With few vehicles on the road, Millie and Winston accelerated dramatically. Their cars raced fiercely, each refusing to yield to the other. The tires screeched around the corner, and the brakes made a loud noise. After the turn, they again pressed down on the accelerator.Millie grinned, noting he was following her closely. She was quite impressed. Initially, she thought his driving skills were not that great.Winston's car trailed Millie's closely, neither catching up nor falling behind. As the traffic light ahead counted down to three seconds, Millie hit the accelerator once more, using the red light ahead to create a barrier between herself and Winston. In a split second, Winston slammed on the brakes.He gazed at the dark purple Pagani and noticed Millie extending her arm from the window. She gave a thumbs-up before slowly turning it down, teasing him for being a rookie.Winston hit the steering wheel, frustrated by Millie's smugness.60 seconds was all it took to stop Winst
If Millie remembered correctly, Winston had never shared a bed with her."Mr. Greer, I've been pondering a question for quite some time now. I'm uncertain whether it's appropriate to bring it up or if it might offend you." Millie was amused.Winston frowned, sensing that something was off. Anticipating her question, he interjected, "Millie, I'm healthy."Millie burst out laughing, leaving Winston puzzled and wondering why she was laughing.She was speechless. "That wasn't what I wanted to ask.""Are you sure?" Winston snorted, clearly aware of her intentions. She was terrible at hiding her thoughts. They were obviously shown in her eyes."Winston, I truly dislike your disdainful expression," Millie remarked, pointing at him."I also dislike it when others point at me," Winston replied casually.Millie chuckled and kept pointing at him. "What can you do to me?"Winston remained silent, his gaze fixed on Millie, a deep seriousness settling in his eyes. She was clearly challengin
"Millie, we need to have a serious talk. This seems like a good time, don't you think?" He slid a full wine glass toward her, his expression serious.Millie smiled, wondering if he was trying to get her drunk. "Mr. Greer, I don't drink with sick people. If you die today, I won't know how to explain it."She was reminding Winston of his stomach issues. Though her words were harsh, he sensed she didn't want to drink with him because she was worried about his illness."Don't worry. If you die, no one will blame you." Winston downed the glass in one gulp.Millie was quiet and avoided eye contact. Winston poured himself a glass of wine and asked the waiter for more. Eventually, Millie couldn't resist and joined him for a drink.She watched the brightly lit dance floor. The soft music allowed conversations to flow. Everyone enjoyed themselves while dancing closely, igniting an atmosphere rich with intimacy and excitement. As Millie enjoyed the moment, Winston said, "Millie, I need to
"I promise I'm telling the truth. I wouldn't lie to you. If I ever did, I'd definitely die miserably," said Winston. Millie turned her head and looked away, fiddling with her glass. She didn't believe Winston. She was past the stage in life where she was swayed into marriage by words."I did respond, but perhaps you weren't aware." Winston's affection was subtler than Millie's, which often led it to be overlooked."Stop making excuses. When you agreed to marry me, didn't you think you had to marry someone, so it didn't matter who? Winston, you can't hide your lies anymore."Millie had another glass of strong wine. After six or seven glasses, her throat burned, but she enjoyed it. Getting drunk was rare, and it made her feel carefree."I just didn't realize it until later." Winston lowered his head. It dawned on him that he had fallen in love with Millie quite a while ago.Men fall in love later than women, and that was true for Winston and Millie, despite him being two years old
Winston's voice was hoarse as the liquor burned his throat. "Millie, we just missed each other. My mistake has cost us so many years. Don't let it happen again."Life is filled with countless intersections. Luckily, they were still traveling the same path. Yet, at the next crossroads, he realized that while he might still be present, Millie would not wait for him. From that moment onward, their journeys would diverge, taking them further apart until they would never meet again.Millie shook her head, looking unhappy and lost in thought.Winston positioned himself in front of Millie, holding her wrist to prevent her from leaving. He said sincerely, "Don't miss it again. Forgive me, Millie. We can build a wonderful life together. Millie, I promise to make you happy."However, Millie found it difficult to accept his sincerity. If he had expressed it during their three years of marriage, she might have been filled with extreme joy. However, that was no longer an option. Her heart h
It was a coincidence that they met at the bar. When Millie returned to her seat, Winston had finished all the wine. He had drunk quite a bit.Millie wanted to leave, putting her jacket on, but Winston grabbed her arm. The bar was dimly lit. She stood next to him while he sat. One was frowning, and the other smiled wryly."Am I just a stranger to you? I'm not even a friend? Millie, thanks for showing me how ruthless women can be," Winston said, looking up at Millie.Millie laughed, questioning if she was really ruthless. She felt compelled to tell Winston that his actions back then were even more ruthless."You never respected me when you were with Joanna. I still remember the moment you held her hand in front of so many people and declared that I meant nothing to you. You said you'd go to her if you had problems."She continued, "Have you ever reflected on how ruthless you were? Did you ever think about showing me any respect?"Millie could spend three days and nights discussing
The waiter was stunned, wondering why Millie returned after just leaving.Millie assisted Winston in exiting the bar just as a sharp gust of cold wind swept through, causing both of them to shiver simultaneously. Millie frowned and adjusted Winston's coat. The wind felt bone-chilling. Without hesitation, she called a cab and got Winston inside.She entered the cab immediately after him and said softly, "Redwood Residence. Thank you."The driver curiously glanced at Millie. Both she and Winston had been drinking and couldn't drive, so they needed a cab. Although they rarely used cabs, mentioning Redwood Residence always drew extra attention.Winston leaned back and looked at Millie. The car was going slowly. Noticing his gaze, Millie lowered the window to let in some fresh air to make him feel more comfortable.Winston drank a lot alone, especially after Millie's friends came over. His eyes darkened as he reached out to touch Millie, but he hesitated. He turned to look out the w
Millie pulled Winston to his villa and asked, "What's the password?""Your birthday," he replied casually.Millie gazed at him, feeling confused. She asked, "My birthday?""If not, Joanna's birthday?" He looked up, his eyes bloodshot and reeking of alcohol.Millie averted her gaze, lost in thought. When she and Winston were together, the password was always his birthday, 0982. Once, she asked him when her birthday was, and he answered quickly. The joy that filled her was indescribable.The door unlocked, and hot air rushed out. In the living room, loneliness and coldness awaited. Winston now lived alone in this big house, just like Millie had before. It was ironic. They never seemed able to live together.Millie tossed him onto the couch.He scratched his head and rubbed his forehead, trying to sober up. Yet, the harder he tried to clear his mind, the more muddled his thoughts became. Millie dampened the towel and threw it at Winston. "Wipe your face and pull yourself together
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