Millie’s lips curled into a sly smile. “You’ve been playing the part for so long, aren’t you exhausted? This time, it’s my turn to steal the show.”

Before Hilary could even process her words, Millie yanked her hand and leaned back with force. In an instant, Hilary was sent tumbling down the stairs, her body hitting each step with a sickening thud. A pool of blood quickly began to spread, staining her white dress in a horrific, vibrant red.

Staring up at Millie, Hilary’s voice trembled with disbelief. “Are you out of your mind? You’re risking your life just to frame me?”

The sound of commotion drew Elliot into the scene. He entered in a frantic rush, not even bothering to change his shoes. His eyes went wide with horror as he saw Millie lying motionless, blood pooling beneath her. It felt as if his very blood had turned cold, his mind racing in confusion.

With trembling hands, he dialed emergency services, panic seeping into his every movement. His breath came in shallow gasps as he knelt beside Millie, not daring to touch her, fearful of making things worse.

“Millie, don’t close your eyes. Stay with me. Please, open your eyes.”

Meanwhile, Hilary, her voice shaky, kept pleading, “Brother, it wasn’t me… It was her… it wasn’t me…”

“Shut up!” Elliot snapped, his voice cold and harsh. He shot Hilary a venomous glare, his face smeared with blood, his eyes bloodshot, veins throbbing on his forehead. He looked every bit the demon he had become at that moment, causing Hilary to shrink back in terror.

She had never seen him like this before. Yes, Elliot had a temper, but he had always been kind, gentle and indulgent toward her. He was always the one who understood, who listened.

But now, for the first time, he was shouting at her for Millie. Fear and uncertainty began to seep into Hilary’s heart. She questioned whether the man she once thought she knew had truly changed.

When the ambulance arrived, Hilary tried to follow, but Elliot stood firm, blocking her way at the door. “Stay here and keep quiet. You’d better pray she’s alright.”

Hilary lowered her head, her heart sinking as tears welled in her eyes, unbidden.

Millie remained unconscious for two long days, her life hanging in the balance, before she finally stirred, her eyelids fluttering open.

The moment Millie’s eyes fluttered open, Elliot’s exhaustion melted away, replaced by pure relief and joy.

Before she could process what was happening, Elliot pulled her into his arms, his body trembling ever so slightly.

“The baby… it’s gone, isn’t it?” Millie’s voice was barely a whisper as her gaze fell to the bed.

Elliot froze, his arms tightening around her as he struggled to breathe. He murmured softly, “We can always have another.”

“You know that’s not possible, Elliot,” Millie choked, her voice thick with pain as she looked away.

Elliot gently lifted her face, his thumb brushing away the tears that streaked down her cheeks. “It’s okay. It doesn’t matter if we don’t have a child. I told you, all I want is you.”

“If you want, we can adopt one in the future.”

Before Millie could respond, her phone buzzed.

It was a message from Hilary.

[Millie, so what if you risked your life? You’ll never beat me. Don’t believe me? Try it.]

Attached to the message was a pregnancy report.

A moment later, Elliot’s phone buzzed as well.

Millie’s gaze flicked to the screen.

The pregnancy report was accompanied by a chilling message. [Choose between her or me and the baby. If you don’t want this child, I’ll get rid of it right now.]

Elliot sprang to his feet, his phone clenched tightly in his hand. His voice was strained. “Millie, there’s an emergency at the company. I need to go back for a bit. Once I’m done, I’ll come back to stay with you, alright?”

Millie looked into his eyes, her expression unreadable, before a soft, bitter laugh escaped her lips.

The smile on her face made Elliot pause, something unsettling flickering in his chest. He hesitated, lowering his head to place a soft kiss on her forehead. In a low, reassuring voice, he said, “I’ll be back soon. Wait for me.”

Then, without another word, he hurried out of the hospital room, his footsteps echoing in the silence behind him.

Once the door clicked shut, Millie wiped her tears away, her face steely and calm. She pulled out her phone, opened a red app and logged into an account she hadn’t visited in years.

This account had been Millie’s for seven years. She never cared much for posting on her Instagram. Still, in moments of sleeplessness, she would share stray thoughts or the occasional update about her life with Elliot. Over time, her quiet presence had unintentionally gathered a following.

On her wedding day, her feed had flooded with messages of congratulations, each one celebrating her dream come true, wishing her a life filled with happiness and fulfillment. It had been the happiest day of her life.

Not just because she had married Elliot, the man she had always longed for, but because, for the first time, she had been showered with such genuine kindness.

Growing up, she had become all too familiar with ridicule, with being silenced and scorned. But at that moment, she couldn’t stop her eyes from welling up at the sight of real goodwill.

Millie opened the app. The latest update was from half a year ago.

Many followers had sent private messages, asking why she hadn’t posted in so long.

She tapped the text editor and typed the words:

"I’ve been diagnosed with stomach cancer and don’t have much time left…

And my lover has cheated on me.

They’re building a new life together.

He went to her.

Before he left, he told me to wait for him.

But what he didn’t know is that when my mother abandoned me all those years ago, I secretly swore to myself:

I would never wait for anyone again in this lifetime.

So, for these past ten years, I chased after him and stayed by his side.

But in the end, he still left me.

This time, I won’t wait for him anymore.

So, let’s not say goodbye."

***

After typing the final word, Millie pulled out the signed divorce agreement and placed it on the desk.

Once the discharge procedures were complete, she took a car to the highway. To prevent Elliot from tracking her movements, she deliberately chose a carpool.

Elliot would never guess that she wasn’t heading to New Zealand but returning to her hometown, Wellington.

It was there, in a plot she had bought just for herself, that she would lay herself to rest.

As a child, she had often heard the elderly say that fallen leaves always return to their roots. But Millie didn’t know where her roots were. Her heart had been completely consumed by Elliot, hoping that he would give her a home.

But what she had longed for wasn’t truly hers.

And now, she didn’t want it anymore.

When Millie arrived, Tiffany was already waiting at the highway entrance with her luggage.

The moment Tiffany saw her, her eyes reddened. "How could you let yourself fall so far? Was it worth it?"

"You could’ve had proper treatment. There’s still—"

"Tiffany," Millie interrupted with a faint smile, wiping away Tiffany’s tears. "Ever since I found out the truth, I never intended to let them have it easy. You know me—I hold grudges."

Tiffany nodded fiercely. "Exactly! Don’t let those scumbags get away with it. Elliot can regret this for the rest of his life!"

Tiffany Molina nodded fiercely. "Exactly! Don’t let those shameless scumbags off easily. Elliot Hemsworth, that blind fool, can regret it for the rest of his life!"

"I’ll leave the rest to you." Millie handed her phone to Tiffany. "If he comes looking for you, give this to him."

After a silent hug, Millie got into the car bound for Wellington.

From this moment on, there would be no more Millie in this world.