Millie stole another look at Kennedy, thinking, "Hm, he's pretty hot."Her phone chimed. It was a text from Rachel. "Have you landed? Wanna join me for some drinks?""Sure!" Millie replied before closing her phone. Then, she whispered to Terrence, "Dad?""What is it?" Despite being interrupted, Terrence didn't seem irked."Rachel invited me to hang out. Drop me off in front." Millie pointed toward the front. Terrence replied, "Okay."Before she left, she nodded at Kennedy, "Mr. Sullivan, happy working with my dad. See you again when I have the chance."Smiling, he answered, "Yeah. See you again."Millie shut the car door and skipped her way to meet with Rachel. Unbeknownst to her, Kennedy, who had hesitated to cooperate with the Caldwell Group, finally gave the green light.…Millie changed into a black dress at the bar and casually put her hair up with a claw clip. Her elegant nape was on full display.She ordered a glass of wine and searched for Rachel in the crowd. She s
Millie quickly helped Rachel up. Soon, a few men surrounded them.A man with short hair barked at Millie, "Hey, take your hands off her."With a glance, she immediately knew they were responsible for spiking Rachel's drink."She's my friend. I'm taking her with me," Millie announced.The men exchanged looks and grinned. She must be foolish to believe she could leave with a woman they had set their eyes on."You'd better behave. Do not press our buttons." A man neared Millie and glowered at her.A bald man pointed at Millie while stroking her chin. "This one looks pretty too. Why don't we take her with us as well?"She narrowed her eyes.The man in the lead chuckled loudly. "She is. Let's bring her along."Millie rolled her fist. "I'll repeat one more time—get out of my way."However, they ignored her warning and went up to snatch the two ladies. Amid a wave of dizziness, Rachel felt someone grabbing her arm.Millie immediately swatted the hand away. "Don't touch her!"She p
Winston waved at Seth and said coldly, "You'd better not tell me who your dad is.""My dad is—" The words were about to come out of Seth's mouth when Winston warned him, "Are you sure about this?"If Seth revealed his dad's identity, Winston would make sure to bankrupt his business.Seth opened his mouth, but someone cautioned him, "Seth, that looks like Winston Greer, the CEO of Greer Group who has a chokehold on Yerwick's economy. Don't get on his bad side…"Seth immediately toned down. He scrutinized Winston nervously. How could this be Winston Greer?"Bring them away." Winston glanced at the bar owner. "Do not let in any Tom, Dick, or Harry next time."The owner immediately replied, "Yes, Mr. Greer!""What's wrong with her?" Jake's voice echoed in the air. Millie looked behind Winston and saw Jake leaning on the couch and studying Rachel.Millie hurriedly walked around Winston and shoved Jake out of the way. She helped Rachel up.Rachel pressed her body against Millie's.
When Millie returned with a glass of water, she found Rachel resting her head on Jake's shoulder.Jake croaked, "Millie, I'll send both of you home."Millie frowned at him, but she missed the hickey on Jake's neck due to the poor lighting in the bar."We're good." Millie tried to pull Rachel out of Jake's arms, but Rachel refused to let go, much to Millie's surprise."Rachel!" Millie called to her again and placed the glass of iced water against Rachel's face.Rachel's eyes fluttered open. Sniffling, she answered weakly, "Yeah.""I'll send you home. Now, let go of Jake." Rachel was giving her a headache."No. I want to hug him a while more," Rachel protested, her head hung low.Millie looked puzzled. What had just happened during her absence? She shot a look at Jake, hinting at him to come clean.Rachel was fine when Millie left for water, but why did she suddenly hang onto Jake when Millie returned?Jake cleared his throat with a look of guilt. He dared not tell Millie he ha
For some reason, Jake spiraled out of control, triggered by Rachel's kiss. The fact that bothered him the most was he loved that feeling.How perplexing.…The next morning, Millie was woken up from her sleep when Rachel freaked out and shrieked by her side.Millie groggily opened her eyes and glanced at her friend before turning on her side and going back to sleep.Rachel's phone was ringing again. It was a call from her manager, Laura.She frantically mumbled, "I'm dead meat."Millie finally sat up in bed. What was wrong? She checked Rachel's phone and gasped when she saw the headline. "A-List Actress and CEO in Hot New Scandal! Spotted Heading Back to Her Place and Hung Out All Night!"Rachel sat on the bed with a vacant look. "Mills, what did I do last night?"Millie also wanted an answer to that question. It seemed that the media had it. They captured photos of Rachel and Jake passionately making out at the restroom entrance.Millie was shocked to find out about it. It
Millie found Rachel's reaction amusing. Clearly, Rachel had nothing but contempt for Jake.Right now, Rachel hated herself more than she hated Jake. Sitting in a corner, clutching her hair, she wore a puzzled and angry look as if an internal battle raged within her."Why would I kiss Jake Webson? Why him, out of everyone at the bar? This is so embarrassing! Why did it have to be Jake?"Millie gave Rachel a pat on the shoulder. Rachel let out a sigh.This time, Millie's phone rang. Jake had called. Millie showed Rachel her phone screen. "Yo, your alleged boyfriend is calling me."Rachel turned her face away. The mention of Jake embarrassed her because she had made the first move on him last night! Damn it!Jake spoke calmly on the line, "Millie, are you beside Rachel now?""I am." Staring at Rachel, Millie said, "Rach just talked to Laura. Her company called you, didn't they?""Yes," he replied sternly, "They told me to either deny the rumors or admit to the relationship. I'm
Millie and Rachel's phone chimed at the same time from a push notification."Jake Webson has issued a statement: I am the animal in the video. My apologies for taking up the attention. As a long-time admirer of Ms. Shaw, I lost control of myself and kissed her when I was drunk last night. I hereby apologize to Ms. Shaw, who was innocent in this incident. "Ms. Shaw, as a woman, has more to lose in this scandal. I hope the public moves on from this scandal and restores her reputation."They both looked up, seemingly conflicted after reading Jake's clarification.Rachel was surprised at Jake's willingness to shoulder the blame. In his statement, he never once criticized her. Not only that, he cleared her name and requested the public to move on from the scandal.She lowered her gaze once more. Her lashes were trembling.Jake called Millie at that time, and she put his call on speaker mode. He sounded calm. "Let's resolve the scandal in this way. Rachel, you don't have to make any
At the hospital, Millie was waiting for the elevator when she suddenly bumped into Logan and Harriet. Their expressions immediately turned somber upon seeing her.Millie thought it was best to let bygones be bygones. As long as the Lowells didn't cause trouble for her again, she didn't want to hold a grudge. Harriet, feeling somewhat ashamed, turned away. She couldn't face Millie at all. Without speaking to either of them, Millie entered the elevator. Once she was gone, Logan said, "Mom, we've learned our lesson. Let's not target Millie anymore."Harriet let out a deep sigh, regret washing over her. She had indeed acted too rashly. "Logan, I'm really worried about your sister." Harriet was truly frustrated. A myriad of emotions flickered across Logan's face. Hearing Joanna's name brought Millie to mind. …Millie and Vanessa emerged together, both wearing white coats. Millie then expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Dr. Xander. I might have been left hanging all night if it
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