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
Millie looked around and noticed several employees already watching them. Not wanting to be the center of attention, she turned to Sean and said, "I'll join you for the movie. Let's go."Then, Millie quickly walked toward him.Observing this, Winston grew increasingly anxious. His tone conveyed a sense of urgency. "It's only fair that everything should be done on a first-come, first-served basis. After all, I was the first one here!"Sean gazed at him and asked, "What exactly are you referring to? The sequence of our arrival? But I invited Millie last night.""Did you two really promise to go out last night?" Winston was slightly stunned.Millie had been eating all night and then in his car. Winston paused, wondering when Sean had texted her. Was it while she was on her way back? It was so late, yet Sean, the scoundrel, was still texting Millie?Winston glared at Sean furiously. He pondered whether this scoundrel was truly serious about challenging him.Millie sensed the tension
"Thank you." Millie smiled faintly at Winston. "Share your QR code with me. I'll Venmo you.""It's my treat," he replied.She quickly declined his offer. "I can afford a cup of soft drink. You don't have to.""Millie, do you have to be so defensive? It's just a cup of soft drink like you said." Feeling frustrated, he remarked, "We could remain friends if we can't go back to lovers. Why do you have to make me an enemy?""Gosh, I wished we could be enemies," she said with a smile as he choked on his words.She repeated herself once more, "Show me your receipt."She was very insistent on paying him back.Sean, who passed by, chimed in, "Hold onto your tickets. It's time to enter."She nodded at him. Since Winston refused to share his QR code, Millie had no choice but to order a new drink."Hi, I would like to order the exact same drink for him," she said to the staff.After putting in the order, she left with Sean, leaving Winston fuming on the spot. He had even thought of sto
Sean knew very well that work could wait. It wasn't every day he could enjoy a movie with Millie. He studied her face with much sincerity and truly wanted to enjoy a movie with her.Something changed in her heart. Smiling, she said, "Thank you, Sean." She thanked him for putting her first."What for?" He was puzzled."Thank you for making tonight more than just a movie night." That was also a reflection of their solid friendship.He broke into a smile. "Can I ask you a question?"She nodded at him."Has Winston ever gone to the movies with you?" he asked with an arched brow.The screen lit up at the moment, illuminating their faces. Staring at him, she answered, "We watched movies a few times in college.""And who suggested the date?" Sean wondered."Me, of course. No way an arrogant man like him would suggest a movie date," she said with a smile before taking a sip of her drink.Suddenly, she doubted her assumption. "That's not entirely correct. He probably just wasn't t
Staring at Sean, Millie gave his question some serious thought. Finally, she replied, "That worry had never crossed my mind."And she wasn't lying.Prior to her marriage to Winston, she was the leader of M Base who led her men to fight their way out of threats. She couldn't fathom how a man covered in blood would be a threat.However, the question got her thinking. What was her greatest fear in this life?Before this, she would have feared losing Winston's affection. She feared he would refuse to marry her.Now, the well-being of her family and her happiness preceded anything else. She had to suffer to learn her lesson."Yeah. You weren't afraid of me. That makes me fall for you more," he whispered into her ear.She laughed. "But Sean, I'm the ex-wife of your friend.""So what?""Do you not care about your friendship anymore?" She sounded curious."Friendship and romance can coexist," he answered.However, Millie held a different opinion. If Sean planned to court her, he sho
Even the hilarious parts of the movie failed to get laughter out of Millie. The drink in her hand tasted like nothing. She felt oddly frustrated.She glanced behind her and saw Winston's eyes on her. He wasn't there to watch the movie but to keep tabs on her.What a weirdo!In the past, she had dreamed of going to the movies with him. Every single time, he declined her invitation on the grounds that he was busy, or that he didn't like to watch movies.Now, he tailed her into the theater when she no longer wanted to go to the movies with him.She tried to divert her attention from Winston, but his fiery gaze made her feel uneasy. So, she got up and left the theater hall."Hey, Millie." Seeing that, Sean hurried after her. Winston had no choice but to follow suit after both of them left.The two men stood on each side of the elevator doors. The sight of them irked her."Why are the two of you acting like some guardian?" She was extremely frustrated."Millie, we were interrupted
Winston admitted defeat the moment Millie stopped the doors and invited Sean into the elevator.He felt like a joke—a clown who tried to get Millie's attention when she didn't even care for him in the first place.Staring at her side profile, he watched as she pressed the elevator button. For a moment, he wanted to ask her if she'd do the same for him if he were the one outside the elevator.But he didn't need to ask. Deep down, he knew very well that she wouldn't.The moment Sean joined them in the elevator, Winston smiled helplessly. Millie ignored him.He finally got a taste of his own medicine. Millie had endured the same bitterness and helplessness many times in their marriage, especially when Joanna was around.Therefore, he had no right to protest. He could only take it quietly."Let's at least have dinner after that failed movie." Sean let out a wistful sigh.Millie refused, "I'm not going. I'll head home; I'm tired."She couldn't be bothered to be an object that the t
Winston stared at Sean flatly. "Sean Stringer, do not challenge me.""What if I do? Hit me! I'll tell Millie the next day that you—" Winston grabbed him by the collar and threw a punch in his face, causing Sean's face to turn sideward from the impact.He lifted Sean and pressed the latter against the car. His eyes glinted with iciness as though he could take Sean's life right there.As for Sean, he tasted blood in his mouth. He drew a sharp breath from the excruciating pain in the corners of his lips.He returned the stare, clenching his jaw.Winston's expression slowly softened when he realized ruining a friendship over a woman wasn't worth it. He lifted Sean by the collar and said to him, "Get into the car.""Where are we going?" Sean looked confused.Winston opened the door while texting Jake. "Come to the bar ASAP."…The men and women in the dim bar pressed their bodies against each other, enjoying themselves thoroughly. Jake stood by a booth seat with a glass of alcoho
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