Chapter 190:

Having already finished one glass, Millie waved off the offer. “I should stop—I still need to see Derek later tonight.”

“Alright.” Babette simply nodded her acceptance. A pleasant smile lingered as she added, “I’ll be throwing a wine tasting soon to celebrate my return. You and Brandon should make an appearance.”

That invitation lingered in Millie’s mind. Despite the ongoing divorce proceedings, she recognized the importance of showing up in public with Brandon before the divorce was finalized.

Just then, Brandon returned, slipping his phone away. Without a word, he went to get Millie’s coat and wrapped it gently around her shoulders. He offered Babette a brief nod, and then led Millie away from the gathering.

The night air rolling off the lake cut straight through them, sharp and chilly. A shudder passed through Millie as the cold found her. With the wine swirling in her head and the breeze pressing against her, dizziness crept in.

Brandon’s low voice broke through her haze.

“Grandma just called—Grandpa’s already asleep, so we won’t see him tonight. She wants us to stay and visit in the morning.”

Millie could only nod, her mind a fog. Her footing faltered, and she nearly stumbled. Brandon caught her quickly, his arm steadying her before she could fall.

Brandon’s body radiated warmth as his strong arms wrapped firmly around Millie’s waist. For a moment, Millie stood frozen, arms stiff at her sides. Then, gathering herself, she slowly placed a trembling hand on his chest and gently but firmly pushed him away.

A faint spell of lightheadedness washed over her, though it had nothing to do with intoxication. They boarded the buggy in silence, heading toward Brandon’s place in the estate. The journey unfolded quietly, tension stretching between them. Not a single word passed until the vehicle rolled to a halt near a cluster of trees.

“Mr. and Mrs. Watson,” Matthew began respectfully, “Mrs. Norma Watson told me to remind you that Mr. Derek Watson expects to see you both first thing in the morning. So, you’ll need to spend the night here at the estate.”

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He paused, observing the emotional distance between them with a quiet sigh. “Truthfully, they’ve both been deeply concerned for a while now. Asking you to stay is just a pretense. What they really want… is for you to open up to each other.”

He brushed at the corners of his eyes, visibly emotional. “I still remember when you first brought her home, sir. The way you looked at each other—it was like something out of a storybook. So much love back then. I just… I don’t understand how it got to this point.”

Clearing his throat, he blinked quickly and brushed away the shimmer in his eyes. “Please… talk. Maybe that’s all it’ll take to set things right.”

With a heavy breath, Matthew stepped back and disappeared into the night.

Above them, the night had fully unfurled, stars cloaked behind drifting clouds. Golden lights lit the path ahead, winding softly through the trees toward a certain villa. Brandon took the first step, heading into the grove without a word. But Millie didn’t follow.

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