Verdier Club was a place Stefan often frequented to drink and hang out with his friends. Millie's conscience told her that the abductor had been lying to her, so she shouldn't be believing what he said. However, she just couldn't stop herself from coming over to have a look for herself.She had been with Stefan for three years and knew the private room he was often in. She rushed there at once."You lost, Ste! So, truth, or dare?""Truth.""Alright then. Who is the woman you love the most?""How's that even a question? Of course, it's Wanda.""Ooh!"Everyone in the private room started to laugh and riot.Millie stood outside the door, her face turning more pale with every second. Her legs felt like lead, and her hand hung mechanically in the air. She couldn't bring herself to knock on the door.A while later, the people in the room seemed to have played another round of "Truth or Dare", and the "Wanda" from before seemed to have lost."You lost, Wanda! So, truth, or dare?"
Pierce extended his hand toward Millie. His fingers were long and slender, and he had a large palm.Millie was frozen in place when she heard his voice again. She was shocked. However, the drunk man rushed up to them just then. Still under the influence of alcohol, he yelled, "Are you fucking blind? Did you not see me standing there? I'm going to skin you…"Pierce said nothing. He handed the umbrella over to Millie and grabbed the drunk man, forcing his arms behind his back.Then, he pulled out his phone and called someone. A while later, the police officers from the nearby station showed up."This man harassed a young woman on the street. He should be a repeat offender. Take him back to the station as a fair warning to him.""Alright, we'll take care of him," the police officers said politely before taking the drunk man away.Millie should have grabbed the opportunity to run while Pierce was busy talking to the police. However, her legs refused to budge. She was still rooted t
Pierce was on the phone with someone and didn't notice Millie coming out."Alright, I'll go shopping with you this weekend. I'm driving now, so I'm hanging up. Okay, I'll do whatever you say."Pierce gave off the impression that he was a tough guy who spoke his mind in an assertive way. However, he was now speaking gently into the phone with a ghost of a smile on his lips. Suddenly, he didn't look too intimidating anymore.He was most probably talking to someone he liked on the phone. Since he used to work with the law, he upheld it and didn't drive while talking on the phone.Millie looked like she'd just seen her savior. She hurriedly knocked on the driver's door.Pierce frowned and rolled the windows down. "What?" His voice was tinted with suspicion."I'm hanging up now. Something just came up. You can do whatever you want to me next time."Pierce seemed like he was trying to pacify the other person on the line before he hung up. Then, he stayed inside the car while looking a
Millie was shocked. She hurriedly called for the nurses at once.Bill had just been eating a second ago, but now, he was being wheeled into the emergency ward. Meanwhile, the sanatorium also hurriedly called Bill's relatives to inform them of the matter.Millie waited anxiously outside the ward. About an hour later, someone arrived in a hurry."Officer Atkinson?""What are you doing here?"Pierce frowned when he saw Millie. Bianca hurriedly explained, "She's a regular volunteer here, and Bill loves her the most. He's been complaining of shallow breathing lately and often wakes up in the middle of the night. We never thought his condition would suddenly relapse…"Pierce didn't bother chatting with Millie and continued asking about his grandfather's condition instead. It was only then that Millie finally learned of Bill's full name—Bill Atkinson.Bill was later wheeled into the operating theater for an emergency operation. He was only wheeled out four hours later.By the time B
Upon hearing that, Wanda glared at her friend before taking Millie's hand with enthusiasm. "Ms. Jordan, you must be here to give me your blessing, right? I knew you weren't a petty woman. I would rather receive your blessing than the blessings of hundreds of others. Only your blessing will make me happy."Wanda's eyes sparkled innocently. What a fake bitch!Millie snapped, "Don't put words into my mouth. I'm here for lunch. I had no idea Stefan would be here."She was about to leave, but Wanda grabbed her arm and wouldn't let go. Wanda even shed a few tears in sadness. She lamented, "You still refuse to forgive me, right? I know I wronged you, and I'm willing to do anything to make it up to you. How about I go down on my knees?"Before Millie could speak, Wanda shakily went on her knees while sobbing, which attracted the attention of customers at the restroom.Infuriated, Wanda's friends went up to help her up from the ground.One of them yelped, "Why did you get down on your k
The smile froze on Millie's face. How could she have forgotten about her man?She turned around, only to bump into his solid chest. She touched it and gasped. His was an eight-pack body for real.She quickly removed her hand and stumbled backward, only for him to pull her closer.His air of dominance overwhelmed her. She had no way to escape, and she breathed faster.He teased, "Want to give it a try? I won't mind."He lowered his gaze and spoke to her in an alluring tone. Her cheeks flushed as blood rushed to her head.She stammered, "Just now… Well, it came out in the heat of the moment. It wasn't my intention to offend you.""It's fine. Call me anytime if you ever have those needs." Without warning, he moved away and released her, putting a distance between them like a gentleman.His tone changed from flirty to serious when he was gauging her intentions toward him. She couldn't help but marvel at his flexibility.She assumed he did not have much chance to interact with the
