Millie smiled, dismissing any interest in him. She firmly declined despite an initially positive impression when he first entered the private room. "I’m sorry, but it's not convenient."His expression soured, and he sneered. "We're classmates. Do you really want to refuse my request on Instagram? Is it only the wealthy who get to add you?"Millie examined his face. It was pretty attractive, but why did he appear so off-putting?"Of course. I only befriend the wealthy," Millie replied with a sarcastic smile, hoping he was satisfied with her answer.He tightened his fist, feeling angry. "Only the rich? You can marry Winston, who ignores you, but you can't even add me on Instagram as a classmate?"Millie chuckled. These people always targeted others' weaknesses to hurt them. They knew her vulnerabilities and what bothered her most. Thankfully, she didn't add him on Instagram. Otherwise, she'd be overwhelmed with disgust every day."Why are you so bitchy? Are you trying to start so
"What are you talking about? What do you mean death? Can you even speak properly? Can you actually treat a disease? Move aside! We don't need you!" a middle-aged woman yelled.She even pushed Millie aside, nearly causing her to fall. Luckily, Lindy was there to catch her. Millie was surprised to see her."I saw your text and heard what was said in the private room. I knew you were uneasy, so I followed you," she explained.She was taken aback to find Millie in another private room and wondered about the man who had collapsed on the floor.Lindy crouched down to inspect the man, turning to Millie and stating, "It should be alcohol poisoning."Millie agreed. "It's more than just alcohol poisoning. His stomach is severely bloated, and we need to relieve the pressure.""What nonsense are you talking about? Vincent has been drinking for years and has never experienced alcohol poisoning. His face isn't red at all, and his body is not itchy."Millie was amused and gestured toward his
Soon, Lindy appeared with Millie's bag in hand.Millie's bag was like a treasure trove, filled with custom silver acupuncture needles and medicines, including hangover remedies. Since it was a class reunion and drinks were likely, she wanted to be prepared in case she drank too much.Millie simply disinfected her hands before skillfully inserting a silver needle just above Vincent's belly button."Acupuncture?" the middle-aged woman asked.Millie nodded, confident in her skill with silver needles to save lives. When Vincent remained silent, she proceeded to insert another needle into the top of his head.The middle-aged woman cried anxiously. "Oh, you!""You're so noisy." Millie looked serious as she began working. Hearing this, someone covered the middle-aged woman's mouth, signaling her to be quiet."I don't trust her! I'll die if anything happens to Vincent!" the middle-aged woman continued to shout."If I don't save him, he's going to die regardless," Millie explained ici
The woman couldn't believe it. "You saved Vincent's life with just a few needles?"Millie nodded in response.The woman frowned. Meanwhile, the two drunk men at the table began to wake up. The middle-aged woman examined Millie, curious about her identity. She noticed that the hangover remedies Millie offered weren't pharmacy-grade but were instead in delicate, small bottles."The needles…" Lindy pointed at the needles on Vincent's body.Millie replied, "The doctor will handle it in the ambulance.""You don't want this needle anymore?" Lindy asked again. She had watched several doctors perform acupuncture previously, but Millie's needles were unique and likely very expensive."No. Saving life is my job," Millie replied with a slight smile, remaining calm throughout the process as if she wasn't the one performing the acupuncture.Millie glanced at the middle-aged woman and noticed footsteps in the corridor. She signaled to Lindy that it was time to go.As she left, the woman be
Hector nodded, wishing Millie would stay a little longer as well. However, Millie felt tired, and it was nearly 8:00 pm. She was feeling absent-minded, especially seeing her friends posting about New Year's Eve plans on Instagram."I'm skipping." Millie insisted.Lindy gazed at Millie with anticipation, her eyes betraying a hint of reluctance. She genuinely wished for Millie to stay with them, realizing how challenging it was for everyone to come together.Millie looked at Lindy, feeling sorry. She found it hard to say no to women who acted coquettishly and often gave in. Rejecting Lindy was difficult for her."You still haven't revealed what you wanted to say to me," Millie said."Why don't you come with me to the next place, and I'll tell you all about it? Sounds perfect, right?" Lindy grinned.Millie contemplated her next move. If she was to uncover the truth, she had no choice but to go with Lindy.Lindy shrugged, indicating that was her intention.Millie felt utterly pow
"What... What did he say?" Millie asked.She felt nervous and anxious. Winston admitted he had liked her for a long time, and even Lindy said he had loved her. Despite this, Winston continued to hurt her. She questioned if she was truly the one he cared for."He replied, 'Ms. Caldwell doesn't like the smell of cigarettes, so I quit.'""Millie, can you imagine his charming voice and relaxed gaze at that moment? I felt an overwhelming urge to text you and share that Winston's love for you is undeniably sincere."Millie lowered her head and muttered, "He was willing to marry me back then.""Exactly, Millie. Just think about it. If he didn't have feelings for you, would he really be ready to go to such lengths and marry you?"Winston was a prominent figure at the University of Yerwick's School of Finance. He was the heir to the Greer family, one of the Four Great Families. Despite his family's influence, he was well-known on his own.If he didn't care for Millie, he wouldn't marry h
"But we didn't make it to the end, Lindy." Millie's eyes reddened as she gazed at Lindy."Millie, the issue between you and Winston was just a misunderstanding. You two should be together." Lindy felt a pang of sympathy for Millie.Marriage was important for women, but Millie's ended badly. Unfortunately, she remained unaware of Winston's feelings for her following their divorce. Ironically, although Winston clearly had affection for Millie, he chose to marry Joanna instead, as she had once saved him. It was utterly pathetic.Millie curled up in a corner, engulfed by an indescribable pain. Previously, she felt a mix of pity and sadness when reflecting on her relationship with Winston. Yet now, every mention of him brought forth overwhelming regret. Everyone around her insisted that she and Winston were a perfect match, convinced that their love was meant to last a lifetime. They even mentioned that Winston once loved her. At that moment, Millie felt conflicted."Don't be sad,
Millie cried; her tears blurred the phone screen.Millie observed that he was continuously typing but not sending any messages, so she sent another message.Millie: "You don't love me. You only love the person who rescued you. Winston, your love feels insincere. You love anyone who saves you."Millie struggled to accept Winston's love, believing it stemmed from her saving him rather than genuine affection.Suddenly, her phone rang. It was a video call from Winston. Millie answered but couldn't see much due to the dim light on his end. She huddled in the corner of the bathroom, her mind racing with countless curses for him. Yet, as she gazed at his blurred face, the words caught in her throat, leaving her speechless."Millie," he called out.Millie turned away, tears streaming down her face. She felt extremely aggrieved."I'll come by to pick you up, and we can celebrate New Year's Eve together," he continued in a soft, pleading tone.With a blend of emotions, she inquired, "W
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