Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 414

Kingsford.

Montgomery Manor.

Word had it that Lysander's mother, Felicity, hadn't been well lately. Giselle, always attentive, brought a bundle of tonic remedies to visit and asked the housekeeper to fetch them from the car.

"Where is Mrs. Montgomery?" she inquired.

"In the conservatory," the housekeeper replied.

Back when they were young, Felicity and Giselle's mother, Rosalind, had been close friends. The two families had maintained ties for generations, and with a childhood engagement between the children, Giselle had practically grown up in this house. No one ever stopped her from coming or going.

She made her way easily through the manor's winding halls to the garden, where, nestled among a riot of scarlet roses, she found a pale, weary-looking woman reclining in a rocking chair, half dozing in the morning sun.

Giselle approached quietly and called, "Aunt Felicity."

Lately, Felicity's health had declined. The medications made her drowsy and left her in a perpetual haze. She took a moment to register Giselle's voice before responding softly.

"Giselle, dear, come and sit with me."

Giselle settled beside her, gently taking Felicity's thin hand in her own. "My mother's worried about you," she said, concern plain in her voice. "She sent me to check in. Why have you been so unwell lately, Aunt Felicity? Where's Lysander? Why isn't he here with you?"

Felicity smiled faintly and shook her head. "He's traveling with Mila. Your Uncle is keeping me company."

"Traveling?" Giselle echoed, surprised.

Only recently, she'd orchestrated things to send Mila abroad, believing that with Forrest's resources, Lysander wouldn't catch on right away. By the time he realized Mila was gone, it would be too late. But to her astonishment, Lysander himself had disappeared the very next day.

him repeatedly but got

Holdings, she'd lost her usual channels for gathering information. Felicity's illness had given her an excuse to visit, but from the woman's vacant expression, it was clear she knew

tightened unconsciously around Felicity's

contacts abroad, she couldn't track Lysander's movements. The minute he left the

no idea how things were

in her own scheming, and

head gently, dismissing

etched across Felicity's face, Giselle suggested, "Are you feeling tired, Aunt Felicity? You'll catch a chill napping out here-let's go back inside and

need, I've slept more than enough these days," Felicity declined

simply sat with her, making gentle conversation.

realization in her voice. "You mentioned Lysander is traveling with Mila, but as far as I know, Mila hasn't worked at Montgomery Holdings in ages. She resigned a long time ago. What kind of business trip could

they just went on vacation together -though no matter

What was that?" Felicity

medication, struggled to keep up with the

pushing for answers and instead squeezed Felicity's

her a while

she'd have to

news of his mother's worsening condition would be

time, she told herself grimly, Mila would not be allowed to

...

The next morning.

in her cabin, Mila changed the dressing

to the

the window, lost in thought as the morning fog drifted

found Lysander sliding into the seat across from her, coffee in hand and a bright, easy smile on his