Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 426

"Smack!"

Early the next morning.

Lysander woke to the sting of a slap, his sleepy, fox-like eyes blinking in confusion at the woman before him.

"What was that for?" he grumbled, still half in a daze. "What did I do this time?"

Another slap, and it wasn't even dawn yet-what on earth had he done wrong now?

Suppressing the fury that simmered inside her after what she'd overheard the night before, Mila forced a smile onto her face, her expression composed, her voice calm and detached. She pretended nothing was amiss.

"I'm in a bad mood, that's all."

Lysander propped himself up on one elbow, considering her answer for a moment. Then, to her surprise, he gave a lopsided grin and leaned closer.

"Well, if slapping me helps, you can go ahead and do it again. Knock yourself out."

Mila fell silent, unwilling to play along.

How ridiculous, she thought. The lengths this man would go to for his own ends- he'd even let her strike him and act as if it meant nothing. Then again, what was a few slaps to him? If his plan succeeded, she might lose everything her very life would hang in the balance.

A few slaps were a small price for him to pay.

The more she thought about it, the more her resentment burned. Turning away so he wouldn't see the hatred flashing in her eyes, Mila said nothing and disappeared into the bathroom.

She splashed cold water onto her face, finally able to steady her nerves.

Staring at her pale reflection, water trickling down her cheeks, Mila's lips twitched as she forced an unconvincing smile. Her eyes, sharp and amber, remained empty numb, even. The sight chilled her to the bone.

But it didn't matter.

now

toyed with her from the very beginning,

bathroom door, his

You've been in

"...I'm fine."

her features arranged into

we going today?"

it was a good sign. He smiled back. "It's all taken care of. Unless you have somewhere in mind?"

smile fixed on her face, meeting his bright, expectant gaze, but inside she felt

car stopped near the

led

a second," he said, and

from behind, he exuded a certain effortless

an odd

couldn't help thinking how

later, Lysander returned, holding something familiar-a sweet roll filled with whipped

looked just like the simple pastries she'd had back

Plain and unremarkable.

eyed him, puzzled.

replied with a grin.

drove all this way for a pastry? Mila wondered, but she took a

"It's... fine."

like it?" Lysander's hopeful expression faded slightly,

"I didn't say that."

part, but her bitterness kept slipping through. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't

be told, it tasted just like the old-fashioned cream buns from her childhood.

why

tamp down her swirling emotions, Mila forced another gentle smile. "So, what's next? Anywhere else you