Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 302

Overnight, Mila's reputation in the tutoring world was utterly destroyed-everyone was talking, everyone was condemning her.

On a blisteringly hot summer day, Mila sat in the police station, repeating over and over that she hadn't stolen anything and hadn't laid a hand on the child. Her voice was raw, her lips cracked and peeling from dehydration, and sweat beaded across her skin despite the air conditioning. She was trembling uncontrollably, unable to keep her composure in the face of such humiliation.

In the end, with no evidence to prove she'd stolen or hurt anyone, the police couldn't detain her. But the scandal had already spread. She'd technically bent a few rules, so every cent she'd earned from tutoring was reclaimed, and on top of that, she was slapped with a hefty fine.

A call from her university came next-a stern warning: she was forbidden from tutoring ever again.

In a single night, she went from having a modest savings to being flat broke, even owing money she didn't have.

It was her best friend, Miranda Wayne, who finally got the call. Miranda rushed down to the station, paid the rest of Mila's fine, and got her released.

Outside, the city was alive with summer noise-kids begging their parents for ice cream or toys, adults pretending to protest but giving in, laughter and chatter everywhere. To Mila, it all felt impossibly distant, like the happy scenes belonged to another world.

For a moment, she honestly wondered if she could go on. The thought flickered in her mind—what was the point of trying anymore?

"Mila?"

her ice-cold fingers. Miranda's eyes

tears, Mila choked out, "Miranda, it's just so

life-nothing special, nothing ambitious, just a little bit

the busy street, she pulled Mila into a fierce embrace, holding her like

not going anywhere," Miranda whispered, again and again,

her friend's warmth, biting her lip, and finally broke down in quiet sobs that soon turned into gut-wrenching cries. She didn't care who saw; Miranda just held

found a little piece of salvation. She realized she still wasn't ready to give up on this world, not while there was even a scrap of kindness left

home, so

would be no different. She was sure of it. As long as she could draw breath,

at Miranda apologetically. "I promise I'll pay

best friend she'd ever had-genuine, loyal, the kind of person you rarely meet. Mila valued their friendship too much to ever take advantage of it,

this time