With that, Millie returned to her seat. At the table, Sean and Jake appeared to be engaged in a somber discussion.After she took her seat, she continued having her dinner. Winston joined them soon after, but he didn't sit. Instead, he said to Jake, "Jake, let's go."Surprised, Jake wondered if that was the end of dinner.Winston grunted. "Something came up at work. Or should I leave first?"Jake couldn't help but look at Millie. Since Winston and Millie left at the same time, he suspected that they probably had a chat.Jake, always the most observant, noted the unusual calm shown by Winston and Millie, which was an indicator of disguise.Naturally, he wouldn't stay behind to play the third wheel. Nodding, he replied, "I'll go with you."Winston gave Sean a heavy look and a nod before leaving. Sean frowned at his attitude change. What exactly did he and Millie talk about?Jake had to hurry up to catch up with Winston, who was speedwalking.Once they were gone, Sean asked Milli
Winston had never looked so troubled, not even when the company stock price tumbled. If he upset Millie, he would be hung up about it.Therefore, Jake couldn't believe Winston had let Millie go without putting up a fight.All Winston had to say was, "Pursuing someone doggedly will only make me a nuisance."The elevator doors slid open, but Winston stared into the space without exiting. Jake wondered if his friend was just spacing out and if the the exit was a symbolic gesture of hisWinston could walk back on his words if he turned back at this point. However, if he left the elevator, that might signify he had truly given up on Millie.Jake didn't remind him. The doors slid open and closed again a few times. Interestingly, no one rode the elevator during that time.Perhaps a passerby who pressed the button on the restaurant floor might have prompted Winston to regret his decision to give up on Millie.Alas, no one acted as the catalyst.Winston's head hung low, and he looked aw
Sitting up straight, Millie struggled to calm down as she stared at the text from Marvin. It all felt so surreal.Did the Lowells know the truth behind Joanna's birth? After years of doting on Joanna, would Harriet be able to bear the weight of the news?Her phone chimed again.Marvin: "Logan seems to know."Millie: "And how did you find out about that?"Marvin: "I was chatting with a friend when the Lowells were mentioned. My friend said Logan was looking for a woman. I asked him more out of curiosity, and he told me Logan knew about Joanna's background."Millie: "I can't imagine how Joanna would react to this."Marvin: "I bet she'd just go mad. Her love and pride, Winston Greer, walked away after her lies. Now, she is about to lose a family who dotes on her. She'll go crazy learning that she's been taking up the place that belongs to another woman all along."Marvin's text was suffocating to read. Millie could only imagine how Joanna would feel when she learned about the trut
It was a success! Millie transferred the data to her tablet to show Layla at home. After making a call, she learned that Layla was at the hospital for a follow-up consultation.She drove to the hospital. Now that they had extracted the Aspher essence with 88% purity, they could finally make advances in their research project, which would be done immediately. They were one step closer to successfully producing SH2N. Millie called Damien to share the good news while driving to the hospital. Damien was excited to learn about the progress. He too said he'd visit Layla at the hospital and take the chance to meet with Millie. Millie agreed to that. She hung up when she entered the elevator. Before the doors closed, a hand slid through the gap. She heard a voice. "Sorry! Please wait for me."Millie looked up and saw Logan. He was taken aback after bumping into Millie, yet all he did was offer a curt nod without a word. He joined her in the elevator, standing side-by-side.Millie sc
Millie took off her jacket and sat by Layla's bed. She took Layla's pulse and beamed at the old lady.Gloria watched Millie with tenderness.Layla grabbed her granddaughter's hand, knowing Millie was too good for Winston. The Greers didn't have the fortune to have her as their daughter-in-law. It was all Winston's fault for losing her.The thought brought Layla back to the time Millie adamantly decided to marry Winston despite all the objections. That was how much Millie loved him.Alas, Winston let her down big time. Memories of Millie's unhappy marriage saddened Layla. How could Winston treat their precious baby as trash?"Mrs. Greer, keep a closer eye on Mrs. Greer Senior. If you need my help, I'll try my best to help her," Millie offered with a gentle smile.Gloria nodded, feeling much reassured after hearing Millie's promise. She mindfully excused herself, knowing that Millie must have wanted a private conversation with Layla.Peace and quiet returned to the room. Millie gr
Though Layla was upset, she acted normal around her family. She had lost sleep for a while over her health. No one knew she was crying, and she would never let anyone find her shedding tears."Grandma, I'll get the SH2N research done. Your efforts will not go to waste. Trust me." Millie held her hand.Smiling, Layla realized that Millie had matured. She remarked, "Mills, you've grown a lot.""Grandma, I made a lot of decisions that worried you and my parents. I will not do that again," Millie vowed to listen to her family's advice and be the pride of her family.Besides, time was not on her side. After years of making mistakes, it was time for her to adopt a mature mindset. She had fallen behind peers of the same age when it came to maturing.As Terrence aged, it was time for Millie to become the pillar of the family. She needed to grow up instead of living a carefree life as a spoiled young lady."Alright. I'm just here to share the good news. Grandma, you're welcome back to the
Millie saw Damien out and waved goodbye to him at the hospital entrance. Feeling overjoyed, he gave her a hug before leaving.After Damien left, Millie spotted Winston smoking near his car some distance away. He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes. Smoke billowed. He lowered his head and gently tapped away the ashes with his fingertips. He seemed less tired than before, looking spirited in a black coat and black suit.Millie turned around and saw Gloria leaving the hospital. It then occurred to her that Winston was there to pick Gloria up.Gloria smiled when she saw Millie. "Mills!""Hi, Mrs. Greer. Have you settled the hospital transfer?" asked Millie.Nodding, Gloria pointed at Winston and replied, "Win is here to pick me up. We're heading off to the private hospital.""Sounds good. Mrs. Greer, call me if you need anything." Millie huddled under her coat. She wore many layers in the frigid winter yet still looked frail and petite.She came across as rather fragile fr
Millie chuckled. "What business are you up to? Does it have to do with killing Mrs. Greer Senior?"The man went down a step on the stairs. Fearless, Millie taunted him, "Murder is not a legal business, you know."The man stopped dead in her tracks. "I have nothing against you. Please don't force my hand.""Didn't you purposely bump me in the shoulders so I'd follow you?" She tilted her head quizzically.She thought, "What's he doing, acting so mysterious? Dude must have watched too many movies and shows."She didn't beat around the bush. "Did you come here on Joanna Lowell's orders?"Since Millie didn't have a clear view of his face, she could not see the shock that flashed across his face when she threw out the guess."What makes you think so?" he questioned."Joanna Lowell is a psycho. She will destroy Winston Greer if she can't have him, but she's known to be cold-blooded. She will not ruin him just yet—she will start from the people around him! She can't swallow her pride a
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