“The area has already been thoroughly checked, Mr. Bianchi. Should I give the order, so the car can follow?”
“Yes, Henry.” Massimo answered his security chief on the phone and, although they were facing each other in the back of the car, Millicent did not turn to him.
She was too busy watching the movement on the other side of the window. The tinted glass didn't allow anyone to see anything inside the car, but it was pretty obvious everyone knew she was there. Even the security staff, usually always professional and silent, seemed unusually tense that day, glancing in her direction whenever they thought she wasn't paying attention.
Not that she could blame them. She had turned it all into a big spectacle, after all.
Which didn't make any of
If anyone in high society were asked who Millicent Bianchi was, there would be only one answer: She was the eldest daughter of Massimo Bianchi. And, because of that, she had everything.Even though she doesn't deserve it. She had a loving family, loyal friends, a job she had achieved without any effort and a surname that carried a legacy too great for someone as mediocre as her... And now, she also had a flawless engagement party. Courtesy of a perfect groom to a not-so-perfect bride. This was very clear to everyone, as her future husband was happily greeting all the High Society bigwigs who were scattered around the Bianchi’s garden, while Millicent was there, hidden in the shadows, observing everything from afar.Like always. “You know you don’t have to force yourself to do this.” Her mother’s gentle voice whispered in her ear “It’s a big step. If you don’t want to go through with all of this, your father and I will be here to protect you and sort things out.”“I know you will be
“You can do this, Millie. Just… Breathe.”Millicent muttered to herself, hoping her frantic thoughts might drown out the murmurs and sharp looks that followed her the instant she crossed the hallway. “Oh, it looks like daddy’s little princess insisted on coming to yet another meeting… What do you think?” a female voice asked, mischievously “Is she finally going to present something today? Or just lean on Mr. Carnby’s work, as always…?”“Are you crazy?!” another woman gasped “Lower your voice! Mr. Bianchi may not be here today, but he will definitely know if any of us are caught talking shit about his daughter!” It would have been very easy for Millicent to simply turn around and confront them. However, since the last thing she wanted was to see someone on their knees, begging her to save their jobs, she just continued on her way, silently. Presenting her project was the only thing she should worry about and the only reason she was fighting her heavy eyes and her tired body. It had t
“And that is my proposal, gentlemen.” Still motionless, Millicent watched her fiancé sit down, not even looking in her direction as the executives began to chat among themselves, clearly satisfied. Austin just remained smiling, almost as if he hadn't realized he had just introduced her project as his own, repeating every single word she had rehearsed exhaustively over the past few days. “An excellent presentation as always, Mr. Carnby.” one of the executives praised “Now, to complete our list, we have… Oh. Miss. Bianchi.” the old man snorted, causing all the eyes at the table to turn to her, but not in a friendly way.For a moment, Millicent managed to part her lips, but no words dared to come out. What could she say to convince these men that the project they were praising had been entirely hers? Should she just embarrass herself like that, even though she knew they would just laugh and mock her? “Millicent decided to take a break from her own project to help me with mine.” Austin
For a moment, the hallway was so silent that, in the midst of her shock and horror, Millicent even wondered if she was hallucinating, after such a terrible day.But Jasmine didn't let that doubt last more than a second. “Yes, Austin, baby! Harder!”“What the fuck…!” Sage growled under his breath “Those bastards! I can't believe it…! Millie? Millie, wait…!”Ignoring that low request, Millicent just let her feet guide her numb body to Jasmine's bedroom door, where not only did the suggestive growls become clearer, but she could also hear a second voice. The voice of someone who was obviously there with Jasmine, but who was still like a knife in Millicent's chest.“I already told you to shut up!” Austin grunted, but there was a clear smile in his voice.“Why?” Jasmine proved, her voice distorted with a malice that Millie would never have imagined her sweet and joyful friend was capable of “Are you afraid that some guard will hear us again…? Or, maybe, that your precious baby girl may be
As soon as she knocked on the door of Isaac's room for the first time, Millicent had to muster all her concentration not to tremble. About ten minutes had passed since she had heard Austin and Jasmine say things she would never forget, but the realization only seemed to be hitting her at that moment, as the tension grew in her chest. The mix of anger and a broken heart had made it seem like her only choice, but…Was she really about to do something like that?However, before she could even reflect on that question, the door opened and, suddenly, Isaac was there, making her swallow hard. He was wearing just sweatpants and a towel around his shoulder. His dark blond hair was still damp and, to her surprise, his chest was not just covered in muscles and tattoos, but also scars, some so deep that not even the ink could hide. It was probably the result of the accident he got into after driving drunk when they were teenagers, but still…“Let me guess…” he interrupted his thoughts, with thos
