Chapter 426:
He had never questioned her expertise or doubted her capabilities in that regard. His refusal stemmed entirely from selfish desire—he craved additional time in her presence and desperately needed an opportunity to explain his actions properly when the time was right.
“So.” Millie’s carefully maintained composure began cracking as anger surged through her restraint. “You’re deliberately attempting to torment me out of pure spite? You recognize perfectly well that my chances of victory through litigation remain extremely high, yet you’re determined to drag this process out indefinitely?”
Brandon offered no immediate defense, simply studying her increasingly agitated state.
He acknowledged the truth of her accusations completely—she possessed every legal right to reclaim what belonged to her by marriage and agreement. He was indeed implementing stalling tactics because the thought of releasing her from his life felt unbearable to contemplate.
He had failed to examine the agreement thoroughly on that fateful signing day—had he discovered her carefully orchestrated plan in advance, he would never have attached his signature to those documents.
The hospital corridor stretched endlessly around them, filled with antiseptic silence, until Brandon summoned the courage to break it once more.
“Millie,” he called her name with desperate tenderness.
Millie offered no response to his searching gaze.
“Did you orchestrate your departure from the very beginning?” Brandon pressed, his voice carrying the weight of dawning realization.
Millie refused to dignify his question with words, though her rigid posture and averted gaze painted a vivid picture of her intentions.
“I recognize that the complications with Vivian have wounded you deeply,” he continued, remorse bleeding through every syllable. “But I possessed valid justifications for my actions…”
“Justifications?” Millie’s laughter erupted, sharp and acidic, as she whipped her head around to fix him with a withering stare.
Seven years together reduced to ashes, the precious baby she’d lost to miscarriage during their time in Flesta, and another child torn from her when she’d tumbled down those stairs could all of this devastating history be swept aside merely because of his so-called justifications?
Her hands curled into trembling fists at her sides as she delivered each word with deliberate, cutting precision. “In your twisted perspective, am I truly worth so little?”
Brandon found himself drowning in the impossibility of explanation, managing only to stare at her with helpless eyes that held no adequate defense.
“I’ll ask you one final time—will you release the Bennett family’s original department to me or not?” she demanded, her eyes blazing red with unshed tears and barely contained fury.
Still, he remained trapped in his stubborn silence, unable to voice the surrender she desperately needed to hear.
“Perfectly clear,” she declared with bitter finality. “Then we shall proceed exactly as you’ve demanded—through the merciless machinery of legal proceedings.”
Recognizing that no purpose remained in prolonging this torture, Millie pivoted away from him with decisive movements, preparing to make her definitive exit.
“Millie.” Brandon’s voice pursued her retreating form, but she maintained her determined stride without faltering.
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