Ch. 541..550

Chapter 541

Nathan and Mila didn't answer the question. Everyone felt the tension between them but didn't want to pry into their matters.

Nathan had been busy, and Mila was recovering from childbirth, so they hadn't been able to spend much time together or communicate. This was out of the ordinary, and everyone noticed.

As the awkwardness lingered, Fenna approached Nathan with a notebook and said, "Nate, I've got today's schedule organized."

Mila's expression immediately soured. She set down her utensils, stood up, and announced, "I've had enough. You all enjoy your meal."

The Morrison brothers watched her leave in surprise. Seeing that she had hardly eaten anything, they asked with concern, "Why aren't you eating much today?"

Mila didn't reply and walked away. Nathan usually would have assumed she was avoiding him, but now he realized her aversion was directed at Fenna.

He took a deep breath to quell his rising anger before asking in a steely tone, "Do you think my instructions are a joke?"

"Is it wrong not to take a break?" Fenna protested, looking upset.

Nathan closed his eyes, his face darkening with frustration. His hands clenched into fists on the table, his veins pulsing visibly.

He could now understand why Mila hated Fenna so much. Fenna was bold enough to ignore Nathan's authority as her superior, let alone considering Mila's feelings.

When Nathan opened his eyes, his gaze was icy and stern as he ordered the maid, "Help Fenna pack her things and arrange for the driver to send her home immediately."

The sudden turn of events left everyone present stunned. The maid hurriedly complied and went upstairs to pack. Fenna's eyes were filled with tears and she gritted her teeth in frustration. Nathan rose from his seat. Hands in his pockets, he stressed every word sternly. "Cole will take over your duties. Your position will be reassigned within a month."

"Nate, is it because of Wanda? When did you start mixing personal and professional matters?" Fenna questioned.

Nathan scoffed, "Have you ever respected my personal affairs? Have you ever drawn a clear line between personal and professional?"

"That's because-" Fenna tried to explain but realized everyone was giving her odd looks. Her behavior wasn't that of a subordinate. It was more like a mistress who was unwilling to be abandoned

"Because of what?" Taylor asked.

In frustration, Fenna blurted out, "Because Wanda isn't up to Nate's standards. She can't support him in his personal or professional life. That's why I look after him and try to do more for him." "Fenna's got a point," Layla chimed in.

Nathan's expression darkened even more, and he locked his intense gaze on Fenna. He had never been this angry before. "Do you even understand her? Why are you so certain?"

"

Nathan cut her off. "You don't

1.n

understand her at all. She married beneath herself to be with me, I'm the one who's not up to her standards. Besides, our marriage is none of your business as ano outsider."

Fenna lowered her head and clenched her fists. Her pained and crestfallen demeanor made

everyone feel Nathan's treatment of her was somewhat callous. Yet, that was because they weren't privy to the whole story.

Nathan walked away from the table but stopped just after a few steps.

"Stop thinking of yourself as my friend from now on. All I want to do is keep my distance from you." Those present exchanged glances while Fenna quietly shed tears.

Chapter 542

Chapter 542

Layla couldn't just stand by. She stepped up to defend Fenna. "Nate, Fenna has done nothing wrong-"

Nathan eyed her sharply and growled, "Layla, stay out of this." Layla was taken aback by his response, her voice trailed off nervously.

He walked out the front door and saw Cole waiting by the car.

"General Morrison, good morning," Cole greeted him politely.

Nathan looked around and asked softly, "Where's Mrs. Morrison?"

"Mrs. Morrison and Phoebe just drove off."

"Follow them," Nathan said. He got into the car immediately.

Cole was driving as he asked, "General Morrison, is something wrong?"

"She hacked into the Dreamshift Beauty Salon surveillance to investigate Fenna," Nathan replied urgently.

"What's there to investigate about Fenna?"

"That's not the point. The point is that she found something suspicious, so she wants to dig a little deeper." "General Morrison, are you concerned that Mrs Morrison could disrupt our plans?"

Nathan looked out of the window in silence. He could always come up with another plan if it had disrupted. He feared Mila might end up like Fenna the last time, abducted while digging deeper into this beauty salon.

An hour later, a car pulled into the underground parking lot of Dreamshift Beauty Salon. Phoebe turned off the engine and unbuckled her seat belt. She looked back at Mila and asked, "Mila, we're here. Shall we go in?"

