At 2:00 am, the city started to get quieter. In the silence, faint sirens could be heard.Millie's body was rigid as she was bound, and Michael, next to her, appeared sleepy. Meanwhile, a few lackeys were playing games and cursing.She was feeling very uncomfortable. She moved her body, catching the attention of some lackeys who asked, "What are you doing?"Michael woke up and looked at the time, then at Millie. She frowned and signaled for him to remove the tape.He was displeased. "I just don't like kidnapping women. This is so troublesome!" Women were a handful.However, despite this, he went ahead and removed the tape for her.Michael asked, "What do you want?""I feel uncomfortable," replied Millie."Could you please allow me to adjust my position?" Her voice was frail and delicate. She felt extremely unwell while being tied up like this."Why are you being such a bother? Let me bring you some water." Michael grumbled as he went to fetch some water. He approached Millie a
Millie tilted her head and clenched her hands into fists. "You can choose to work for me.""You're just a lady from a prominent family. What can I do for you? Carry your bag? What I aspire to become is a leader. A leader who can issue commands and maintain control, a leader who can kill decisively, do you understand? Why should I work for a woman like you?" Michael stood up angrily.He turned and declared, "In this life, there's only one person for whom I'll work faithfully and respectfully."Millie reluctantly looked up at him. He smiled and said, "Even if I tell you, you may not know the person."She bit her lip and replied, "Tell me about it." As "M", she was well-versed in the secrets of the underworld."Have you heard of M?" he asked.Millie was at a loss for words."Do you even have a clue who M is, my dear lady? Oh well, never mind. I won't talk to you anymore." He turned away, sounding very disappointed."I've heard of M," replied Millie.Michael snorted. "Then do you
The sky gradually brightened. Millie was exhausted, dozing off. However, the sun's rays kept breaking through, startling her awake each time. As the sun finally emerged, she glanced back to see Michael, who was already sound asleep.Millie struggled to untie the rope, but each time she loosened it, the chair would send her falling. The truth was, this was no ordinary knot. Even though she was M, she couldn't do much. She refused to resign herself to this situation. Relying on others to come to her aid and putting her life in their hands seemed utterly foolish.She shifted restlessly in her chair, causing the bell attached to the rope behind it to jingle. The sound roused the several kidnappers from their sleep. As they rubbed their eyes and let out a collective yawn, a wave of discontent filled the air. "Why are you shaking the chair? What are you doing again?" Michael walked over furiously.He ripped off the tape from Millie's mouth, and the pain made her unable to speak. She
"I was truly too kind to you," Michael said.Millie warned, "If we continue to waste time like this, you'll also suffer a dire consequence.""I told you I'd take you with me, even if I die!" It was enjoyable to have such a beautiful person to die with.Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind, causing a mischievous smile to spread across his face. "How about this?"Millie sensed a hint of malicious intent behind his smile."Why don't you contact Winston and inform him about your kidnapping? Let's see if he comes to your rescue."Her expression gradually turned icy. She didn't wish to involve Winston in the situation. "No way," she refused firmly."Are you sure you want to decline? This is your only chance. It would be such a shame to die." He raised her chin and gazed at her with a smile."Then you're underestimating the police." Millie looked into the distance. The sound of approaching sirens grew louder.He followed her gaze and realized the sirens were getting closer. He tight
Millie's vigorous movements continued to cause the bell on the rope to ring. The man below appeared to have noticed, as he repeatedly shone his dim flashlight upwards.She lowered her head and peered down. The car's light faintly illuminated the man's body. A flicker of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she hesitated. That man…"Boss, I saw it! It's Winston!" the lackey behind them said suddenly.Millie immediately looked back, her eyes brimming with disbelief. Did Winston truly come?"Wow! What a surprise!" Michael suddenly laughed.He clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Ms. Caldwell, look, the person you least want to see is here. How wonderful, truly wonderful!"Then, he turned toward the lackey and instructed, "Go and inform him that his partner is here."The lackey nodded and quickly ran downstairs.Millie peered down, the chair legs dangling over the edge, and it seemed that Winston had also caught sight of her. He shouted, "Millie!"Her heart skipped a beat. It was indeed
Michael was stunned for a moment, then straightened his clothes and asked, "Did I guess wrong?"This seemed impossible. He wouldn't be wrong. Wasn't Millie's behavior driven by her concern that Winston would be involved?Millie stared at Winston with teary eyes and exclaimed, "It was the Lowell family who did it! It was Joanna! Your unforgettable first love hired someone to kill me multiple times. Winston, you condoned this."If Winston had not continuously been partial toward Joanna, she wouldn't have been able to repeatedly attack her."Millie, this has nothing to do with Joanna," Winston said nervously.Eli conducted a thorough investigation and confirmed that Joanna wasn't responsible for it.Millie's heart throbbed with a piercing ache upon hearing those words. Her hair danced in the breeze as she sneered. "Are you defending Joanna because you love her? Do you think it's okay for her to kill me one day?"Winston was at a loss for words.Michael blinked and exclaimed silent
