Chapter 443
“Certainly, my dear. There’s no need to return the clothes. They're not that expensive anyway,” said the older woman.
As she helped Millie change earlier, the hostess noticed the fine texture of Millie's garments, so unlike her own. She suspected that Millie might feel discomfort in her rougher attire.
Upon their exit, a dreamlike scene met their eyes: snow danced through the air ina fervent waltz, its grace captivating.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“Please accept this as a token of our gratitude, madam,” Derek urged, pressing a substantial amount of money into her hands before rushing to the vehicle.
The hostess’s eyes widened at the unexpected gift, her voice rising with alarm. “What are you doing? I’ve already told you | won’t take money from you.”
From his place beside the car, Derek looked on, his gaze drawn to the spectacle of Marcus cradling Millie as he trod through the snow. This powerful figure, now revealed in a new light, portrayed a rare tenderness with each step.
Impulsively reaching for his phone to inform the search team of Millie’s recovery, Derek’s thumb brushed against the camera button, snapping an unwitting yet poignant photograph of Marcus and Millie.
Meanwhile, within the cozy confines of the hotel, Nancy retrieved a bottle of red wine, pouring two glasses and offering one to Humphrey.
“snow and red wine—a match made in heaven. Let's savor it,” she declared, her eyes gleaming. Humphrey accepted the glass, perplexed by Nancy’s demeanor. Earlier, during a tragic scene in a film they watched, she'd burst into laughter, a reaction that both startled and confused him.
“Nancy, you seem quite jubilant this evening,” Humphrey remarked cautiously, his confusion apparent. The memory of Nancy’s rage earlier in the day, triggered by her defeat at Millie’s hands, lingered fresh in his mind.
“Oh, | am, Humphrey. | am indeed,” Nancy replied, her eyes gleaming with an enigmatic smile as she clinked her glass against Humphrey's, taking a generous sip.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIn her heart, she reveled in the belief that Millie had perished in the cold. Whoever dared to cross her would inevitably face ruin.
What did it matter if Millie had won? She was surely gone by now.
The dark crimson of Nancy’s lipstick, mingled with the red wine, lent a sinister edge to her smile.
Suddenly, a tumultuous uproar resonated from downstairs, followed by the urgent opening of Nancy’s door.
Laurel burst into the room, her face flushed with excitement. “Nancy, have you heard? Millie has been found!” Nancy’s body stiffened, her face paling as the glass slipped from her grasp and shattered on the floor. What was this? Driven by a sudden urgency, she dashed to the window, peering below.
Aprocession of vehicles had returned to the hotel, and from one, Marcus emerged, his tall and commanding presence unmistakable.