Chapter 246:

Was this truly what Millie wanted? To walk away from everything they had? Brandon lay there in silence, thoughts circling in his mind. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make sense of it.

This couldn’t be it. Not really.

Seven years. They had been together for seven years. And through it all, her love had been steady.

He had seen her passion—genuine and unwavering—reflected in her gaze more times than he could count.

More than that, she had always cared deeply about the Bennett family’s remaining business. She used to say it was her father’s legacy, something she’d been a part of since childhood. She had worked tirelessly, managing those businesses now under the Watson Group as if they were her own.

Through everything, she hadn’t brought up the Bennett family’s business, not once.

If she truly intended to walk away, she would have taken it with her. That thought brought Brandon a small wave of relief. Maybe she wasn’t leaving after all. Maybe she was just angry—hurt. Once she learned the truth behind everything, she would understand.

He just needed time. Six more months, and everything would be in place. After that, he would treat her the way she deserved.

Still, there was one matter he knew he couldn’t ignore any longer. He had to talk to her about Charles. The night slipped by in silence.

By late April, the weather had begun to soften, and spring showers came more frequently. That night, the rain had poured down relentlessly, but by morning, the skies had cleared just in time.

Millie held Ari’s hand as they walked toward the kindergarten gate, the ground still damp beneath their feet. She crouched down, kissed Ari on the cheek, and smiled. “I’ll pick you up this afternoon,” she said gently. “Alexia helped us make a hospital appointment, so after school, we’ll go for your check-up. Sound good?”

Ari nodded cheerfully and returned the kiss with a soft giggle, her innocence making Millie’s heart swell.

Millie pulled her into one last hug before letting go. With her tiny backpack bouncing behind her, Ari walked into the school building, and Millie watched her go, a soft smile lingering on her lips.

The previous night, Millie had gone to see Rita for a follow-up, and the news had been reassuring—her condition was steadily improving. Deep down, she could feel it too. Since Ari had come into her life, something within her had started to heal. Each day, the shadows of her past grew fainter. She believed that by choosing to move forward and leaving behind what once broke her, she was slowly finding herself again.

With that thought steadying her, Millie turned away and headed toward Alex’s place. There were still things to take care of today. More importantly, she needed to start preparing for the semifinals of Heavenly Melody.

Time passed quietly, swallowed by the day’s demands. When Brandon stirred from sleep, the clock had already slipped past noon. He reached for his phone instinctively, but aside from routine notifications and meaningless updates, there was nothing from Millie. Not a single word. Despite the messages he had sent and the calls he had made, the silence remained unbroken—as if she had disappeared into thin air.

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