Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 428

"Do you like it?"

That night, back at the hotel, Mila stepped out of the bathroom and immediately noticed the jeweled dagger resting on the nightstand.

It was a work of art-small, exquisite. The hilt was inlaid with emeralds, and the solid gold sheath, etched with ancient patterns, glittered with diamonds. It looked less like a weapon and more like a priceless antique. When she drew the blade, the cold, curved steel caught the light, gleaming sharply-a crescent moon of silver.

Exactly what she'd wanted.

She hadn't expected him to find it so quickly.

Mila gave the dagger an experimental flick, slicing cleanly through the loose front of a man's robe with barely any effort. The fabric fell away, revealing a chest still misted from a recent shower, muscles taut beneath the skin.

"Haven't you gotten enough of me tonight, darling?"

Despite nearly getting nicked, Lysander didn't even flinch. He just grinned, lazy and unbothered, as if the threat of a blade was an everyday amusement.

Mila shot him a look, not dignifying his nonsense with a response. She sheathed the dagger and examined it with curiosity. "Where did you get this?"

"It's an antique," Lysander replied with a chuckle, utterly casual. "You said you needed one urgently. I couldn't find the right kind on short notice, so I sent Leonard to the local auction house and had him buy this for you. Supposedly, it was once a royal gift between two Western empires."

An antique, after all.

Well-sharp enough, and that's what mattered.

Now that she had what she wanted, Mila ignored the man and decided she'd sleep with the dagger by her side tonight.

But just as she turned away, his hand closed around her arm.

"My dear," Lysander pulled her into his arms, lowering his head until his chin rested on her hair, laughter rumbling in his chest. "You get your gift and now you're just going to ignore me? Aren't you forgetting something in return?"

So she couldn't just walk away.

After a pause, she asked coolly, "What do you want?"

"You know."

teasing in his voice. Mila shut her eyes briefly, then opened them again. Suddenly, she spun around, grabbed the torn edge of his robe, and yanked him down, retaliating with a

Bastard.

of blood

trembling in surprise. He barely had time to react before the bedroom door rang with an ill-timed

"Sir."

Leonard's voice from

it had to be urgent. Lysander pressed a hard kiss to Mila's lips, lingering until his breath was ragged,

"I'll be back."

bedroom door behind him, running a hand through

handing over an ornate

invitation. At the bottom,

real invitation to a knife fight," Lysander

smile mocking. "He wants to play

my ancestors

go?"

wouldn't I?" Lysander's confidence was absolute as he grasped the doorknob, twisting it open with a cocky grin. "Tell

Back in the bedroom.

still, as if asleep. Lysander thought about waking her, tempted to hold her for a while, but his phone vibrated

Caller ID: Son.

video call

"What's wrong, buddy?"

out onto the balcony and slid the glass door closed behind

"Dad, I miss you."

the screen, Adrian's face was pale, his mood downcast. "You've been

I miss you and Mom. Dad, did you

"I did."

eyes lit

a moment, he slid the glass door open again, returned to the bedroom, and sat

to see

didn't stir, didn't

his father's words, grew excited. His voice rose, calling out, "Mom! Mom, I miss

gone anywhere I shouldn't, I've eaten well and done