Millie's body abruptly froze, and then she started to fall."Millie!" Winston shouted, reaching out and swiftly grabbing the rope.She hung off the wall as Winston's body was pulled down by the rope until it stopped at the edge. Gasping for breath, she looked up at him in panic."Don't be scared," he reassured her.Millie witnessed his hands tightening and pulling the rope upwards. With each tug, her heart ached even more. Why did he insist on saving her? Slowly, she was being pulled back. However, Michael stepped onto Winston's back. Involuntarily, his grip loosened. Millie fell once more while he was forcefully propelled forward.The sirens were blaring below, and red and blue lights reflected in the air. Winston pulled harder, ignoring Michael's foot on him, and helped Millie up. Winston's hands were already injured, and his shirt was ripped from rubbing against the floor. His arms scraped repeatedly against the platform and the concrete floor, causing blood to drip onto Mi
Winston covered his arm and slowly stood up. As he reached out to help Millie, he spotted a man with a dagger going in for an attack. With a frown, he instantly pulled Millie toward him, using all his strength to shield her from the attack. The dagger grazed Winston's shoulder, piercing his shirt.This time, Millie clearly observed the blood dripping down his shoulder. She then gazed at Winston, her smile tender and radiant. She held him firmly, her eyes void of any sign of pain. Her smile was incredibly captivating, radiating such beauty that it seemed as though it could shatter at any moment. It was hard to understand. The air filled with shouts as everyone rushed forward eagerly.Millie whispered, her voice so gentle that it seemed to be carried away by the wind. "You owed me a life. Now we're even."After uttering those words, she fainted. Winston didn't catch the first part of the sentence, only the second part. "Now, we are even." He didn't understand what she meant.
While in the hospital, Millie rubbed her arms to keep warm. Then, the person on the bed woke up.Millie turned her head and looked at the person on the hospital bed. Winston's eyes were dull and showed signs of exhaustion. Their eyes met, and neither of them said a word.The nurse entered and saw that Winston was awake, so she patiently asked about his condition.He just kept looking at Millie without saying anything.Millie glanced at the nurse, signaling that she could continue with her work. Winston seemed fine now."You're not allowed to drink anymore," Millie said, her voice calm and indifferent.He closed his eyes, turned his head away, and didn't look at her again.Millie frowned and asked, "What do you mean by turning your head?"Winston remained silent, unable to speak because of the tightness in his throat.Millie poured a glass of water and asked him, "Would you like some water?"He still remained silent.Millie grew impatient and said, "Then I'll call Eli to take
Other than that word, Everly couldn't hear anything else."Dad, I can't hear what you're saying at all." Everly was becoming frustrated.Thomas exclaimed, "I said, Mills!""Yes, you're talking about Mills. And then? What about her?" Everly was extremely confused.She picked up her phone to check the time—it was already 3:00 am.She was about to lose it. From New Year's Eve till now, she did nothing but take care of Thomas."Dad, why don't we just go to sleep?" Everly didn't want to listen anymore.Whatever it was, she would be nice to Millie and not go up against her.She didn't like Millie before, but that was simply because she disliked how obsessed Millie was with romantic relationships."Oh! Ah!" Thomas suddenly started grumbling as he threw back the blanket. "Why can't you understand?"He was getting agitated.Everly was also getting extremely agitated. What exactly did she need to understand?He wasn't even speaking loud enough."I mean your sister! Millie!" Thomas s
Everly, feeling exasperated, helped Thomas off the couch and took him to the bathroom.Thomas lifted his head. His face was flushed, and his eyes dazed over. "My daughter, my daughter, I didn't throw up…"Everly looked at the mess on the ground and felt a headache coming on. Thomas had already thrown up, yet he still claimed he hadn't."You're drinking so much even though you can't handle it!" Everly shouted."What are you saying? It's like you're saying, saying, saying… ugh!" Thomas immediately leaned over the toilet, unable to finish his sentence. It was like he was speaking in tongue twisters, and no one could understand him.Everly sighed. She twitched her nose and turned to go outside to wait for him.Ten minutes went by, and Everly had finished tidying up the house. There was no sound coming from the washroom where Thomas was.Everly furrowed her brows and called out, "Dad?"Fine. It seemed like he was going to end up sleeping on the toilet.Everly walked over and, as ex
