The tingling sensation sent shivers through Millie's body, filling her with an indescribable pleasure. Tears welled in her eyes, and her ears flushed crimson along with her face. She was dazed and consumed by a burning heat. Her voice was barely a whisper as she begged, "Stop! It really hurts. Pierce, let me go!"Hearing her distress, Pierce finally relented. Instead of biting, he began teasing her skin with the tip of his tongue.That only made her knees weaker. She nearly collapsed, but he steadied her by the waist. What the hell was Pierce doing now? Was this some crazy dream, or had he completely lost it? How could he do something this shameless in the emergency stairwell?Millie bit her lip hard to keep herself from making any embarrassing sounds. Her mind was a chaotic mess, but one thing she clung to was the resolve not to let out a single moan.Just then, Pierce's husky voice brushed against her ear, "Are you afraid Stefan might hear us?""Huh?" Millie stammered. It wasn
Standing there, Pierce's desire and anger had completely faded away. He felt awkward and stammered, "So, you were looking for Wanda just now?"Millie was beyond frustrated with him. She really wanted to slap him, but they still had to attend the wedding. Since he was her husband now, she couldn't let him show up with bruises. Not only would it be bad for her reputation, but Stefan and Wanda would likely make fun of them. So, she knew she had to bite her tongue and hold back her anger.She had rested enough to walk, so she said, "Put me down!"Knowing he was in the wrong, Pierce replied, "Sorry, I'll take you to fix your dress now."But instead of putting her down, he carried her straight to the lounge.Once they arrived, Millie rushed to the restroom to adjust her Nubra and fix her dress. She took off Pierce's coat and looked at her disheveled self in the mirror.Her dress had become loose and sagging. It was even slipping enough to reveal one side of her chest, which was marked
Pierce grunted in agreement and didn't dare look. He was afraid he'd lose control, consumed by obsession.Millie didn't stand on ceremony—she bit down hard without hesitation.Pierce let out a muffled groan. Millie was unsure if his response was because she had caught him off guard or if it hurt. It could also be some other reason.The sound he had made was muffled and husky. At that moment, Millie's imagination was running wild. She couldn't shake the feeling that it carried a hint of something more suggestive and intimate.She let go upon noticing that Pierce was sweating. Fine beads of sweat covered his forehead, and some even rolled down. His brows were tightly knit,and his thin lips were pressed into a firm line. Even his jawline was taut.Millie watched Pierce's Adam's apple move up and down. A single bead of sweat happened to slide down, triggering an inexplicable restlessness in her heart.She had originally planned to bite the other side to make it symmetrical, but her r
Fueled by the buzz surrounding the wedding, Leach Group's share price increased.Leach Group and Atkinson Group had always been fierce rivals for the top spot in the business world. Now, their competition was neck and neck, making it hard to tell which company held the upper hand. It felt as though they were advancing side by side.Upon seeing the snow, Wanda couldn't hold back the tears that slid down her cheeks. She was overwhelmed by the touching gesture.Stefan felt his heart race as he watched the woman he loved the most making her way toward him. He was finally marrying the girl he had dreamed of marrying in his youth. Though the journey had been fraught with obstacles, the two of them had reached their happy ending.All he cared about was Wanda. Millie had been nothing more than a fleeting distraction that drew him away temporarily.As this thought crossed his mind, his gaze drifted to the audience. He noticed Pierce holding Millie close to him. They looked every bit like a
Millie had just set down her phone when Pierce leaned in, trying to get a look. Instinctively, she turned the screen off and gave him a wary look.This was critical to her plan succeeding. Other than Julian, who had managed to independently deduce that she was Aurora, she hadn't shared this with anyone."Are you up to no good?" Pierce murmured, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear.Millie felt a bit guilty. "No. What mischief could I be up to?""You're lying to Wanda. You're the international designer," Pierce said."How do you know that?" Millie stared at him in shock.Pierce's deep gaze lingered on her. There was a glint in his eyes that she couldn't quite decipher."Did you investigate me?" she asked, puzzled but not entirely surprised.It made sense—he was going to marry her, after all. Naturally, he'd want to ensure there were no skeletons in her closet. Still, she couldn't help feeling a little annoyed."You're not planning to sabotage me, are you?" she
Wanda's words stroke a chord in Stefan.It wasn't just Wanda who felt like she didn't recognize Millie anymore. He, too, found her completely unfamiliar. It was as if he had never truly known her.For three years, the gentle and agreeable Millie that he thought he knew had only been the version of herself that she wanted him to see.Stefan had believed he had her eating out his palm in those three years. But now, it was clear that Millie had been the one playing him for a fool.He silently clenched his fist and said, "Go ahead and make the announcement, then. She can't blame us for driving her into a corner since she was practically asking for it.""Thank you, Stefan. I was worried you'd think I was a cruel woman. I had no choice but to…" Wanda trailed off, her eyes brimming with tears."Alright, Wanda. We've been together for so many years. Don't I know what kind of person you are? Stop crying and fix your makeup. We're heading out soon," Stefan comforted.Wanda nodded and turn