“Oh, baby… You promised me you would let me drink something before we enjoyed our last moments at the hotel…”Jasmine's giggle was pretty audible, but Millicent just ignored it and continued staring at the long, impeccably arranged table in front of her, patiently waiting for her guests to arrive at that particular bar in the hotel.“Millicent!” Austin gasped and, only then, did she allow herself to turn around, wearing the best smile she had rehearsed “What are you doing here?” She watched Austin pull away from Jasmine suddenly, arranging his robe like he was the epitome of chastity and Jasmine had her hair messed up like that just because of a good night's sleep.It was sickening to realize they had never made such a point of hiding those clues, but Millicent just turned a blind eye to it, acting like the blind idiot she knew they were hoping to find."Good morning. I hope you guys are hungry.” was all she said, as warmly as she could manage “I woke up early and asked the chef to pr
“Are you sure you’re okay, Millie?” Sage’s murmur in her ear made Millicent’s head throb, but even so she quickly disguised her expression, giving her bodyguard the calmest smile she was able to force."I am fine. It's just a little fever. The pills may be taking a while to work, but I'm sure I'll be better soon.” she tried to convince even herself, dragging her haggard body in the direction of where the hotel employees were carrying her bags “I think the last few days have taken more of a toll on me than I expected.” Millie grumbled, needing to hold her heavy head for a moment “You look irritated. Did something happen?”"No. Things are going as you predicted.” Sage growled lowly, clearly furious “But that bastard had the audacity to take his bitch on your father's jet and leave you here, all alone...” “Don’t worry. I know.” Millie muttered, taking out her cell phone to look one last time at the messages Austin had sent her.“Hey, baby. I hope your shopping in the city was good, beca
Millicent's body felt as heavy as lead when she managed to open her eyes, but at least her head wasn't hurting anymore. The last thing she remembered was being carried by Isaac to a seat on his plane, where an old doctor with a kind smile had given her some more pills. However, those had been strong enough to knock her out in a way that she didn't even know how much time had passed. Although they were certainly no longer on the ground, as there were clouds passing by the small window nearby...And Isaac was sitting in the armchair right in front of hers. His broad body dominated everything and made even that huge padded chair seem small. He still looked cold and intimidating, even though he looked casual like that, as he checked something on the tablet in his hands. But the way he was no longer wearing a jacket and the top few buttons on his shirt were half open made Millicent blush. Damn, she was too sick
“The area has already been thoroughly checked, Mr. Bianchi. Should I give the order, so the car can follow?”“Yes, Henry.” Massimo answered his security chief on the phone and, although they were facing each other in the back of the car, Millicent did not turn to him.She was too busy watching the movement on the other side of the window. The tinted glass didn't allow anyone to see anything inside the car, but it was pretty obvious everyone knew she was there. Even the security staff, usually always professional and silent, seemed unusually tense that day, glancing in her direction whenever they thought she wasn't paying attention.Not that she could blame them. She had turned it all into a big spectacle, after all.Which didn't make any of
“Mr. Carnby will see you now, Miss. Bianchi. Please, follow me.”At the sound of the secretary's call, Millicent stood up from the armchair she was sitting in, trying to bury her nervousness deep within her mind. Around her, almost everything was dark in the middle of that huge office on the top floor of that building. It wasn't a very privileged area of the city, but even Millicent had heard about some revitalizations making property values increase. She just never would have imagined that the person responsible for constructing a building of that magnitude was the Carnbys' missing son.Over and over again, she had heard Austin cover his disdain with soft words as he talked about the only Carnby company that had been handed over to Isaac before he left the country when he was eighteen. It was an old, broke steelworker, but it had once bee
It certainly wasn't the right thing to do if she really wanted to leave her old and stupid self behind. She knew it. But, still, as soon as she got to her room, Millicent opened her closet, looking for the old, dingy box hidden at the very back.She had promised she would no longer cry for someone like Austin, but Millie still found herself with the tears stuck in her throat when she opened the box. There were several half-open envelopes and folded notebook paper. Time had not been kind to those letters, but the words that had been written there were still perfectly legible.If only time had been kind to her feelings as well...She and Austin were very young when they started exchanging those letters, but in an inexplicable way, those memories still meant a lot to
