Chapter 342

Chapter 342:

After Tatiana left, Milly turned to Howard and said, “I’m fine.” Howard’s gaze softened as he looked into her clear eyes. “When you’re with me, you won’t have to endure anyone’s harsh words.”

Milly nodded, but his gentle words stirred something deep inside her. An unexpected pain shot through her head like a jagged knife. She winced as a voice echoed in her mind:

“You’re only allowed to stay with me—no one else. Understand? If you ever leave me, you’ll suffer a fate worse than death.”

“Everything I do is for your own good.”

The voice was both sweet and terrifying, wrapping around her like a velvet noose.

“Milly!” Howard’s voice cut through the fog in her mind as he grabbed her hand, sensing something was wrong. “Milly, talk to me—what’s happening?”

But Milly was consumed by the pounding in her head, unable to hear him. The pain was overwhelming, drowning out everything else. Then, like a beam of light cutting through the darkness, a new voice rang out in her mind:

“Hey there. What are you doing here? Are you okay?”

The voice was so tender, so warm, that it pushed back the cold, cruel echoes. Slowly, the pain ebbed away, leaving Milly feeling lighter.

When Milly opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was the worry etched on Howard’s face. Without thinking, she threw her arms around him, pressing her lips to his in a spontaneous, desperate kiss. Howard stiffened in shock.

He had known Tatiana since they were children and had been by her side for years, but they had never shared a moment like this. Howard believed that intimacy was something sacred, something to be cherished. This was his first kiss, and it was nothing like he had imagined.

Before he could fully grasp what had just happened, the kiss ended as abruptly as it began. Milly’s body went limp in his arms, her eyes fluttering closed as she fainted. Howard reacted instinctively, catching her before she could fall to the ground.

The warmth of her lips lingered on his, but there was no time to dwell on it. His heart raced as he scooped her up and rushed her to the hospital.

After what felt like an eternity, the doctor emerged, a reassuring smile on his face. “Nothing to worry about. Your girlfriend is in excellent health, young man!”

Howard leaned closer to the doctor, asking, “If she’s perfectly healthy, why did she suddenly collapse like that?”

“Sometimes, intense emotions can overwhelm the body, causing temporary fainting spells. She just needs some rest. And as her boyfriend, you should try to keep her stress levels low. Emotional well-being is just as important as physical health.”

Howard nodded slowly, choosing not to correct the doctor’s assumption about his relationship with Milly. His gaze shifted to Milly, who was peacefully asleep on the hospital bed, her face pale but serene. A wave of guilt washed over him. He had underestimated the depth of her turmoil, mistaking her distress for mere sadness.

His resentment toward Tatiana grew even stronger.

Stepping out into the quiet hospital corridor, Howard pulled out his phone and made a call. His voice was cold and resolute. “Ensure that Tatiana’s scandal stays at the top of the trending lists for the entire week. I don’t want it disappearing anytime soon.”

Days passed, and true to Howard’s order, Tatiana’s name remained splashed across every social media platform, her misdeeds dissected and discussed endlessly. Attempts to contact her usual media connections had been futile; calls went unanswered, and doors that were previously open to her were now firmly shut.

Damn it!

She had planned to let the scandal die down naturally before staging a grand gesture—perhaps a generous charity donation or a heartfelt apology—to win back public favor. But with the relentless spotlight, her reputation was deteriorating by the minute.

In just a few days, she’d watched her follower count plummet from twenty million to ten million, losing not just numbers but the engagement of her most dedicated fans.

Desperation clawed at her. Grabbing her phone, she dialed Courtney’s number. “We need to move forward with the plan. Release the information.”

Inside the offices of Edge Entertainment, Madisyn scrolled through her phone, eyebrows slightly raised as she noticed Tatiana’s scandal still dominating the news cycle. Typically, such stories lost steam after a day or two, yet this one seemed persistent.

Setting her phone down, Madisyn shrugged off the curiosity.

Around noon, Madisyn made her way to the cafeteria, her pace unhurried. As she walked through the halls, employees greeted her with smiles and nods.

“Miss Johns, good afternoon!”

“You look radiant as always, Miss Johns.”

“Hello, Miss Johns!”

Before Madisyn could respond, a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, catching her off guard. “Miss Johns, long time no see! Did you miss me?” came a playful, familiar voice.

Madisyn broke into a wry smile. “Evie, what brings you here?”

Evie moved forward to face her, grinning from ear to ear. “I have a shoot nearby, so I thought I’d drop by. She added with a mischievous wink, “I couldn’t resist the lure of a free lunch!”

They grabbed their trays and found a quiet spot to sit. “So, how’s work treating you?” Madisyn asked, stirring her soup.

Evie shrugged, her cheerful demeanor softening. “It’s been alright. Not too hectic, but… it’s been a while since I was last in Ansport. I kind of miss it, you know?”

Madisyn raised an eyebrow teasingly. “Don’t tell me you can’t afford to eat out. Why go through the hassle of coming here for a free meal?”

Evie grinned, letting in with mock seriousness, “You wouldn’t understand, Miss Johns. Since moving out of my home, I’ve become the queen of saving every penny. Every little bit helps!”

Madisyn chuckled and nodded. “Fair enough. Smart thinking.”

“And besides, Madisyn, I’ve been learning so much on set.” Evie launched into an animated recount of her experiences, her enthusiasm infectious.

Madisyn listened with a smile, occasionally nodding as Evie chattered on. Yet, beneath her calm exterior, she couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast between Evie’s lightheartedness and Andrew’s intense demeanor. It was hard to believe they were siblings, so different in every way.

As Evie continued talking, her phone suddenly rang, cutting through the conversation. She glanced at the screen, and for a split second, her cheerful expression faltered. Without a word, she ducked her head, focusing intently on her meal as if trying to make herself invisible.

Madisyn noticed the shift immediately. “What is wrong?” she asked, her tone gentle but probing.

“It’s nothing at all,” Evie mumbled, her voice uncharacteristically subdued.

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