"Where's Mr. Atkinson? Isn't he going to say something? It's his wife we're talking about, after all," someone in the crowd remarked.All eyes shifted to Pierce.He remained seated, calm and unbothered. His expression didn't betray even the slightest emotion."Everyone is responsible for their own words and actions. Since she made a wager and agreed to the terms, she must face the consequences now," he evenly said.The crowd couldn't help but applaud his stance. He was fair and impartial, which was very befitting of someone who'd once been a police officer."So, Mr. Atkinson, are you really just going to stand by and watch your wife's career go down in flames?" someone asked."If it comes to that, I'll support her for the rest of her life. It's not like I can't afford it," Pierce steadily replied.His declaration made everyone feel as if they'd just witnessed the most romantic gesture a man was capable of.Wanda quickly spoke up to reclaim the moment when she noticed that every
Wanda was the first to laugh. She mocked condescendingly, "Are you out of your mind? How could you even say something like that? I thought you could handle losing. I didn't expect you to stoop this low by spouting such nonsense.""Fine. Let's wait for the 'real' Aurora to arrive, then," Millie said, completely unfazed.Upon seeing her composed demeanor, the crowd began to wonder if she was indeed telling the truth. Could she really be Aurora?Wanda bit her lip, finding the notion ridiculous. She had been in contact with Aurora all this while—how could Millie possibly be her?She remembered that Aurora had given her a backup phone number to call in case they couldn't reach her. Hurriedly, she found the number and dialed it.But to her horror, Millie's phone began ringing.Right there, in front of everyone, Millie took her own sweet time to lift her phone to her ear."Hi," she said warmly, waving at Wanda.The moment Millie's voice came through the phone's speaker, Wanda's vision
Millie's mind was completely addled. Before Pierce could answer her, images started popping up into her brain. "There's not enough time to get a doctor…""No…""Please, please help me. I can't hold on any longer!"Millie froze in place. She was the one who cried and begged Pierce again and again to take care of it for her. He never actually went all the way, and instead used other methods to help her so she could still keep her virginity intact. Today was indeed their actual first time!"How? How can this be? This isn't how I remember it! Why are my memories all jumbled?" That was when Millie recalled how the doctor had mentioned how a human's brain had the ability to protect itself. When experiencing certain trauma or fear, the brain would subconsciously forget or alter certain memories.Moreover, the drug that day was especially potent. It not only charged one's sexual need into hyperdrive, but could also cause hallucinations. That was why she remembered hearing Pierce's v
"Mills… I… I can still hold on…" whispered Pierce in a small, pained voice. Millie saw how he was holding himself back and felt her heart break. "This is your only chance. There might not even be a next time.""Please, just go," he forced out."Silly, I'm telling you to just get on with it!" Millie was livid."But I'm worried you'll get mad…" Pierce groaned. He was worried that he might do something that crossed Millie's boundaries, and that she would never forgive him when she came to her senses. He would much rather just hold it in and do nothing, even if he was the one who would end up suffering.Millie coaxed him patiently. "I won't get mad. Please, Pierce… I want you to. I really do." She even took the initiative and gave his earlobes a gentle nibble. And with that, Pierce took the reins back and kissed her fiercely.At first, Millie assumed that things would be more successful this time round since Pierce was experienced. However, it seemed like he continuously missed
"Get out!" Pierce bellowed. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he tightly gripped Millie's wrist, trying to push her out of the room. However, Millie refused to leave."Go!" Pierce growled, his voice strained with urgency. Just the sensation of her cool, delicate skin against his was enough to make him lose control."I… I don't know who drugged me, but you're in danger if you stay here with me. Please just leave me alone for now," he said, struggling to keep his voice steady."If it gets worse, knock me out. Just knock me out," he begged, his rationality slipping away.He reached for the desk lamp and placed it in Millie's hands. "Hit me!" he desperately yelled.Millie's mind was in a mess. How could she possibly hurt him?"Go to the bedroom first. I'll come and check on you later," she said before rushing out of the study.She quickly instructed the house staff to leave the premises, not wanting them to overhear or witness anything they shouldn't. Then, she returned to
