Chapter 204:

“What happened?” Darden asked after a sip. “I heard your grandpa called you back to Moonlit Estate with Millie?”

“Yeah.” Brandon stared down at the ice in his glass before looking out over the dancing crowd.

“That what’s got you all worked up?” Darden pressed, tilting his glass.

Brandon didn’t answer right away. His mind was a mess—Millie’s tears, Vivian’s breakdown… all of it tangled and heavy in his thoughts.

Almost without meaning to, Brandon asked, “That woman you talked about last time—what’s going on with you guys now?”

Darden, who had been waiting for Brandon to open up, was disappointed. “Oh, so we’re talking about me now? Trying to feel better by laughing at my drama?”

Brandon didn’t say anything. He hadn’t meant it that way. It had just slipped out. Seeing Brandon distracted, Darden let it go and downed another sip before continuing, “It’s still a mess. She’s still freezing me out. I mean, I might not run something as big as the Watson Group, but I’m still the heir to my family’s company. She can’t keep treating me like I’m nothing. I’ve tried everything. Flowers, designer bags, apology notes, her favorite food… nothing gets through. I booked a table at her favorite place—Michelin-starred, mind you—but she didn’t even show up. Whenever I call, she’s busy. Whenever I text, no reply. She’s making sure I feel it.”

Then he sighed, sounding more tired than angry now.

Rubbing his head, Darden finally said, “I get it. It’s about that McCoy girl. I was dumb. I shouldn’t have gone shopping with her. Now Alyssa’s making sure I learn my lesson.”

Brandon listened, watching the dancers.

Darden’s situation wasn’t that different from his own.

Vivian’s voice echoed in his mind again. “Have you sorted out the issue with the child? Is the issue with the child really settled? Who’s that child? She’s using your grandparents—and the child—to reel you back in. Are you really going to let her?”

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He had told Millie nothing would change and that she would still be his wife six months later. She could’ve just waited quietly for these six months to pass. She could’ve even left the country for a while. Instead, she chose to behave this way.

Maybe she was trying to raise her value in the long run. Make sure that when they got married again, it would be on her terms. And the child—whether it was his or not—was the biggest lever. His grandparents would insist on seeing the child, and Millie knew that.

She knew the reason behind their rushed marriage. She also knew what the loss of their baby had done to him.

Brandon’s eyes darkened.

She was clever. Calculated. He had almost fallen for it.

The next morning came quickly.

Millie went through the clothes she had stored away here and found a simple, elegant dress.

After freshening up, she made her way toward Derek and Norma’s villa.

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