Mila looked down at the tablet with a serious expression and replied thoughtfully, "No, we're not going in."

"We've come all this way, why not?"

Mila placed the tablet before Phoebe, who studied the company's registration information. Avery represented Dreamshift Beauty Salon legally, which was one of the properties owned by the Hoffises.

"Avery?" Phoebe remembered when she and Mila had dunked Avery's head into the toilet bowl in the salon bathroom. She thought Avery would kill them for that.

Mila retrieved the tablet and said, "I've been watching the footage. Fenna seems fine. She's probably here on Nathan's orders to check things out." "Check out what?"

"I'm not sure what Nathan is investigating, but there seems to be something wrong with this salon. I'm more certain now that I've checked the registration information." "Mila, I'm not afraid of danger. I could pretend to be a customer and dig deeper," Phoebe suggested.

Yet, Mila hesitated. She considered it risky, especially since even Fenna had gotten into trouble. Besides, punishing Avery before made them more susceptible to trouble.

"Let's head back," Mila said.

Phoebe reluctantly buckled her seatbelt before driving off. Moments later, she spotted several burly men with iron bars standing beside an SUV.

"Mila, we're trapped," Phoebe said as she gripped the steering wheel.

They'd been under surveillance from the moment they'd pulled into the underground parking lot. Those guys meant business.

Mila looked up to see the armed men approaching while Phoebe tried net to reverse the car. Unexpectedly, another SUV blocked their tail.

Dozens of tough-looking men came out from behind them. They were surrounded.

"Mila, what do we do?" Phoebe asked worriedly. She turned her head back and forth. "There're so many of them and they're armed. I can't take them all." Mila checked her phone and said, "

Phoebe kept a wary eye on the approaching men. "What now? We've walked right into the lion's den."

Chapter 543

Chapter 543

Mila handed Phoebe something that looked like a gun and said, "Here, take it."

"A gun? Isn't that risky?" Phoebe was startled. She knew that it was against the law to own a gun in Norvania, and using one to hurt someone could result in the death penalty.

Mila gave Phoebe a special mask and explained, "No bullets are in this gun. It's a chemical weapon I made and it's filled with ether, an anesthetic used on patients. It won't hurt anyone when it hits. "The ether would spread through the air as soon as it was fired. Breathing even a little can make someone pass out."

Phoebe looked at the weapon, then at Mila in awe. "Mila, you're amazing."

Mila put on her mask and warned, "Be careful using it. After firing, hold your breath for 20 seconds so you don't breathe it in."

"Got it," Phoebe said as she watched the men approach.

Phoebe and Mila got out of the car at the same time. Phoebe pointed the gun at the men who were approaching them. All of them froze when they saw the gun.

Mila braced herself and ordered, "Phoebe, fire."

Phoebe did so without a second thought. The gun went off with a muffled bang. She quickly turned around and fired at the men coming from behind.

After two shots were fired, panic spread among the men. They ducked and scrambled in opposite directions, seeking refuge in nearby cars. Soon, a strange odor began to fill the parking lot.

As more than a dozen burly men collapsed, the men behind the wheels of the front and back cars revved their engines and sped toward Mila and Phoebe.

Mila and Phoebe quickly swerved to the cars on either side. There was a loud bang and their car was smashed to pieces. Mila crawled underneath a car for cover.

Shortly after, one of the men got out of the car to make a phone call. "They've got chemical weapons. Send more people and get them to wear gas masks."

Mila felt a shudder of fear. She hoped Phoebe could use the gun to deal with the remaining bad guys. They wouldn't have a chance to escape if the ones with gas masks came soon.

Mila stayed underneath the car and looked out. Suddenly, she saw a pair of black leather shoes ahead. Her heart pounded and she held her breath as she watched them warily. She felt helpless and knew she couldn't fight like Phoebe. She'd only slow Phoebe down if she got caught.

She was thinking about what to do next. Suddenly, the man crouched down. His iron rod hit the ground with a thud and his eyes met hers. The man's menacing expression froze Mila in fear. It almost gave her a heart attack.

The man smirked and asked in a wicked tone, "Hottie, do you still think you can hide?"

Mila shrank back in fear. When the man grabbed her clothes, she cried, "Phoebe, help!"

