He called for Mark, intending to have him forcibly escort Millie out."Ms. Jordan, please come with me," Mark said.But Millie refused to leave. When Mark forcefully grabbed her, her wound reopened as she struggled against his grip. The sudden pain made her face turn ghostly pale, and tears threatened to spill from her eyes.Mark instantly froze, afraid to touch her again. "S-She's still injured, Mr. Leach. I can't…"Stefan felt a sharp pang in his chest. After all, Millie had once saved his life."You should go home and rest with that injury. Stop wandering around. This matter ends here. I'll make sure you won't see Wanda again. Don't be unreasonable. When I say this ends here, it ends here," he firmly said."And if I insist on pursuing this?" Millie countered."Millie!" Stefan's eyes reddened in frustration. "Are you not going to stop until you see me completely ruined? Is that what you want?" His voice shook as he gritted his teeth. Why did she have to trample on his prid
Wanda's smile froze on her face.The wound on Millie's chest was unmistakably real. It was a ragged, gaping hole that looked like the result of multiple stabs. Blood gushed out, soaking the bandages and Millie's torn clothes. The stitches had completely burst due to Wanda's reckless actions. Millie's face turned deathly pale as pain wracked her body."This can't be real! How could you risk your own life like this?" Wanda cried out, unable to believe her eyes.In a desperate bid to prove her theory, she pressed her fingers against the wound. Instantly, she felt the sticky warmth of fresh blood on her fingertips."There must be a blood bag. Where is it hidden? This has to be special effects, right?" Wanda's voice grew shrill, her disbelief mounting.She couldn't comprehend how Millie had made the wound look so realistic. It was exactly the same as a real wound! This was impossible!Millie couldn't stand the excruciating pain—her body was quickly reaching its limit. She had
Pierce icily snapped, "What right do you have to be concerned about her? She's in this state because of you. You're not blameless.""I know. This time, I won't let Wanda off so easily," Stefan replied in a quiet voice."This time?" Pierce stepped closer, his imposing presence forcing Stefan to instinctively step back. "I'm not just talking about this time. I'm talking about everything you've done to her over the years! You stripped her of her confidence and made her fear love itself. "She's so hesitant and afraid of being hurt again—so much so that she can't fully commit to anyone. She's afraid that at the end of the day, she'll have nothing and no one. You've made her terrified of taking risks in love! You were the one who wronged her, yet I have to suffer all the consequences."She bent over backward for you, smoothed her edges, and lost herself in trying to revolve around your world. She sacrificed so much for you—how dare you betray her? She could have accepted any reason for
Robin and Rachel found themselves speechless.They had expected a lengthy argument—perhaps even a confrontation. But to their surprise, Stefan had made up his mind to divorce Wanda.Agnes took the divorce agreement from Stefan and glanced through it. She noticed that he had allocated a generous portion of his assets to Wanda. It was enough for her to live comfortably after getting divorced.Given that their prenuptial agreement stated that Wanda was entitled to nothing in the event of a divorce, this was an act of goodwill on Stefan's part. He was either doing this for the sake of the Leach family's reputation or to simply give himself peace of mind.Thus, Agnes refrained from commenting further. Instead, she sternly advised, "Since you've decided on this, don't let her sweet talk sway you into changing your mind.""Don't worry. It's for real this time. I'm cutting all ties with her," Stefan said with an air of finality."Good. Handle this yourself. We won't comment further,"
After writing the long letter in blood, Wanda attempted to commit suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills.She was aware that the drug she took would induce vomiting as a safeguard when consumed in large amounts. As long as one of the maids noticed and rushed her to the hospital, she wouldn't actually die.Millie had gambled with her life, so Wanda decided to take a similar risk. After swallowing most of the pills, she scattered the remaining ones on the floor to ensure her act was unmistakable.Yet, fear coursed through her. She was scared that she might go too far and accidentally kill herself for real. But she had no other options left.After a while, her body reacted. Her stomach churned violently and painfully, and cold sweat soaked her face as she turned ghostly pale. Foamy bile then surged up her throat as she dry-heaved and convulsed.The sensation was unbearable—there was burning pain in her stomach accompanied by dizziness and weakness.Wanda deliberately rolled off t
Agnes was already deeply disappointed in Stefan, so she didn't really care how he chose to handle the matter. Even if he decided not to divorce Wanda, she wouldn't be surprised."I'm sorry, Grandma. I know I hurt you deeply over the past few weeks," Stefan apologetically said. "We are family and bound by blood. Even if you hurt me, we can always patch things up and fall back on our familial ties. But what about those who don't share our blood? When they've been hurt, it stays that way. Don't expect unconditional forgiveness from them."Agnes' words seemed to carry a deeper meaning.Stefan opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Agnes was right—Millie wouldn't forgive him unconditionally.After ending the call, Stefan didn't visit Wanda. Instead, he instructed others to care for her.Wanda, on the other hand, hoped to see him, as she felt increasingly uneasy. She had caused a massive scene, and Stefan had been genuinely distressed when bringing her to the ho
"Alright." Pierce agreed as he pulled Millie into a deep embrace. He rested his chin gently in the crook of her neck and greedily breathed in her soothing fragrance. Being close to her calmed him and cleared his mind so that he could think rationally.Whenever he found himself on the brink of going down the wrong path, all he had to do was think about Millie. Whenever he imagined what she would do, it helped him to suppress the evil thoughts brewing inside him."I've made a public announcement about calling off my engagement with Charlotte. No one can gossip and spread rumors about you anymore," Pierce said."That's great. I'm feeling a little hungry. I'll go to the kitchen to grab something to eat," Millie replied, lazily stretching.She was confident that Pierce wouldn't let her suffer unjustly, so she trusted him to handle everything. However, as she left, she forgot to take her phone.Pierce was on a call with Tobias when Millie's phone screen lit up with an incoming call.
