Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 402

Once she sorted out her thoughts, Mila found herself less resistant to the idea of the wedding. The endless sleepless nights finally faded, replaced by a strange

calm.

Still, she knew one thing for certain:

If she wanted to use this wedding as her escape, she needed to make sure of one detail the ceremony couldn't be held in the old manor. It had to be somewhere else, preferably outside.

The next morning, after breakfast, Mila reached out and gently caught hold of Cossio's sleeve just as he was about to leave—a silent plea for him to stay. Lately, maybe because of all the wedding preparations, Cossio had taken to disappearing right after breakfast and returning late at night. Mila didn't mind, but today was different. She needed something from him.

He turned, wrapping his hand softly around hers, his tone teasing and affectionate. "Darling, are you going to miss me if I go?"

She said nothing, just tugged gently at his sleeve.

He sighed in mock exasperation, his voice full of indulgence. "You're still as shy as ever, aren't you? Never willing to say you want me to stay. But that's all right-I love you too much to mind."

So, he stayed.

Mila immediately let go of his hand. Ever since she'd seen those disturbing paintings in the art studio, she found it impossible to look at Cossio the same way. He appeared so polite and restrained, but she knew now just how twisted his mind really was. Even the slightest touch left her uneasy.

Cossio, oblivious, assumed she was simply being bashful and chuckled to himself.

***

Daytime, the garden.

usual, the housekeeper had set up an easel outside. This time, though, Cossio wasn't the one painting. Draped in a shimmering golden scarf, Mila stood at the

her colors were nothing like her usual somber palette. Instead, she painted with vivid, lively strokes,

added a bride in a white gown, bouquet in hand, arm-in- arm with a groom in a sharp suit, walking together down a red carpet that led straight to the

on the painted couple. She stared at them, lost in

It hit her:

of marriage, yet she'd never had a wedding of her own. She'd never walked down the aisle in a white dress. All she'd ever had was a flimsy marriage certificate—nothing more. Her whole marriage, from

dipped her brush in paint, and added a new detail- several ominous black crows swept across the green lawn, circling the bride and groom on the red

the

tainted by misfortune and bad omens. She lowered her veil and looked over her shoulder at the silent

do you

he picked up the brush and began painting over the black crows, transforming each one into a white dove- symbols of

at the doves circling the painted church, her lips curling in

Cossio still harbored naïve hopes about weddings-hopes for luck, for happiness, for

really

The damage was already done.

end,

a wild impulse, Mila snatched the brush from his hand, dipped it in scarlet paint, and

could finish, Cossio grabbed her wrist, stopping her. Only a few drops of red fell onto the bride's dress, the

the brush falling to the ground as he pulled her into his arms. She could feel his heart pounding against her back, hear the roughness in his breathing,

I've decided," he said quietly. "Let's let the church bear

She was silent.