Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 422

No matter how much Mila resisted, in the end, she was still dragged into warming up and listening to the safety briefing before their dive.

She paid close attention, too.

There was no room for refusal. Diving wasn't just some casual fun-it demanded caution and respect.

Lysander, experienced as ever, noticed her anxious expression and leaned in with a reassuring whisper, "Don't worry. The spot we're going to isn't deep at all. Even

if you've never dived before, you'll be fine—I'll look after you."

-It's precisely because you're here that I can't relax!

"Coach, is it really not deep?" Mila asked, unable to hide her concern.

Their instructor, a burly, cheerful man with a booming laugh, grinned at her. "Trust me, the deepest point is only about thirty feet, but most of the time you'll be just twelve or fifteen feet down. The scenery down there is incredible-lots of couples come to experience it. Don't let your nerves make you miss out."

"We're not a couple. We barely know each other. I was dragged here," Mila protested.

Lysander smiled and added, "She's right. We're not a couple. We're married." "Divorced!" Mila shot back.

The coach just laughed, apparently convinced they were bickering spouses, and left it at that.

With her questions answered and reassured that professionals would be keeping watch from above, Mila finally relaxed. Once they were suited up in their wetsuits and gear, Lysander took her hand and led her toward the ocean.

The waves lapped eagerly at her feet.

She hesitated, just for a heartbeat-then the man at her side gently pulled her beneath the surface, into the sunlit shallows.

Her eyes widened instantly.

Awe. Pure, wordless awe.

What was she seeing?

here was crystal clear, sunlight pouring straight through to illuminate the sea floor. Beneath them, not far from shore, lay a sprawling, ancient city-an entire

voice crackled in her waterproof headset: the instructor, guiding them

of sunken Pompeii. This is Baiae, the most famous underwater archaeological park near Naples, submerged long ago by volcanic activity and earthquakes.

amazement, Lysander gently steered her closer to the ruins. The

many statues

And she did.

arms. The outlines were clear, the details almost eerily preserved. Shafts of sunlight filtered down

into Atlantis-majestic, mysterious, utterly

this submerged dreamscape, Lysander's hand in hers, weaving between darting fish and circling statues.

visually overwhelming. Unlike anything

surfaced and swam back toward the shore. Mila was still lost in wonder, barely noticing Lysander gently remove her mask

another embrace. He had, at last, brought her

sea breeze, drifting on the calm water, they kissed-while far below, the ancient city kept its silent

Past and present, intertwined.

eternal, witnessed and

***

Mila was uncharacteristically quiet on the way to the ship. Curiously, Lysander was silent

the vessel

Destination: Rome.

check where they were headed. She spent the entire afternoon on deck, basking in the golden sun, tablet in hand as she searched for

too magnificent not to

just ask me,

from the cabin, Lysander set a glass of fresh lemonade

at him,

and wanted nothing more than to keep her distance from Lysander-preferably without exchanging another word. She knew all too well that if Lysander really set his mind to it, he could charm