Chapter 1300:

“That was the first time we met,” Babette went on.

“And that was when I fell for him. But… only a few days ago did I realize that everything wasn’t how I thought it was.”

She pressed her lips together, then added, “Honestly… he doesn’t love me.”

Millie watched Babette carefully. It was clear Babette had spent the last few days forcing herself to accept many things.

“So why come to me?” Millie asked.

“I want to know… after all I’ve done, does he hate me?” Babette asked nervously, twisting her hands.

“And I want to know how I can make him fall in love with me.”

The roses on the table were in full bloom, and the light cast a soft glow across Millie’s face.

“Do you love him,” Millie asked abruptly, “or do you just want to have him for yourself?”

“I love him,” Babette answered without hesitation.

Millie lowered her gaze. The shadow from the overhead light fell across her long lashes, hiding whatever emotion might have surfaced in her eyes.

“At most, he probably finds you a bit annoying, but I don’t think he hates you,” Millie said.

Babette’s head lifted sharply, her eyes brightening with hope.

“About making him fall in love with you…” Millie paused, then continued, “Babette, you can’t force it. Love doesn’t work like that.”

Babette looked caught off guard.

Millie didn’t elaborate. She didn’t need to. She was living proof of it.

Both women fell silent. Even the air seemed to go still.

After a long stretch of quiet, Babette finally spoke again.

“Everything I did before was my fault. And I’ve paid for it. I’m being mocked all over Crobert. Brandon stripped away all my assets, and now I’m left with only my monthly paycheck. And you already know I sold most of my properties overseas.”

M๏гє ยק๔คՇєร ןภ ɢคlภ๏שєlร.ς๏๓

Millie didn’t respond.

“Well then…” Babette murmured.

“I’ll be on my way now.”

She rose slowly.

Millie looked at the bouquet between them. The roses were in full bloom, every petal open and vivid.

“Egbert will be at my wedding,” Millie said suddenly.

“You can’t make someone fall in love with you, but you can at least seek closure. And… you can regain what you lost if you work hard.”

Millie stood as well, facing Babette.

Their eyes met.

Babette’s nose stung, and her eyes reddened as emotion welled up.

In that moment, she finally understood why people willingly stood by Millie—why they worked so hard for her without hesitation.

And she finally understood what true respect was.

“All right, go on,” Millie said. Then she paused, as if remembering something.

“Oh, I mentioned this to Derek, but I’m not sure whether he passed it on to you.”

“What is it?” Babette asked.

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