Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Milka nodded. "Things have been good. I feel free."

Jupiter just snorted and looked away, totally unimpressed.

Roberto gave his friend a nudge. "Come on, it's just us. She's doing fine overseas -you can finally stop worrying. Remember who used to fret about them freezing or starving out there? Who asked me to pull some strings and made sure they got money every month? You never kept a dime for yourself."

Milka stared at her dad, stunned.

The truth was, every month, some money showed up in her mom's account, even

now.

She'd called their lawyer back home to ask about it. After the divorce, he'd told her that since her mom was still considered immediate family, was older, and hadn't worked for years, she got a stipend. The explanation was so vague, Milka never really understood. Later, she pieced things together and asked, "So you mean Mom worked hard all these years, and after the divorce you guys just gave her a kind of retirement benefit?"

The lawyer had answered right away, "Exactly!"

So Milka and her mom had accepted it.

those first months after moving abroad

really coming from her dad's paycheck, quietly funneled to

didn't you ever say

looked awkward, like he was worried people would think he still had feelings for his ex-wife. "What was there to say? I don't have anything to spend money on. The department covers my room and board. You're my only

Dad wanted to give

just stubborn. If you'd swallowed your pride and said sorry back then, maybe the family would

just looked at each

he always complained and nagged, their dad still took Mars's side. "Milka, are you

Milka shook her head.

of you is looking for someone new. Mars hangs around the house all day-I have no idea what he does. Every time I bring it up, he disappears for hours. You know, the place you two bought together is still there. Mars borrowed fifty

have to be extra nice

the conversation to go there and felt a little awkward. Back when they bought

weren't cheap where he

he

him a house or

Vol