Suddenly, someone stomped on the man's back, causing him to howl in pain. Mila's clothes were released.

Then, gunshots rang out. A little later came Cole's solemn voice. “Músm Morrison, Phoebe, it's safe now.

Come out."

Mila finally felt some peace when she heard Cole's voice. She crawled out from the right side of the car. Just as her head popped up, someone crouched before how net held her arm. A gentle voice came. "Be careful."

Looking up from the familiar military boots, Mita saw Nathan's rugged handsome face The look in his eyes was warm and full of concern. Mila immediately brushed him away and shrank back under the car

Chapter 544

Chapter 544

Nathan felt lost. Meanwhile, Mila crawled out of the car in a different direction. She brushed off the dust as she got to her feet.

Phoebe ran over to help her and asked, "Mila, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Mila replied. She scanned her surroundings.

Beside the men who had collapsed from inhaling the ether earlier, there were a few others wearing gas masks, with bullet wounds on their thighs. They were lying on the ground, too afraid to move.

Mila realized more men had been brought in and finally understood why Phoebe couldn't handle the situation alone.

Nathan examined Mila from head to toe. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that she was okay.

Mila and Phoebe's car had been badly damaged and they couldn't drive it anymore. "The police will handle the scene. You can get in my car," Nathan offered.

"Thanks," Mila said. She made her way to his car and got into the passenger seat.

Phoebe and Cole stared at Nathan with a blank expression.

Nathan gazed at Mila for quite a while before saying, "Let's get in."

Cole entered the driver's seat while Phoebe tapped the passenger side window. As the window lowered, she said, "Mila, you should sit in the back with General Morrison." With a frown, Mila muttered, "Just get in the car and stop talking."

Phoebe pouted and puffed her cheeks unhappily. She reluctantly got into the back seat with Nathan, who had always been so distant and solemn.

The vehicle left the underground parking lot and entered the bustling street. There was an uneasy tension lingering in the car.

Phoebe sat in the corner, quietly watching the scenery as it passed by. She had expected to hear Nathan criticize her and Mila, but he remained silent. Moments later, Nathan's gentle voice broke the silence. "You can ask me anything you want to know. You don't have to investigate yourself."

Phoebe turned to Nathan to find him staring intently at Mila. It dawned on her that there was no way Nathan could be talking to her in such a gentle way. She turned her head back and stared out the window while Mila remained silent.

Nathan continued, "Avery is legally representing Dreamshift Beauty Salon. Lucas and Oliver have e

probably been holed up there for six months, which explains the heavy security.

"They've had plastic surgery and faked their deaths. They're now living under new identities with a different look.

"Lucas, who now goes by Hugo, is Avery's older brother. I'm pretending to be unaware to avoid alarming them.

"I sent my men to investigate Dreamshift Beauty Salon, hoping to confirm if Oliver was still there and to find out his current identity and appearance.

"Perhaps my plan was leaked, so

they baited my men to lure me out and sent snipers to assassinate you.

"You're Oliver's weakness in their eyes. He couldn't act recklessly with you nearby. Also, I'm still looking into ET how my plan got out."

After laying it all out for Mila, Nathan asked, "Is there anything else you wish to know?"

A mix of emotions flooded Mila. She asked, "What were you thinking when you hung up on me and turned off your phone?"

Chapter 545

Chapter 545

Chapter 545

Nathan was willing to explain. His only fear was that Mila would misunderstand him even more if he did.

Just when he wasn't sure if he should speak, Phoebe suddenly blinked at him and asked, "General Morrison, are you really avoiding Mila's calls and even turning off your phone?"

Suddenly nervous, Nathan blurted out, "My jacket was with Fenna's and my phone was in my jacket pocket."

Mila's face grew sour. She didn't expect him to care so much about Fenna. She pressed her lips together, breathed deeply, and looked gloomily out the window.

Phoebe paused briefly before she asked, "Did Fenna turn off the phone on purpose?"

"I asked her, but she denied it," Nathan replied.

"Do you believe Fenna?"

"Believe her or not, I have no proof she did it."

"Still, this is really out of line," Phoebe muttered unhappily.

Nathan looked at Mila nervously. His eyes were filled with deep regret. The atmosphere in the car fell into silence again.

Suddenly, Mila turned around with a steely look and held her hand to Nathan. "Give me your phone."