Pierce frowned slightly, confused about why the doctor insisted on Millie joining him for the consultation. Nevertheless, he respected the doctor's advice and called her over."Your wife is very pretty," the doctor remarked."Yes, she's beautiful," Pierce responded, proudly puffing out his chest.Millie rolled her eyes upon hearing that."Doctor, is there something wrong with him? Is it serious?" she nervously asked. When she learned that the doctor had specifically requested her presence, she was worried that Pierce might have some kind of serious health issue."Do you two not have a healthy sex life? Look at him—he's clearly been holding back too much. There's nothing wrong with him physically. But he's young, full of energy, and at the age where he needs… a release. "Should I examine you too, miss?" the doctor asked.The comment left Millie's face burning with embarrassment, and even the tip of Pierce's ears turned a faint red.The elderly doctor was certainly not one to mi
"Mills, are you inside?" Pierce called out.He'd hurried back home after the housekeeper told him that Millie had retreated to her room early. He thought she'd gone to bed, but the lights were still on, and there was no sign of her.However, the bathroom door was tightly shut. Worried that she might have passed out inside from staying in the bath for too long, Pierce knocked on the door. "Mills?"Millie wanted to respond, but no sound came out of her mouth. Her body felt completely drained."Mills?" Pierce's voice grew more urgent. "If you don't come out, I'm coming in."After waiting for another minute and not getting a response, Pierce opened the door and found Millie slumped in the bathtub, completely soaked and looking utterly disheveled."Mills!" Pierce was alarmed to see her in such a fragile and exhausted state.He immediately assumed that it was the lingering impact of her family's recent visit. He thought that Millie was still trapped in sadness, unable to move past t
"Does our family have to end up in this state?" Mateo asked, bewildered. Everything had been fine before they came to Arbelton. Why had it all fallen apart after one short visit?He understood that Millie had suffered, but it was undeniable that she was heartless too. Wasn't she the one who had torn the family apart?"Think it over yourself. For now, come home with me," Emily said.After everything that had happened, Emily had made up her mind. She finally saw Frederick for who he was. She still had a shred of conscience and was willing to admit that the Jordan family had wronged Millie. But Frederick's chauvinistic attitude disgusted her. Why was it so hard for him to admit that Millie did better than him? She wasn't a stranger—she was family, after all.The Jordan family had arrived in Arbelton feeling wronged and self-righteous, but they left with their tails between their legs.Meanwhile, Agnes followed through on her promise to formally take Millie in as her honorary gr
"Why did you hit Mateo?" Emily immediately stepped forward to shield Mateo."Are you mocking me too? Try me, and I'll kick you out of the Jordan family as well!" Frederick snapped.Emily clapped back at him, her voice trembling with rage, "Maybe my son and I should leave together! That's all you have left to threaten us with, isn't it? Because we still rely on you financially. "But Millie is different. She's independent and far more capable than you think. She doesn't need your money, so you can't control her. You've lost your authority, and it frustrates you. You can't accept it, so you lash out like a petty clown. "You can't win anywhere, so you take it out on Mateo. Was he wrong in what he said just now? Also, you don't seem to have reflected on this entire situation at all. Do you realize how much Millie suffered to save this family back then? You're still enjoying a fine life now, and this is all thanks to her. "Why are you biting the hand that fed you?"Another loud slap
Mateo and Emily met Millie's gaze with guilt written all over their faces. They had finally come to understand the hardships that Millie had endured three years ago and realized just how over the line they had been.Still, Frederick was the head of the family, and their survival depended on him. They couldn't defy his authority."Mr. Jordan, what brings you here?" Millie asked, her tone calm and detached.Frederick had specially arranged for the book containing their family tree to be sent from their hometown. The old, yellowed book carried a significant weight, both physically and symbolically."Listen, Millie. You are being expelled from the family. Your name will be removed from the family tree! This is the Jordan family disowning you!" Frederick declared.He flipped to the page where her name was written and crossed it out in front of everyone present.He imagined that this grand and dramatic gesture would intimidate Millie. He then said solemnly, "From now on, the Jordan f
Frederick finally saw the light of day. Initially, he had been confident that Emily and Mateo would come to his rescue. He was certain that Millie wouldn't dare to keep him detained for long.Each day, he prepared to be released. But as the days passed, he watched others being bailed out while he was left to endure endless interrogations. His frustration turned into anger and defiance, but his resistance only led to his fellow detainees teaching him a harsh lesson with their fists.Humbled and bruised, he eventually fell in line. Fear began to consume him, and his thoughts drifted back to his time in prison. He'd been made to wake up at fixed hours, eat at designated times, and make his bed to perfection. He had to toil in the sun and endure the abuse of fellow inmates.Every day had been unbearable in there, and the desperation to escape grew stronger as time passed. He knew in his heart that he was innocent, and the injustice of it all only made him yearn for freedom.When