Millie requested Drew to send the photo of this man immediately.Drew reported, "I tracked him outside the hospital, and he got into a taxi. However, once he reached the city, I lost track of him. Boss, I've tried my best." Millie asked, "Can you see his face?""No. This man possesses remarkable anti-reconnaissance skills. He has never revealed his face. But his physique suggests he is quite robust and muscular. He appears to be someone capable of fighting, likely with a military background."After a brief pause, Millie instructed, "Please inform Elliott to rejoin the team and have him look into this man. Locate him for me as quickly as you can."After the call, Millie turned and saw Winston behind her. She clenched her phone and stepped back. She just quietly looked at him.Winston asked with a frown, "Who are you?"Millie chuckled. "What sort of question is that, Mr. Greer? Are you not aware of who I am? I am who I am."Winston shook his head. "Millie, do you have some other
Millie's eyes gleamed with disdain as she contemplated how he could possibly sense her concern for him. She was actually more concerned about her own safety than anything else.Millie glared at him and exclaimed, "Fine, fine! If you're not feeling tired, then just take me to the research lab. When did you start enjoying playing chauffeur for everyone?"Winston appreciated Millie's nagging, finding it sweet. He wished she would nag him more to feel closer to her. He entered the elevator, and his mood brightened instantly.Millie couldn't help but scold him, "Your grandmother is in the hospital, yet you don't care. Instead, you focus on me. Winston, you never get your priorities straight.""You and Grandma are both important. She's fine, so I chose to drive you back. There's no need to worry. But even if I decided to stay at the hospital to care for her, I know you also wouldn't complain. Right, Millie?"Millie watched him silently as the elevator numbers decreased. She realized Win
Millie lowered her head. "Alright, let's have a light meal."Sean found pleasure in her reply. "Great! I'll come by to pick you up in the evening.""No worries, I'll drive there. Just give me the address." Millie gathered her hair and glanced at Winston once more.At that moment, both of them locked eyes at the same time. Millie offered a warm smile as a greeting to Winston.Winston found himself at a loss for words, perceiving her actions as a direct provocation. Her lack of self-awareness was evident as she smiled at him and chatted with another man on the phone.Winston appeared indifferent, contemplating pulling the car over to the side of the road to confront her. However, reflecting on what she said earlier, he realized it would be unreasonable to do so.After Millie ended the call, Winston couldn't resist asking, "Was that Sean?"Millie answered honestly, "Yes. He mentioned a restaurant with great food and asked if I wanted to join him.""You agreed," Winston said.Mill
Millie arrived at the research lab to find Natalie waiting at the door. She cast an indifferent glance in Natalie's direction.Natalie stopped her. "Is there anything you'd like to tell me?"Millie chuckled. "What exactly do you want me to share? Should I update you on my schedule? Do you want to know who I've been meeting?"Natalie glared at Millie, seething with anger. She was baffled as to why Millie hadn't bothered to explain anything about Butterfly. She felt displeased. After all, she had explicitly brought up Butterfly in their previous conversations. Not only was Millie aware of Butterfly, but she also knew her personally. And yet, Millie continued to feign ignorance and mock her. It was utterly despicable."Millie, why didn't you tell me you knew Butterfly?" Natalie felt embarrassed at the jewelry exhibition.Millie smiled. "I not only know Butterfly, but I'm also acquainted with Milla. I have quite the network. Do you want me to report all of them to you?"Natalie fro
Natalie reached out to her once more, inquiring about Butterfly. Millie understood her fondness for Butterfly, so she didn't fault Natalie for it. However, if Natalie continued to provoke her, Millie wouldn't hesitate to respond harshly.Natalie: "I still can't believe it. Do you genuinely know Butterfly, or were you just saying it to avoid being humiliated?"Millie: "Is that necessary? Do you think I value my pride as much as you do?"Millie pondered for a moment and then sent another message. "Once I have her comeback design, I'll share it with you, kiddo."Upon seeing the word "kiddo," Natalie visibly lost her composure. It seemed that, in Millie's perception, she was merely immature.Millie switched off her phone and heard Sean inquire, "Are you happy with your job? I've heard someone always seems to be against you.”Millie looked up at him, curious about how he learned this. She tilted her head and looked at him curiously. "Mr. Stringer, do you have someone secretly monitori
Millie coughed softly, almost choking on the water. She couldn't help but wonder why everyone around her had been talking about Butterfly lately. While they seemed fascinated, she was beginning to feel weary of the constant mention.Sean noticed Millie coughing and promptly offered her a tissue. Millie simply shook her head and sniffled. She asked, "Is Butterfly that talented? Why does everyone want to hire her one after another?"Sean cleared his throat and said, "Aren't you Butterfly's friend? I've heard the news about you two."He was somewhat awkward, leaving Millie at a loss for words. She now understood why Sean had invited her to dinner and sent her flowers."Mr. Stringer, so?" Millie tilted her head, eager for Sean to get to the point.Sean was stunned. He couldn't quite understand how the conversation had shifted to Butterfly. He immediately explained, "Millie, I didn't invite you to dinner to get you to contact Butterfly for me. I'm already in touch with her."He was
Millie burst out laughing as she thought Sean was becoming even more adorable.As Millie prepared to enjoy her steak, her attention was suddenly drawn to someone she recognized sitting nearby. Noticing her dazed expression, Sean turned to follow her gaze. To his astonishment, there sat Winston and Jake.Millie couldn't help but wonder whether Winston had come here intentionally. After all, he was right by her side while she spoke to Sean on the phone earlier that day.Winston and Jake were both taken aback. Jake, in particular, wasn't only shocked but utterly speechless. He couldn't believe he was witnessing such a shocking scene again. It was incredibly challenging for him to be caught in the middle of two close friends.Millie silently chewed her steak while calmly looking at Winston. He glanced back at her silently, then approached them.Noticing that Winston and Jake had arrived together, Sean recognized there was no longer a reason for him to remain seated. He stood up to gre
Winston took a sip of water. His eyes quietly read Millie, who looked uninterested as she ate her food. He was well aware of her close relationship with Butterfly, but he had no idea how that came to be.Feeling uneasy under his stare, she put aside her utensils and said quietly, "I need to use the restroom. Please continue without me."She got up quickly and stole occasional glances at her phone. The three of them stared at her until she vanished from their sight. Jake let out a sigh. "Hey, Win, let's leave. I'll go to the bar with you if you want to grab a drink."He was reluctant to see two of his friends fighting over a woman. More importantly, he felt uncomfortable being sandwiched between them.He couldn't justify speaking up for Winston. After all, Winston had truly hurt Millie's feelings with his past actions. Besides, she had no feelings for him now.However, he couldn't bring himself to side with Sean, either. He objected to Sean's decision to pursue a friend's ex-wife
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