Winston could sense that Millie was helping him to look better in front of the elders.Millie's demeanor remained as gentle as ever.The more he pursued her, the more he felt unworthy of her. She was really too outstanding.It was true that with some people, the more one got to know them, the more one would fall in love with them.Meanwhile, some others became less noteworthy as more people got to know them.Winston sincerely expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Millie."He felt grateful regardless of whether she was willing to give herself another chance or if she once loved him.Millie looked down and said, "No need to thank me. I'm giving you a chance, but it's also a chance for myself.""Winston, even if I'm not with you, I won't love anyone else again."One painful experience of love was more than enough for her.Winston chuckled softly and said with a deep voice, "That's my fault. Regardless of whether we end up together in the future or not, Millie, don't turn down som
Millie felt guilty, squeezing the orange in her hand so hard it was almost about to burst. She mumbled softly, "I mean, is it alright that Winston also came to the Spring Festival?"Layla placed the items on the table, then sat down on the couch and asked, "Why? Doesn't he have a home to go to?"Millie hesitated. That was a tricky question to answer."Got kicked out by the Greer family?" She eyed Millie with an intense gaze that was overwhelming and quite fierce.Millie didn't dare speak, but she still had to answer, "No."Layla gave a cold smile and immediately asked, "So why isn't he going back to his own home for New Year's Day and instead coming to ours? Is he crazy?""Grandma, he…" Millie wanted to explain."I don't agree," Layla stated flatly, dismissing any further explanations.Millie choked up and quietly looked over at Arthur.Arthur's expression grew more serious, as if he agreed with what Layla had said, and he turned his attention to the television."You're not e
The man was wearing a loose sweatshirt with black pants. On top of that, he wore a long padded coat. His tall stature made him stand out among the other students. He looked even more like a student because of his outfit.Millie was a bit surprised when the person happened to look up in her direction. The two of them stood gazing at each other from across a wide asphalt road.Millie walked over and asked, "What are you doing here?"Winston pressed his lips together and didn't answer her question. Instead, he asked her, "Why are you here so late?""I asked you first." Millie looked up at him, determined to get an answer."Just trying to revisit some memories," he said calmly. He ran a hand through his hair before putting both hands in his pockets.Millie hummed in acknowledgment."What about you? You're not from the University of Yerwick, are you?" he laughed.Millie looked at him with a calm expression, as if nothing could really stir her interest."I have quite a few memories
"Hey there, could you help me take a picture?" Millie was looking around when someone suddenly called out to her.Millie turned around to see a tall boy holding a camera. Behind him, there was a girl waiting.Millie nodded and was about to take the camera to help with taking a picture.Winston suddenly asked, "Can I help""Huh?" The boy paused. He looked at both of them and then said with a smile, "Alright then…"However, he was clearly hesitant.Millie chuckled and said, "Let me handle it. I might be a bit more skilled than Mr. Greer is."Winston shrugged and didn't say anything else.Millie stepped forward with a camera in her hand. The two students stood next to each other. They maintained an appropriate distance, suggesting they weren't close. The girl wore a dress layered with a coat, which made her look stylish.Millie observed the two individuals. She could tell that the boy had feelings for the girl, for he was being very cautious.The girl was smiling sweetly at the
Millie was the type of person who stood firm on what she wanted, regardless of who was around. No setbacks or hardships could affect her.Winston thought about this and felt even more heartache for Millie. He was the one who turned the brave and passionate girl, someone who never cared about what others thought, into the cold person she was now.He felt that loving someone was akin to taking care of a flower. He had watched as a beautiful tulip transformed into a rose covered in thorns."Winston?"He heard Millie's voice close by.Winston turned his head and saw Millie frowning. "What are you thinking about? Let's go?""Not going to watch for a bit longer?" he asked."I've seen this fountain so many times. What's so special about it?" Millie remarked with a clear voice, glancing at the fountain.Winston smiled but didn't say anything.In the past, every time she was there, she would always use excuses like "I haven't seen enough" or "Let's watch the fountain a little longer" t
"Hey, young lady, would you like to try some beef organs?" a vendor selling snacks asked Millie while preparing the food. "You're such a pretty girl, and your boyfriend is quite handsome too!"Millie and Winston exchanged a glance.Millie shook her head and was about to say she didn't want any.But Winston simply said, "I'll take two."Millie gave Winston a questioning look.Winston said to her, "I wasn't planning on buying it either, but she called me your boyfriend. With her having such good taste, shouldn't I buy two to show some support?"The vendor laughed heartily.Millie pressed her lips together and moved her mouth slightly. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.The vendor said, "It seems like I was right. If I had mentioned the word husband, then would you have bought out my whole car?"Winston nodded. "I'm considering it. However, I don't think she'd approve."The vendor laughed heartily and said, "You all look unfamiliar, so you probably aren't from the school
Even though Winston wasn't eating, he was really good at paying and carrying things.Millie felt a strong sense of nostalgia for her own college days as she watched the university students eating.She wished she could go back to high school or maybe even college.She had seen many novels where the main female character went back to high school, and in each of these stories, she no longer loved the male lead when she returned back in time.If she went back to high school…"What are you thinking about? You're about to walk into the wall." Winston interrupted Millie's thoughts and pulled her closer to him.Millie really had almost bumped into a wall."Nothing." She smiled at Winston.Winston raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything.The light from the food trucks shone on him and cast an indescribable sense of fate about him.He didn't belong here. Millie felt an increasingly strong urge to take him out of the scene immediately.Millie felt that if she went back to high school
"Dear, could you give me a hand?" Layla asked. "Oh no, why is this step so slippery?"The next day, Winston sat in his car, watching as the elderly couple came out of the Caldwell residence.Arthur held the shopping cart in his hand, and the two of them were all geared up, ready to go out shopping.Winston got out of the car. The elderly couple happened to see Winston at that moment.Arthur and Layla exchanged glances. Layla spoke up first. "Mills is not here!""I understand. I'm not looking for Mills." Winston approached and stopped in front of them. "Grandma, Mills should have mentioned it to you. I was thinking of spending the Spring Festival with you and her."Layla reacted as if she had just heard a joke, saying bluntly, "When you were married, we never saw you spend the Spring Festival with her. "Now that you two have nothing to do with each other, why are you coming to spend the Spring Festival with her? She has family; she doesn't need you to spend the Spring Festival 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