Chapter 3

Winston refused to believe it, so he searched every possible place for Millie.

He had searched through the backyard, the study, and even the home theater. However, Millie was still nowhere to be seen, and even her belongings were no longer around.

On the bookshelf in the study, Millie's frequently read medical books had also been completely cleared out.

He hardly ever returned to the villa. With Millie gone, the place felt even more desolate.

Winston made his way downstairs with heavy steps and noticed the empty space behind the couch. When he saw the damaged painting thrown into the trash can, his breath hitched.

After they got married, Millie always pestered him to go shopping with her. Since he was always busy with work and somewhat disliked her, he kept making excuses to get out of it.

Winston suddenly recalled that moment when it was Millie's birthday. She had come to the company and asked, "Win, can you spend my birthday with me? If you are very busy, half an hour is fine."

He had felt sorry for her, so he agreed to spend her birthday with her.

He had assumed that she would ask him to buy her gifts, accompany her for a meal, or even make some ridiculous demands.

Yet, all she wanted was for him to accompany her. She even tentatively asked her, "Win, can I hold your hand?"

She knew that he was a very busy man, so she didn't want to drag him out for too long. She went to an arts and crafts store and grabbed a painting set that she wanted to do with him.

At that time, Winston found it rather childish, so he merely stood by and watched. Along the way, he even took several calls from Joanna.

Despite that, Millie remained silent about it. After they returned home, she hung the painting in the living room and maintained a very cheerful demeanor.

Since then, she no longer asked him to accompany her, nor did she celebrate her birthday with him again.

Winston was about to reach for it when he caught a glimpse of the divorce papers on the coffee table.

He immediately furrowed his brows. On the signature section of the paper, he saw both his and her names on it.

Winston swallowed hard as he stared at it in disbelief.

Did Millie actually agree to the divorce?

When his phone suddenly rang, Winston immediately opened it, thinking that it was Millie. Yet, he saw that it was only a message from his family.

"Win, your grandmother's 70th birthday celebration is approaching. She's all about keeping up appearances, so she's going all out this time. All of the invitations have just been sent out.

"Moreover, she has specifically stated that you and Mills must attend on time, or you'll bear the consequences!"

Winston suddenly felt frustrated.

It couldn't have come at a worse time.

…

Meanwhile, the Caldwells were all gathered at Caldwell Villa at Yerwick City.

Arthur was dressed in an immaculate suit as he raised his glass at the dining table and said with a smile, "Congratulations to Mills on breaking free from the shackles of misery!"

"Since you've returned, why not take over the company? I'm looking into retiring after all," Terrence said playfully as he begged Millie to take over the billion-dollar family fortune.

Layla immediately spoke up, "Don't even think about that, Mills. You have to keep accompanying me to the hospital to learn from me! Otherwise, it would be such a waste of your exceptional medical skills!"

Millie's mother, Julia Webster, immediately chimed in with a radiant smile on her face, "Why don't you learn jewelry design from me, Mills?"

Millie tightly gripped her fork as she gazed at the plate before her that was filled with her favorite food.

As she glanced at the people around the dining table, she suddenly felt a wave of sadness wash over her.

Everyone was still the same as she remembered. They were still so full of life and love. There was truly no place like home.

Despite all the pain she had put them through, they never once brought it up.

It finally dawned on her that only her family would unconditionally love her for who she was.

Millie looked back on her actions and realized that she had been immature and thoughtless.

She made a promise to herself to never again hurt those who cared for her for the sake of someone who didn't love her.

"Mills should continue her studies in medicine!"

"No! She should go into business instead!"

"She should go into jewelry design instead!"

All of a sudden, a disagreement broke out among those three people. Millie and Arthur looked at each other, completely dumbfounded.

"What will it be, Mills?" All three of them asked in unison.

Millie's smile was strained and her heart was pounding in her chest—it was simply too nerve-wracking!

Millie bit her lips as she tightly gripped the fork in her hand. There was no winning in this situation!

Suddenly, the sound of a motorcycle engine reverberated outside the villa. Millie grinned, knowing that her best friend Rachel had come to pick her up.

After wiping her mouth, she said, "I'm going to have some fun first. We'll discuss this once I come back!"

After saying that, Millie quickly ran off, leaving the people at the table behind arguing furiously, their faces flushed with anger.

Although inheriting a fortune and saving lives were both attractive possibilities, Millie ultimately decided that happiness was her top priority at that moment.

She wanted to make up for the three years of youth she had wasted!

…

Meanwhile, at Siren Club, the music was ear-splitting, and spotlights illuminated the center of the dance floor.

Millie wore a red mini skirt that hugged her curves, paired with four-inch high heels that showed off her long, slender legs.

She sported heavy makeup today, her curly hair tumbling down her back. Her eyes were absolutely captivating—the kind that could leave one speechless.

