Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 344

"Mila."

"Mila, over here! This way!"

"Mila!"

A woman dressed in deep crimson robes walked through the night, the faint scent

of incense drifting around her. The distant calls echoed through the darkness, swirling closer and closer, drawing her forward.

The night was thick and heavy.

Step by step, she moved ahead, drawn toward the voices.

They grew clearer-closer.

But just then, a sudden weight yanked at her arm. Metal clanked loudly. She looked down and found, without knowing when or how, a heavy chain had coiled around her wrist, its weight and pressure pinning her in place.

Where had this chain come from?

She glanced around, but the world had vanished into utter blackness. The mountains, the stony path-gone, swallowed by the dark.

Out of nowhere, a child's laughter rang out behind her.

"One, two, three... Heaven! Hahaha, I made it to heaven-I win!"

Startled, she turned.

girl in worn clothes hopped across chalk-drawn squares, finally landing triumphantly on the

out-then came back

age as they wove friendship

girl jumped rope next, and-again-she

light faded, then flared

classroom, her English teacher announced loudly, "Let's all congratulate Mila for winning first

class

girl beamed,

top marks in the state, she entered high school, then scored in the top ten nationwide to enroll at Northpoint University. College

time the light faded and

to bright, her steps from hesitant to sure. She fought her way forward, carving a path through thorns and hardship, yet always surrounded

darkness, watching this younger, ever-brighter version of herself blossom beneath the warm light. Her chest

one day, the

seven

Suddenly, the light blazed back. Under its glow stood Mila as a teenager, arms filled with flowers, silently watching the adult

each other

smile. She strode forward, grabbed the heavy chain on Mila's wrist, and

down

petals, the younger Mila pointed at her and burst out laughing,

Mila's hand felt

by the overwhelming sense of freedom. Looking up, she saw her younger self laughing with wild joy,

girl pointed at her and shouted, "No

curled into

"Yes. We are winners."

shared a look-one young,

then that Mila finally understood the words of that strange blind monk she'd met near the church all those years