Piercy remained silent while Millie was driving. Millie couldn't stop nagging at him throughout the journey, but soon, she turned around and noticed that Piercy was asleep.With that, she stopped talking.As soon as they arrived at the villa, she waited in the car because she couldn't take him out of the car.When she locked her gaze on Piercy's face, she felt he was very different from Pierce even though they had the same face. She wondered if it was because she already knew they were both different people.Why did Pierce become a police officer at that time? He would have been equally as successful if he'd just chosen to be the bad guy instead. Luckily, he didn't take the wrong path and ended up in trouble.She couldn't help but think of Pierce, trapped in Piercy's body. She wondered if Pierce was asleep or still connected to the outside world but couldn't take action for himself. She felt that it must be a torture for him. Unconsciously, she reached out and gently caressed his
After trying out all the rides, both Millie and Piercy were exhausted. So, they decided to sit down and enjoy some ice cream while watching others scream on the rides."Let's go to the zoo tomorrow. How about that?" Millie suggested."Okay," Piercy replied."And on the day after tomorrow, we'll go camping," Millie continued."Alright," Pierce agreed readily.Millie went on, "And then we'll watch a movie…""Whatever you want." Piercy agreed to all her plans, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.Since Piercy wasn't rejecting her suggestions, Millie began plotting her next move. She remembered the psychiatrist she had seen the last time and felt he was trustworthy.Moreover, she read that deep hypnosis might help awaken the original personality. Hence, she decided she needed to find a way to make Piercy undergo that.The next day, she brought Piercy to the zoo. But instead of being delighted by the animals, Piercy grew visibly upset."Why are they locked up? They belong in the wi
Piercy muttered under his breath, "Millie, do you… do you know that someone exists just for you? In… In fact, that's why I'm here…"The last part of his sentence was so soft that Millie couldn't hear it clearly.Then, Piercy passed out completely this time.Millie let out a deep breath, feeling slightly relieved. She couldn't empathize with someone so deeply troubled. What she needed was a fully self-aware, rational, and restrained Pierce—someone capable of taking charge.Piercy was like a ticking time bomb. No one could predict when he might explode, and Millie dared not take that risk.She took him back home, and this time, he was truly drunk beyond measure.She called Tobias, knowing she needed help."What did you say? Dissociative identity disorder? Pierce never mentioned anything like that to me," Tobias said incredulously."If even you have no idea about this, then it's very likely no one else knows about this. Pierce has done a really good job hiding this from everyone.
Bruce showed up at the villa shortly after. He had some basic medical knowledge. Upon arriving, he took Millie's temperature, drew blood for testing at the hospital, and prescribed some fever-reducing medication. "This room isn't ideal because it's not well-ventilated. I suggest switching to another one," he advised. "Alright, we'll change rooms," Millie agreed immediately. She had already redecorated one of the guest rooms in preparation. When Bruce saw the guest room, he nodded in approval. "This room is much better. The comfort level of the surroundings can significantly impact the patient's recovery." With that, Millie moved to the guest room. Piercy stayed by her side the entire time with a worried expression etched on his face. Millie couldn't help but notice how much Piercy cared for her. Bruce mixed a bitter concoction for her to drink. Each time she swallowed it, the taste was so awful it made her feel utterly miserable. She complained, "Ugh… This is so
Piercy wanted to experience it all with Millie. "Okay, I'll bring you there once I'm better. Come lie beside me. I want to take a nap," Millie coaxed.Piercy nodded and lay on the couch right next to the bed.Millie turned her back to him, pretending to fall asleep."Millie? Millie…" he called softly. She didn't respond, so he thought she was asleep. He was silent for a long time before speaking again. "I'll try to learn the rules of this world. I want to replace him and be a good person. I wasn't created just to be erased. If I exist, I deserve to live." Piercy paused before continuing, "Please don't treat me like a monster, Millie. I am a human too, a normal human being…"His voice grew fainter. The couch seemed to hold some kind of magic, and its softness lulled him into sleep. Piercy drifted off to sleep from fatigue before he even realized it.It was only then that Millie sat up and looked at him—Piercy was fast asleep.She should have called Bruce right away to st
Piercy uttered each word with bone-chilling intensity. His voice sounded as if it came from the depths of hell. His face was unnaturally pale, and large beads of sweat slid down his face incessantly.He had summoned all his strength to strangle Millie—there was an unmistakable intent to kill. Piercy tightened his grip bit by bit, and Millie's entire body was lifted off the ground by his single arm.Soon, Millie felt the sensation of suffocation wash over her. She struggled in agony but couldn't pry his hand away or make him budge in the slightest.Her consciousness grew weaker and weaker. Suddenly, her body felt light, and she fell to the ground.Before she lost consciousness, she seemed to hear Piercy's voice. It was so faint that it was almost inaudible. In fact, it was so soft that she wondered if it was just her imagination."Don't you get it? This kind of low-level hypnosis won't work on me. Only you can truly hurt me. Pierce would go to any lengths for you, Millie… You owe m
