Chapter 115

Millie studied the document in front of her.

Whatever Brandon was trying to achieve,compensate her or buy her silence, it didn't matter. It wouldn't change anything she had planned.

"I don't know what's going on with the Elliott family,though.Ask them when you have a chance, maybe?"Charles thought for a while and added, "Maybe it's just because Jayceon's a hardcore fan. You might want to send him a few more autographs."

Millie gave no response.

She might look into the Elliott situation later, but right now, only two things mattered.

Getting ready for the finals of Heavenly Melody and ending her marriage to Brandon once and for all.

Her schedule for the day was packed.

She reinserted Serena's SIM card into her phone.

Sheridan had already installed a blocking system, so harassing messages and prankcalls were no longer a problem.

Still, her inbox had been filled with qulestions from people fishing for information about her connection to both the Watson and Elliott Groups. She ignored every single one.

The hours slipped by before she knew it.

That afternoon, Millie headed out to pick Ari up from school.

She spotted the girl easily in the sea of uniforms. Ari had seen her too and was already making her way over, smiling brightly.

Millie bent down to hug her.

"Millie!" Ari beamed.

"Yes, sweetheart!" Millie brushed the dust off Ari's sleeves, smoothing out her clothes.

"Are you hungry? Want some snacks?" she asked playfully, giving her cheek a light pinch. "Anything but -

"Ice cream!" they both said at once, bursting into laughter.

Ari couldn't eat ice cream for health reasons.

It had become a running joke between them,one that showed just how in tune they were lately.

Once she'd tidied Ari up, Millie brought her over to a nearby gazebo and handed her the water bottle.

Ari had something on her mind. She'd been thinking about Brandon's visit the night before.

"Millie, can I ask you a question?" she asked, finally deciding to speak.

Millie took the bottle from her and gave her full attention.

She'd had a feeling this was coming.

Ari took a breath, and then asked carefully,"Do you still have feelings for Brandon?"

Millie didn't know why Ari would ask that, but her answer came easily. "I don't."

Ari looked visibly relieved. Millie couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

"What's wrong?" she asked gently.

Ari looked down. "He came to visit last night. He brought me a bunch of gifts, but I didn't accept any of them." She paused, recalling the events of the previous night, and then added, "Afterward, I heard the director saying he made a huge donation."

Millie's brows tightened as she listened.

Brandon had shown up to see Ari last night?

A breeze drifted past, stirring the quiet afternoon. Not far away, a sleek Maybach pulled up and came to a stop.

Inside the back seat, Brandon caught sight of Millie and Ari near the gazebo.

Through the slightly open window, Ari's soft voice reached him-clear, uncertain, but sincere.

"I told Brandon you didn't like him anymore and asked him to stop making you sad," she said in a small voice."I also told him not to visit me again... that he's not my father."

Looking at Millie timidly, she asked, "Millie, are you angry with me for saying that?"

Millie gave her a warm smile and pinched her cheek."Of course not. Why would I be?"

She held Ari's small hands in hers. "Don't worry about it. Want me to make beef stew for dinner? I just found a new recipe online and clearly you can plate the food creatively to shape cute little animals. Sound good?"

"Yes,please!" Ari beamed. She always looked forward to Millie's cooking.

With their dinner plan settled, they walked back to the car.

Soon,they were on the road, heading home together.

"Should we tail them, sir?" Eugene asked from the front seat.

Brandon slowly shook his head.

He wasn't even sure why he had come. Maybe just to see Millie again, even if only from afar. But he was painfully aware that she didn't want to see him.

She was still hurt.

Ari's words hung in the silence, leaving a dull ache in his chest.

Millie hadn't refuted them.

And then there was the stew.

She hadn't made it for him in so long.

Back then, no matter how late he came home, she'd be waiting, always with a warm meal ready.

She'd always given him a sense of comfort.

Now...

Brandon shut his eyes.

It was like those memories belonged to another life.

"How much longer until the divorce would be finalized?"he asked quietly.

Eugene didn't need to think. "Today makes twenty-eight days, sir. In two more, the decree can be finalized."

Brandon said nothing. Eugene glanced at him in the rearview mirror, and then asked cautiously, "Are you...reconsidering things?"

Brandon's eyes opened. He met Eugene's reflection without a word.

The look was enough. Eugene quickly shifted his eyes forward.

"My apologies, sir. I shouldn't have asked."

Brandon let the comment go without reproach,returning his attention to the view outside.

The street near the kindergarten was full of movement-parents greeting their children with wide smiles and open arms.

He watched them, something stirring quietly inside.

"How long have you been working with me now,Eugene?" he asked.

"Since you took over the company at twenty-two.That makes six years," Eugene responded immediately

Six years.

And Millie... she'd been by his side for seven.

Seven long years. Thousands of days. Countless nights.

Brandon rested his head slightly against the window,expression unreadable.

"Let's head to that beef stew place you mentioned before," he said.

"Yes, sir." Eugene turned the key and drove off.

Elsewhere, Millie's car pulled into the neighborhood.

Through the rearview mirror, she watched Ari deep in concentration, carefully piecing together a puzzle.A small smile touched her lips. That quiet, content moment was all she needed.

Although Ari still called her "Millie" now, she believed that,someday, the girl would feel ready to say "Mom."

After all, the girl only called her "Miss Bennett" at first.

The thought warmed her, but it also reminded her-she needed to make things clear to Brandon again.He had no right to involve himself with Ari.

That child was hers and hers alone-he had no place in her life.

After bringing Ari home, Millie prepared a warm,hearty dinner.

The kitchen filled with laughter as they cooked together.

Across town, Brandon had visited nearly every top-rated restaurant in Crobert, sampling their beef stew one by one. Yet, none of them tasted the way he remembered.

He stared at the bowl in front of him.

Was something wrong with his taste buds?

Food shouldn't vary that much.

Even made by different hands, the ingredients were similar and the flavor should be close.

Eventually, Brandon lowered his spoon.

Something wasn't right with him these days.

Maybe it was time to see a therapist.

···

The days crept by.

The 28th day since they filed the divorce slipped past quietly.

Then the 29th came and went-ordinary, filled with errands and tasks.

That night, Millie returned home from the practice room,drained from a long rehearsal session.

She took a shower, changed into her pajamas, and glanced at the clock. It was just after midnight.

The 30th day had begun. In less than twenty-four hours, her marriage to Brandon would be officially over.