Confused, Nathan handed the phone to Mila. She rummaged through the car's storage compartment, found the data cable, and connected the phone to her tablet. "What's the password?" asked Mila.

Fascinated by what she was doing, Nathan leaned over to Mila and whispered, "Our anniversary."

Mila paused for an instant. Cole and Phoebe thought it was sweet and couldn't help chuckling. Having entered the password on the phone, Mila went to work on her tablet.

She wrote a few lines of code and extracted the data and commands from the phone for that day. After a few steps, she placed the tablet before Nathan. "Have a look at this."

Nathan's eyes were on the strings of numeric codes on the screen.

It looked like a jumble of numbers, but he could make out a few words within the lines of code as he studied them more closely. It indicated that a "power off" command had been issued at the specified date and time.

Phoebe glanced over and clicked her tongue. "So, it didn't turn off automatically. Someone pushed the off button. This is hard proof."

Nathan looked furious as he leaned back in his seat and stared ahead without blinking. He suddenly realized how foolish he had been to think that Fenna wouldn't affect his marriage. It had been so ironic.

When they arrived at the Morrison Residence, Mila exited the car and headed straight into the house. Phoebe politely said goodbye to Nathan before hurrying to catch up with Mila.

Nathan watched Mila's silhouette intently, lost in his thoughts.

Cole didn't start the car. Worried, he asked, "General Morrison, this incident hasn't affected many things, and it's been over a month. Are you still planning to hold Fenna responsible for this?"

This incident not only caused Nathan to miss the birth of his child. It also shattered Mila's trust and love for him, leaving their marriage hollow. Nathan wasn't one to forgive easily.

He closed his eyes and leaned back in his seat. With a cold tone, he instructed, "Don't wait for Fenna to be transferred. Report the incident to the Intelligence Agency and suspend her for investigation."

Flustered, Cole turned to face Nathan. "General Morrison, isn't this excessive? Fenna isn't a spy or a threat to national security. Bringing in the Intelligence Agency could seriously harm her career."

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Chapter 546

With his eyes closed, Nathan asked sharply, "Do you want to be investigated as well?"

"I'm sorry, General Morrison," Cole apologized quickly. "I'm deeply loyal to the country and you. I don't see the need for an investigation."

Nathan had never considered investigating Cole. He usually trusted the people he surrounded himself and wouldn't be involved with those he doubted. Unfortunately, his excessive trust had allowed Lucas to betray him and Fenna to deceive him brazenly.

"Drive on," muttered Nathan.

When Mila walked into the Morrison residence, she heard Layla sarcastically remark, "It's unbelievable there're still some women who can be so jealous nowadays.

"They don't support, understand, or help their husbands at work and can't even handle having a female assistant."

Mila turned around to see Layla sitting on the couch in the living room.

Phoebe was seething and wanted to confront Layla, but Mila grabbed her hand just in time to stop her. Phoebe was merely an assistant. Her life wouldn't be easy in this house if she upset Layla.

Mila calmly approached Layla and said, "Layla, if you have something to say, just say it straight out. You don't have to get sarcastic."

Layla leaned back on the couch and replied arrogantly, "I wasn't talking about you. Don't take it personally."

"It's just us here. Are you talking to ghosts or something?"

Layla dropped the act when she saw Mila's firm stance. She stood up, crossed her arms, and said haughtily, "I just can't stand people like you. You rely on Nate's affection to mistreat his assistant. Are you satisfied now that Fenna has moved out and been suspended?"

Mila glanced at Phoebe, who looked just as confused. Phoebe shrugged, implying that she had no idea.

Yet, Mila was quick to collect herself. She replied, "If you care about Fenna so much, why don't you suggest she become Duke's secretary?

"She could take care of his needs around the clock. She could even cook for him and do all the housework. Fenna's meticulous and she could meet Duke's every need."

Layla's face turned sour and she was speechless for a moment. Mila realized that Layla couldn't accept what Fenna had done either when she saw Layla's defeated look.

"Layla, you're generous. You wouldn't mind Duke having a capable and caring secretary, would you?"

"I"

Mila cut Layla off, "Oh right, there are a few advantages to having Fenna as Duke's secretary. For example, if you need to talk to Duke urgently she'll hang up on you or even turn off his phone, because she thinks your call will interfere with Duke's work.

"What a thoughtful secretary. You wouldn't want to miss having her around."

