Chapter 1405:

But Millie refused to go.

“I’m not leaving you, Ari,” she said, her voice trembling.

“You’re my child. I would never turn my back on you, Ari. I will never leave you alone. Don’t be scared.”

The moment she said it, she bent down again and tried to bite through the ropes.

Ari’s body throbbed with unbearable pain.

Years ago, her birth parents had walked away the moment she was diagnosed with heart disease.

She had grown used to being abandoned—used to being discarded like a burden, used to never being chosen by anyone.

Then Millie came into her life.

Ari knew Millie loved her with all her heart, and that Myron did as well, but she never allowed herself to hope for more.

Even though she had already accepted Millie as her mother, the little girl could never bring herself to say it out loud.

She was too afraid of being abandoned again.

If she never expected anything, she would never have to feel the sting of losing it.

So Ari kept calling her “Millie,” clinging to that small distance to safeguard her heart.

Fortunately, Millie never pushed her. She was always gentle. Ari had believed their lives would continue like that forever. But now…

“Please, Millie, you need to go,” Ari sobbed.

“I’m not your biological daughter. You should leave now so you can have a chance to have your own child with Myron…”

“Maybe I wasn’t meant to live. My parents didn’t want me. I’ve always been the unwanted one,” Ari cried.

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺: g⍶𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀﹐ⅽ𝗼𝗺

Millie didn’t answer. All her focus was on loosening the ropes.

Everything else could wait until they were out of danger.

She put every last bit of strength she had into it.

When they got out alive, she would reassure Ari that she would never abandon her. She would tell her she cherished her, and that she loved her more than anything.

Bang!

Another shot rang out, followed by a muffled groan. Someone was fighting desperately inside the burning building.

Boom!

A third explosion tore through the air.

Flames spread hungrily through the factory, and Millie suddenly froze, as if she sensed something.

“Millie, run!” Ari screamed.

“Get out—fast!”

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