This time, Millie wasn't crying for Pierce, but for someone else. Piercy had said that once she recovered, they would go camping, enjoy the outdoors, and watch a movie together.He had also said that he was a living, breathing human being. He wasn't Pierce's appendix, a kidney stone, or a polyp that could be surgically removed when it became a problem.Piercy had his own thoughts, and he could feel pain, too.Millie had gained his trust and then stabbed him in the back. How hopeless Piercy must have felt! He probably wouldn't forgive her for the rest of his life.She had only known him for a few days, so why did she feel this overwhelming sadness? She hadn't done the physical act of killing, yet she had killed someone all the same.Millie's heart ached with unbearable pain.Pierce stood at the door, his expression full of worry. Bruce walked over to him with a limp and said, "I think Ms. Jordan needs my treatment. The struggle between you and the secondary personality is someth
Pierce's eyes became bloodshot in an instant. His gaze burned with searing anger as he stared at Millie intently.He bellowed, "Do you know what you're doing?"Millie lowered her head, staring at the knife tip that was less than an inch away from her chest. Pierce's hand was gripping the blade tightly.The knife had cut into his palm. Blood dripped heavily from it, pooling into a small puddle on the floor.A complicated feeling rose within Millie. In that fleeting moment, she had bet that Pierce would stop her. She hadn't expected that Pierce would grab the blade with his bare hand in desperation."Your hand…" Millie murmured.Pierce threw the knife onto the ground with a loud clatter. He gripped her shoulder so firmly that pain shot up from where his hand was placed instantly."Listen to me, Millie. No matter what happens, you must never hurt yourself. You can point your blade at anyone else, but never at yourself. Do you hear me?" he roared, his voice deep and furious.Mill
Pierce said, "Yes, I wanted to marry her. So, the fact that you were pretending to be sick wasn't really a threat to me. You just provided me with a valid reason to do so."He continued, "I've transferred you to a different sanatorium these three years instead of letting you stay alone because of her too.""I see. No wonder you insisted that I stay here despite how much I dislike Mrs. Leach Senior. You're certain I'd see Millie here often and like her, huh?" Bill asked in curiosity."Not really."Pierce hadn't expected things to turn out this way. All he wanted was to see Millie more often. After finding out that Millie was taking care of Agnes in this sanatorium, he decided to visit Bill frequently to increase his chances of seeing her.Even a quick glance was more than enough for him. "Well, why did you agree to a divorce then? I don't understand at all. You care about her so much," Bill said.Bill knew that they were going to get a divorce. In fact, he wanted to stop them.
"Mrs. Leach Senior, I won't go. After all, it's your family gathering. How about I treat you to dinner alone some other time?" Millie suggested."You're part of my family too," Agnes insisted."I know you care about me, but Stefan is married to Wanda. If I attend, how do you think Wanda will feel? I don't want to stir up unnecessary trouble," Millie replied.She wasn't afraid of Wanda, but she had no desire to see her again. Wanda had already lost everything, especially after losing the baby. Her real goal wasn't to fight Millie to the bitter end—it was to secure Stefan's affection.Unfortunately, she had lost the ability to conceive children. The Leach family's vast fortune would eventually require an heir. No matter how much Stefan loved her, Wanda was destined to be abandoned.Millie found herself pitying Wanda. As always, her schemes had spectacularly backfired against herself."But I invited several exceptional young men to meet you. It's a chance for you to meet potential s
"Stefan, I've already ended up this way, yet you're still going to see your ex?" Wanda asked as tears streamed down her face."Wanda, it's not what you think. Grandma is back and wants to host a family gathering. She wanted Millie to come as well," Stefan explained."Family gathering? And you're inviting an outsider?""Wanda, Millie was with me for three years. When Grandma was ill, it was Millie who took care of her and kept her company."Wanda scoffed. "I could've done that too. Do you think I didn't want to? Why is my life so miserable? My family went bankrupt, and before my parents passed, they left me with your family. Your parents looked down on me, so they sent me overseas and married me off to an abusive drunkard!"My life after marriage was hell on Earth. It was a nightmare! Your family owes me more than anything Millie ever did for you in those three years. I am your wife now, and yet your grandmother is still thinking about someone else?"Is it because your grandmothe
