Pierce's voice was deep and rough, kind of like a really smooth cello.Millie snapped out of her thoughts. "I just... like the design. That's all," she said quickly, flipping to the next page."I'm a bit tired," Pierce said, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning heavily on her back. "Let me rest on you for a bit." He really did fall asleep right there.Millie didn't move at all. Pierce felt like he was holding a huge, comfy pillow. As time went by, Millie's back started to ache, and her waist was sore, but she stayed still.Pierce, half-asleep, thought it was funny how different she was now. She used to be so bold and daring, but now she was as gentle and still as a kitten."Are you tired?" Pierce asked, sounding lazy.Millie looked surprised. "You're awake?""Yeah," he said, stretching a bit.Pierce noticed her red ears and joked, "They're so red! They look like cherries. I'm tempted to bite them."Millie felt awkward. It seemed like Pierce was always teasing her.
Millie hadn't told Stefan she was in the hospital, so she had no idea how he found out. He was here, accusing her of trying to get his attention on purpose.She knew Stefan had a big ego, but this was just ridiculous.Just as Millie was about to respond, Agnes came running out, clearly frustrated. "What are you talking about? She's not here to impress you. I'm the one who asked her to come keep me company!""Grandma, are you still trying to change my mind?" Stefan asked."I've decided I won't stop you anymore. Go ahead and be with Wanda if you want. The more I try to intervene, the more determined you seem. But let's see if she'll stick around when you have nothing left," Agnes said, rolling her eyes and grabbing Millie's hand."Wanda will. She loves me," Stefan replied, confident as ever."Millie, what did you do to make him think you're still into him?" Agnes asked, sounding frustrated.Millie looked confused. "Mrs. Leach Senior, I didn't do anything."Agnes sighed, "I believ
Stefan felt utterly humiliated as if he had lost all his pride and self-respect."Are you really so upset that she married me? Did you want her to be so obsessed with you that she'd do anything to get your attention? You sit there acting like you're so noble, saying you only love Wanda. How noble of you to be so faithful."Stefan, if you've moved on and want to be with Wanda, then just accept it. Don't act like you're being treated unfairly," Pierce said. "Who are you saying is unfair?""I'm talking about you. If you don't believe me, let's settle this with a fight. I'll prove you're wrong."Pierce, who was nearly six feet three inches tall with a strong, muscular build, wasn't just tough from working out. His strength came from real-life struggles and challenges.Stefan wouldn't stand a chance against him."From now on, stay away from her," Pierce warned before taking Millie and leaving.Stefan clenched his fists, watching them leave, feeling like he'd been made a fool of."
Wanda's heart raced when Stefan suddenly snapped at her. She tried to stay calm and not show any worry."No, Stefan. I've never tried to trick you. I'm honest with you. Don't you know that by now?" Wanda said firmly.Stefan took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Maybe I was wrong to suspect you. You've always been good to me. It's just been a tough time at work. I'll get over it," he said, rubbing his forehead and heading upstairs.Wanda was still concerned and decided to investigate further. What she found was shocking.Millie wasn't just Pierce's lover—she was actually Mrs. Atkinson now. Even more surprising, Pierce knew all about Millie's past problems with the cargo ship and still married her.Stefan thought Millie was still hung up on him, but seeing her move on so quickly and marry someone else was too much for him to handle."Why does she get to marry into a rich family after everything that happened, while I'm still stuck trying to get Stefan? It's not fair!" Wanda tho
Wanda cried out, "I didn't mean anything by it. I just mentioned it casually. I never said it was you. Why did you slap me?"Everyone in the room stared at Millie in surprise.Millie's face went pale. Her reaction seemed even more shocking now that Wanda's comment had revealed the truth.She didn't want to look at the others, especially Bill, because she was afraid of his reaction."I'm sorry… I didn't mean to. I made a mistake. I didn't want to hurt you. I just reacted when you slapped me…"Wanda cried like she was a child being scolded.Millie was so angry that she almost slapped Wanda again, but an elderly person stepped in."I can confirm that Wanda didn't mention you. I was the one who brought it up first. It was your slap that made the truth come out."Honestly, I used to feel sorry for you, but now, seeing how you're acting, it's clear you're not just a victim. You're being unreasonable."The elderly's words made Millie look bad instead of helping her."You shouldn't b
"I'll go check on it," Pierce said with a serious look and went straight to the study.Even if Bill wanted a divorce, Pierce wasn't ready to give up on Millie.Just as Pierce was about to go, the study door opened. Millie felt a rush of nervousness and looked at Bill anxiously."I'm going to make those old ladies stop spreading rumors," Bill said angrily. "How can they gossip like that? Don't they have a family of their own?"Our Millie is the real victim here, and they're just making things worse! It's awful."Millie's mind was spinning. Hearing Billy say, "Our Millie," she realized he still cared about her.Her eyes filled with tears, and she tried hard not to cry.Seeing her tears made Bill even more upset."Don't cry, I'll make sure you get justice," he said kindly."Grandpa, they're not completely wrong. I'm not good enough anymore, and I don't belong in the Atkinson family. If this gets out, people will judge the family," Millie said sadly.She knew she hadn't done anyt
Millie had managed to keep her family together despite all the difficulties. Even though people criticized her, she held her head high and refused to give up."I will protect you," Pierce promised firmly.He was furious with Stefan for neglecting Millie just to celebrate Wanda's birthday. Pierce wanted to make things right for Millie.Within half an hour, things started to change at the nursing home. The elderly people who had been gossiping were taken away by their families. Their relatives came to apologize, promising to make sure such gossip wouldn't happen again.Millie was touched."You don't need to do this. The news has already spread. There's no hiding it now.""Even if the whole world is talking, I want to silence their chatter," Pierce said quietly but seriously.He thought to himself that as the president of Atkinson Group, he should be able to protect his family just as he had protected many others in the past."Thank you," Millie said with a warm feeling inside. He
Millie didn't hesitate when she heard Agnes' words. She raised her hand and slapped Wanda across the face.Wanda tried to fight back, but Agnes was prepared and had someone hold her down tightly."She can't seem to think straight. Just beat some sense into her!" Agnes said sternly. She came from a family of martial artists, and her decisiveness and fierce spirit were evident.Millie slapped Wanda again. "Don't you know why it happened? Was your birthday so important that you didn't care about my well-being? You must have been so pleased with yourself back then, right?"I haven't owed you anything these past three years. You knew he was my boyfriend, but you seduced him anyway! People like you will eventually pay the price. And if karma doesn't get you, I will!"Millie continued slapping Wanda until her hand was red and numb from the pain. Wanda's mouth bled, her hair was disheveled, and she was too weak to cry out anymore.On the other side, Pierce had Stefan pinned down, leaving