Millie strongly disliked persistent buyers. She had already stated she didn't want to sell. She hung up the phone, making her message clear to Marvin.Soon after, Millie returned to the research lab, where the security guard at the entrance stopped her. "Ms. Caldwell.""What is it?" Millie asked as she approached.The security guard handed Millie a bouquet. "A gentleman sent you these, Ms. Cadlwell."She was speechless. The bouquet was filled with pink roses. Winter had set in, bringing a chill that lingered in the air, and the snow remained untouched on the ground. The pink roses seemed to shiver in the cold, yet their beauty shone through. Millie could smell their fragrance from a distance. If he weren't the one who sent the bouquet, she would have taken it and displayed it in a vase."These flowers are absolutely stunning," the security guard couldn't help but remark.Millie accepted the flower, expressed her gratitude, and then discarded it in the trash can. Shortly after,
Millie could sense Sean's sincerity and seriousness from his text, even though he was not by her side. He mentioned sending pink roses for the first snowfall of winter, hoping to make her happy. This thoughtful gesture truly moved her.Sean was truly remarkable. Yet, she met him at the wrong time. Upon reflection, she realized that each of the men she met was superior to Winston. She couldn't understand what drew her to Winston at the time or why she was so determined to marry him.Millie: "Sean, I truly appreciate the flowers. Let me take you out for a meal soon."Sean: "Why not tonight? I'll be available after I finish my work this afternoon."Millie chuckled, impressed by Sean's decisiveness. He truly was a man of action, ready to seize any chances without a moment's pause. He never let an opportunity slip by.Millie: "Sure."She had discarded Sean's flowers, which felt like rejecting his sincerity. Guilt washed over her, prompting the desire to treat him to a meal as a gest
Sean was confused by Millie's sudden apology after he simply mentioned the flowers. At that moment, he worried about saying anything further.Millie was embarrassed. "Sean, I thought Winston sent the flowers, so I only glanced at them, and…"She rubbed her palms and touched her nose, feeling overwhelmed by embarrassment.Sean waited for Millie to explain. "And? Did you misunderstand that Winston sent it?"Millie looked at Sean seriously and confessed, "And I threw it away."Sean was silent, thinking of something worse like Millie thanking Winston. However, he never anticipated that it would be discarded. This turn of events caught him off guard as well."Did you really throw away the bouquet just because Winston sent it to you?" Sean asked Millie hesitantly, worried that he might have upset her, leading to her discarding the flowers he had given her.Millie nodded seriously. Indeed, she discarded it because it was a gift from Winston.Sean paused for two seconds before asking,
"Of course, I hope you don't mind me taking you to a restaurant like this," Sean remarked.Millie shook her head quickly. She didn't mind this place at all. It was great. She used to come here with her university friends.The chilly air outside the window sharply contrasted with the cozy warmth inside. Laughter and lively conversations filled the space, creating a relaxed ambiance. As Millie sipped her soft drink alongside the barbecue, she felt all the fatigue from the day melt away. This atmosphere was undeniably soothing.This was due to her coming with Sean. If it had been Winston, it would have been a different story. He would never indulge in barbecue or street food with her. Instead, he would have scoffed at her choice and questioned what was appealing about such unhealthy food.Millie gazed at Sean seriously. She questioned whether love or getting along was more important in a relationship. Wasn't love based on both people being willing to change for each other to improve
The peaceful dinner was interrupted by a commotion outside.Someone gasped, "Is that him? Why would he show up at a place like this?""You must have gotten the wrong man. He's too busy to dine in, not to mention that he won't ever choose to dine at a humble place like this.'Millie took a sip of the water, her eyes fixed on the door. Everyone in the restaurant craned their necks to check out the VIP who had arrived.Millie was about to look away when someone gasped, "Wow, is that Winston Greer for real?"Taken aback, she looked up and spotted Winston entering the place with Ivory.A look of surprise flashed across Sean's face when he saw Winston with Ivory. Why were they together? Was it for a business meeting?Winston didn't have a penchant to dine in such a hole-in-the-wall place. Could it be Ivory who preferred to dine here?Ivory and Winston chatted and laughed merrily as the waiter led them to their dining room on another floor. Millie watched the two of them calmly, only
A surprised look crossed Eli's face. He held the door and paused for a second before nodding at her as a greeting.He hurried up the stairs with a gift box in his hand.Millie quickly looked away. She wondered if Eli would notify Winston about her presence when he delivered the gift box.She felt nervous at the possibility of Winston coming down to greet her, but she calmed down when she remembered he was with Ivory. He couldn't possibly leave Ivory behind to greet her."Are you free this weekend? Do you want to go to this newly opened ski resort nearby?" Sean asked.She looked up at him. Did he suggest skiing?"Yes." She loved skiing, but Rachel was too busy to go with her, and Marvin couldn't ski. She rarely went skiing and jumped at the opportunity when invited to ski."How about Saturday?" he suggested.She shook her head. "I'm busy on Saturday. Let's do Sunday."She wanted to check out that diamond jewelry set at Aurora Jewels' event on Saturday."Sure. Anything you say.
"Never mind." Sean motioned at Millie to hold back."Why is he like this?" she questioned.Frowning, he explained, "He did this to you on purpose, which I'm sure you know. If you meet him up there, you'll be walking into his trap."Still, Millie couldn't get over the bitterness. Why did she have to eat the desserts Winston paid for? Would she have to stay if she declined to eat it? His behavior was that of a bully."Get these desserts out of my sight," she snapped at the waiter.The waiter and his colleagues exchanged looks. None was ready to budge.Millie's frustration was evident in her actions. Initially pointing at the desserts, her hand slowly curled into a fist. She stopped Sean from taking the desserts away.She wouldn't have this. Since the waitstaff would only take Winston's orders, she snatched the plate of dessert from Sean and went up the stairs before he could do anything.Sean tried to tag along. She turned and warned him, "Sean, just stay there if you're thinki
Though Millie felt apologetic for creating the mess, she believed Winston was responsible for cleaning it up.After she said what she wanted to say, she began to leave. However, Winston grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him.The strength of his grip caused a sharp pain. She inhaled sharply.He turned to address Ivory in an annoyed tone, "You head back for now. We'll discuss the agreement sometime later."Ivory nodded furiously. Knowing that she shouldn't stay a second longer, she escaped without saying a word.After the door closed, Millie struggled in Winston's grip. She was aware that his eruption was the culmination of days of tolerating her behavior.He was truly pissed.However, Millie didn't fear him. She wanted him to understand that he too pissed her off by crossing her boundaries."Millie Caldwell, that's very bold of you." He glowered at Millie and pulled her closer. He pinned her by the waist, forcing her body to press against his.They were very close to each
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