Layla struggled to find a way to defend Fenna as she imagined herself in Mila's position. Suddenly, fin she found Fenna even more bitchy than she thought and understood why Mila wanted her gone However, Layla didn't sympathize with Mila, as she had always been prejudiced against Mila.

Mila's comeback silenced Layla. Feeling angry, Layla sat back on the couch and sipped her coffee. She composed herself and refrained from saying more.

When Mila saw that Layla had decided not to escalate the situation, she headed upstairs she walked past Phoebe who was trying to hold back her laughter. Phoebe gave her a thumbs up and whispered, "Mila, you're amazing."

Mila didn't feel pleased and forced a bitter smile.

Fenna and Nathan had been friends for over ten years and Nathan was someone who put relationships first.

Mila thought that Nathan wouldn't be too hard on Fenna and that he m wouldn't want to transfer her somewhere else.

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Chapter 547

Chapter 547

Mila was surprised by how quickly and ruthlessly Nathan had acted.

Back in the room, she sat in the wicker chair on the balcony. She gazed absentmindedly at the landscape before her. Countless thoughts poured into her mind.

She pulled out her phone and opened Nathan's chat. As she scrolled through, she looked at all the voice messages he had sent, none of which she had bothered to listen to. She only spared a glance at the text messages he sent.

Yet, curiosity led her to click on a voice message from a month earlier.

"Wanda, I'm truly sorry for what I did to you and our baby. I know I messed up. You don't have to forgive me, but please don't shut me out, okay?"

"The nurse told me you're struggling with breast engorgement, and I wish I knew how to help. I'm worried and outside your room, can I come in?"

"Wanda, are you feeling better? Can I come with you tomorrow to see our son?"

"Wanda, I made a mistake and I really want to make it up to you. Can you please tell me how I can make things right?"

"It's raining outside, so put on something warm. I don't want you to catch a cold."

"Reading late at night isn't good for your eyes. Turn off the light and go to bed early."

"I'm going on a business trip for three days. They're known for their wonderful apple pie there, so I'll bring you some when I return. Just let me know if you want anything else."

"Wanda, the strawberries in the garden are ripe for picking."

"I miss you. It's okay if you don't want to talk to me, but why are you avoiding me?"

"I went to the hospital to check on our baby. The doctor said he's getting better and will be able to come home soon. Shall we start to talk about the baby's name? Do you prefer the last name Hoffis or Morrison?"

"You're skinny enough, so please don't go on a diet or starve yourself. Eat more, and when you feel better, I'll take you to the mountains to watch the sunset."

"Wanda, the weather is getting warmer. Spring's just around the corner."

"It's been a hard month and I don't know how I got by. I've kept myself busy because I don't want to upset you at home."

"I never had any idea how bad the consequences would be if I broke my promises. I don't think I wilkever dare to break another promise to you."

"I noticed Phoebe bought you cherries recently. I've planted some cherry trees in Sudvilla. I hope they will bear fruit next year. Then, we can pick them together withour son."

"I woke up at 3:00 am and couldn't go back to sleep. I miss you so much."

"Where are you? Why did you leave those people I sent to protect you?"

"Wanda, answer the phone."

"Wanda, where are you?"

"Answer the phone."

Mila looked at the calls she had been ignoring. Suddenly, she realized that silent treatment was perhaps the cruelest way to get back at Nathan.

It turned out that Nathan had been apologizing and admitting his m mistakes all along, but he didn't understand what had upset her.

He didn't mind letting Fenna go. He just hadn't realized that it was Fenna that was bothering Mila.

Mila wiped the tears from her eyes and put the phone down. She leaned back in the in the wicker chair and stared blankly at the white clouds floating in the sky. She was lost in thought.

Just then, her phone chimed. She looked down at the screen to find a new message from Nathan.

"Wanda, I'll be entertaining some foreign guests tonight. I may be back late. Probably after 11:00 pm. Go to bed early."

Mila was tempted to reply. She typed "okay", but another message came in before she could send it.

"Sleep in the master bedroom, or I'll carry you there myself. I don't want to wake you."

His words sounded imperious, and Mila decided not to reply.

It was late at night. The room was shrouded in darkness, with only the moonlight filtering through the window.

Chapter 548

Chapter 548

Mila usually went to bed at 11:00 pm, but she couldn't sleep that night for some reason. She felt empty inside as if she was expecting something.

