Chapter 138

The night stretched on, thick with unspoken tensions.

Back at her apartment, Millie rinsed off the day's exhaustion and slipped into a loose nightgown. She drifted onto the balcony, letting the mild May air cool her damp skin and tangle gently through her hair.

Her phone screen lit up, snapping her out of her reverie. A new message flashed on the display. "This is Myron Elliott and here's my number. Please save it."

The wording was so stiff, so formal, she could practically see him hunched over his desk, pecking at each word like he was composing an official memo.

Still, this wasn't the message she'd been waiting for -not tonight.

A few quiet minutes slipped by before her phone buzzed again.

Babette's name appeared on the caller ID.

Millie hesitated, thumb hovering, before finally picking up.

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice soft but wary.

Babette's voice crackled with anger. "Millie,Brandon's in the hospital-he's sick and all alone.Don't you even care enough to visit?"

A faint crease formed between Millie's brows. "Didn't he mention anything to you?"

Babette's irritation flared. "Mention what? Stop dodging."

Millie hesitated, Derek's face briefly flickering through her mind.

"It's nothing," she said, her voice flat.

Brandon probably just needed time before breaking the news of their divorce to the Watson family.

Derek had shown her nothing but kindness throughout that doomed marriage, so she'd leave it to Brandon to explain. But if he dragged it out, she certainly wouldn't cover for him.

"Millie,you..."

Millie cut in before Babette could get the words out,"I already know he's sick. That's enough. I have things to do."

Without waiting for a reply, she ended the call.

She wasn't about to sit and take the blame for someone else's mess.

Millie ignored the persistent ring of her phone and,with a swipe of her finger, blocked Babette's number,effectively muting her latest attempt to get through.

Settling back on the long chaise lounge, she let her gaze wander across the glittering city skyline, where windows burned with a thousand stories and the traffic below hummed on, undaunted by the late hour.

No matter how deep into the night it was,this city never truly slept-its lights blazed, restless as her own thoughts.

Finally, the phone shuddered in her hand again.

This time the caller ID flashed Derek's name.

Millie drew in a steadying breath, squared her shoulders, and answered with a warmth she hoped sounded effortless.

"Derek." She greeted him softly.

"Millie," he responded with a heaviness she could feel even through the line.

Derek's voice was rough with fatigue, the exhaustion in it unmistakable. For a long moment, he just breathed-then, with a weary sigh, he finally asked,"What's really going on between you and Brandon?"

Millie hesitated, at a loss for words.

Derek's voice, sharp with anger, broke the silence."know you're furious about Brandon and Vivian!" He practically spat Vivian's name. "Norma's already decided she'll handle Vivian herself!"

An older woman's voice cut in from nearby--firm,unmistakably Norma. "Millie, we gave that fool a chance to fix things on his own, but it's clear he's hopeless! I'll have a word with Vivian myself!"

A knot of emotion twisted in Millie's chest-part gratitude, part resignation.

But her marriage to Brandon was over, and she had no plans to turn back.

Whatever happened between Brandon and Vivian had nothing to do with her anymore, so Norma really didn't have to get involved.

She let out a steady breath. "There's really no need.""Millie..."

"Brandon still has things he hasn't told you," Millie remarked gently, her tone measured. "There are Derek went quiet for a beat, nis voice returning, low and searching. "Millie, is there something going on between the two of you?"

Millie lifted her eyes to the scattered city lights,weighing her words. "It's nothing major-just something he should explain to you himself."

Once, Brandon had led her to Derek's bedside during a health crisis; now, she felt it was only right for Brandon to face Derek on his own.

She let out a faint sigh. "I'm a little tired tonight. I think I'll turn in."

Cutting off any chance for more questions,Millie said a quick goodnight and ended the call.

Millie unlocked her phone and found a video of a cat doing an energetic backflip.

Following that, a message read, "My cat can do a backflip."

MAillie let out a soft chuckle. "Childish," she muttered,tossed her phone onto the nightstand and then settled into bed, ready for sleep.

Meanwhile, at the Elliott Mansion, Jayceon sat on the carpet, coaxing Myron's ragdoll cat with treats.

"Show us your acrobatic moves, superstar!" he insisted eagerly. "Let's see it again-come on, just one more backflip!"

But the cat, thoroughly unimpressed, stretched languidly and sauntered off, leaping straight into Myron's waiting lap.

Myron's eyes softened as he scratched under the cat's chin, earning a deep, satisfied purr.

In the days that followed, a whirlwind of events shook up the online world.

The fallout between Millie and Brandon exploded across social media, their names plastered everywhere as the story went viral overnight.

By morning, a brand-new headline had already stolen the spotlight.

Vivian's latest series was suddenly everywhere-a show loosely inspired by "Glimmer of Love," though the title had been slyly tweaked to "Love of Vivian"for promotion purpose, swapping in her own name for maximum buzz.

The series spun a bittersweet tale: two strangers drawn together by fate, swept into a romance, only for tragedy to strike when one of them fell gravely ill and died.

The trailer set the Internet abuzz. In one poignant scene, the heroine recorded a demo in the studio,pouring her feelings into every note, while the male lead listened silently in the next room, completely captivated yet unable to confess his feelings.

Later, that very same demo echoed hauntingly as the female lead died in his arms, the music stirring up memories of their lost happiness and driving the heartbreak home.

Within hours, the trailer had gone viral. Viewers swarmed to comment sections, hungry for fresh gossip and already debating the love story's twists and emotional gut punches.

The buzz around Millie and Brandon had long faded into yesterday's news.

"I nearly cried just from the trailer. When the show drops, I'm definitely watching it first."

"This is Vivian and Brandon's love story, right? It's heartbreaking-Vivian dying in his arms with their song playing...I can't handle it."

"Hurry up and release it! I'm ready to binge as soon as it's out!"

As Millie scrolled through the comments, an amused smile tugged at her lips.

The sooner Vivian's new show aired, the sooner Millie could push her lawsuit forward.

She'd also heard whispers that Vivian was determined to get the show approved for a theatrical run, but that review process would drag on. Millie doubted Vivian could actually pull it off.

She was reading all this while seated in the Watson Group's conference room, her lawyer by her side.

Sliding the divorce agreement across the polished table to Eugene, she fixed him with a steady gaze and demanded that every asset be returned to her-including the old Bennett family business now under the Watson Group's control.

"Eugene, please do a full inventory. I want the handover wrapped up within two days. This is my attorney, Darrion Clark. Any problem, you can reach out to him directly." She gestured to the man standing tall beside her, his presence quietly authoritative.