Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 378

Mila's phone buzzed, the vibration thrumming through her chest like the beat of a drum, sharp and relentless. An uneasy premonition crept in, and her hand trembled as she answered the call.

The moment she picked up, Ms. Sophie's anxious voice burst through the line. "Ms. Sutherland, can you come to Eldermere as soon as possible? Chairman Sutherland-there's been an accident!"

A dull ringing filled her mind.

Fighting off a wave of dizziness, Mila gripped the edge of the long dining table just to steady herself. Her voice came out thick and strained. "My-my aunt, what happened to her? Is she...?"

There was a short, heavy pause.

"I'm so sorry."

"I've been careful, just as you asked, monitoring Chairman Sutherland's messages—nothing seemed unusual. But after lunch with some old friends, she looked unwell on the way home. She made a phone call-I only caught a bit, something about the Montgomery boy and the Harvey family. Before she even hung up, she collapsed. She's in the hospital now-they're trying to save her."

Sophie's words stabbed through Mila's eardrum like icy needles, the ringing in her head growing louder. Her stomach churned, nausea rising up; she struggled to breathe as panic tightened her chest. She tried to speak, but her voice failed her. All her mind could grasp was a single, desperate thought-

Her great-aunt was fighting for her life.

And she might not make it.

"Ms. Sutherland? Ms. Sutherland?"

Ms. Sophie's worried voice finally broke through. Mila managed to find her own, shaky and broken. "She... the hospital... what's happening?"

"She's still in surgery. The doctors say it's a sudden cerebral hemorrhage, but she got to the hospital quickly. The bleeding isn't severe, and they think her chances are good-you need to stay calm."

Then Sophie added, more urgently, "But just in case, you must get here as soon as possible. You're Chairman Sutherland's only designated heir. If anything happens, all of Splendid's affairs will fall to you. We need you at the main office, to keep everyone steady."

She knew, as Mila did, that from the very first day, Jade had drawn up a will: should anything happen to her, Mila

when disaster struck, Sophie's first instinct was to call

had to call

couldn't make out half of what Sophie said, but she latched onto the note

"Mom?"

but Mila instinctively pulled away. Her eyes, red with

suppress.

Why?

Why now?

"Mimi? Mimi?"

over. He tried to steady her, to lead her away,

her gaze to the upper

Giselle lounged against the railing, chin propped on one hand, a mocking smile lighting her

Look.

This is your son.

Your family.

none left now. Your only family is about to be taken from you. Because of

You've lost.

vision swam

hear or feel anything but rage. She brushed

for her and strode up the spiral

the smug calm of a victor, her smile full of

The next instant-

Smack!

Smack!

leaving vivid red marks that shattered her pride and wiped the smile clean