Millie looked at Pierce and couldn't help but lament on missing out on the perfect "genetic material".Meanwhile, Pierce's face remained cold. "Millie, once bitten, twice shy. You're the most spineless person I've ever met. "Get out. I don't need you to take care of me."Left with no choice, Millie slinked out of the room, feeling defeated. Then, she called Tobias and asked him to look after Pierce instead.After that, she called Sharon to report her failed plan.Sharon exclaimed over the phone, "What? I can't believe that he didn't touch you even after all that. Is there something wrong with his brain? I mean, I understand that he's a righteous man, but this is over the top!"Millie sighed and replied, "I don't get it either, but I'll respect his principles. Anyway… how does one apply for a donor from a sperm bank?""Are you really going for it?" Sharon inquisitively asked."I just want to look into it. Pierce and I have been married for nearly four months, and in another eig
"Millie, you're the real MVP here. If it weren't for you, Pierce wouldn't care whether I lived or died. That's why I'm treating you to dinner today. I made a reservation at a Michelin restaurant to properly thank you," Sharon said with enthusiasm."Alright, I'm on my way," Millie replied.Sharon was always mindful of boundaries. She wouldn't get close to her best friend's husband, not even by association.When Millie arrived at the mall, she called Sharon. However, Sharon didn't answer her phone. Just as Millie was about to redial, she noticed a crowd gathered around a jewelry store nearby. Among the voices, she suddenly heard Sharon's."It wasn't me! I didn't even touch her bag. You've got the wrong person!" Sharon shouted.Millie rushed over and found her being restrained by none other than Wanda and Samantha.Samantha was gripping Sharon's arm, refusing to let her leave. She kept yelling loudly that Sharon had knocked over Wanda's bag and caused an expensive emerald bracelet
"Someone's been killed!" The crowd that had gathered outside to watch the commotion panicked, screaming and scattering in all directions. In the chaos, a stampede broke out as people trampled over each other in their desperate attempt to flee.Millie reacted first, grabbing Sharon's hand and trying to pull her away. But before they could move, a cold and threatening voice rang out behind them, "Stand where you are! I'll kill anyone who dares to move!"The entire room froze in fear. Everyone stood still, trembling all over.Wanda's face turned pale as she tightly clutched Samantha's hand. In a quivering voice, she whispered, "Samantha, what do we do? Guns… They have guns!""Don't panic. They won't dare to kill us," Samantha replied, trying to feign calmness. "My brother is Pierce Atkinson of Atkinson Group, and her husband is Stefan Leach of Leach Group. You're only here for money, right? Just name your price. Don't kill us."The man with the gun sneered. "Mrs. Leach? I've heard
Jules tried to calm the man down.Although the man was furious, he could only suppress his anger and glare at Millie. It was as if he wanted to devour her whole. He ripped a strip of fabric and hastily wrapped it around his injured hand before turning back to Sharon.Millie sensed his wicked intention and was ready to bite him again. However, the man was prepared this time and grabbed her chin with such force that it felt like he might shatter her jaw.Millie was utterly terrified. Still, she tightly clenched her fists and glared back at him like a cornered animal, refusing to back down."Are you trying to bite me again? Do you have a death wish?" he snarled."Try touching her again, and see what happens!" Millie threatened through gritted teeth."Millie… Let go of Millie!" Sharon summoned a sudden burst of courage and bit down hard on the man's wrist.The man winced in pain and instinctively released Millie. Then, Millie seized the moment to pull Sharon into her arms and tigh
Jules demanded that both men bring the ransom money inside.The metal shutters lifted just enough for them to enter. As soon as they stepped inside, the doors closed behind them again."Wanda, Millie." Right away, Stefan instinctively called out these two names. Then, he added, "Wanda, are you alright?""Stefan, save me!" Wanda cried out.Ultimately, his gaze rested on Wanda."Pierce, I'm so scared. Please get me out of here. I don't want to die here," Samantha pleaded.Pierce's expression turned unnaturally pale upon hearing those words. He frowned deeply as cold sweat dotted his forehead.The scene felt eerily familiar, like the one from years ago.Millie wanted to speak. But when she met Pierce's gaze, she hesitated, and her words got stuck in her throat."I've brought the money. Let them go," Pierce coldly said.Together, Pierce and Stefan had brought in four heavy suitcases filled with dinors. Jules' men took the suitcases and meticulously counted the money, confirming
Pierce was responsible for saving Millie because she was his wife, and he was her husband. But he was also Samantha's most cherished older brother."Millie, why are you just standing there? Cry, beg for a chance—maybe you'll come out on top," Sharon whispered, trying to nudge her into action.On the other side, Samantha was sobbing so hard that she could barely breathe. It was a scene that could evoke pity from anyone who saw her. Even Sharon admitted to herself that if she were a man, she'd probably choose Samantha too.But Millie was too proud and strong-willed. Even in dire straits, she kept her back straight and her head held high. That kind of unyielding strength made it hard for anyone to pity her.It was the same with Stefan. Wanda played him like a fiddle, but part of the reason lay with Millie's stubborn nature. Though she might seem vulnerable on the surface, she was more determined and unrelenting than anyone underneath.Millie glanced at Samantha, and then at Pierce.
