Chapter 21

Chapter 21:
As she made her way through the corridor, she paused to pour herself a cup of coffee.
Not long after, Charles caught up to her.
“Millie,” he said, his voice cutting through the quiet.
She turned and gave him a small nod. “Mr. Evans.”
His face shifted with emotion, unreadable at first. Then, after a moment of silence, he finally asked, “Why?”
The only answer Millie offered was a knowing smile.
A searching look settled on Charles as Millie spoke. “Didn’t you hear her? Vivian’s planning to compete on Heavenly Melody.”
Puzzlement flickered in his gaze, but he nodded, sharing what he knew. “From what I’ve heard, Vivian’s not really entering as a contestant—she’ll be more of a guest judge, there to shower praise.”
That deepened Millie’s smile, a glint of amusement lighting her eyes. Coffee set gently aside, she leaned forward. “Tell me, Mr. Evans—doesn’t this whole thing strike you as just a bit entertaining?”
His confusion lingered, but he listened.
Millie explained everything in a calm, measured tone. “Brandon and I have already filed for divorce. It’ll be finalized in thirty days. He told me Vivian’s the reason—he wants to marry her. And now she’s using my song as her big breakthrough. Sooner or later, people are going to find out I’m the one who wrote it. Funny, isn’t it?”
Recognition dawned on Charles, a flicker of understanding brightening his face. A small, secretive smile touched Millie’s lips. “I’m looking forward to their faces when the truth comes out.”
Curiosity tugged at him. “So this is your way of getting even?”
Rather than answer right away, Millie wrapped her hands around the coffee cup.
Bitterness rose with the steam, swirling quietly inside her.
Her voice, when it came, was soft but clear. “No, not at all.”
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Peace was all she wanted—just a clean break. “My only wish was to sever all ties, start over, and focus on what I love,” she said, gaze drifting toward the trees swaying in the wind outside. “But they’ve insisted on playing games. If that’s the case, I might as well play along.”
A thoughtful silence settled between them, and Charles’ features grew more complicated with every word.
Once, the Bennett family had been the toast of Crobert, and these rich kids—Charles and Millie included—ran in the same circles.
Their friendship had roots stretching all the way back to childhood.
In those days, Millie was the dazzling heiress, the unreachable dream for half the city’s eligible bachelors.
Fortunes changed swiftly, though, and after the Bennett family’s downfall, most people had all but forgotten Millie ever existed.
Society never promised fairness.
Reminders of the past often slipped into Charles’ thoughts. He turned away, making sure Millie could not read his expression.
He finally broke the silence, saying, “Sometimes a divorce is the best outcome.”
A quiet look of relief appeared in Millie’s eyes as she faced him. “I appreciate your honesty, and everything else.”
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