79.
At the end of a long hallway, Rian waits near the elevator.
Milly walks towards him.
Ethan steps in between. “You rolled me like dice!”
She sighs. “This again?”
“I-I-I thought we had something.”
“You said I didn’t owe you anything.”
“I didn’t know you then.”
“You still don’t.” Milly wipes her hair from her eyes. “You made me feel strong, Ethan. I liked that. Now it’s your turn.”
“For what?”
“To be strong, sweetie.” Her fingertips graze his cheek.
Ethan stands dumbstruck.
“We can’t anymore.” Her palm slides down his shoulder. “You’re in my way.” She eases him aside.
He complies, in total shock.
Milly proceeds to the elevator.
Rian shrugs. “What was that about?” The doors open.
She enters. “Nothing.”
Rian follows.
Another man waiting near the elevator gets in.
Mustached, broad-shouldered, late-thirties — he was standing near Rian’s booth earlier.
As the doors slide closed in front of her, halfway down the hall, Ethan looks on, slack-jawed with slumping shoulders.
Well, that was something else. It’s not this role to judge Milly, but by comparison, at least she told Ethan it was over. She didn’t just do whatever she liked and lie about it — like Father did.