"I'll be taking Samantha," Pierce firmly said."Alright, then all of you can leave—except you," Jules replied, gesturing toward Millie.Millie had anticipated this outcome, but it didn't hurt any less. Her heart ached painfully as the reality set in.Everyone else was saved. Yet, she was left behind, alone and uncertain of what awaited her.Samantha's dramatic act of getting herself shot had been unnecessary. Even without it, Pierce wouldn't have chosen Millie. What was the point of risking her life like that? Such recklessness was both frightening and pitiful."Millie, I'm not leaving. I'll stay with you," Sharon resolutely declared.Millie exhaled deeply, trying to calm herself. "Sharon, don't be ridiculous. Pierce won't just leave me be."However, as she spoke, Pierce turned and left, carrying Samantha in his arms. He didn't spare Millie a single glance. Her words carried no weight now. She swallowed hard, forcing down the bitter taste of abandonment."You should leave
Just then, the sound of a door opening came from outside.Millie immediately tensed, her gaze fixed on the door with a mix of fear and dread. Then, a man stepped inside—it was the bald thug that she had bitten.Millie's heart sank. She didn't think for a second that he was here for a friendly chat. His eyes glinted with malice as he stared her down, his expression cold enough to make her shiver."What do you want?" Millie asked, taking a step back.She was weak from lack of food and water—they hadn't given her anything to eat or drink. Combined with the fear that had paralyzed her since boarding the ship, her legs felt like jelly. She was in no state to fight back.The bald thug sneered. "You think you're tough, huh? Let's see how tough you really are.""Don't you dare. If you touch me, Pierce will come after you," Millie warned, her voice trembling."And what if I do? What are you going to do about it? When you're rescued, are you going to tell Pierce that I had my way with
"Thank you for stopping me from acting recklessly, Mr. Atkinson," John said, wincing from the pain."You need medical attention," Pierce reminded him. He didn't even spare Yulia a glance while she was lying unconscious on the ground.Soon, Yulia regained consciousness in the hospital. Only her mother, Helena, was by her bedside. She looked around but didn't see her beloved Pierce."Pierce… Is he away to get my medicine?" Yulia weakly asked, struggling to sit up.Helena wept and said, "That man you keep talking about never showed up—not even once.""Impossible!" Yulia gasped in disbelief, her eyes widening. She had been in such a dire state. How could he not come to visit her?Helena went on, "Not only that, but the club is holding you accountable, and Mr. Presta is also demanding compensation. We've received two court notices. The lawyer told me that we need to pay five million dollars in total!""Five million dollars is nothing. If I ask Pierce, he'll definitely give it to
As soon as Yulia walked in, her eyes were wet with tears. She looked pitifully at Pierce, acting as if the nightclub had forced her into selling her body and that she had suffered countless injustices.She walked straight toward Pierce. "Mr. Atkinson, I never expected us to meet again in a place like this."Pierce frowned because he wasn't exactly familiar with her.While the other hostesses were enthusiastically entertaining other men by pouring drinks and joking around, Yulia was the only one wearing a mournful expression. Clearly, she was dampening the mood."Mr. Atkinson, do you have any idea how miserable my life has been since Mrs. Atkinson kicked me out of Atkinson Group? My father went back to gambling, and those people even took my mother away. If I didn't return to this line of work, I wouldn't have any way to survive."They were originally willing to give me a one-month grace period because I had a stable salary at Atkinson Group. But now… Mrs. Atkinson has ruined me!"