Suddenly, she heard someone enter the room. Tensing up, she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep.

Nathan didn't switch on the lights. He went quietly to Mila's side, rested his hands on the bed, and kissed her forehead.

Mila sensed a slight smell of alcohol mixed with his familiar and pleasant scent. His warm breath brushed against her cheeks.

After kissing her, Nathan quietly went to the bathroom to freshen up. He didn't turn on the light to avoid disturbing Mila's sleep.

Mila felt instantly reassured and gradually fell asleep after Nathan's return. As she slept, she felt Nathan gently cradled her head and turned her over to face him.

Even though it was still cold outside, Mila slept peacefully in Nathan's warm embrace.

The first rays of the morning sun streamed into the room. Mila felt something touch her abdomen while still lost in a beautiful dream. She reluctantly opened her eyes to see Nathan's sturdy chest before her. He was only wearing a pair of shorts and he seemed to be having his morning wood. Feeling her cheeks warm, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes again. Nathan was still asleep. Suddenly, Mila felt the urge to check the time. She pushed herself up from the bed with her hand. She noticed their phones were lying on the bedside table next to Nathan. She leaned over to grab the phone. Right then, Nathan opened his eyes and saw her ample bosom through the thin fabric of her nightgown. He was nervous and felt an unbearable heat rising within. He managed to reach for the phone just before Mila did.

Startled, Mila pulled her hand away. Nathan handed the phone to her. "Thanks," Mila said as she took the phone. Nathan was filled with joy just to hear her thank him.

Mila pulled away from his arms and checked the time. It was 6:30 am.

om Nathan couldn't resist the urge to run his fingers through her long hair as he asked, "Is the light keeping you awake?"

She shook her head and lay back down on the bed. She was embarrassed to admit thathis morning wood had woken her.

Nathan pulled the covers up her m

shoulders before getting out of bed himself.

His well-defined muscles were a tease to her. She caught a glimpse of his pecs and abs as he turned to Cauains Khel close the curtains, The bulge under his shorts caught her attention and made her nervous. Mila closed her eyes and hid under the covers. Her cheeks were flushed and her heart was in a frenzy. Her shyness made her wonder if she truly didn't love him anymore.

Chapter 549

Chapter 549

The curtains blocked out the light well. The room went dark when Nathan closed them. Mila seemed to be uncomfortable as he got into the bed. She moved away and turned her back on him. It made Nathan sad to see her like that. His eyes wandered silently over her long, flowing hair. He didn't think about crossing any boundaries even though he wanted her.

Nathan knew they shouldn't sleep together too soon because Mila had just given birth. He always respected how she felt and didn't want to force her to sleep with him. Yet, he had longed for that intense pleasure ever since they had made love, and now it was harder for him to resist the urge. He found himself feeling restless and tortured. Nathan leaned closer to Mila with his eyes closed, finding solace in the subtle scent of her hair shampoo.

Mila lay still. Only then did she realize Nathan had refrained from touching her while awake. He only kissed her and held her discreetly while she slept.

Lost in thought, Mila eventually drifted off to sleep. When she woke up, it was almost noon and Nathan was nowhere to be seen. She got out of bed, freshened up, and dressed before leaving the room. Everyone in the house was busy with their things and no one was home. Phoebe lounged in the living room, snacking and watching TV dramas.

Mila came downstairs and joined Phoebe in the living room where she saw an intimate scene on TV-a couple kissing passionately and sinking onto a bed. The sweetness and romance of the scene was overwhelming.

Phoebe was completely engrossed in the drama. She didn't even notice Mila approaching. Her eyes were shining with excitement and she had a big grin.

"You can try it with Cole if you're jealous," Mila suggested.

Phoebe was startled and turned around to see that Mila was close by. When she understood what Mila suggested, she exclaimed, "Mila, what are you talking about? I'm not his girlfriend."

Mila sat beside her with a smile, picked up a cushion, and whispered, "You both have feelings for each other, so why not give it a chance?"

"I don't have any feelings for him," Phoebe replied, blushing. "Besides, he's too busy. When would we ever have time for dating? Forget it, we're not a good match."

"You can have online dates with him if you can't meet in person. And if you meet, make the most of your time together," Mila suggested.

Phoebe shook her head and went back to watching the drama.

