Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 380

There was no stopping Miranda.

Once she was certain Miranda was determined to come along, Mila immediately called Julian's uncle, Nathaniel, to explain the situation. She didn't sugarcoat it— traveling abroad would be dangerous, and she simply couldn't bring the boy with her this time.

She asked Nathaniel to come and pick Julian up as soon as possible.

Nathaniel wasted no time. He drove through the night, arriving with all of Julian's documents in hand. When he saw Mila, he said just one thing:

"It's fine. You can take him with you."

"My mother—Julian's grandmother—is already overseas. She lives in Italy, but I've spoken to her, and she'll arrange for people to keep a close eye on him."

Mila started to object, but Nathaniel cut her off gently. "Honestly, even if this wasn't happening, I was planning to send him abroad soon anyway."

Mila froze, surprised.

Nathaniel rubbed his nose, looking slightly embarrassed. "My sister... his mother is about to be released from prison. I can't trust her with him."

Now Mila understood.

No wonder Nathaniel had been so eager to have Julian stay with her, pushing her about the trip, even going so far as to introduce her as a stepmother... It all made sense now. The woman who'd killed her husband and raged at the court was about to be freed.

Sensing Mila's thoughts, Nathaniel hurried to explain, "But the stepmom thing-I meant it. He really does like you."

Mila waved off his words, exhaustion etched on her face. She didn't have the energy to untangle this mess. "Just have your mother arrange for extra people on her end. Once we land, make sure someone picks Julian up quickly."

Her life was too chaotic at the moment.

Honestly, Nathaniel had nerves of steel-or perhaps he was just that trusting. Regardless, the matter was settled.

Forrest called with news: the Federal Security Bureau had arranged a private flight for them. Since Mila had been cleared, the military's

flight was

them up, whisking them off to a remote airfield. There, a mid- sized plane waited in the open, flanked by a dozen armed security

Julian up the

the Federal Security Bureau, couldn't leave the country himself. His position made

from Mila's forehead with gentle restraint, his voice as calm and steady as ever. "Be careful over there. If anything happens, call my mentor. Don't try to

a brief, close hug. Close enough to hear his heartbeat,

on tiptoe, and

without looking back,

cabin door sealed

jasmine perfume faded, Forrest stood motionless, dazed. He instinctively moved to follow her, but

picking up speed, and then soared the

as

longing-almost as if his soul might take flight

been no

of them needed one. They both

...

Eldermere, 5 a.m.

wheels hit the tarmac, dozens of security guards in matching black uniforms surrounded the passengers-two women and a child-shielding them

hurried the group into a waiting armored

piling into a convoy of similar

in different directions

taking

focusing on her phone. Sophie's video call came through just as

was at the hospital and couldn't

Mila asked,