Chapter: 2 His voice was steady, almost detached, like someone passing along a message that didn't concern him. Millie watched Brandon wordlessly, her eyes fixed on his profile. He spoke like his words were instructions, not suggestions. Their relationship had always been one-sided. She had chased it from the start, drawn in by youthful affection.... weak and bleeding, she saw himunmoving, protective, fierce. From that point on, she was his. She loved him without pause, met his requests with everything she had, carrying them out more flawlessly than anyone else ever could. He would always pat her head, light and warm, and say in a low voice, "You did so well, Millie."But Brandon's praises never lasted, his kisses barely stayed, and whatever affection they shared always felt just out of reach. But Millie told herself it was just how he was. Even when others called her naive, she stayeddevoted and trusting. She had given seven years of her life to him... A year earlier, Brandon's grandfather, Derek Watson, had fallen into poor health. The family, hoping to lift his spirits, decided Brandon should marry. Perhaps the joy of a wedding would give the old man something to hold on to. So Brandon went on to marry Millie. She thought it was finally their moment. But after the vows, something changed. He began to pull away. Sometimes, he looked at her like she was a stranger."Millie, are you listening?" Brandon scowled as he caught the far-off look in Millie's eyes."Does it have to be like this?" she asked softly. He didn't answer. Instead, he said, "She's going through so much, Millie." Millie's chest tightened. "And what about me?".v. Brandon didn't answer right away. His eyes, dark and steady, flickered with a trace of impatience... Then, after about three seconds, he said, "Millie, she's dying. Maybe you don't know, but she's in love with me. Because we were married, and she didn't want to hurt you, she never let things go too far between us. Even when tried to make it up to her, she never let me. She's a good person. Please, let her have this. Don't make me think you're being heartless."His words, spoken so calmly, pierced her more than if he had shouted. So in Brandon's eyes, a woman in love with a married man, who promised to hold back but never really let go, was a saint.w.. And a wife who simply wanted to keep her husband to herself was heartless. Millie stared at his face. The same face she had fallen forintense eyes, prominent nose, beautiful lips. When had things started to crumble? Maybe it was the day the woman showed up."Are you sure this is what you want?" Millie asked, steadying herself. Brandon said nothing, pursing his lips. Finally, he opened his mouth to respond. "Yes, you""Alright." Millie cut him off before he could finish. Brandon looked up, clearly surprised. He frowned, studying her closely.