Stefan felt his stomach churn violently. The smell alone was nauseating, and all Wanda had done was add a pinch of salt for flavor. How could she possibly eat the placenta stew with an overpowering fishy smell?Wanda ate happily, enjoying every bite. For a moment, Stefan had an unsettling thought—it didn't seem like she was eating a placenta, but a child.He waited until she finished before heading downstairs, acting as if nothing had happened."I'm leaving now," he said calmly."Wait, Stefan," Wanda said, stopping him."Is there anything else?""Are you really just going to forget about the incident? If Millie hadn't argued with me and pushed me, the accident wouldn't have happened. Even if she wasn't the mastermind, she should still bear some responsibility. "She's an accomplice to killing our child, Stefan. Are you really not going to seek justice for our baby?" Wanda asked while shedding a few tears. Her crying made her act look sincere and convincing.When it came to cryi
Stefan and Millie would have probably ended up getting married, right? Since Stefan had already treated Millie as a substitute, and she was even better than the original, why couldn't they just continue like this forever?Stefan suddenly recalled the first time he met Millie. She was dressed in revealing clothes, trembling like a helpless lamb awaiting to be slaughtered. When he first saw her, he was captivated—not only because she resembled Wanda so closely but also because she was genuinely beautiful—more beautiful than Wanda, and she was stunning. He couldn't help but feel empathy for her.In the beginning, he hadn't thought much of it. Millie was just a substitute, a cure for the heartache Wanda had left behind. But over time, Millie proved herself. She was thoughtful, considerate, and kind. Her presence gradually eased the pain left by his breakup with Wanda.In reality, Stefan had broken up with Wanda years ago and spent several years living recklessly. Meeting Millie agai
"Don't you… have anything to say?" Stefan asked hesitantly.It would have been a perfectly normal reaction for Millie to yell at Stefan or even slap him.But instead, she was calm. Her tone was flat, and her gaze was cold, sending a chill down his spine.Instead of anger and disappointment, she looked at him now calmly and emotionlessly as though he were a mere stranger."I need to go, Mr. Leach," she said softly.She recalled when Wanda barged into her studio, yelling at her and saying if this were ancient times, she would willingly share a husband with her. Wanda also agreed to let Stefan keep her as a mistress.If they wanted to humiliate themselves, it was their own business, but why pull her into their chaos?Millie had tried to explain herself, but neither of them had been willing to listen. Why should she waste her breath arguing with people who refused to listen?Stefan couldn't let her go, while Wanda saw Millie as a rival and wanted to compete with her. But to Millie,
Julian spoke each word slowly, and his words left Millie speechless.Even though she knew she was innocent, Wanda's plans had made her imprisonment almost certain. If it weren't for Pierce, she would have been doomed."What's going on, Julian? I thought you left," Millie said."Who said I left? I told you I just needed a few days to rest. Since I couldn't help with your troubles, I figured I'd at least look after the company for you."I wasn't just sitting around during my off days. I gave a lecture in school and recruited some new talent. As for the contaminated fabrics issue, I've already cleared the studio's name. It might take a bit of time, but we'll be back on track soon.""Julian…"It turned out she was the only one being narrow-minded. She even thought she and Julian couldn't even be friends anymore.Julian laughed. "I'm not that petty. We're still business partners, and I'm still your senior. We're… still the same as before, alright?"Millie nodded firmly. "Thanks, Jul
"It's understandable, really. Stefan trusts her like how you trust me. All the evidence out there points to me pushing her and causing her miscarriage. Yet, you still believed in me and kept looking for the truth," Millie said.Pierce disagreed and said firmly, "You and Wanda are not the same. She's not even worthy of being compared to you. Stefan is blind. He doesn't even love Wanda that much. He's just invested too much to marry her. "He defied his parents, used you as a stand-in, and went against his grandmother. He gave up too much. Admitting Wanda is manipulative was equivalent to admitting he has poor judgment and can't see people for who they are."But I know you've always been good. You're better than anyone else."He looked at her, speaking each word with sincerity.Millie's heart raced uncontrollably. His gaze was always so earnest and intense that one couldn't help but avert their gaze. The way his eyes met hers felt almost scorching.Pierce then asked tentatively, "M
"Millie…" Pierce murmured. He suppressed the fervor in his eyes, restraining the impulse to pull her into his arms. He approached her cautiously.Millie looked at him, feeling a complicated mix of emotions. She wanted to smile at him, but for some reason, her vision went dark. Her body went limp as she collapsed.In that instant, Pierce felt his heart skip a beat. Dropping the umbrella, he caught her with both hands.He rushed her to the hospital, where the doctors diagnosed her with mild nervous exhaustion. It was nothing serious. In fact, it was understandable since she had spent days in such a stifling environment.Millie had also contracted a viral infection and ran a fever for two days, so she remained hospitalized. Pierce stayed by her side without leaving, all while continuing his investigation into the stillbirth. Finally, he made some progress. He focused intently on the screen before him.The footage showed Millie bumping into someone at the hospital entrance, scatteri