As Miles was frantically liquidating his assets, Ella appeared, her face twisted in anger.
It was clear that rumors of Miles' gambling debts and high-interest loans had already started to spread.
"Just how much debt do you owe?"
Gone was the sweet, understanding Ella; instead, her face was filled with disgust and disdain.
No wonder Miles had been so generous in transferring the villa to her for only twenty percent of its value. She had even been moved by his supposed generosity. Now she saw it all too clearly—Miles was merely cashing out his assets to cover his debts.
Ella had fully discarded the pretense of affection.
But Miles maintained his troubled, pleading demeanor. "Ella, listen to me. It's not what you think; I just need to tide things over."
"Spare me!"
Ella jerked her hand away, snapping, "Don't think I don't know! You even sold the company and mortgaged this house!"
"I…"
Miles looked conflicted, as though he was struggling to find the words.
Ella sneered, "You're nothing but a penniless loser now. Quit your excuses and return the six million you took from me, or I'll make you pay!"
Forget the house—Ella's haste to confront him now stemmed from a fear that he'd already spent that money. She'd be left with nothing.
"The money is gone..."
"What?!"
A piercing scream hit Miles' ears like a dagger.
"There's no point in shouting… it's gone. I used it to pay off the high-interest loans, and I'm still short about a million…"
"You bastard! Miles, you're an utter scoundrel!"
In her fury, Ella flung her Chanel bag at him.
Bang!
Miles swatted the bag aside, his expression cold. "There's only one way left…"
Ella calmed slightly, asking, "What way?"
"I've applied for a personal loan from the bank. Based on my credit, I should be able to get around twenty million. Once I pay off the loan sharks, I'll give you ten million. The extra four million is my compensation for the trouble."
With that, his eyes reddened, and he choked out, "Ella, I love you so much. I know I've hurt you, but I can't stop loving you."
Disgust.
Listening to Miles' heartfelt confession, Ella felt a wave of nausea.
Love me? After scamming me out of six million?
But there was no point arguing. Ella would have to endure for now, then find a way to make him pay.
She asked coldly, "When will the bank approve this twenty million loan?"
Knowing Miles' financial history, she thought it was plausible. With his bank records in the U.S., he might actually get the money if he could clear his debts.
Miles inwardly sneered but maintained a defeated look. "The issue is I need to cover the remaining three million high-interest debt first… If I don't, the bank will uncover my record. And without my company as collateral, any discrepancies would block the loan approval."
What?
Ella felt dizzy.
So, to get her six million back, she'd first have to help Miles cover his three million debt...
But where would she find three million?
Miles, looking as pitiful as ever, pleaded, "Ella, help me… If you could take out a loan under your name, getting three million should be easy."
At that, Ella lost it, hurling insults at him, "Miles, you fool! Do you think I'm that stupid?"
Even she wasn't dumb enough to take out a loan and risk everything if he failed to get the twenty million. Private lenders might offer quick funds, but their collection methods were ruthless, with sky-high interest rates.
"This is the only way… I tried everything else…"
Miles slumped on the sofa, clutching his head in despair.
After a long pause, Ella softened her tone, even pleading, "Miles, what grudge do you hold against me? Why are you doing this? We were once so in love… How could you be so heartless?"
She simply couldn't understand.
The ambitious, loving Miles from before wouldn't have gambled, let alone drag her into his mess. He would've cleared her name if there was any risk of implicating her.
But now…
Seeing he remained silent, Ella tried once more, her voice imploring, "Miles, please, return my six million. That's my parents' entire life savings!"
Savings?
Miles felt no guilt, only a twisted satisfaction.
You know full well where that six million came from, don't you?
He'd given her family countless things over the years—hundreds of thousands, if not more, for her brother's education, her father's medical bills, and endless "loans" to relatives.
Did that not add up to three or four million, if not more?
Miles gently took Ella's hand, his voice filled with false tenderness. "Ella, I've helped your family so much over the years. Just this once, help me… Otherwise, who else will? If you don't, that six million will be gone forever, and how will your parents manage in their later years?"
Ella, only a receptionist, had never dealt with such a scheme.
She went home and returned with her parents, who all glared daggers at Miles.
But they had no better option, only the hope that Miles' loan would cover their losses.
After a series of bitter accusations, Miles "reluctantly" signed a contract agreeing to compensate ten million. In return, he received the three million loan.
As they left, Ella's father threw a final threat, "Miles, if you don't pay us back, prepare to be sued. You'll lose everything—and face years behind bars!"
They had no idea that prison was the last thing on Miles' mind.
In a month, when the world as they knew it ceased to exist, who would he fear?
He wanted Ella's family to lose everything, so that even in the new frozen world, they couldn't afford a crumb of food.
Losing money was painful enough, but having no money at all would be an even crueler fate.
When the Ice Age descended, they wouldn't last a week.