"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
Millie Jordan was about to experience what a woman would go through if she were abducted by a group of perverted kidnappers.A dark cloth was tied over her eyes and her mouth was taped shut. She shivered in a corner like a frightened animal. Her body was littered with cuts and bruises all over. The rope around her neck was only less than three feet long. If she moved any further forward, the rope would tighten around her neck, making her unable to breathe.She'd tried struggling many times before, but she always ended up breathless and blue in the face. Her voice was hoarse, and her throat hurt. She simply couldn't get away.She could hear the abductors angrily cursing at her outside the door. They had tried forcing themselves on her just now, but she fought back and bit one of them harshly in the throat. She'd bitten him so hard that his laryngeal bone nearly broke and she nearly killed him.That was the reason why she was beaten half to death and tied up in a corner like this.
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
"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
"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
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
Blood gushed from the wound, staining Pierce's gray trousers a darker shade as it spread. "Pierce? Pierce!" Millie's voice grew sharper as she rushed toward him. Pierce's face had turned noticeably pale as beads of sweat formed on his forehead. His body burned with unfulfilled desire, yet the intense pain sent waves of cold through him. The alternating heat and cold left him drenched in sweat. "What are you doing?" Millie asked, her voice trembling. "You've underestimated me," Pierce said, freeing one hand to firmly grasp her chin. "This is my final warning—either you stay by my side wholeheartedly and become Mrs. Atkinson for life, or stop provoking me. The cost of toying with me is not something you can afford." "Pierce, I'm sorry… Please don't hurt yourself anymore," Millie pleaded. "I told you, that drug won't kill me," Pierce said through clenched teeth. The pain in his leg wasn't enough. Though the agony momentarily suppressed his desire, it surged back wit
When Pierce said those words, he raised an eyebrow, exuding a devilish charm that was impossible to resist. Millie couldn't help but think that if he hadn't chosen the path of righteousness, he would have been the most evil villain.Pierce was the type to be either wholly good or entirely wicked.Before long, not a drop of wine was left in the carafe.Millie's heart raced with uneasiness. She was unsure of what Pierce's unpredictable behavior meant. He had known about her plan, so why did he still drink the wine?When Pierce stood up, the effects of the drug kicked in immediately. His whole body radiated heat, and his gaze turned hazy. Those strikingly captivating upturned eyes now seemed to be filled with unrestrained passion. Millie, who hadn't even drunk any wine, felt an intoxicating dizziness just from meeting his gaze."Take me to the bedroom," Pierce murmured. His voice put an inexplicable hold on Millie. She couldn't resist and just did as he said, stepping forwa
The title on the cover was: "Sperm Procurement Plan". As Pierce skimmed the document, he saw two options stated—Plan A: Natural conception; and Plan B: Sperm donation and IVF.The document stated that from the moment Millie conceived, the child would have nothing to do with him. His child wouldn't have a share of any inheritance, appear before him, take his last name, or call him "Dad"."Millie…" Pierce silently clenched his fists and uttered Millie's name through gritted teeth.At that moment, Tobias decided to slip away, albeit he did so awkwardly. Even he thought that Millie had gone too far this time. How did she even come up with something as outrageous as to keep her child but not her husband? What did she take Pierce for?In fact, Tobias was very puzzled as to why Millie was always so keen to get divorced.…Sharon stayed at the villa for three days before Pierce arranged a new place for her. It was even better than her previous dwelling, with ten years of rent paid up
"You know, they say men in their 30s have intense physical needs. Pierce is about 27 or 28, so he's at the peak of his needs. If he's not getting some at home and not sneaking around outside, how much frustration must he be bottling up? Has he been handling it all by himself?" Sharon wondered aloud.Millie choked on the water she was sipping.Sharon pressed on, "Doesn't he have any desires? And what about you? Don't you want him? Aren't you tempted by his body?"Millie's face turned bright red. "What are you talking about? I've realized that men are the most unreliable things on earth. We can only rely on ourselves.""You're not wrong there," Sharon began. "Men are indeed unreliable. But what about children who share your blood? Since you don't trust men, why not keep the child but not the man? You can have a child of your own."Just look at Pierce—his height, looks, intelligence, and character are all top-notch. His sperm quality is probably impeccable! Life drags on and gets lon
"We're best friends, Sharon. Don't worry about troubling me," Millie said.The commotion outside had quieted down. Millie wanted to open the door and take a look, but Pierce lightly knocked on it before she could do so."It's a bit of a bloody scene outside. I've got to say it's not a pretty sight. I'll have it cleaned up first. You can come out later, okay?" he said."Alright. Are you okay?" Millie asked."I'm okay," Pierce responded.Millie finally breathed a sigh of relief."What's this? Were you worried about him?" Sharon suddenly teased, leaning over.Millie quickly denied it. "Of course not! It's just that he came here because of me. If he got hurt, I'd feel guilty.""To be honest, Pierce seems to care about you a lot. He got here so fast. That's the main reason I called you. Isn't he so much better than Stefan?" Sharon praised."They're all the same—neither of them is any good," Millie replied in exasperation.Soon, Pierce called them from outside. Everything had been
"The gun can't kill anyone! It can only cause minor injuries." Someone had figured out that the gun was a deception.Millie had gotten the gun from Thomas. If it could severely injure people, they would all be arrested by the police."Millie, you should go…" Sharon said. Then, she lunged forward and hugged the bodyguard at the front, wanting to buy Millie some time to escape. However, the door was locked from the outside and couldn't be opened in a short time. Besides, Sharon had a small physique too and couldn't buy that much more time for Millie.When Millie saw that the bodyguard was about to hit Sharon on the spine with his elbow, Millie's heart raced. She quickly rushed over to the bodyguard and blocked him from hitting Sharon with her arm.Suddenly, there was a cracking sound, and Millie's face paled in pain. For a moment, she didn't know if she had a fracture or a dislocation. Either way, her right arm was limp and numb. Was her arm crippled now?"What are you waiti