Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 304

Here is a culturally localized adaptation of your passage, tailored for a Western audience:

"That's just the classic case of wanting what you can't have."

Miranda cut right to the heart of it.

"In these stories, the man wants to sleep with the woman, but she turns him down,

so he becomes even more obsessed. It's either real feelings, or he just can't stand the bruised ego of being rejected. Most people are wired that way-if something's out of reach, they become fixated. But once they finally get it, the thrill fades, and eventually they get bored."

So, if Mila wanted Lysander to leave her alone, should she just let him win?

Why should she have to? The thought made her angry. She just couldn't understand people like him.

He saw something, and he had to have it. If he couldn't, he'd push and push, never giving up. And once he finally got it, he'd toss it aside-never losing a thing himself. It was like she was just an object to him.

But if this dragged on any longer, she was going to lose her mind.

Mila spent the whole night thinking about it, and finally decided she had to talk to Lysander, to find some kind of middle ground.

She couldn't keep going like this.

She needed a way out.

A quiet corner booth at a restaurant just off campus.

"Made up your mind?"

across from him, her eyes burning

a deep breath. "I'm not for sale. I'm a

her eyes shone with the fierce brightness of a summer sun. It was impossible to focus on her pretty features;

with dust,

come up with overnight: a contract relationship, with a set time limit. For that period, they'd act as boyfriend and girlfriend. It didn't have to be public, but there would be boundaries-no crossing

to meddle in the

his girlfriend for a while, certain that,

all, there were plenty of girls out there better than her. She was just ordinary. And

eyes, his own expression turning thoughtful as he listened to her proposal. Suddenly, the idea of having her

tired of this game,

married. Once he'd had his fun, he could end

for boundaries-there was no rush. He'd make sure

more fun to win

he nodded slightly, a faint smile playing

deadline. Six months, and then it's

way!" Mila shot back without thinking.

darkened. "Are you playing

months, then," Mila pushed, forcing herself

about me that

and disdain. "Two

It was settled.

easier. At least there was hope. Then she heard Lysander's

"Come here, girlfriend."

don't have another girlfriend, do you?" Mila was wary —she didn't trust Lysander's