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.

necessities and food supplies, grabbed portable chargers, a digital altimeter, a pile of handy car

Trans-Mountain Highway would climb steadily, they added portable oxygen canisters—just in case. Sure, driving

They inspected the SUV, updated the in-car GPS,

ready to

SUV roared to life

and shot Mila a

steady. She'd grown used to Archie's teenage bravado, but even she couldn't deny a flutter of anticipation beneath her

She'd had adventures before.

quite like

...

felt so

not be a little excited? Mila pulled out her brand-new camera-one she'd splurged on during their gear run-and snapped a picture of the endless road unfurling ahead through the

But Mila was just as eager to experience the breathtaking

forgotten the upcoming summer International

main themes-one inspired by rubies, the other by landscapes. Mila would need to design two collections, each reflecting one of the themes, to present on the

her first public debut

at fame a turning point that could define the rest

up at auction by Lysander and given to

the perfect opportunity

couldn't be

camera, Mila stared out at the endless highway. Sunlight spilled across