Samantha panicked for a moment but quickly composed herself. After all, her background was only transparent to the Atkinsons, and there was no way anyone else could have found out about it, including Millie.Pierce had always been careful to guard the secret too. If word got out that she was adopted, rumors would spread like wildfire, and this would lead people to gossip endlessly. Eventually, it would affect her emotional well-being, too.Therefore, to the world, Samantha was an Atkinson by blood. And that was also the reason why she could never express how she truly felt about Pierce.She was certain that Pierce would never have told Millie about her background. Millie must've been bluffing, and there was no way Samantha was going to give herself away. She quickly gathered herself and said, "Millie, what do you mean? I'm his real sister—of course he'll take care of me for life. "But you? That's a whole different story. If you two ever get divorced, who knows how he'd treat you
After checking the surveillance footage, Pierce noticed a group of suspicious people pushing a large cleaning cart. Given how petite Millie and Samantha were, they could easily be stuffed inside it. His chest tightened with worry for their safety, and he immediately started tracking down the group. …Meanwhile in the lounge, Mark was updating Stefan on the situation. "Alright," Stefan replied coolly. The room was filled with the rhythmic tapping of his fingers on the table. Feeling frustrated, he narrowed his eyes and murmured, "Pierce, I never thought you'd care about her so much that you'd lose your cool. "How could she pour her heart into making you love her but not me? Millie, have you ever really loved me over these past three years?"Just then, Wanda finished putting on her makeup and walked out. The crutches already made her look fragile, but the pitiable makeup further drew out a sense of sympathy."Make her lips a little paler," Stefan instructed.At his request,
Wanda continued, "I'm really sorry for letting everyone down. I hope the public can give me another chance to make things right. "From now on, I'll be more careful with my words and actions. Meanwhile, I promise that I will never make bets with anyone again," Wanda said.Her last line carried a subtle jab at Millie, hinting that Millie had despicably tricked her into making the bet."Thank you, everyone!" Wanda concluded. With that, she bowed deeply for the third time, acting out genuine sincerity.Just as the reporters in the audience were about to ask their questions, Wanda's doctor stepped in. He then explained that her throat hadn't fully recovered, so she was unable to speak any further.But Wanda insisted, "Just go ahead and ask. I can handle it."The doctor replied, "Ms. Lytle, you're still a patient, so please listen to your doctor. If you keep talking, your vocal cords could be permanently damaged. Do you really want to risk losing your voice forever?""But…" Wanda hes
"Really? Can you be more specific?" a reporter pressed.But Millie didn't have any evidence to pin the blame on Stefan. So, she forced a weak smile onto her pale face and said, "Well, it was just an accident. I was joking."The reporters saw that Millie was struggling to move forward, so they parted in sync to let her through.Climbing the stage was now an effort for her. The moment she stepped up, she wobbled and nearly fell.Instinctively, Stefan approached to steady her.However, Millie had already steadied herself and unhesitatingly avoided him.Stefan's hand hovered in mid-air before he slowly pulled it back."Wanda, I'm here now. It's time for you to give me a proper apology," Millie said. She stood at the center of the stage, her icy gaze locked onto Wanda.Wanda bit her lip, her gaze darting around. It was obvious that she didn't want to apologize to her.Wanda's doctor seemed to read her mind and spoke up, "Ms. Jordan, Mrs. Leach isn't avoiding her apology. She'd alre
Millie felt a wave of dizziness and collapsed to the ground.The sight of her falling made everyone's chests tighten.Stefan instinctively ran off the stage toward her, but before he could reach her, Millie had already fallen into Pierce's arms.The moment Millie saw Pierce, she whispered his name, "Pierce…" With that, her strength gave out entirely, and she slipped into unconsciousness.Pierce's heart clenched at the sight of the deep gash on Millie's calf. Without hesitation, he scooped her up into his arms and rushed to the hospital.The wound on Millie's calf needed more than a dozen stitches. On top of that, the rust in the wound raised her risk of contracting tetanus, so the doctors had started her on antibiotics right away.However, Millie's immune system was weak. So, she experienced a high fever for days and remained unconscious.At the time of the attack, Tobias had found Samantha while checking the cleaner's room. She had been drugged and was unconscious.Since Milli
Millie woke up to find a familiar face staring at her.She immediately felt a wave of overwhelming emotions and clung to Pierce's neck, holding him tightly.She felt like a child, utterly helpless in that moment.Pierce's heart ached for Millie as he gently stroked her head. His voice was soft and comforting as he whispered, "I'm sorry I'm late."He had believed that Millie and Samantha were taken away in a cleaning cart and had immediately chased after the vehicle, but it had all been a diversion.He'd realized his mistake and turned back, but the delay had cost him precious time. By the time he returned, the press conference was nearly over.Millie cried for a while before gradually calming down.She didn't blame Pierce. Anyone would have assumed that it was a kidnapping. But in reality, it was just a tactic that Stefan had used to ensure she missed the press conference."Is Samantha okay?" Millie suddenly asked, concern flashing in her eyes.Even though Millie didn't like S
The post was likely from a socialite, with tags like "wedding of the century" attached.In the photo, everyone stood clapping and cheering. Among the crowd, someone had captured a faint silhouette through the gaps between the people.Onstage, a couple was locked in a passionate kiss. Offstage, another couple was also stealing a quiet moment, their embrace and kiss going unnoticed by most.Someone commented, "What a beautiful shot."Millie zoomed in again and again. Whether it was due to the filter or the angle, the image was unclear and showed only two vague outlines.Still, she knew without a doubt that it was her and Pierce.They had kissed in secret, and somehow, it had been caught on camera and shared online.Fortunately, the image was blurry, and the publisher didn't elaborate. So, the viewers had no idea who the couple was.Millie locked her phone. But moments later, she unlocked it again. Almost without thinking, she saved the photo. After all, it was quite a beautiful
Millie's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't believe that such a bold statement had come from a little boy."H-How old are you? Do you even know what it means to get married?" Millie asked."I'm already ten. I'm not a kid anymore. Of course, I know what it means—it's spending my whole life with you. I'll be good only to you, and you'll only be good to me," Caleb replied matter-of-factly.Millie was stunned, but more so by the fact that he claimed to be ten! He barely looked six or seven, and his frame was frail—a clear sign of malnutrition."Why do you want to get married? You're just a child," Millie exclaimed.Caleb dropped his head, his expression crestfallen.He began, "When Mom passed away, she held my hand and said that she wouldn't get to see me grow up and get married. I… I won't get to grow up into an adult either. So, I just want to make her wish come true and find a bride ."Millie's heart clenched at his words.His mother had died. And he was sick—gravely ill, j
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