"I'll go get your medicine for you. Wait a moment." Millie intended to get the medicine from the bedside table.But then, Winston grabbed her arm. His palms were sweaty, and when he held her hand, it felt so hot it was as if he might burn her.Millie looked down at him.Winston looked up at her face, worried that if he let go, she might disappear.However, he knew very well that Millie wanted to leave, and he couldn't stop her."Millie, do you really have to give up on me?" Winston asked again, seeming determined to get an answer.Millie furrowed her brows, breathing heavily."Do you have to?" He looked at her. "Hmm?"Millie felt her heart tighten, and she just couldn't bring herself to say, "I have to let you go.""Winston," she called to him.Winston had no more strength left in him, as if he couldn't wait any longer to hear those words from her.He suddenly bent over and fell to the ground.Millie paused for a moment, then she quickly crouched down. "Winston?"She immed
Millie tightened her grip on the doorknob and turned to look at Winston.He stood next to the coffee table, his hands dangling awkwardly at his sides. The expression on his face seemed profoundly sorrowful. Although they were close, it felt as if a huge ocean stood between them when he looked at her, making it impossible for him to bridge the gap.Winston made a slight groaning sound, licking his lips and breathing heavily. His body was also swaying a bit. His stomach felt extremely uncomfortable, churning violently as if he might throw up at any moment.What bothered him even more was the comment Millie had just made.She said, "Let's end this."End it? But how would they just end it? Then were her seven years over just like that? Did his guilt and regret count for anything?She could move on from him, love someone else, and marry them. But what about him? He could never forgive himself for the rest of his life…Could they just end it?"Millie. Tell me, how are we supposed to
"Listen." Millie bit her lip but finally mustered up the courage to speak. "Let's end this between us."During those years with him, she caused her family a lot of worry and concern. She no longer wanted her family to worry about her.Or perhaps, she had become scared. She didn't want to gamble with her feelings anymore."Winston, I admit defeat. I don't have the courage to go through this with you again." Millie's voice was choked with emotion as she struggled to hold back her sadness while saying this.Winston instinctively reached for her hand."Millie, you promised me. You said you'd give me a chance. Why?" His eyes suddenly turned bloodshot, and his voice was so hoarse it seemed like he could barely speak."There's no reason. The new year has begun, and I hope you get better. Don't come looking for me anymore." Millie pulled away from Winston's hand, turned around, and got ready to leave.He suddenly hugged Millie tightly and said, "Don't…"Winston's voice seemed to pierce
Millie opened the car door and pushed Winston inside the car.Winston fastened his seatbelt in the dark by himself.Millie got into the car and saw him sitting there quietly, which made her smile and sigh.Millie drove at a moderate speed. The road was busy, with many people out to watch fireworks, while others were heading home.Winston looked to the driver's side, his gaze fixed on Millie.Millie could sense that he was watching her, but she kept avoiding eye contact. Her mind was preoccupied with the messages her dad had sent.Let him go… The question was, could she give up on him?Millie furrowed her brow and rested her hand on her forehead, deep in thought."Did I make you hate me…?" Winston's raspy voice suddenly sounded next to her ear.Millie looked over at him with confusion."Does my drinking make you hate me?" he asked again, just like a child afraid of upsetting Millie."No." Millie shook her head.Despite having drunk too much, he still made an effort to pay at
After the video call ended, Millie placed her phone on the table.Thomas said to Millie, "Hahaha! Mills, look, he can't handle his drink!"Having been the son-in-law of the Caldwell family for three years, I only just found out that he can't hold his liquor."Millie gave a wry smile. This statement seemed to be a double-edged sword. For three years, he hadn't visited the Caldwell family even once. Winston was truly ruthless at that time.Winston quickly explained to Millie, "Millie, I haven't had too much. I can still drink, honestly."His face was completely flushed, and it was clear that his speech was slurred.The two of them had already finished a bottle of vodka.Thomas was even ready to switch to a different type of alcohol.Thomas had spent many years away from home and was quite a heavy drinker. His drinking ability was different from that of Winston.Winston could ask Eli to drink on his behalf if he didn't want to, but if Thomas was trying to win resources for Rach
At the dining table, Thomas and Winston started drinking vodka.The TV was showing this year's New Year Gala while Millie was quietly eating pierogi.She hadn't had homemade pierogi for three years, and they tasted so good. It felt like being back in her childhood, celebrating the New Year with her family. That was what made the festival truly special.Millie looked at her grandparents with a constant smile on her face. She felt happier than she had ever been before.She wished her parents were here too. Oh, those two…Just as she was thinking about this, her phone rang. It was Terrence calling.Millie answered the call without saying a word and pointed the camera toward Thomas.This year, Thomas had no one to drink with, so he turned to Winston for company.Terrence was lounging in the sun when he caught sight of Winston. His eyes widened in surprise, and he immediately set down his juice."Who is that? Am I seeing this right?" Terrence sat up straight, his voice filled with