Pierce turned around when he heard the sound. Millie grabbed her chance to check his shoulder area.There wasn't any injury.It was all in her mind.She let out a relieved sigh as she really hoped Pierce wasn't her assaulter. Before long, she panicked again, as she had seen his naked body.She lifted her head stiffly and peered into his eyes. They were shining so brightly and scarily.She was doomed!Her first instinct was to escape, but he beat her to it. He quickly slid on his bathrobe before catching up to her.He grabbed her by the neck and dragged her into the bathroom. "Were you peeping when I showered?"She shook her head. "No, I didn't. Listen to me. This is a misunderstanding. I was sleepwalking. Yes. I have a condition…" Her voice trailed off. She was too embarrassed to keep lying under his scrutiny.Oh, what was she blabbering about? No one would believe in that flimsy excuse!"Did you regret your decision and hoped for some sexy times?" He gripped her waist tigh
"Millie, stop messing around. Pierce keeps his distance from women," Stefan snapped with a frown.In his eyes, Millie would always belong to him."Millie, take a seat by my side. I'll apologize to you for the misunderstanding last time. I have so much to say to you—""Who do you think you are? Stop speaking to me in that disgusting tone when we aren't even close," Millie retorted instantly.Wanda paled and teared up."Wanda, just ignore her. She'll behave once Pierce kicks her out," said Remi Burnett, Stefan's lackey.While speaking, his eyes hardened. Pierce did not stop Millie from taking a seat by his side as if he had given her the seal of approval."Pierce…""Yeah? What?" Pierce replied coldly.Everyone was at a loss for words. Stefan fixed a malicious look at Pierce.Someone suggested, "Let's play some games rather than just drinking."Millie nodded fearlessly. However, she lost in the first round because she rarely played the game.Before Remi announced the dare, Wan
Stefan felt a wave of emotion as he stepped forward to check the young woman's injury. He then fetched the first aid kit and carefully bandaged her wound.When the alcohol touched her cut, she sucked in a sharp breath, wincing from the sting."I'll be more careful," he said, his voice instinctively softening. It was as if he was afraid of startling her.Once he had finished, he finally asked, "What's your name?""Edith Zeller," the woman nervously answered, reciting her name like a rehearsed line."And do you know who I am?""Mr. Hudson told me everything. You're Stefan Leach, the CEO of Leach Group and my benefactor.""How do you plan to repay me?"Edith replied earnestly, "I-I'll do anything you want, Mr. Leach. I can bear you a child. If you don't think I'm worthy enough for that, then I can just stay with you for a few months. I dare not hope for anything else."You gave me so much money and never asked for anything in return. I… I'd feel guilty if I don't do anything for
Stefan rarely went outside.Mark brought work documents to him every day, and all his meetings were held online.Meanwhile, his health was worsening too. The injury on his back still hadn't fully healed, and since he lived alone, he didn't take care of himself properly. Not to mention, he avoided people and refused to step outside.Mark became increasingly worried. He even reached out to Agnes and Robin, but it was useless.Finally, he went to Millie. "Ms. Jordan, please go and see Mr. Leach. He's in terrible condition. Now that Wanda and Samantha are gone, it's like he doesn't know who to hate or fight against anymore. He has nothing to hold on to.""And what makes you think my visit would help?" Millie countered."It definitely would!" Mark insisted.Millie remained unmoved. "He and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. He did this to himself, not me. I have no obligation to be responsible for him.""Ms. Jordan, how can you be so heartless? He's like this because of
Stefan repeated, "You will never have children in this lifetime.""T-Then why did you give me so many fertility supplements? Why did you still sleep with me after you married Samantha? Why—"Wanda's lips trembled violently. She couldn't believe it and desperately searched for any reason to deny the truth. She needed to convince herself that Stefan had to have some feelings for her—even just a little bit. She refused to believe that he had manipulated her all along. It was impossible!Stefan smirked, but the smile never reached his eyes. Instead, it was icy and devoid of any warmth. "I gave you hope so that you'd believe that having a child would secure your place as Mrs. Leach. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gone all out against Samantha. "You were both pawns, but you thought you were so clever.""That's not possible!" Wanda wailed in denial.Stefan went on, "I did love you once, but you destroyed every last bit of that love. Since you don't want my love, then try my hatred inst
