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."

opened them again. Suddenly, she spun around, grabbed the torn edge of his robe, and yanked

Bastard.

back-a drop of blood

fox-like eyes went wide, pupils trembling in surprise. He barely had time to react before the bedroom door rang

"Sir."

was Leonard's voice from

pressed a hard kiss to Mila's

"I'll be back."

it?" Lysander shut the bedroom door behind him, running

here," Leonard said, handing over an ornate

reveal a party invitation. At

to a knife fight," Lysander scoffed, tossing

"He wants to play games with me

at tricks my ancestors perfected centuries

go?"

as he grasped the doorknob, twisting it open with a cocky grin. "Tell Francis

Back in the bedroom.

already curled up under the covers, perfectly still, as if asleep. Lysander thought about waking her, tempted to hold her for a while, but his phone vibrated on the

Caller ID: Son.

a video call from

"What's wrong, buddy?"

as he walked out onto the balcony and slid the glass door closed behind

"Dad, I miss you."

face was pale, his mood

you and Mom. Dad, did you find

"I did."

lit

of it. After a moment, he slid the glass door open again,

to

on the bed didn't stir, didn't answer. She seemed deeply

excited. His voice rose, calling out, "Mom! Mom, I

been really good lately. I haven't gone anywhere I shouldn't, I've eaten well and done my schoolwork, I've listened to Grandpa and Great-grandpa..." "Mom, why won't