Uninterested in the drama, Mila checked her phone instead.

She didn't receive any messages from Nathan. She wondered what he might be up to or when he might return. She quickly put down her phone when realizing she had been dwelling on him too much. A moment later, while Phoebe was watching TV, she asked, "Mila, what's the status of your research institute plan?"

"Rejected." Mila smiled sourly.

"Mr. President hasn't given a go-ahead?" Phoebe asked.

Mila hummed in reply.

"So, when are we returning to the frontier?" Phoebe asked.

"After my maternity leave," Mila replied.

"Oh, that's getting close," Phoebe said. She knew Mila only had three months of maternity leave. Since half of her leave was already over, they would soon be back at the frontier.

Sensing the urgency in Phoebe's voice, Mila asked, "Do you want me to return to work early?"

"General Morrison and Cole often make exhausting helicopter trippn back and forth to see us," Phoebe said sympathetically. Mila froze in place.

Sighing, Phoebe continued, "I heard

from Col that General Monet didn't return more than three f when you weren't in Phoenicia.

a

"But now that you're here, he takes the helicopter to return after hism duties, no matter how tired or busy he is."

Chapter 550

Chapter 550

"I didn't force him to come back. He had a choice," Mila grumbled.

Phoebe grinned and whispered in Mila's ear, "For General Morrison, home is wherever you are. It's normal for him to come home after work. He insisted on coming home daily, even when he couldn't see you before."

Mila looked at Phoebe suspiciously and asked, "Did he bribe you? Why are you praising him so highly?"

Phoebe shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. "That's just how I see it. It's okay if you don't want to hear it." Mila patted her shoulder and said, "Let's go for lunch. And then you can come with me to buy a gown." "What gown?" Phoebe asked.

"I got invited by Lillian Kimmel this morning, so I have to go to her banquet tonight," Mila said with a long face.

"The President's daughter invited you?" Phoebe was surprised.

"Yes, we've never met before." Mila sighed. "But she's the President's daughter. It's hard to say no considering my status."

"Why did she invite you?"

"I have no idea."

"Should we tell General Morrison?"

"That's fine."

"Then, I'll come with you."

Mila nodded in response.

In the evening, Mila showed up at the fancy mansion of Imperial Heights dressed in her best attire. Surprisingly, her fancy gown seemed out of place among the other guests dressed in simple clothes.

Mila felt like she had been made a fool of. When Lillian invited her, she described it as a fancy and upscale banquet and told Mila to dress up for the occasion.

There was a stage In the mansion's garden where a pianist and a band played music. Down below, people were sitting around a bonfire, some busy barbecuing. Mila's beauty caught people's attention, but her fancy attire seemed a bit much. Some even quietly made fun of her showing off.

"Hi, Mrs. Morrison, I'm Lillian Kimmel. The president is my father," Lillian greeted Mila politely.

Mila smiled graciously and shook Lillian's hand. "Hi, just call me Wanda."

"You may call me Lillian."

"Lillian, did hear you right? Or did you mean something else? This isn't exactly a banquet. It's more like a casual gathering," Mila asked, trying to hide her irritation. S Lillian looked around surprisingly and said blithely, "This is an upscale banquet. Even though most guests are children of officials and wealthy people, along with the families of political leaders, we usually keep things simple. No one would dress as elegantly as you do." Mila smiled awkwardly in response. Suddenly, she saw a familiar person approaching from a distance.

"Lillian, come and have some barbecue," Fenna said. She held several skewers in her hand.

Mila and Fenna froze in that fleeting moment of eye contact.

Fenna seemed unaware of Mila's presence. She looked startled. Mila frowned when she got what Lillian was up to.

Lillian was helping Fenna get back at Mila by putting her on the spot.

If Mila stormed off looking annoyed now, it would confirm what at people already, thought about her being petty and ungrateful. This gossip would spread fast in political circles.

Mila would be embarrassed, and Nathan would be dragged into it too. On the other hand) in Mila stayed, Lilian would do her best to embarrass her even more.

As Fenna slowly approached, Lillian feigned ignorance and said, "Wanda, let me introduce a friend of mine. She's my best friend, Fenna Hudson."

Mila didn't play along with Lillian. She smiled and asked, "Since you're Fenna's best friend, don't you know that she's Nathan's assistant?"