Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Millie was escorted out in broad daylight, panic written all over her face. Her first thought was whether her escapades abroad had been unearthed.

Yet, facing the shocked and questioning gazes around her, she managed a smile and said with composure, "Must be some mix-up, I guess? I'll go see what's up." Her three roommates exchanged bewildered looks, ultimately watching helplessly as she was led away.

"What's going on? I'm freaking out here..."

"Something's not right, huh?"

"What do we do now? Should we call her folks?"

"Do you have her parents' number?"

The roommate shook her head.

Then, it hit her. There was this time when Murray had dropped Millie off at the dorm, and he'd handed them his business card, which should have his number.

With that thought, she dashed back to the dorm, rummaged for the card, and dialed the number.

Murray had just wrapped up a meeting and was about to leave work when his personal phone rang.

He kept two phones, and only a select few had this number. Despite not recognizing the caller ID, he answered.

"Is this Murray? I'm Millie's roommate. Some cops came and took her from school just now! I'm worried something's up, can you check on her at the station?" Murray frowned, absorbing the rapid and anxious voice on the line, and simply replied, "Understood, I'll handle it."

He grabbed his jacket and headed downstairs where his driver had the car door open. Slipping into the backseat, he instructed, "To the police station, please." Why would the cops take someone without a reason?

There had to be a cause.

Rubbing his phone, Murray's gaze darkened as he found his assistant's contact: "Millie's been taken to the station. Dig up what you can."

...

At the police station, it turned out just as the veteran cop predicted: the incident happened abroad, and pursuing it was practically impossible. They could only give a nominal scolding before letting her go.

Millie's heart pounded until she heard she could leave. That's when she relaxed.

Stepping out of the station, she saw a Porsche parked upfront. Leaning against it was a tall figure, phone in hand idly flipping it. If not Murray, who else could it be?

"Babe, you came for me"

Her joy froze under his icy stare, her smile awkwardly hanging, making her look like a clown. Murray straightened up and approached her. "Was that mess in the Maldives your doing?"

She instinctively reached for his hand, fear evident. "Babe, it's not what you think, let me explain-" Murray coldly withdrew his hand, his eyes filled with scorn: "With the facts laid bare, what's there to explain?"

His assistant had called just as he

arrived at the station. Listening. to in the car, he learned

the details in the car, he t

incident was no

the

waccident!

Millie was the instigator.

And he, like a fool, had been kept in the dark.

Even though Corley had warned him, he chose to believe in her goodness, never suspecting a thing. But now?

He felt like he'd been slapped in the face.

Facing his cold gaze, Millie felt a chill run down her spine, yet she stubbornly refused to back down-