"Damien is a capable businessman from Gestistan." Winston intentionally mentioned Gestistan.Nicole nodded before falling silent once again.Winston felt weird, but he didn't question it. Nicole seldom shared her personal matters with their family. While she didn't have a great relationship with the Greers, she got along well with Winston. Plus, Nicole normally worked in Gestistan. This time, she returned for a vacation."Finish your meal, then bring me back to the hotel," she instructed.Winston nodded and turned his gaze back to Millie, curious about their table's topic of conversation. Suddenly, Millie's expression grew serious when Natalie joined in the conversation.Natalie held Damien's arm and said aggrievedly, "Uncle Damien, I just want to dive into the research right away. Am I wrong? Please, take a stand for me."Before Damien could say anything, Millie refused directly. "Absolutely not.""Listen to Millie, Nat," Damien said.Natalie was puzzled by Damien's trust in
All of a sudden, she noticed a subtle increase in warmth. Then, she felt the weight of something being placed on her shoulders. Millie glanced upward and saw that Winston had placed his trench coat on her.Observing Winston once more, he was dressed in a thin suit. On the chilly night, he must have been feeling the cold after removing his coat. However, Millie wasn't inclined to sympathize with him. She had no desire to endure discomfort. If someone were to offer her a coat, she would graciously accept it. She planned to return the coat to him when the cab arrived. Nonetheless, she was truly freezing. The November weather was at its worst during the morning and evening.Winston felt a brief sense of relief when Millie didn't reject him. This was a positive beginning. He said in a deep voice, "I have my car close by. I'll drive you home instead. No need to call for a cab." "No need, my cab is already on its way," Millie replied.Winston felt annoyed. "How much longer will you k
Those tricks were truly repulsive."Winston, stop wasting your time. I'll never make the same mistake to reconcile with you. Save your affection for someone else," Millie declared before removing the coat and tossing it back to Winston.She wasn't interested in his coat at all. However, she figured it was better to have something than nothing. After that, Millie quickly made her way to the front of the car and headed toward the bus stop.Before Millie could leave, he grabbed her wrist and lifted her. She felt a little unsteady, and when she looked up, she realized she was already being held by Winston.He frowned and whispered, "Millie, I'm sorry." Then, he carried her to the car.Millie fumed with frustration. "Winston, have you got any idea what respect means?"She had repeatedly warned him against it. She couldn't understand why he continuously insisted on being so domineering.He replied, "No idea. I just know I can't let you go back alone so late.""It's only a little past
Upon hearing her words, Winston's heart ached, and he felt overwhelmed by his helplessness. He looked at Millie, his eyes growing darker. Over the past three years, he had seen Millie's eyes change from full of love to full of hate.Winston's voice was filled with profound guilt as he frowned. "Millie, I regret what I did. Please, tell me how I can make things right, so you can forgive me and come back to me!"He was severely mistaken."No matter how much you pester me, there's absolutely no chance for us, Winston," Millie stated firmly."Can you try to understand me? Joanna said she saved me, so I—""You keep repeating yourself, but have you even thought about whether I want to hear it or not?" She cut him off.Millie gazed into Winston's eyes, but she found no trace of love within them. It seemed as though he was only doing and saying these things out of a sense of regret at the thought of losing her. He should really question himself if he truly loved her."You repeatedly men
As Millie closed the car door, Winston glanced up at her. The cold wind tousled her hair as she gazed at him one final time. With a bitter smile, she lowered her head. Then, the door shut with a resounding thud, as if severing all ties between them. He realized he could never be close to her, not now or ever.Millie tried to flag down a cab by the roadside, but none were willing to stop. They were either occupied or merely driving past. When she tried to request a cab on her app, she couldn't find any available.Winston watched her walk away in the biting cold wind and laughed at himself. He tilted his head, propped his forehead with one hand, and recalled what Millie had said earlier. "You knew how much I loved you back then. How could I stand by and do nothing when you were kidnapped?"Winston, you don't get what love is."You don't understand your true desires, which is why you believe you can settle for your marriage partner. And I'm the person you settle for."Before you
Millie clicked on the message and was greeted by an adorable emoji. It was a message from Sean. "Are you free for a movie tomorrow?"Millie knew that Sean liked her. However, she wasn't interested in a romantic relationship at the moment, so she turned him down. "I'm quite busy.""Are you busy? Or are you trying to avoid me?"Millie thought he was quite clever and knew she was avoiding him.Sean texted again, "Let's just watch a movie. It's not a big deal. I recently got back, and you're the only female friend I have. It would be kind of strange for me to go watch a movie with Jake and Win, don't you think?"He couldn't go with Jake and Winston, so he decided to invite her. Winston would be furious if he found out. Millie smiled. "You should go with Jack. He'll be happy to go with you."The reason she said so was because Jake had been extremely idle lately. In the afternoon, Rachel shared a screenshot of a chat with Millie. The chat contained her conversation with Jake. He aske
"Win, aren't you regretting it too soon? How long has it been since your divorce?" Selma's tone was clearly accusatory and playful.Winston could feel it. He was fully aware that Selma held him responsible. Following his divorce from Millie, his family was pretty upset. In fact, Selma had been ignoring him for a long time."Grandma, please stop mocking me," Winston said, turning his head away to avoid facing Selma.Selma sneered. "I'm glad that you see through my mockery. It seems Joanna didn't completely deceive you after all!"Selma's comment was sharp and biting. Winston was already feeling quite emotional, and her words felt like a stab to him. He exclaimed, "Grandma!"He came here to seek comfort and express his thoughts, not to be scolded. He stood up and was about to leave.Selma snorted. "Go ahead. Don't visit me again after you leave!"Winston paused. Selma had offered him a way out, so he had to accept it. The room was bathed in soft, dim light, and the glow of the TV
Winston wore a black suit and trench coat. The smoke from his cigarette floated in the wind. Young women passing by glanced at him, then quickly looked away and walked off. Millie frowned. At that instant, he glanced up and locked eyes with her. Thus, Millie decided to turn back and return to the research lab to continue reviewing the documents."Millie," Winston called out.She ignored him and kept walking."I'll wait for you," he added.Millie had no choice but to stop. She turned and looked at Winston. She was convinced that he would be standing here, waiting for her.She was annoyed. "You're disrupting my life."I'm sorry." He apologized.Millie found it amusing how shameless he had become. He used to never apologize, but now he just couldn't stop saying sorry, regardless of the situation. Just as Millie was about to scold him, Sean approached. Sean was slightly surprised that Winston was there as well. "Win, you're here too."Millie was helpless. It was another intense
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