Chapter 261 4 Months Later

Chapter 261 4 Months Later
4 months later...
The banquet hall buzzed with chatter, its high ceilings draped with twinkling lights, tables covered in crisp white linens and piled with platters of roasted lamb and pastries. It was a birthday celebration for one of Ethan’s aunts, a lively woman turning sixty, and the Moretti family’s extended relatives filled the room.
Millie stood near a dessert table, a glass of sparkling water in hand, her simple navy dress catching the light. Ethan was across the room, his tailored suit sharp, delivering a toast as the new head of the Moretti empire. His voice carried, confident yet warm, acknowledging his aunt’s milestone while subtly reinforcing his authority. Millie watched him, a small smile tugging at her lips, but her attention shifted when a familiar figure approached through the crowd.
Rose, her hair swept into a loose bun, wore a cream blouse and skirt, her face bright, no longer shadowed by the bruises Millie had seen months ago. She carried a wrapped gift box, its silver bow glinting, and her smile was genuine as she spotted Millie.
“Millie,” she said, “it’s so good to see you.”
Millie’s heart lifted, her smile widening. “Rose, you look amazing,” she said, noting the healthy flush in Rose’s cheeks. “I’m so glad to see you here.”
Rose laughed softly, setting the gift on a nearby table. “Evan’s orders,” she said. “He never really comes to these family events—not birthdays, not anything. Always sends me with a gift and tells me to enjoy the party for him.”
Millie’s chest tightened at Evan’s name, a question forming on her lips—How is he?—but she caught herself, swallowing it back. Instead, she nodded. “That sounds like him. Always one step removed.”
Rose’s eyes flickered with understanding, but she didn’t press. “He’s… keeping to himself,” she said, then brightened. “Hey, how about lunch tomorrow? Just us. I’ll text you the details.”
Millie’s face lit up. “I’d love that,” she said, pulling out her phone. “What’s your number?”
Rose recited it, and Millie saved it, her fingers quick. She also gave her number to Rose.
“I’ll message you,” Rose promised. “It’ll be nice to catch up properly.”
As Rose moved to greet the aunt, Millie watched her go. Rose’s recovery felt like a small victory, and the prospect of lunch—a chance to talk, maybe ask about Evan—stirred cautious hope.
Later, when Ethan’s speech ended to applause, he joined Millie, his hand brushing her arm as they navigated the crowd to leave. The drive back to his place was quiet, the city lights blurring past, and Millie’s thoughts lingered on Rose.
When they arrived, Millie climbed the stairs to their room. She stood by the window, her phone still in hand, the cool night air brushing her skin as she waited for Rose’s message. The large house’s quiet wrapped around her.
The door creaked open behind her, and she turned to see Ethan step into the room, his suit jacket gone, his shirt sleeves rolled up, a smile playing on his lips.
“Hm,” Ethan said as he leaned against the doorframe, his eyes raking over her. “I think you’re forgetting something, sweetheart.”
“What?”
“Off with the clothes, sweetheart.”
Millie’s breath caught, a flush creeping up her neck, but she held his gaze, her fingers moving to the zipper of her navy dress. Slowly, she slid it down, the fabric pooling at her feet until she stood naked by the bed. Her heart raced.
Ethan smirked, his eyes darkening with approval. “Good woman,” he said, crossing the room.
He stopped in front of her, close enough that she could feel his heat. “I’ll never tire of seeing you naked, Amelia,” he said. “Remember back at Cedar Ridge, how you stood in front of me in just your underwear, all shy?”
Millie’s lips parted. “Yes.”
His smile widened, a glint of memory in his eyes. “I used to wonder why a woman with your body, your beauty, could be so shy.” He stepped closer, his hand brushing her arm, guiding her to the edge of the bed. “Sit,” he said. “Spread your legs for me.”
Millie’s pulse quickened, but she complied, settling on the bed’s edge, her hands gripping the sheets as she parted her thighs. Ethan knelt between her legs, his hands resting lightly on her knees, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch.
“Look at me,” he commanded.
Millie met his gaze, her cheeks burning as Ethan leaned in, his tongue flicking out to trace her folds. She gasped, her body tensing at the sudden warmth, the sensation sharp and overwhelming.
“Don’t take your eyes off me while I make you come with my mouth, sweetheart,” he said.
Millie braced herself, her hands tightening on the sheets as Ethan’s tongue moved, teasing her with slow, deliberate strokes. When his tongue brushed her throbbing nub, her eyes fluttered, her legs trembled, and the pleasure built rapidly. Ethan paused, his lips glistening.
“Eyes on me, Amelia,” he warned, “or I’ll stop, and I won’t touch you again, even if you beg.”
Millie bit her lower lip, forcing her eyes to stay open, locked on his, her breath ragged. Ethan resumed, his tongue flicking her clit, then slid two fingers inside her, thrusting in rhythm. The dual sensation overwhelmed her, her body spiraling, her legs shaking uncontrollably. Instinctively, she reached for his head, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer to her center.
“Ethan…” she cried she came, the release crashing through her, her eyes still fixed on his.
Ethan pulled back, his smirk returning as Millie collapsed onto the bed, her body trembling with aftershocks. She stared at the ceiling, her breath slowing, half-expecting Ethan to climb in beside her.
But he didn’t. Instead, she heard the low murmur of his voice, businesslike, as he answered his phone. She turned her head, catching a glimpse of him stepping into the hallway, his silhouette framed by the doorway. The door clicked shut behind him, and the room fell silent.
She sighed, her eyes drifting back to the ceiling. He wouldn’t return to bed for hours—three, maybe four, if he came back at all. It was his pattern now, the Moretti empire pulling him away, leaving her in the quiet of their shared but often solitary space. Her thoughts swirled, but exhaustion soon tugged at her, and she drifted into a dreamless sleep.
When Millie woke up, sunlight streamed through the curtains, the room bright and warm. She blinked, her hand reaching instinctively to the other side of the bed, finding the sheets cool, the pillow undisturbed, confirming he’d been out all night. She exhaled and reached for her phone on the nightstand.
A text from Rose glowed on the screen, sent just after midnight.
Rose: Hey Millie, let’s meet at The Corner Nook, 1 PM. 1247 Elm St, between the laundry and the convenience store. Can’t wait to see you!