Jasper retorted, "Mom! If she''s going to live here, I''m moving out!"


    Millie chimed in with a grin, "Auntie, you can''t treat this like your own home. Back at my ce, I didn''t even get dinner. It''s way better here!"


    Hearing that Millie often went without meals at home, Sienna''s heart ached for her.


    "You, my dear, so thin. From now on, you and Noe will start on some nutritional supplements to boost your health. Don''t worry about your mom, [I''ll


    talk to her."


    "Thank you, Auntie.”Content rights by N?velDr//ama.Org.


    The words Jasper had ready were quelled by Sienna''s stern look. After all, Millie had it tough and had known Noe for so many years. What''s the big


    deal about her staying for a few days?


    "Cut the nonsense. The house isn''t yours. If you want to leave, then be quick about it, scoot!"


    Jasper: "..."


    He wasn''t really ready to leave. Who would want to stay outside, missing out on warm meals and cuddles with his sister when he got home?


    Sienna looked warmly at a somewhat ufortable Darcy. "Darcy, it''s gettingte. Why don''t you stay over? We''ve got plenty of spare rooms, one


    right next to Beckett''s room!"


    Jasper: "Hey, that''s my study...”


    Sienna coldly interjected, "From now on, you no longer have a study in this house, got it?"


    Jasper''s eyes widened as he finally realized something! Was there something going on between Beckett and Ms. Darcy? Why had he only just


    noticed? It''s just a study room. If giving it up meant happiness for Beckett, the perennial bachelor, then he could certainly live without such an uptight


    space!


    Darcy quickly declined, "No, no, that''s too much trouble, I''ll just head home!"


    As she got up to leave, Sienna dramatically clutched her chest and copsed onto the sofa. "Oh, my chest... it hurts so! Beckett, dear, I think I saw


    your grandmother... she insisted Darcy must stay. It''s unsafe for her to leave at this hour!"


    Beckett, despite knowing Sienna''s act was both clumsy and exaggerated, couldn''t help but y along. If he didn''t, he might as well note home


    tomorrow! Sienna wouldbel him the biggest ingrate of the household. Besides... he had his own reasons for wanting Darcy to stay!


    ncing at Darcy, Beckett gently offered, "We really do have a spare room. It was actually bought for Noe''s schooling; it''s convenient for your


    work. Would you consider staying?"


    Millie, covering half of her face with her hand, whispered to Jasper, "Bet I can make her stay with just one sentence?”


    "No way, who do you think you are?"


    "Let''s bet. If I win, you give me that case with the Gagher family!"


    Jasper was puzzled, "That case is a tough one. There''s no way the Gaghers can win."


    "Who said anything about winning? Just leave it to me."


    It wouldn''t really affect Jasper to hand over the case to Millie; the evidence was already well-prepared, and there was no chance for a turnaround


    "Alright, go ahead."


    He was genuinely curious about what Millie could say to make Darcy stay.


    Millie approached Darcy, revealing the bangs on her forehead. "Remember me?"


    Darcy was taken aback, recognizing the familiar face. "It''s you!"


    "Yes, it''s me. I get so scared living alone. Stay with me, please?"


    Darcy chuckled, "You, scared? I must say, I''ve never seen a ‘delicate girl'' who could tackle a gang of thugs all by herself."


    Back in college, Darcy had


    encountered a gang who snatched


    her bag. That bag was a gift from


    Beckett, andshe didn''t want to lose


    it like thats illie, appearing out of >


    nowhere-wie ded a metal rod and”


    managed to retrieve Darcy''s bag. At


    thatime, Millie was covered in


    blosd, her hair sticking together.


    After casually brushing off Darcy''s


    concern and gratitude, she left like a


    hero. Darcy hadn''t recognized her


    because the difference between


    Millie then and now was just too


    vast!


    Millie coyly added, "Had to maintain my image, you know. Things were a bit rough back then.”


    Noe interjected, "You were supposed to buy groceries, and instead, you yed the hero, getting yourself injured.”


    "Heh, couldn''t bear to see a beauty in distress.”


    Darcy smiled. "Alright, then. I''ll impose for one night. Thank you."


    Jasper was stunned that Millie actually managed to convince Darcy to stay. He looked at Millie, barely containing hisughter, "...you really are a


    force of nature."


    Millie, rolling up her sleeves and grabbing Jasper by the cor, teased, "So, Mr. Schnabel, care for a little spar?"


    Noe''s chilling voice echoed, "Millie, let him go. Gently, please!”


    If only Noe knew the extent of Millie''s relentless energy, she might not have taught her judo in the first ce! Now, seeing her like this was just


    headache-inducing.


    Late at night, Noe released her


    grip fromMillie''s pulse. "No big ~


    issues, But no smoking, no drinking,


    no coffee, and no staying upte.


    Take''care of yourself Now off to


    bed with you."


    od


    "...might as well kill me."


    "If you keep this up, you won''t need any help in that department. Then you can forget about the Gagher estate."


    Millie, meeting Noe''s stern gaze, chuckled nervously. "Okay, okay, I get it."


    "Why didn''t youe to me?"


    "I didn''t want to trouble you. I thought, once I get everything from the Gaghers, I''de back for you in style!"


    Noe shook her head in disbelief, "The flowers on grandma''s grave, that was you, wasn''t it?"


    "Ah! Grandma Harriet was family too, not being there to say goodbye is something I''ll always regret. Paying my respects is the least I can do.”


    "Grandma wouldn''t hold it against you. Go back to bed."


    Millie stoodup, and just as she did,


    she heard voicesing from =~


    outside: Curious, she pushed open


    the window of Noe''s room and


    wagimmedia ely met with thie sight


    of Palmer standing on the balcony.


    Millie: “..."


    Well, that was awkward! Luckily, Palmer didn''t seem to mind Millie''s reaction and turned to enter Noe''s room


    Millie tried to pinpoint where the voices wereing from and realized they were all emanating from the rooms upstairs.


    "Darcy, you really think you''re all grown up, huh? Staying outte and noting home?"


    Darcy replied calmly, "I''m nearly thirty, I think I can decide when Ie home.”


    "Save it. Mom''s just worried about you. You''re being incredibly selfish!"


    "You''re her daughter, she knows you best. Noting home must mean you''re out chasing men, right? Are you that desperate? It''s disgraceful!”


    "The guys you''re picking are all losers. Only the ones Mom sets you up with are any good for you. Don''t be so picky. A woman who can''t have kids is


    useless, so quit dreaming!”