Just as Milly stepped inside, she heard a low, guttural growl from the shadows beneath a nearby tree. It sounded like an animal, but something about it was unsettling—a mix of threat and hostility. On this eerie, quiet night, the sound was terrifying.
Horrified, Milly clutched her chest, trying to calm herself. "It's probably just a cat or a dog," she thought. The iron gate having opened meant Richard welcomed her; surely, no harm would come to her. With her nerves slightly settled, she took another step forward.
Suddenly, two glowing eyes opened in the shadows. The massive figure of a beast emerged, revealing itself bit by bit: razor-sharp fangs, claws capable of tearing flesh, and a menacing gaze. This was no ordinary animal. It had distinct markings and an overwhelming presence, even as it walked at a leisurely pace.
Milly's expression changed drastically. It was a tiger—a living, breathing tiger, roaming free, unchained and uncaged.
Milly's face turned ashen. Her mind screamed in horror. Her legs gave way, and any thought of running or screaming vanished. She could only tremble uncontrollably.
The tiger slowly approached, its hot breath grazing her skin. "Is it going to eat me?" she thought, tears streaming down her face. She fell to the ground, helpless and terrified. "Help… please… someone… help me…" But no one answered.
The tiger, towering over her, glanced down at her before casually lifting a massive paw. With an effortless motion, it swatted Milly like a ball, sending her flying out of the gate. She tumbled through the air before crashing to the ground. The iron gate silently closed behind her.
Inside the estate, the tiger shook its head and strutted back with the air of a king, its gaze holding a hint of disdain. It seemed to despise Milly's intrusion on its master's domain. Everything there—including the man who struck fear into the hearts of all—belonged to its master: Tiffany.
Milly, lying outside the gate, ignored the pain. Overwhelmed with relief at having narrowly escaped death, she waited until she could move again. Then she crawled to her car, scrambled inside, and sped away. Her body shook as the car swerved erratically down the road.
Inside Royal Bay, Garry watched the whole scene on the security cameras and burst out laughing. He had opened the gate remotely, knowing Richard had no time for Milly. "Perfect solution!" he thought. This way, she'd never return. "Nicely done," he praised himself.
In the past two days, public opinion had escalated, with the situation spiraling out of control. Forced into a corner, Freddie tried to maintain his composure, but it lasted only a day before he waited outside Abbie's apartment, wrapped in layers of clothing.
Late that night, Abbie returned from a long day of filming. Searching her bag for her keys as she stepped out of the elevator, she was surprised to find someone standing by her door. The bundled figure was hard to see, but even from behind, she recognized Freddie.
Seeing her, Freddie became visibly emotional. "Abbie… How have you been?" he asked nervously. He was playing the sympathy card, but Abbie wasn't fooled. She sneered, remembering his indifference three days earlier outside the restaurant. His disdain had been palpable.
Abbie laughed coldly. "Leave." He didn't deserve to stand before her.
Desperate, Freddie grabbed her hand, as he had two years earlier when he made promises he never kept. "Abbie, give me another chance! Everything that happened before was my fault. I was heartless, I was ungrateful! But I swear I've always cared about you. I still love you. Please, for the sake of what we had, help me one last time."
Abbie listened, surprised to find herself feeling no anger or resentment. She had suffered enough to see him for who he really was.
She said calmly, "I figured you'd come looking for me eventually. But I didn't expect you to still be this shameless. Freddie, have some dignity. And while you're at it, leave me mine too. Every time I see you, I remember how blind I was. Your presence is a reminder of my greatest humiliation." The best outcome was for them never to see each other again.
Freddie, stunned by her bluntness, was full of sorrow. "You really can't give me one more chance?"
"Leave," she repeated, unlocking her door and shutting it behind her. A door now stood between them. Abbie took a deep breath. As Tiffany had once told her, what was in the past was truly over.
The next day, news of Freddie's surrender spread like wildfire. Before surrendering, he held a press conference, admitting his wrongdoings and bowing in apology.
Tiffany, seeing the news, raised an eyebrow. Freddie had shown more guts than she expected. Backed into a corner—with companies cutting ties, endorsements dropping, and unreleased films facing costly repercussions—turning himself in was his only way out. It might even win him public sympathy. Once the storm passed, he might salvage his reputation. Besides, his fortune was more than enough to sustain him, even if he switched industries.
Following Freddie's confession, authorities reopened the investigation. Everything came to light. Although Abbie had reasons for taking the fall for someone else, it was still a crime. She cooperated, paid the fine, and issued a public apology. The darkness that had loomed over her for two years finally dissipated. But there was still Milly to deal with.
The extraneous website reference has been removed. Minor spelling and grammatical errors have been corrected throughout. The names "Ae" and "Ae" have been replaced with "Abbie," assuming this was the intended name. The section about the am**ed fortune has been left as is, as the intent was unclear.