Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 309

"Hang on, I'll be right there!"

Fresh out of the shower, Mila called back as she towel-dried her hair, her voice carrying a hint of cheerfulness.

Sensing Archie's impatience from beyond the door, she hurried her pace-pulling on the lightweight pink-and-black windbreaker she'd grabbed at the highway rest stop, giving her hair a quick rub, and heading over to let him in.

"Ready?" she asked, swinging the door open.

Archie blinked in surprise when he saw her. "Why's your hair still wet?"

"It's fine. Let's just go get our stuff."

"No way. It's still raining outside, and you just got over a fever. The roads ahead are way tougher than anything we've done so far. If you get sick again now, we're toast."

Under Archie's unwavering insistence, Mila retreated and dutifully blow-dried her hair, bundling up before stepping back out.

The two of them had already mapped out a thorough supply list-thanks to online travel guides and advice from seasoned road-trippers-so they made a beeline for the biggest outdoor sports store in town.

Their main haul:

Tents, sleeping bags, UV-protection sunglasses, a first aid kit, trekking poles, and other hiking essentials.

up on daily necessities and food supplies, grabbed portable chargers, a digital altimeter, a pile of handy car tools, and

canisters—just in

Harbor. They inspected the SUV, updated the

ready to

to life on

shot Mila a grin, his energy infectious. "Well, cousin, are you ready for

cool and steady. She'd grown used to Archie's teenage bravado, but even she couldn't deny

She'd had adventures before.

quite like

...

all felt so

brand-new camera-one she'd splurged on during their gear run-and snapped a

renowned scholars. But Mila was just

International Fashion Week.

This year's Fashion Week had two main themes-one inspired by rubies, the other by landscapes. Mila would need to design two collections, each reflecting one of the themes, to

would be her first public debut

shot at fame a turning point that could define the

the perfect ruby she'd had her eye on was snatched up at auction by Lysander and given

was the

couldn't be a

spilled across her delicate features, gilding her