Millie was stunned and unable to speak for a long time. She could hardly believe that the man who had once been so gentle had now become someone who manipulated hearts and lives so effortlessly."Am I a terrible person now?" Stefan's lips curved into a bitter smile."Take care of yourself. That's your business, so I have no right to comment. I'm going to check on Pierce," Millie replied. She had already called Rachel to come and take care of Stefan.Stefan watched as Millie walked away. He knew that from this moment on, they would only grow further apart. There would be no second chances.Nevertheless, he didn't regret it. If he could do it all over again, he still would have made the same choices.…Millie returned to the hospital room and saw Pierce sitting at the bedside. He was staring at Samantha without saying a word.When he heard her footsteps, he finally said, "You're back, Mills. I've already arranged for her funeral.""Where will she be buried?" Millie inquired."Sh
Pierce saw Stefan standing alone outside the operating room with the doors wide open.A feeling of doom crept into his heart."Where is she?" His emotions surged uncontrollably as he grabbed Stefan by the collar."She's inside," Stefan said.The moment Pierce heard that, he strode toward the room. But just as he reached the doorway, Stefan spoke again, saying, "She's already dead."As his words fell, Pierce's steps froze, and his entire body started shaking.Not too far away, Millie heard Stefan's words too. Her chest tightened upon learning of Samantha's departure. They had rushed over as fast as they could. Yet, they still hadn't made it in time.Pierce moved forward with heavy steps.Inside the room, Samantha had already been tidied up. The blood-soaked sheets had been changed, and she was now dressed in her favorite outfit. Ironically, Pierce himself had bought that outfit for her. After she married Stefan, she took it with her and held on to it dearly.As Pierce looked
"Pierce… Pierce…" Samantha murmured weakly in her final moments as her vacant eyes stared up at the blinding ceiling lights. "Do you want to see him?" Stefan asked in a low voice."I… I'm dying. Can he… Can he come and see me one last time?" Her voice was barely a whisper. It was so faint that it was almost inaudible.Stefan couldn't bring himself to refuse her. He immediately called Pierce and told him about Samantha's condition."What did you just say?" Pierce couldn't believe what he was hearing. For a moment, he thought he had misheard."If you come now, you might still get to see her one last time." Stefan deadpanned.Pierce opened his mouth, but no sound came out.Just then, Millie took the phone from him. "We'll be there right away."No matter how deep their grudges had been, what was left to hold onto now that Samantha was on her deathbed? If Pierce didn't see her one last time, he would regret it for the rest of his life.Throughout the entire drive to the hospital,
At that moment, Samantha felt a searing pain in her abdomen. It was so painful that her face paled dramatically, and cold sweat drenched her body."Stefan… Stefan…" Samantha called out for help.Since she was already at the hospital, the medical staff quickly rushed over. A group of onlookers surrounded her too. She frantically scanned the faces around her, but Stefan was nowhere to be seen."It hurts…" She could feel something hot gushing down her legs."Why won't the bleeding stop?" one of the medical staff frantically asked."I have… a blood coagulation… disorder…" Samantha summoned all her remaining strength and managed to utter those words before losing consciousness completely."This is bad! What's her blood type? Where are her family members? Do they know about this?"It was then that Stefan finally arrived. Without hesitation, he provided Samantha's blood type so that the doctors could begin treatment immediately. The doctors immediately made it clear that the baby c
"You… You must be hungry. I'll heat the stew," Wanda said and went to prepare the food.To prevent miscarriage, Samantha had opted to have as little contact with the outside world as possible. She even had her doctor conduct the blood tests for antenatal care within her home.How was Wanda supposed to create the opportunity to get at Samantha now?"Samantha will visit the hospital for her first pregnancy check-up in a few days. I'll be accompanying her," Stefan said. Samantha needed a B-scan ultrasound done to look at the baby. In this way, Stefan intentionally divulged a way for Wanda to cause trouble."Is… Is that so? Then, it's better to prioritize your child. I won't get jealous," Wanda said."I knew you wouldn't. If you bore my child, I would cherish it much more than Samantha's. I wouldn't miss any of your pregnancy check-ups. You know this, Wanda. I would like for you to give birth to my heir. The baby's gender wouldn't even matter, as long as it's ours."Stefan placed g
"Alright then," Millie replied.Stefan had gotten injured because of her, and besides, she had promised to visit too. And since Stefan had personally asked, she decided to stay a little longer.Meanwhile outside, everything had quieted down. Millie assumed that Wanda had already left and thought nothing of it. But two hours later, when she stepped out, she was surprised to find Wanda still there.For once, Wanda seemed to know her place. Knowing that she had no status or title now, she didn't dare to throw a tantrum.If this were in the past, she would have already stirred up quite a scene at the hospital.Wanda shot Millie a venomous look, like a snake poised to strike. She looked as though she wanted nothing more than to sink her fangs into Millie and deliver a deadly dose of poison.Not long ago, Wanda still looked in the pink of health. But now, she was visibly thinner. No matter how good the supplements were, consuming so much of them would only end up wearing her body dow