“I think we should let your father and your sister talk alone.” Alice murmured after a moment, stroking Matteo’s hair “Come on. We all need a good night’s sleep after a day like that.”"But…!" Alessandro started to complain, but it only took a single look from his mother for him to shut up “Fine. But don't think I'm going to let this go so easily. If that son of a bitch appears in front of me again, I will not hesitate to try to break his nose again!”“Come on now…” Alice placed her hand on her son’s shoulder, giving one last gentle smile in Millicent’s direction, before leading Matteo and Alessandro out of the room with her.“That money doesn’t mean much, Millie…” Massimo sighed, dismayed “I don&rsqu
“I can't believe that kid have the nerve to do something like that! After we welcomed him into the family and even into your father’s company…! I should known nothing good would come from his parents. I knew they were bad news from the first time I saw them in person! You know I have a good eye for these things…”“Yes, Thea. I know." Millicent still managed to laugh a little, even though her entire body felt completely drained of strength, as she brushed her hair at the dressing table.It seemed like that pandemonium would last forever, but eventually the engagement party was over and the guests had left with enough fodder for a year's worth of gossip. It was almost surreal that, after all that, after doing something she never thought she would have the courage to do, Millicent was back in her room. All the mess had made it seem like she would never know what peace was again, but there she was. Surrounded by peace and quiet, with every possible number by which Austin could reach her pr
“What’s going on…?” Jasmine seemed to feel that several eyes turned to her, as she approached Austin in the next instant, practically struggling to look at the photos in his hands “What is this…?! Oh… Oh, my God…”“I would love to be able to celebrate love today. But, as you can see, this is impossible.” Millicent turned her eyes to her ex-fiance's still stunned and horrified expression “The wedding is off… As is any relationship between me and Austin Carnby. Thank you all for your attention. That's all I had to say today.”Dropping the microphone into the hands of some waiter, she turned, walking fast towards where the flower beds were highest in the garden. However, seeing her walk away seemed to snap Austin out of his shock, as he tried to reach out to grab her arm, his voice sounding with a mixture of desperation and outrage.“Wait, Millie! This… You… This is not what you think…!” he almost reached her, but a new scream made him freeze once more.“You son of a bitch!” Her father's
Austin was clearly not comfortable. Millicent had seen that crooked smile and those nervous eyes enough times to know that. But, there, among the guests and with some curious looks already turning to him, Austin didn't even make a move to question her, as Millicent had already expected.“Oh, baby… You’re so sweet.” Austin caressed her face, but Millicent stepped away before he could hug her “I'm the one who should have prepared something special to celebrate the fact the greatest woman in the world is about to become my Mrs. Carnby.” he sighed, as if he were nothing more than a lovesick fool.“Gosh. Now I see why you've been so busy the last few days, darling.” Jasmine laughed and, where before Millicent would have seen nothing but sweetness, now she was able to see the mockery “Did you manage to get this amazing party going and still find time to surprise your fiancé? You're so amazing, sweetie... See, Austin? That's why I always said that you shouldn't spend so much time locked in t
“Millicent?”Millie didn't know how long it had been since she stood there among the trees, silently watching the engagement party taking place up ahead. However, not even the gentle touch of her mother's hand on her shoulder was able to completely take her out of that almost trance-like state.“I… Am I really making the right decision?” That line certainly made her sound like an insecure child, but, at that moment, Millicent couldn't even bring herself to care about that.“You seemed right about that earlier. I would like to ask what is making you doubt yourself, but I think I already know the answer.” Alice sighed “I promised myself I would never allow the pressures of High Society to hurt you, but I have clearly failed in my duty as a mother.”
“Calm down, Millicent. You decided to take it this far. You have no right to be a coward now.” Millicent growled softly at her own reflection in the mirror, as she tried to keep her breathing steady.The bathroom where she was, in one of the attached rooms at the back of the Bianchi Mansion, wasn't that close to the gardens, but even so Millicent could still hear every sound coming from the engagement party outside. Determination was still guiding her when she had woken up that morning and got dressed for the event, but… Now that all those guests were there, a crowd made up not only of her family, but also of practically all of the Bianchi Group's executives, who would certainly spread the new gossip as soon as Millicent made the first move…She couldn't feel so confident anymore. In fact, thinking about all the looks she would have to endure and all the whispers she would have to hear was making her feel suffocated, even though nothing had happened yet.Maybe Isaac was right not to tr