Night fell over the hospital.In recent days, Stefan canceled all his engagements and stayed by Wanda's side. He never left her side for even a moment. Their relationship grew closer during this time, which gave Wanda a sense of comfort.After enduring so much pain, she had finally gained Stefan's affection and deepened his hatred for Millie. To her, that was enough.Just then, Stefan's secretary entered the room and whispered something into his ear. His voice was low, so Wanda couldn't hear it."What's wrong?" She noticed the change in Stefan's expression and felt a pang of worry."It's nothing. I need to handle an issue at the company. I'll come back to see you later," Stefan replied."Go ahead. Come back to me when you're done," Wanda said softly and understandingly. Stefan tucked her in and smoothed her hair gently."Wanda…" His voice faltered for a moment. "Have you ever done anything to betray me?"Wanda froze."Have you ever schemed anything against me?" he asked agai
Stefan's phone rang as a call from Pierce came in."What do you want to say now? You must have heard the call records by now," Stefan said impatiently."Wanda was clearly hinting at something through the call. With the huge commotion she caused at the studio, Celia would naturally know how to respond accordingly. Of course, they wouldn't say much over the phone to leave any evidence," Pierce explained."You're too biased toward Millie. You don't even know her or her true character! You're blind to everything she does," Stefan retorted.Pierce continued, "Six months ago, Celia's family encountered financial troubles. Her brother got married, and her mother fell seriously ill. They urgently needed money. This financial gap was filled when her father received a workplace injury settlement."The compensation was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Coincidentally, the person running that company happened to meet Wanda at a banquet in Arbelton."Stefan snorted and countered, "So, d
Millie was brought into the interrogation room once again."Do you remember a man named Alex Thorne?" Karen showed her a photo. Millie recognized him immediately—he was the man who had nearly assaulted her. "Yes, I remember him.""Can you recount what happened that night?"Millie described the events in detail.Karen nodded and said, "It seems what Celia said is true. Were you aware that Celia and Wanda had been in touch?""I didn't know before, but now it's not hard to guess.""So, you had no idea at the time?""No."Karen nodded, seemingly piecing things together. Only one witness was left to question—Wanda.And so, Wanda was summoned for questioning."Mrs. Leach, do you still insist that Ms. Jordan pushed you?" Karen asked."Yes, she pushed me!" Wanda gritted her teeth, confirming it repeatedly."Mrs. Leach, defamation and false accusations are crimes. Every word you say must be truthful and accountable," Karen said sternly, her gaze sharp.Wanda's heart skipped a bea
As soon as Stefan left, Wanda opened her eyes and began analyzing the entire situation.Celia had proven unreliable. What should have been the perfect opportunity to destroy Millie fell apart when she turned against Wanda.Narrowing her eyes, Wanda thought she should have anticipated this. If she could bribe Celia, someone else could do the same too. Pierce likely offered her even more.Fortunately, she kept all of her interactions with Celia neutral, so there was no evidence of wrongdoing.Wanda promised to give the company that compensated Celia's father some form of monetary reimbursement or a lucrative business deal within a year. For now, there was no visible connection between that company and Wanda.Celia had been her top priority when she targeted Millie's studio and poached all her employees.Right away, Celia was enticed by the high salary. But instead of having Celia come over to work under her directly, Wanda instructed her to stay at Millie's studio to monitor her.
"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
"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
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
"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,
Stefan and Wanda bared their hearts to each other, revealing everything honestly.Wanda had cried uncontrollably by the sea side, and each tear that fell from her face felt like a hit to Stefan's heart."I didn't betray you. It was your parents who told me to marry him. They said that it was the only way to make you completely give up. I shouldn't have tried to look for you… Just leave me," Wanda said.Stefan was furious when he heard that, but what he felt even more was heartache for her.He held Wanda incredibly tight, completely unwilling to let her go.Stefan had been with many women before, but the first was always the most unforgettable.Wanda was his first.Wanda hadn't gotten a divorce, and he was still with Millie. So, the two of them couldn't be together openly.But Stefan's trips abroad became more frequent. His parents had passed away, and Agnes was in poor health. Millie was completely unaware as well.Nothing could stop him from pursuing his love.Later on, Agne
Just as Stefan was about to knock on the door, he heard Agnes' words from inside. His whole body stiffened as his hand froze in mid-air."Mrs. Leach Senior, it's all in the past now," Millie softly said.Agnes sighed. "How unfortunate for the Leach family. Now, the family will never rid itself of Wanda. You don't know this, but her family used to be on par with the Leach family. However, her parents were greedy and unscrupulous. "They went down the wrong path, which eventually led to their assets being seized by the government. Her parents couldn't bear the thought of going to prison and ended up jumping to their deaths instead."Agnes continued, "Out of respect for the ties between our families, we extended a helping hand, and Wanda and Stefan had a marriage arrangement. "We felt that the sins of the parents should not pass down to the daughter. So, when we saw that Wanda had inherited her parents' deviousness, we'd hoped to guide her and prevent her from going astray."If thi