"Ms. Shaw, if you don't leave now, someone will have to escort you out," Tobias said.So, Yulia slunk downstairs in embarrassment. She even got to see Tobias harshly reprimanding the receptionist."Are you out of your mind? How dare you bring just anyone to the CEO's office? You're fired!" Tobias sternly said.The receptionist argued, "But, Mr. Shaw, this isn't my fault. She's someone Mr. Atkinson seems take special care of—""That was nothing more than a few minor favors. You failed to do your job properly, so don't make excuses. Pack your things and leave," Tobias stated indifferently.The receptionist felt deeply wronged, and her gaze toward Yulia turned resentful.Yulia didn't understand where things had gone wrong. Pierce had seemed to be so concerned about her previously, so why was he being so cold to her now? Had Millie discovered something? Was that why he wanted to cut ties with her completely?Feeling lost and dejected, Yulia left the company, only to run into Carlo
After that, Millie went upstairs to look for Pierce and told him the story of her firing Carlos and Yulia."Okay," Pierce nonchalantly said. He didn't even look up once, and his tone sounded very calm as well."I've been laying off employees without your consent. Don't you have anything to say about that?"Pierce laughed after hearing what Millie said. "You're my wife, so you also have a say in Atkinson Group. You're just exercising your authority, so why would I say anything about it? I know you're not a reckless person. If you fired them, you must have had your own reasonings." Pierce didn't even question why Millie had fired two employees or the reason behind their layoffs.What's done was already done. He couldn't care less about the two employees who got fired."Does this mean that I can do whatever I want as long as I'm here?" Millie asked."Of course! Whatever I own is also yours. I'll even let you sit on my lap if you want." Pierce sounded exactly like a king back in th
While some people chose to stay away from Yulia to avoid getting into trouble, there were still a few who sided with her. Then again, these people were just going to use her as a stepping stone to climb the corporate ladder with less effort."You're firing me? What did I even do wrong?" Yulia confronted the HR Department."The case that you messed up here has cost Atkinson Group millions of dollars. This big of a screw-up is enough to get you fired."Even if Yulia filed for labor arbitration, she would not receive any compensation. But of course, she couldn't be bothered by that small amount of money anyway. As long as she managed to keep her job in Atkinson Group, she would still be working under Pierce's leadership and was bound to see him again eventually. Unfortunately, she was about to leave the company for good. Now how was she supposed to see Pierce again?"I have to go find Mr. Reyes," she said.However, when she came to Carlos' office, he seemed to be in a gloomy
Millie had the distinct feeling that Yulia and her colleague were talking about her, but she had no proof. All she could see were their furtive glances.She became annoyed by their persistent glances and said, "If you two have something to say, why don't you say it out loud? Are you gossiping about me?""Of course not! I have no idea why you'd say that, Mrs. Atkinson," Yulia replied with a smile."You better not be lying."Yulia and her colleague left the elevator when they reached their floor, leaving Millie standing there with a frown.Millie just couldn't bring herself to like Yulia. It led to her pondering whether she should just fire Yulia. That way, she wouldn't have to see her every time she visited Atkinson Group.The strange thing was that Millie had never seen Yulia before when she was still working here. But now, she ran into Yulia almost every single time she came to Atkinson Group.In the end, Millie made up her mind to just fire Yulia.Instead of heading to the CE
When Yulia tried returning the cleaned clothes, she ran into Tobias downstairs. "Mr. Shaw," she greeted."Who are you?" Tobias didn't even remember Yulia."We met before at the CEO's office.""Oh, I remember you now. Is there something you need?" Tobias curiously looked at Yulia.Yulia showed him the bag in her hand. "Is Mrs. Atkinson coming in today? I accidentally stained her clothes last time, so she told me to have them dry cleaned. They're cleaned now, so I wanted to return them to her. "If she's not here, I can hand them over to Mr. Atkinson instead.""Give the clothes to me then. I'll handle it." Tobias extended his hand.However, Yulia shook her head. "These clothes are very expensive. It's better for me to return them in person. It's going to be troublesome in case something goes missing."Women's clothing tended to have accessories, and some were not cheap either.Tobias was not Millie, so naturally, he didn't know what the clothes originally looked like. If somet
Millie couldn't help but share with Pierce who she'd met earlier on."Who?" Pierce asked."Do you still remember the young lady who tried to hit on you while we were waiting in line to buy cake last time? She's currently working at Atkinson Group—as a permanent employee, no less! She's probably been working here for a while."Since interns had a three-month probation period, Yulia must have worked for the company for quite some time now if she was already a permanent employee. "Really?" Pierce didn't know this, but neither did he care about it. He simply continued, "By the way, I have something to tell you too. I met her not long ago—she was being forced to work at a nightclub. Apparently, her family was declared bankrupt, and loan sharks were looking for her to collect debt."When I saw her, I couldn't help but think of you. If I had not been sent on a mission and stayed at Arbelton back then, maybe you wouldn't have been forced to a dead end. And in turn, maybe you wouldn't hav
"Are you all done with your work? Why are you slacking off during working hours? "Yulia, your proposal is terrible. Fix it!" It was Isabella. She just could not stand the arrogant look on Yulia's face.Yulia pouted, but she didn't dare get on Isabella's nerves. After all, she was the top performer in the sales department.When she got the chance to see Pierce, she was definitely going to talk about how Isabella was bullying her.When Isabella walked away, someone immediately took the proposal from Yulia. "I've done something similar before. Let me do it. It won't take me too much effort anyway.""Thank you so much.""Yulia, I bought an extra cup of coffee. Here you go.""Thanks, Wady."So, Yulia sat leisurely at her workstation. The only eyesore was that paper bag. If only it was really Pierce who'd sent it.…Besides getting her clothes dirtied, Millie's body was also sticky, so she decided to take a shower.Once she was done, she got out of the shower wrapped in just a