The Red Rose of Manhattan Chapter 15

With that, ignoring the man on the ground and the stunned guests, he dropped a "watch your mouth" and pulled the equally shocked Serena toward the exit.

This was the first time in his life he'd completely lost composure at such an important public event.

And the reason was merely someone's casual, crude mention of Lily.

On the drive home, the car was oppressively quiet. Serena seemed frightened, taking a long time before timidly speaking, carefully hinting: "Ethan... Mother called again asking when we'll consider... getting married... What do you think..."

Ethan stared at the rapidly retreating night scenery, rubbing his temples, his tone carrying barely noticeable exhaustion and dismissiveness: "The company has several critical international mergers right now. I'm swamped. We'll talk later."

Serena's eyes dimmed. She said nothing more.

Late that night, Ethan sat alone in his study. Possessed by something, he opened an encrypted album on his phone.

It contained just one short video from a friends' gathering years ago when someone dared Lily to sing.

She'd jumped onstage without hesitation, grabbed the mic, and belted out an upbeat pop song.

In the video, she was radiant and alive, her smile brilliant as summer sunshine, her eyes sparkling with spirit—like a blazing fire instantly illuminating the dim, noisy room and... seemingly illuminating his once-gray heart.

When had he saved this video?

He couldn't remember.

Watching her unrestrained figure on the screen, then comparing it to his current stagnant life, Ethan felt his heart being squeezed by an invisible hand, bringing suffocating pain.

He abruptly closed the video, flipped the phone face-down on the desk, chest heaving.

He refused to examine the source of this emotion.

Time passed. Three years flew by.

JFK International Airport. Ethan returned from a major international partnership, Serena accompanying him as his fiancée. They kept a low profile, using the VIP passage to avoid the crowds.

However, as soon as they exited, deafening noise hit them!

The arrivals hall was packed with young people holding glowing signs, flowers, and posters, chanting in unison: "Lily! Lily! Lily!"

The sound nearly lifted the airport roof. Regular travelers stopped to watch, buzzing with curiosity.

"Who is that? Such a huge crowd?"

"You don't know? Lily Sterling! The top superstar now! Debuted three years ago, they call her 'the thousand-year beauty!' She's gorgeous! And talented!"

"Oh my God, I can't believe I'm seeing her! I love her so much!"

Ethan's steps froze the moment he heard that name carved into his bones.

He instinctively followed the sound and the crowd's gaze, his eyes sweeping over the sea of people, finally landing on a massive advertisement on a pillar across the way.

The woman in the ad wore flawless makeup, her features even more striking than three years ago. She'd shed some youthful defiance, her expression radiating confidence and command, devastatingly beautiful, almost intimidating.

She wore a top designer's latest haute couture gown, her eyes cool and distant but carrying a powerful presence that dominated the space.

It was Lily.

Ethan's heart felt like it had been struck by a sledgehammer!

The sudden contraction brought dull pain, stopping his breath for a second.

He stood rooted to the spot, eyes locked on that giant poster, all the surrounding noise fading away until only that dazzling, star-like figure remained.

Just then, Serena also saw the ad. She instinctively tightened her grip on Ethan's arm, her voice carrying poorly concealed surprise and subtle sourness: "Ethan... that... that's Lily? I... I'd heard she went abroad and became an actress... but I didn't expect her to be this famous... A perfectly good heiress, and she went into that entertainment industry... Though I guess she does have a lot of fans now..."

Her voice rambled on with deliberate disparagement and insecurity.