As the spotlight hit her, it revealed the stunning butterfly tattoo on her back. It was so gorgeous that it was almost begging to be kissed.

Rachel's heart ached for Millie as she looked at her.

She knew Millie better than anyone, and she could see right through her act. After all, they were childhood friends.

Although Millie was in a lot of pain, she had brought it all on herself. Since she couldn't confide anyone about it, she could only turn to alcohol to ease her pain.

Besides, no one truly loved Winston more than Millie did.

Would Winston truly not regret losing Millie?

In the crowd, countless men's eyes greedily ogled Millie. They gulped, their eyes glued to her as they said, "Ms. Caldwell is truly a sight to behold!"

"Winston is lucky to have such a beautiful wife!"

When the music stopped intermittently, Millie tossed the empty bottle onto the couch below the stage. She was a little unsteady on her feet when she suddenly heard someone mention Winston's name.

She swept her gaze over the crowd and said with a hint of disdain, "We're having such a good time! Don't you think it's a buzzkill to bring up Winston?

"I've bought out the place tonight! If anyone mentions Winston again, get the hell out of here!"

Everyone erupted into cheers, unanimously expressing their support for Millie.

No one noticed that in an inconspicuous corner, a certain man was so enraged that nearly crushed the wine glass in his hand.

Jake burst into laughter and said, "Winston, it appears your wife has been enjoying herself since she filed for a divorce.

"I never realized your wife had a tattoo before. That's pretty neat!"

Jake's gaze remained fixed on Millie as he continually addressed her as Winston's wife.

Although Winston remained silent, he was getting increasingly annoyed as he listened.

Over the past three years of their marriage, she had always dressed conservatively and elegantly, whether in his presence or at important events. She had never worn anything like this before.

Moreover, he didn't even know that Millie had a tattoo on her back.

Jake's eyes gleamed with a hint of admiration as he said, "Ms. Caldwell is quite honest about her feelings, I'll give her that."

Winston remained silent as he drank his wine with a cold expression.

He was pretty sure that these were nothing more than Millie's petty antics. She would definitely be crawling back to him in less than three days.

Winston stole a glance at Millie, but his eyes grew cold in a flash.

Millie was leaning against Nathan Lynch's arms as she whispered something into his ear. She suddenly lowered her gaze and chuckled softly, her expression coy and inviting.

She accepted all the drinks offered to her, and her every gesture, be it a frown or a smile, was very alluring.

Winston cleared his throat uncomfortably as he watched Millie lean her entire body against Nathan.

All of a sudden, there was a clamor around, and their voices were unpleasantly loud.

"Ms. Caldwell and Mr. Lynch are truly a match made in heaven!"

"Mr. Lynch, it seems like they're saying we're a match made in heaven. Are you perhaps married?" Millie swirled the wine in her glass, her eyes narrowed slightly as she asked that. It was obvious that she was a little tipsy.

Nathan was so flustered by the flirting that he blurted out, "I'm single. Are you perhaps interested?"

"Why not? I'm single too, you know," Millie said, with a faint smile gracing her lips.

When Millie said that, Winston downed a glass of wine.

He tried to act like he didn't care. Yet, for some reason, he was uncharacteristically on edge that day. He couldn't take his eyes off Millie.

"How about you and Win—"

Millie immediately put her finger to Nathan's lips. "Stop bringing up that man. It's such a buzzkill."

Winston's grip on the glass tightened as he felt a wave of anger wash over him.

Did she just say he was a buzzkill?

Despite her constant declarations of love for him, she was now flirting with other men behind his back.

It wasn't as if she was forced to marry him back then, right?

Millie seductively licked her lips as she unbuttoned Nathan's shirt. "Are you up for something even more exciting?"

Nathan was intrigued. "What is it?"

Millie said directly, "Sleep with me."

As the atmosphere grew more ambiguous, exclamations erupted from the crowd in the club as they joined in the excitement.

Winston's expression immediately turned grim.

Jake immediately felt the overwhelming pressure emanating from the person beside him.

Nathan grinned and said, "Ms. Caldwell, I'll really take your word for it."

Millie said with a smirk, "Do I look like I'm joking?"

Nathan immediately stood up from the couch. As he fixed his gaze on Millie, he cleared his throat and reached out to her, saying, "Shall we go then?"

Jake's eyes widened in shock. "Winston, your wife—"

However, when Jake turned around, Winston was no longer beside him.

Suddenly, he heard a woman's shrill scream from the crowd. "Winston!"

Winston grabbed Millie's wrist and pulled her up, then scowled at Nathan with a menacing expression.

After that, he immediately dragged Millie toward the washroom.

Rachel sat up from the couch and was stunned when she saw Winston.

What was Winston doing here?