Wanda wasn't just an individual. She was tied to Leach Group and, by extension, to Stefan. Her humiliation would inevitably reflect on both the company and him, dragging their reputations through the mud.Millie calmly continued, "Or she can apologize to me here and now, in front of everyone. She must admit that she knowingly became a mistress and ruined someone else's relationship."Her words sent a wave of shock through the crowd.As Pierce stood beside Millie, he stared at her with a profound look in his eyes. From the beginning until now, Millie was merely seeking justice for herself. When Stefan and Wanda refused to give it to her, she took it upon herself to fight for it.She had always been this way. On the outside, Millie appeared meek and gentle, as if she was never one to lose her temper. But Pierce knew better. Beneath that exterior, she was fierce and uncompromising. She couldn't tolerate even the smallest injustice.Perhaps there truly was nothing left between M
Millie opened her mouth like she was about to say something. But in the end, she didn't manage to say anything. Instead, she leaned closer to Pierce and gently rested her head on his shoulder. She suddenly felt utterly exhausted and wanted to rest for a moment by leaning on him.Pierce instinctively straightened his back and sat stiffly, not daring to move an inch.Meanwhile, Wanda had regained consciousness in the lounge. Even so, her mind was still reeling. She sat frozen, staring intently at the chat log between herself and Aurora.She refused to believe that Millie was Aurora. Millie must have tricked her.Wanda contacted the organizers of the international design competition and sent them Millie's photo. She prayed fervently that they would say that Millie wasn't Aurora. That way, she could confront Millie and call her out for being a liar.Unfortunately for her, the response she got was: "Yes, that's Aurora!"The moment she read that text, her heart plummeted into a botto
"Yes, I never expected her to be such a cruel and ruthless person," Stefan said, his expression grim."Stefan, I'm sorry for causing you trouble. I'll apologize to her and quit the design industry for good. I wasn't trained for this field anyway," Wanda said.She decided that taking a step back was the best choice for her now. Having resigned herself to the loss, she decided to endure the humiliation now and find a way to get revenge later on. Millie was far too cunning, and Wanda had severely underestimated her opponent. "You won't have to apologize in front of millions of viewers," Stefan said."Really?" Wanda looked at him, feeling relieved and appreciative. Having a powerful man by her side enabled her to smooth over such situations relatively easily.But before she could celebrate, Stefan's next words sent her spiraling into despair."You'll go out there now and admit that you ruined my relationship with Millie by knowingly coming between us. I'm sorry, but you'll have to
Millie's mind went blank. She had never expected Wanda to reveal the traumatic experience that she dreaded more than anything."Wanda?" Stefan was equally stunned. He had never planned to let this incident come to light. It would tarnish Millie's reputation and also his own by extension because Millie had still been his girlfriend at that time.Wanda glanced back at him, giving him a reassuring look as if to say she knew what she was doing.Stefan clenched his fists but said nothing further.Wanda went on, "Everyone, this is the kind of family scandal one would usually keep private, but this concerns both my husband and my dignity. So, we have no choice but to address it. "In order to survive, Millie had surrendered herself to the kidnappers. There were so many men on that ship—who knows how many violated her?"She then paused for effect before continuing, "Tell me, how could someone so sullied and tainted marry Stefan? I got my chance after they broke up. What I did was dishono
"Millie, going public about this won't do you any good. Don't forget who you are—you're Mrs. Atkinson. If you're planning to go to hell, you'd better see if he's willing to go with you."Without looking back, Stefan gave one last warning to Millie and left.Millie stiffened all over and watched him leave with a complicated look.After taking a deep breath, she resolutely announced, "Starting today, I am officially divorcing Mr. Pierce Atkinson. Tomorrow, I'll finalize the divorce procedures. From this moment on, my actions have nothing to do with Mr. Pierce."At the doorway, Stefan stopped short. His heart raced as her words reached him. Millie was so afraid of implicating Pierce that she was willing to propose divorce.Did she truly care for him that much?Stefan's heart clenched at that moment, and he turned back to glance at her.Under the bright lights, Millie's frail and delicate figure stood straight and resolute. Tears shimmered in her eyes, but her gaze was filled with
"If you want a divorce, it'll be over my dead body," Pierce uttered every word deliberately in a hoarse voice.Millie was stunned to hear that Pierce didn't want to divorce her."Millie, you came into my life without warning as you pleased. Do you think you can leave just as easily? What do you take me for? "If I divorce you now, what kind of man would that make me? Do you want me to let you face those vile people alone? Do you think I'd let you stand up against Stefan and Wanda by yourself?"Do you realize what will happen if you leave the Atkinson family and lose my protection? Stefan and Wanda will crush you in an instant. Do you think you'll even have the chance to hold a press conference?"Pierce asked those questions in a husky voice that held a hint of anger.Millie's heart sank. Pierce was right—without him, she didn't stand a chance against them. In the next moment, she lowered her head, her spirit visibly deflating."Then what should I do? Let them drive me to my de
That night, Millie couldn't sleep. She spent hours organizing evidence of Stefan's infidelity.Sharon had managed to gather some of it, but her findings weren't comprehensive enough. Millie realized she needed Pierce's help to fill in the gaps.She worked until her eyes blurred with exhaustion and hunger gnawed at her stomach. Having skipped dinner, her empty stomach was starting to ache. So, Millie decided to head downstairs to grab herself some food.As she did so, she was surprised to hear the sounds of people talking at that hour.Pierce and Samantha were having a conversation in the living room.Samantha hadn't attended Stefan and Wanda's wedding that day because one of her close friends had also gotten married on the exact same day. She had been a bridesmaid at that event. So, she had just returned home."Do you know what people are saying about your wife? They're spreading stories about her being defiled by God knows how many men. Do you have any idea how humiliating thi
At the hospital, Wanda eventually regained consciousness after the anesthesia wore off. Her eyes welled with tears when she saw Stefan. She wanted to speak, but the pain in her throat was unbearable. No sound came out no matter how hard she tried.Her expression became one of panic as she frantically pointed at her throat. She was scared that she might never speak again."The doctor said that you haven't lost your ability to speak. You'll be able to talk again in a couple of days," Stefan plainly said.However, it was uncertain if she would ever regain her original voice after this—it was hard to tell at this point.Wanda let out a sigh of relief and grabbed her phone to type what she wanted to say.She wrote: "Pierce had gone overboard! How could he do this to me? He's a man—how can he stoop so low as to hold a grudge against a woman like me? You must avenge me!"But when Stefan read her words, his face remained emotionless. Instead, he coldly stared at her as he questioned, "
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