Bargained Hearts: When Mr. Coldhearted Turns Hopeless Romantic

When their parents passed away, both Ruben and Millie were still children, and their uncle took control of the company. From that point on, Ruben became more than just an older brother. He grew into a guardian who watched over her every step. As she grew up, he shielded her from hardship and indulged her whenever he could. Since childhood, he had dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, after injuring his hand, that future slipped out of reach. At nearly the same time, their uncle had mismanaged the company to such an extent that it was close to ruin, and Ruben had no option but to return and take responsibility. Despite pouring his energy into saving it over the past few years, the decline of the company continued, and his efforts could not fully reverse the damage. Standing inside the apartment, Ruben examined the surroundings carefully. The longer he looked, the more his expression tightened. "Come back home," he said with quiet insistence. "My little princess should not be staying in a place like this." Gently, Millie shook her head. "It is really fine. The space may be small, but it is located downtown, and transportation is convenient," she said. Then her tone softened. "Right now, I just need some time by myself." She knew how much strain the company had already placed on him. At the same time, she understood that her own heart had not yet recovered. Staying by his side every day would only add to his worries, and she did not want to become another burden he had to carry. "But..." He tried to protest, but Millie did not let him continue. "Ruben, during the three years I was married to Darren, I did not accomplish anything for myself. Now that I am ending it, I want to take this chance to discover what I am capable of." A faint crease appeared between his brows. "Do you believe I cannot provide for you?" Darren asked, lifting an eyebrow. In his view, she had no reason to concern herself with survival. Calm but resolute, Millie replied, "Depending on you would certainly make life easy, but comfort can slowly wear a person down." She wanted to explore the world beyond her narrow routine and gain experiences of her own. Perhaps then her thoughts would not trap her so easily. Although Ruben fell silent, the unease in his eyes remained. To reassure him, Millie lifted her hand as if making a promise. "I will not act recklessly," she said firmly. After studying her for a moment, Ruben asked quietly, "So you truly intend to end things with Darren?" He knew better than anyone how deeply she had once loved Darren. Without hesitation, Millie gave a small nod. Doubt still lingered in his expression, yet Ruben chose not to press further for fear of upsetting her. Instead, he reached out and gently tousled her hair. "Whatever path you choose, I will stand behind you." Moved by his words, Millie wrapped her arms around him once more. "Thank you, Ruben," she said gently. No matter how stubborn or unreasonable she had been in the past, he never once turned his back on her. Whenever she needed him, Ruben showed up without hesitation and without conditions. Instead of ordering takeout, he went into the kitchen and prepared a meal for her himself. They sat across from each other and shared lunch in a calm and familiar silence. Only after confirming that she truly seemed steady did he finally take his leave. Once the door closed behind him, the apartment grew overwhelmingly quiet. To break the stillness, Millie switched on the television and let the noise fill the room. She had been seriously considering what direction her life should take next, yet somewhere between those thoughts, she drifted off without noticing. The sharp sound of her phone ringing startled her awake. By then, night had already settled outside the windows. Reaching for her phone, she glanced at the screen and saw Brice's name. Although she could not guess his reason for calling, she answered without delay. "Hello?" On the other end, Brice spoke in a controlled tone. "Mrs. Evans, I am currently at Verve Hotel with Mr. Evans for a business dinner. I happened to see Mr. Morgan here. He appears to have had too much to drink, and he is alone." The moment Millie heard that, she rose to her feet. "I will be there right away," she said firmly. Without wasting time, she grabbed a coat, hurried outside, and signaled for a taxi as quickly as she could. About fifteen minutes later, she arrived outside the private room at Verve Hotel. Most of the guests had already left, yet the heavy scent of alcohol still lingered in the air. At the table, Ruben sat slumped forward with his eyes shut. His tie hung loose around his collar, and his shirt was creased and untidy. He had always paid close attention to his appearance, so seeing him in such a state unsettled her. She called out gently, "Ruben?" Slowly, Ruben forced his eyes open and focused on her for a brief moment before letting them fall closed again. "Millie… what are you doing here?" There was no doubt he had drunk far beyond his limit. Concern tightening her chest, Millie asked, "Why are you by yourself? Where is Jonathan?" Jonathan Miller, his assistant, was usually never far from him. "He had other matters to handle," Ruben replied in a sluggish tone. Gently, she leaned closer to him. "Come on. Let me take you home," Millie said. With effort, he forced out a response before his eyes drifted shut again. "Give me a moment," he muttered. "Just one more minute… then we can leave." No matter how hard Millie tried, she could not lift him on her own. Realizing she needed assistance, she stepped out to look for a staff member. As she walked past the restroom corridor, the voices of two middle-aged men reached her ears. "Ruben Morgan used to stand at the top. Have you ever seen him in a position like this before? These days have not been kind to him." "Things were different when he still had ties with the Evans family. Back then, people were willing to be patient. Now that his sister is divorcing Mr. Evans, no one feels obligated to be generous. We are running businesses, not charities. We cannot afford to let our investments sink with him." "That is right." Hearing those words, a sharp pressure built in Millie's chest as the image of Ruben slumped over the table flashed through her mind. She turned slightly, and her gaze landed on Darren as he stepped out of a private room nearby. Zoey had been clinging to his arm only moments earlier. As soon as she noticed Millie standing there, she released her grip at once, as though she wanted the gesture to be seen. With a bright and carefully measured smile, Zoey spoke first. "Millie, what a coincidence. Did you come here looking for Darren?"