Chapter 211
All at once, chaos broke the silence.
"Millie!" called out someone in distress.
Brandon strode in at that very moment. Egbert's assistant followed close behind, the newly-printed contract in hand.
Without giving himself a second thought, Brandon plunged straight into the cold depths of the pool.
With quick hands, he pulled Millie from the freezing water.
Crimson swirled through the pool, her blood staining Brandon as he struggled to hold her steady.
Everyone in the room stood frozen. The shock and fear were plain on every face.
Upstairs, the calm of Serenity Villa's bedroom offered a sharp contrast.
Egbert looked at Brandon and said, "You want to know what went down after you left? Now you know."
A row of empty bottles hinted at how much Egbert had been drinking, and there was a glazed look in his eyes.
Raising his head, Egbert fixed his gaze on Brandon, who seemed close to breaking down, his eyes rimmed with red.
A bitter laugh escaped Egbert.
"Believe me, it's not a complicated storsaid Egbert, furrowing his brow. The sunlight pouring through the window set his eyes aglow with a strange,red light.
"She put her trust in you, loved you more than you know, and risked everything for your sake. Does any of that mean anything to you?" asked Egbert. The wind lifted his hair as he continued,"After you saved her from the water that day, the first thing she did was to remind me to sign the contract. She truly cared about you."
A sudden crash shattered the air.
The next instant, Brandon launched himself from the bed, grabbed Egbert by the collar, and drove him hard into the white wall.
Glasses and bottles went tumbling, red wine pooling across the floor like spilled blood.
That dark stain brought back the memory of Millie's endless bleeding.
Echoes of her laughter and the sound of her broken sobs lingered in their thoughts.
Brandon's face twisted with pain, and tears threatened to spill from his eyes.
However, Egbert's only response was a sharp, mocking laugh.
Egbert leaned forward and said, "She got that clever edge from her father. Maybe she learned it, or maybe it's just in her blood. She's sharp and strong-willed. When it comes to herself, she doesn't hold back. You should know that by now." He shook his head. "She planned everything, except for the baby. That surprised us all. From the very start, she decided her own safety didn't matter. She knew I'd likely rip up the contract,so she didn't wait. She proposed a wager first. I set the rules, but she never let go of control. Deep down,she knew even if she won, I would not keep my promise, so she kept pushing until I could not think straight.We risked everything that day. I bet she noticed the pool the moment I pressed my gun against her head.She made that choice. For her, a chance in the water was better than a bullet from me."⑤
Since Brandon had been there for everything, he understood exactly what Egbert meant.
Millie had begun weaving her plan the instant Egbert started making threats.
With every word she spoke, she'd already decided she'd put everything on the table.
"Still, nobody knew she was carrying your child then. Not you. Not her."
"Shut up!" Brandon could not hold back anymore. He swung and hit Egbert hard on the jaw.
Egbert didn't back down. He swung right back, his fist connecting with Brandon's face.
The two men crashed into each other, trading blows with raw fury.
All the commotion brought people running, and soon, hands were grabbing at their arms, pulling them apart.
Egbert wiped the blood from his mouth and spat on the floor. "Youhave no right to be mad here! While you stand there, remember this-she would've died for you without a second thought. She might plan every move, but my gun was loaded and pointed straight at her head. And what do you do now? Treat her like she's nothing, all because of another woman? You're the one who failed her!"
Brandon's face twisted in pain, words dying on his lips. Instead, he shut his eyes and let the guilt wash over him.
"Myron has her now," Brandon said, his tone heavy with sorrow."She walked away from me."
"You got what was coming to you." Egbert rolled his eyes and then stalked out of the room.
Left alone, Brandon watched in silence as the maid hurried to pick up the shattered glass and mop up the mess.
That dark puddle of red wine clung to the floor, so much like blood that Brandon had to turn away, stung by the memory.
..·
Later that day, Brandon made his entrance at the Watson Group headquarters.
Looking refreshed and healthy, he brushed off concern, telling colleagues that a simple illness had kept him away,but he was already back on his feet.①
Whispers and speculation faded soon after.
When pressed by eager journalists about Millie's recent statement to the public, Brandon simply shut down,giving them nothing to work with.
Days slipped by.
Within the city's elite circles, Vivian stayed in the spotlight, hyping up her debut luxury floral showcase through a livestream event at an elegant villa.
For maximum impact, she timed her livestream to clash with the launch of Elliott Group's newest series-turning the day into a silent rivalry.
Darden had lent his villa to Vivian for her project as Brandon asked. However, Vivian frowned at the option. It just didn't have the wow factor she wanted.
The opening needed to dazzle, so finding the perfect venue became her obsession.
A glint of mischief flickered in her gaze.
At the same time, Millie threw herself into final preparations for the Elliott Group's upcoming event.
This latest collection focused on brilliant yellow gemstones, aptly named the Golden series.
In recent weeks, Millie had juggled between work and Ari's care, grateful for Myron's unwavering support.
With so much time spent together, a quiet bond formed between them.
Once they dropped Ari off that evening, Millie and Myron wandered through familiar streets side by side.
Night after night, they'd found comfort in this samewalk, letting routine knit them closer.
Their fingers intertwined, the two watched their shadows stretch and merge beneath the moon's soft glow.
Conversation flowed easily, and soon talk circled back to the product launch and everything that could go wrong.
When the walk ended, Myron made sure Millie reached her door safely.
Standing at her doorstep, he remarked gently, "The launch is almost here, Millie. Vivian's not the type to back down.Just promise you'll stay alert."
Without hesitation, Millie gave a nod of agreement.
She had barely stepped inside when Myron interjected with a soft laugh, "Hold on, Millie. Don't go in just yet."
"What?" Confusion flashed across Millie's face as she glanced up.
Before she could say another word, Myron swept in, wrapped an arm around her, gently held her cheek,and pressed a kiss to her lips.
Myron grinned and said, "That's your goodnight kiss."
Millie's cheeks turned pink as she playfully tapped his shoulder. She laughed, unable to help herself.
He smiled even wider. "Now I can wish you a real good night."
"You too, Myron." She slipped inside, the smile still on her face as she closed the door.
Myron smiled as he stood there, charmed by her bashful look.
Inside, Millie leaned against the cool wood, fingers brushing her lips. Her heart hammered, and her blush deepened as she replayed that kiss in her mind.
Not far away, the darkness of a neighboring building concealed a silent observer.O
Hidden in shadow, Brandon caught a glimpse of their kiss before he looked away, unable to bear another second.
He realized his hands were shaking as he walked back to his room.
Resting in his drawer, the wedding ring he once put on Millie's finger himself now waited in the dark.
A faint vibration disrupted the silence as his phone lit up with a new message.
After checking the screen, Brandon let out a slow sigh and responded, "Fine. I'll head out to Proidan in a few days."
When dawn broke on the morning of the launch of Elliott Group's Golden series, Brandon boarded a plane.His flight took him straight to Proidan.
Standing at a window, Vivian watched his departure with satisfaction.
"Even fate's on my side," Vivian muttered to herself, a sly glint sparking in her eyes.