Stefan said, "Didn't you once say that you'd be willing to share a husband with Millie if it were ancient times? Didn't you say that since she divorced Pierce, it was the perfect chance for me to make her my mistress? "Wanda, it hasn't even been that long since you said all of that. Have you already forgotten? "If it bothered you, you could have just told me directly. I would have been considerate of your feelings. Instead, you've been acting so hypocritical. You say one thing to my face and do something else behind my back!"Stefan continued, "I admit that I do have some inappropriate thoughts about Millie. She frustrates me to a degree that I've never felt before. But my feelings for her are borne out of competitiveness and my desire to outmatch Pierce. "It's possible that my feelings for her are shallow and that you're the one I've always truly loved. But the way you're acting will only make it harder for me to let go of Millie. It's making my love for you slowly wear thin as
The guests came over from the hall due to the ruckus."Wanda, have you gone mad?" Stefan asked in exasperation."Have I gone mad, or have you gone too far? Look at what I've been through! Yet, you're still sneaking around behind my back. Where's your conscience?" Wanda howled.Stefan's face darkened in utmost displeasure, and Agnes was so furious that she almost fainted."I didn't cheat! A maid accidentally got my clothes wet, so they're being dried. It'll be done soon. Can you stop causing a scene?" Stefan tried to explain.Wanda exclaimed, "You're lying through your teeth without even trying to make it believable now! "Listen here, everyone. The woman Stefan is cheating on me with is Millie Jordan. The two of them had been in a relationship for three years before he married me. Even after Stefan and I got married, they've kept their relationship alive. "This isn't entirely Stefan's fault. It's that shameless vixen, Millie, who's behind everything. She's skilled at playing me
The maid had just caught a glimpse from afar, so she wasn't exactly sure what she'd seen. But since Wanda asked, she had to answer.Wanda felt her blood rush to her head upon hearing that. She knew it!Stefan had stopped her from coming to this family gathering but invited Millie—an outsider! It was obvious that they wanted to create an opportunity for her and Stefan to get closer.Wanda knew that Agnes disliked her. Plus, since she was still recovering and unable to be intimate with Stefan, Agnes had seized the chance to help Millie gain favor. Otherwise, why else would she have shown up right when she was at a disadvantage?It was all a conspiracy—a scheme!As Wanda was fuming with anger, she stormed off in the direction that the maid had indicated. Meanwhile, another maid had already informed Agnes about this. Agnes frowned when she heard that Wanda had arrived. "Where did she go?" she grimly asked."She's heading to the laundry room," the maid reported."I'll go over.
"You're overthinking it. I never once thought about trying to match you two together," Agnes said."Are you sure you never thought about it?" Stefan felt his pride take a hit upon hearing these words.Agnes retorted, "Do you think you're such a catch? If I had a daughter, and she wanted to marry you, I would break both her legs. "What I'm trying to say is that Pierce will be coming over with Millie later. Whatever gripe you two have, I don't care. Just don't cause trouble here.""Pierce? Why is he coming? They're divorced! This is a family gathering! What right does he have to be here?" Stefan's face darkened."Since when does being divorced mean that they can't show up together?" Agnes sharply responded."Of course it does! Divorce means it's over. They're nothing to each other anymore. Why does he keep clinging onto her? Where's his dignity?"Agnes' face turned cold. "Oh, so you do understand that after breaking up, you're not supposed to interfere in their life anymore. Then
Bill was in a tough spot. Handing over the phone did not seem right, but not handing it over was also not an option.Bill hesitated and kept hold of the phone. "Mrs. Leach Senior, Millie can go, but only if Pierce goes with her.""And why is that? What's their relationship now? They're already divorced. Stop dragging things out! Your grandson might have no shame, but Millie does!" Agnes responded."Fine, then neither of them will go!" Bill exclaimed before hanging up the phone abruptly.Millie felt a bit flustered. The two of them were over 150 years old combined, yet they argued like children."So, Grandpa, should I go or not?""Go… Go, but take Pierce with you. I'll have him bring you back here later. I still need you around, Millie.""But we're divorced.""Pierce can still visit Mrs. Leach Senior.""But this is a family gathering.""He's shameless enough to crash it without an invitation."Pierce stood by the door with a dark expression. He seemed to want to blast Bill ou
"You're overthinking it. It won't happen," Stefan said."Then take me with you!" Wanda retorted.Stefan considered backing down, but he remembered what Millie had said before. Millie never wanted to see Wanda again. He was quite concerned for Wanda. He was worried about her discovering that she would never be able to have children again, especially when she had not even finished recovering from her miscarriage. How would she handle it?Besides, she should not be going out during her recovery period in the first place. He was just trying to take care of her in every way."I said, stay home and rest!" Stefan's tone turned harsher.That was no longer a discussion but a command.Wanda's face turned pale. She stared at him in disbelief. "Stefan, who are you choosing, me or Millie?"Stefan furrowed his brow as he felt the frustration bubbling inside. "Why are you bringing this up again? Of course, I would choose you!""Is it because I had a miscarriage? Do you despise me? Do you wa
Pierce tried to push Millie away. But just as he managed to push her a little farther away, she quickly snuggled back against him."Hug me..." she mumbled, clinging to him even tighter. Her soft, pliant chest clung to his arm.His breathing became ragged.Pierce had no idea how he made it through the night, desperately holding back his desires. He didn't even dare move.He began to doubt himself, wondering if something was wrong with him, given how calm he was in such a situation.Time seemed to drag on endlessly.The next morning, Millie woke up feeling refreshed and energized—she had slept well through the night. She couldn't help but stretch her arms.Unexpectedly, she touched something firm and warm.She froze for a moment, and her mind went blank as she stared at Pierce. His clothes were crumpled—they were the same ones from yesterday.How did she end up in bed with Pierce?Pierce's eyes snapped open. They were red-rimmed, a clear sign of a restless night. Even his voice