful outburst filled the room, but Alex didn't flinch. He paused in his steps, turning back to glance at her.
His calm demeanor only served to heighten Rose's fury, but it was clear—her words held no weight to him anymore.
The storm brewing within Rose finally exploded. Her composure shattered, and she pointed at Alex, unleashing a barrage of insults with the ferocity of a scorned woman. Her voice was loud, sharp, and filled with unrestrained fury.
Alex heard her rant but didn't respond immediately. Instead, he came to a stop and turned his attention to Mr. Waters, his trusted butler.
"Waters, what time is it?" Alex asked, his tone calm but carrying an undercurrent of finality.
The ever so ready butler glanced at his watch and replied, "Sir, it's five minutes to five. The authorities have already been contacted. They should arrive any moment now."
As if waiting for just this moment, several officers clad in official uniforms stepped onto the scene. The leader, a composed man with a no-nonsense demeanor, walked up to Rose, flashing his credentials ID.
"Ms. Rose," he began in a steady tone. "We've received a report that you are implicated in misappropriation of a significant amount of personal property. Furthermore, you've failed to comply with multiple warnings to return it. Please cooperate and come with us."
Rose, who had been brimming with confidence just moments ago, froze in her tracks. Her smug expression twisted into disbelief as she gawked at the officers.
"Alex, are you serious?" she stammered, her voice faltering. "You're really going to send me to Prison?"