Millie extended her hand and grasped his firmly, just like she did in her high school days. He helped her into the fur coat beside him. As Millie gazed into his gentle face, she felt a rush of emotions. She couldn't tell if it was the effect of the alcohol or a flood of nostalgic memories washing over her. At that moment, she found herself wanting to kiss him."You agreed to leave with me. I didn't force you," he clarified.Millie looked into his eyes. "Mhm. I decided to leave with you.""Millie, if you join me right now, we're going to count down to New Year together," he added.Millie couldn't hear a word. All she could do was watch Winston's lips move. He was gazing at her ambiguously. She lowered her gaze, feeling his hand grip hers firmly. Noticing her silence, he took her hand and led her outside.Winston and Millie were similar in height but had very different body types. Millie was extremely tall and skinny, while Winston had broad shoulders and a narrow waist that mad
The top floor was beautifully filled with flowers, resembling a sky garden at night. However, when Millie examined it closely, she realized the flowers weren't actually planted there. It seemed as if it was specifically decorated some time ago. It was naive of her to think they could survive in the open air during winter."Come here." Winston extended his hand to Millie as he stood at the edge of the top floor.Millie approached Winston, her gaze lowered. The world around her felt remarkably small. Yerwick's prosperity was beyond words. She sighed, realizing that being rich allowed her to enjoy the city's beauty. Yet, those without money felt insignificant, like ants that anyone could easily step on."Are you ready?" Winston asked.Millie gazed into the distance and asked, "Is it magnificent?"He didn't respond. Instead, he sent a text message to Eli.Millie was waiting for his answer when she suddenly saw fireworks erupting across the city. They were lower than the office bu
"Millie. Give me one more chance. I promise I won't let you down this time," Winston slowly whispered in her ear.Millie gazed into the distance, her voice calm and composed as she replied, "Haven't I been giving you chances all along?""Millie, I want the opportunity to be your husband in the future, someone who can proudly stand by your side.""I gave you a chance. I've given you countless opportunities," Millie said as her voice became more resolute.There was the three-month agreement that was made to ensure that Winston wouldn't bother her after that period.But wasn't her being willing to bet with him an opportunity in itself?"Or do you need me to actually say that I still love you so you can feel reassured?" Millie looked at him with reddened eyes.Winston hummed in acknowledgment. "I want you to say that you still love me."She didn't want to use those words to hurt him, neither did she want to deceive herself."What if I don't say it?" Millie continued to engage in t
Winston was crying because of Millie. The person who was always unwilling to compromise and used to tower over everyone else, always clashing with her, was now standing in front of her in tears.Sincerity held a powerful advantage. When he shed a tear, it was like wielding the ultimate weapon.Millie lowered her head, unable to say anything."I know it might be hard for you to accept me right now. But Millie, I can wait. I just ask for one thing—please don't push me away, okay?"Allow me to drive you anywhere and be your chauffeur. Allow me to accompany you on business trips. Allow me to buy things for you and spend money on you. Allow me to take care of you.."He looked down and said humbly and somewhat anxiously, "Please don't think I'm embarrassing. Allow me to stand by your side. I'm not that helpless, really…""I'm not that helpless, really." Millie couldn't stop her tears from falling at those words.She only wanted to watch a fireworks display and experience what it felt
Millie glanced at the invitation handed to her, her eyebrows slightly furrowing."Can I say no?" she asked.Winston replied, "It's your choice."They spoke concisely, with one asking a question and the other answering it.Millie looked at the invitation momentarily, then reached out and took it.Winston smiled and said, "I'll take care of the dress for you. All you need to do is arrive on time according to the schedule on the day of. I'll come pick you up. Just get ready at home."Millie nodded and didn't say anything else.Outside Greer Group's building, a bustling scene was still present. After all, today was the first day of the new year. The New Year celebrations became more and more lively in recent years.Winston opened the car door for Millie, and Millie got in.Millie's phone buzzed just then with a text notification.Rachel: "You must be feeling even happier now."Millie: "What are you talking about? I don't understand."Rachel: "Stop pretending you don't know. It'
Millie sent Rachel a sticker that showed a head pat. She sent a head pat sticker and a hugging sticker.Rachel replied with a hugging emoji.Millie: "I'll be waiting for you to come home."Rachel: "Okay. I'll finish up quickly and head back!"Millie turned off her phone.Soon, they arrived at the Caldwells. It was 1:00 am by the time they reached.Millie got out of the car. She put Winston's suit jacket back in the car.Her outfit today was truly alluring. The combination of a traditional dress and fur exuded luxury and sophistication from head to toe.Even though her makeup was no longer as polished, it still outshined every socialite and heiress in Yerwick. Just having a natural face without any plastic surgery already beat 99% of the others, didn't it?After Millie watched Winston's car drive away, she breathed a sigh of relief. She thought about taking off her high heels as she headed inside, but then remembered that it was winter…It was too cold. She was better just wea
"Since Winston has invited us, he must have invited you too, right?" Terrence suddenly asked Millie.Millie pursed her lips. She walked over, sat down beside her parents, and took out the invitation from her pocket.Her invitation and Terrence's were quite different, as her invitation clearly appeared to be custom-made.Millie opened the invitation, which included details about being invited as a female partner. Terrence's was a straightforward invitation meant for guests.Millie and Terrence exchanged a glance. Terrence smiled and said, "Since we've accepted the invitation, it seems we've already agreed to attend Winston's annual gala."Millie made a sound of acknowledgment."Since you're going, should we go too?" Terrence continued to ask. He was testing to see whether Millie would allow them to go."Dad, whether I go or not doesn't matter. Winston invited you, so you should go. After all, it's high society, and you can meet a lot of new acquaintances," Millie told Terrence.
Millie and Winson continued to text each other.Millie: "You've changed compared to before."Winston: "You're brushing me off."Millie: "Goodnight. I'm feeling sleepy."Winston: "Are you running away?"Millie: "I'll block you."Winston: "Don't."Millie let out a small chuckle. Come on, did he really think she couldn't handle him? He had changed, and so had she!Did he still think she was the same Millie who could be easily pushed around?Millie: "Are you going to sleep or not?"Winston: "I will."Millie: "Good night."Winston wanted to have a longer conversation with Millie. Why did they say goodnight so early?He sat on the couch, feeling frustrated, and reluctantly typed two words in response, "Sweet dreams."Millie smiled with satisfaction and closed the chat window. She felt inexplicably cheerful, as if all the day's fatigue had been completely wiped away.…The date of Greer Group's annual gala had arrived.Greer Group started to create buzz early on, and some peo
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