Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 301

In the second half of the night, Mila Sutherland barely managed to get any sleep.

Maybe it was because her fever had only just broken, or perhaps it was the cramped car seat-all she knew was that when morning finally came, every muscle in her body ached, and a dull headache throbbed just behind her eyes. Archie Fontaine, on the other hand, was practically bursting with energy.

There's something to be said about the stamina of a nineteen-year-old college guy-calling it "volcanic" wouldn't even be an exaggeration.

Of course, it could also be the thrill of his first real road trip, the kind of adventure that had him wide-eyed and restless. He'd already been up for a while, picking up takeout and hot coffee at a nearby service station before Mila even stirred.

So, over breakfast, they went through their respective routines-Archie with his food, Mila with her medication.

Once they'd finished, they hit the road again.

Mila tapped away at her phone, mapping out their route and checking the ETA. If all went well, they'd reach Magnolia Harbor by late afternoon or early evening.

That was the gateway to the legendary Route 317-the beginning of their trek into the wild, winding mountains.

This stretch of road was famous, often called "Heaven's Road" by those who'd traveled it. It was wild and breathtaking, beautiful and dangerous all at once, and at its far end sat Solaris City, a place dotted with ancient churches and home to renowned priests and monks. The real journey wouldn't start until they set their wheels on that road.

first, they'd need to gear up at Magnolia

stop, Mila grew concerned about Archie's stamina behind the wheel and

her down

night. You keep nodding off-if you drive in that state, we'll end up in a ditch. Better rest

Mila just sighed.

dare. Every time she closed her eyes, memories of that desperate, hopeless past

had gone by since

that stormy night, not so long ago, that she finally realized how much of her life had been built on a grand, elaborate lie-a prison with

station and pressed on toward

Mila as she dozed in the passenger seat. Warmth seeped into her bones, and with the medication kicking in, she finally let her guard down. Sleep pulled her under, her consciousness fading like a leaf drifting into

...

lost her scholarship

the top of her class at a prestigious university, and her reputation for

coached high schoolers in math and physics. Desperate for cash, she took on as many students as possible, packing her schedule to the brim. The pay was decent-sometimes up to thirty or forty dollars

but most were in person-one-on-one lessons, each lasting at least two hours at the student's