"I needed to use the bathroom. Why?" Pierce casually replied as if he hadn't noticed anything.Millie steadied her breathing. She hadn't done anything wrong, but a strange sense of guilt gnawed at her, making her feel as if she were hiding some scandalous secret.She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she needed to clear the air. She hadn't betrayed Pierce, so there was no reason to feel guilty."I'm just dealing with something from the studio," she nonchalantly said."Need any help?" Pierce offered."No, no. It'll be quick." Millie hastily declined."Alright, I'll be in the study then." Pierce gave her a long, deliberate look that made her feel even more unsettled before he finally turned and left.Once the door closed, Millie wasted no time. She locked it and immediately called the fertility center.She firmly stated, "Hello, I'd like to cancel the service. Please don't send me any more matches in the future.""Ms. Jordan, as per the terms of your contract, the fee
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
The next day, Millie slept until the sun was high up in the sky. Yet, she still felt sleepy.She turned over and adjusted herself into a more comfortable position to continue sleeping. However, it was only for her to bump into a wall of flesh. Half-asleep, Millie instinctively reached out and felt around. The sensation was oddly satisfying.Millie did not think much of it. She had thought that it was only just a dream."This isn't fun," she murmured and tried to pull away.Unexpectedly, a strong and well-defined hand grasped hers, holding it firmly in place. "You get me all worked up, and now you're trying to escape, huh?"Millie suddenly heard a familiar voice coming from beside her. Her heart clenched, and she immediately realized that this wasn't just a dream. She quickly opened her eyes and met Pierce's intense gaze, filled with desire."We… We need to restrain ourselves," Millie muttered. "I'm at the peak of my youth. Why should I hold back? I should be indulging in
Pierce had been passive at first while Millie had her way with him. But now, he had turned the tables and was on top of her. He dominated their kiss, not giving Millie a chance to catch her breath. Millie felt as though the air in her lungs had been stolen, and her lips were numb and bruised too.Pierce was in the prime of his youth. Moreover, he had worked out regularly when he was a member of the police force. He had maintained this habit post-retirement, so his body was very fit.He had boundless energy but no outlet. As someone who was almost 30 years old, he had only done it once. Later on, he could only observe and wasn't able to participate due to various reasons. Hence, he had long since been driven to the brink.He didn't know if it would eventually be harmful to his health should he continue to hold back.Right now, Pierce felt that Millie's body was exceptionally delicate. It seemed as though her limbs would break from just a light squeeze.He extended his arm and tur
Millie became worried when she recalled the previous incident with Yulia.Just then, a girl timidly handed Pierce a bottle of water. "I-I can't unscrew the cap. Could you help me?" The girl bashfully peered at him. Her cheeks were flushed, but her gaze was bold and seductive.Millie wondered if young girls were so forward nowadays whenever they encountered someone they liked."I can help you open the bottle. But would you also believe that I could crack open your skull?" Pierce's expression was fierce and intimidating.The girl was so frightened that she nearly burst into tears. In her panic, she blindly ran away.Millie was amused as she observed the scene from the sidelines. After that, Pierce brought her along everywhere and didn't dare walk alone.It was then that things finally quieted down.Millie and Pierce leisurely cycled, taking in the natural beauty of the day. They were like a normal couple instead of Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson of Atkinson Group. They had been by themse