Mistakenly Devoted to Fleeting Years, Memories Hard to Let Go

Millie glanced at the brand on the gift—Hilary endorsed it.

She accepted it with a polite thanks, then casually tossed the box onto the table, her feet already carrying her toward the bathroom.

In a swift motion, Elliot wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him. “Let’s shower together, darling.”

He lifted her effortlessly, heading straight toward the bathroom.

“Elliot, put me down!”

She struggled, but his hold only tightened, his strength unyielding.

The emotions she had buried deep inside suddenly erupted like a storm breaking free from its prison. She flailed violently, and in her panic, her hand struck his face with a sharp slap.

Elliot froze for a moment, shock flashing across his features.

Millie’s shock mirrored his. She lowered her gaze in silence, but the sight before her sent a jolt of pain through her chest.

Elliot’s shirt hung loosely, two buttons undone from their earlier struggle, revealing dark kiss marks on his collarbone. The bruising hickeys on his chest were unmistakable, glowing bluish-purple under the light.

Had he been at a business dinner or just come from Hilary’s bed?

The thought lingered in the air, but Millie shoved it away, unwilling to confront it.

“Sorry,” she whispered, “I’m not feeling well today.”

Elliot, assuming she was merely sulking, let it go. He gently took her hand and pressed a soft kiss to it.

“Did that hurt your hand?” he asked, his voice laced with feigned tenderness.

He placed her hand on his cheek, his chuckle a hollow sound in the quiet room. “Should I let you slap the other side, too, to cheer you up?”

“I’m tired,” she replied, her voice a mere murmur.

She slowly withdrew her hand, turning toward the bed, her mind numbing with exhaustion.

Elliot followed her, pulling her into his arms and kissing the top of her head with practiced affection.

“Good night, darling.”

Millie tried to pull away as his breathing evened out, but Elliot’s hold tightened, anchoring her in place.

There had been a time when she loved this closeness and his embrace made her feel safe and protected. Now, it felt like a cage.

Millie had always battled severe insomnia—nights without sleep were more familiar to her than restful ones. But when she had once found solace in Elliot's arms, sleep had come like a warm embrace.

Now, his presence only made her feel sick to her stomach.

The next morning, she was awakened by a voice calling her name.

Her eyes fluttered open and she found Elliot leaning over her, his hand gently brushing the corner of her eye.

“What were you dreaming about? You were crying in your sleep.”

Millie felt disoriented as if she had just awakened from a dream that spanned an entire lifetime.

She had dreamt of being ten, of her father drowning in the river after drinking himself into a stupor and of her mother abandoning her. Millie had chased after her mother’s retreating figure, but it remained out of reach no matter how fast she ran.

She had relived the cruel school years when they taunted her—an orphan with no family, the laughter ringing in her ears as they tossed her schoolbag into the trash.

Then, Elliot had appeared, like a beacon of light pulling her from the mud... only to discard her like trash when he grew bored.

[I’ve never seen someone so easy to fool.]

[All I did was help her when bullied and she clung to me like a dog.]

[She’s an orphan, desperate for love.

[How could I ever love her? It’s just a game. When I’m bored, I’ll end it.]

The anonymous email chat logs played on a loop in her mind, each word like a knife to her heart.

She could clearly picture Elliot’s cold face as he’d said those words. The man in front of her now was a stark contrast, gazing at her with concern.

“Don’t cry, darling,” he murmured. “To make up for missing your birthday yesterday, how about I take you to the amusement park today? Isn’t that something you’ve always wanted to do?”

He kissed the corners of her tear-streaked eyes, his lips lingering as though he could wipe away her pain.

Millie’s lashes trembled and tears slid down her cheeks, vanishing into the pillow beneath her.

So, Elliot remembered after all.

Millie had never been to an amusement park. As a child, she had longed for the bright lights and the laughter, but her family had barely scraped by, never able to afford even the smallest luxuries.