Millie's sobs grew more frantic. It was as if she intended to cry out all the sorrow she had ever felt.This wasn't just an ordinary jewelry box. It held all her dreams and misguided hopes about marriage. The pain from her setback was unbearable. She had given her all to Winston, so why had he made her suffer such a devastating defeat? If it was because he thought she hadn't been the one to save him, it made even less sense to her.Terrence, drunk and slumped on the sofa, heard Millie's cries and staggered over. At that moment, Julia was holding her daughter.Though Terrence had no idea what had happened, he knelt beside them and awkwardly pulled both women into his embrace. "T-This family… will never fall apart… I-I'm here…" His breath stank of alcohol, and he spoke with a slur, his eyes closed. Millie wrapped her arms around her parents. She silently vowed that after this, she wouldn't cry anymore. It was time for everything to end. Julia sniffled as she tenderly patted Mi
Millie bolted upright and dashed to the bathroom. The moment she saw herself in the mirror, she froze in shock. Her eyes were red and puffy, as if she'd been in a brawl. Swallowing hard, she realized her throat was sore too. Millie then coughed lightly and discovered her voice had turned raspy. What had she done the previous night?Confused, she quickly called her mother. Julia answered almost immediately. "Mills, you're awake."Millie hesitated before asking softly, "Mom, did I do anything strange last night? My throat feels…"Before she could finish her sentence, Julia cut in, "Oh, don't worry about it. You were just really upset and told us how hard things have been for you these past few years. You had a bit too much to drink. You'll be fine. Just take it easy today, okay?"Millie was at a loss for words, unable to believe that she had poured her heart out to her parents the night before. For years, she had kept her struggles to herself. After all, this was the path she had
During their university days, Millie would always get Joanna lattes, her favorite drink."I didn't expect you'd agree to meet me," Joanna commented, a note of surprise in her voice. Her tone was calm, and her face betrayed no emotion. Since the incident, she seemed utterly drained, as if all her vitality had been sapped away.Millie took a sip of her coffee and glanced up with a smile. "So you're aware you're not exactly popular, huh?" Joanna didn't respond. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Millie with an intensity that seemed almost like she was trying to peer into her soul. She even considered where she might strike if she had a knife in her hand."Quit staring. We've been looking at each other for years," said Millie. She then set her coffee down with a soft clink. Joanna immediately averted her gaze. "What do you want to say?" Millie asked. Was Joanna thinking of apologizing? Even if she did, Millie wouldn't forgive her. Besides, Joanna wasn't the type to apologize.Joa
"Joanna, why do you keep yelling at me? What's wrong with you?" Millie asked, feeling agitated. She believed she was the one who had been consistently treated unfairly over the years."You're the one who stole my life, and now you're yelling at me?" Millie exclaimed, slamming the table.Joanna wasn't the only one who knew how to slam the table. Millie could do it too. And even now, Joanna still dared to talk to her in a condescending tone. It was an act of kindness on Millie's part that she had never sought revenge. Did Joanna really think Millie would let her off the hook? Both Winston and Joanna deserved to be scolded, and Millie wouldn't let either of them get away. Joanna was shocked when Millie slammed the table. Joanna was visibly upset, gasping for breath, and her face turned red.Millie continued talking once she noticed that Joanna had calmed down a bit. "I haven't had the chance to settle the score with you, yet you keep threatening me? "How many accusations have you
"Because I know you're not easy to deal with. If I don't cause trouble for you, you'll come to me too," Joanna said derisively, lowering her head and fiddling with her fingers. So, it was better to take the lead.Millie clenched her fist and asked, "Shouldn't I come to you? You always caused problems for me, even when I didn't do anything to you."Throughout her three-year marriage with Winston, she endured relentless bullying from Joanna."Millie, I expect you to sever all ties with Winston," Joanna declared with an icy tone.Millie was perplexed. "You should seek Winston to discuss these matters, not me." Interestingly, now it was Winston who was actively looking for her."Have I not made every effort to see him? He's deliberately ignoring me! Millie, when have I ever experienced such grievance?" Joanna asked with fluctuating emotions.Millie looked emotionless, and there was a slight hint of wickedness in her eyes behind her sunglasses. Joanna didn't like being wronged, but
The truck was approaching fast as if the brakes had failed. Millie frowned and pressed the accelerator down, causing her car to quickly speed away. The truck appeared to anticipate her acceleration and also sped up.The engine was loud, and Marvin asked, "Boss, what's happening? Why are you driving so fast?"Millie glanced at the rearview mirror and saw the truck still following her. She didn't want to stop at the upcoming red light. Millie swiftly switched lanes, drifted, and made a skillful turn.Once again, Marvin asked, "Boss, I've pinpointed your location. Why are you driving at such a high speed? Talk to me!"Instantly, Millie grabbed her phone and checked behind her. The truck was still trailing her closely. Keeping her voice low and steady, she said, "Marvin, I'm being followed. Someone is pursuing my car. Get our team to come and fetch me."Marvin looked concerned and suggested, "Boss, take a right up ahead onto the viaduct and continue toward the outer ring. We'll be wai
As Millie spoke, she accelerated and scanned through the blacklist to find the familiar number. Without hesitation, she pressed the dial button. The call was answered almost instantly, and both of them were slightly astonished. Millie was taken aback by how quickly he responded, while Winston was pleasantly surprised that she had reached out to him."I'm currently at the mall, Millie," he replied.Millie was indifferent to his whereabouts and asked, "Are you busy? Can you meet me somewhere?""Where?" asked Winston with an excited tone, feeling very happy about Millie's invitation.Millie urged. "I'll send you the location. Hurry up and come here right away.""Okay."After the call, Millie quickly sent Marvin's location to Winston. The sports car was closing in on her, but Millie cleverly used the red light up ahead to lose them.Meanwhile, Joanna angrily hit the window in the black sports car behind and yelled, "Jeremy, you're becoming increasingly useless."Joanna's roar was
Millie spotted the black Cullinan on the outer ring, which was parked in the middle of the road with its hazard lights on, causing a blockade. Nearly ten luxury cars were also parked on both sides of the road, further obstructing it.Millie drove past the Cullinan. The cars following her were quickly surrounded by vehicles coming from both sides. Then, she hit the brakes and stopped.Marvin exited the Cullinan, wearing a black leather jacket and trousers. He chewed on a piece of candy as he looked into Millie's eyes.Millie couldn't help but laugh as she sat in the car, looking at Marvin. Despite the passing years, he still had the power to make her feel safe.With a confident expression, Marvin proudly raised his eyebrows. Then, he turned and observed the three neatly blocked cars.In the black sports car, Jeremy and Joanna exchanged a glance before deciding to step out. Jeremy confronted Marvin, whose hair glistened in silver-gray hues. "Hey! Why are you doing this?"Joanna fro
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