Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 431

"What a beautiful sight."

Cossio's voice was cool and measured. "Sellers, have you ever heard the tale of the petal murder?"

Standing quietly behind him was a blond, blue-eyed man. Had Mila been there, she would have recognized him instantly—the very man who had cornered her with a gun on her first, harrowing day at the castle, forcing the wolves back and driving her down to the ground floor.

Sellers replied, "I'm not familiar with it, sir. Would you enlighten me?"

"Do you remember the painting I bought once-*The Roses of Heliogabalus*? It depicts a massacre, a madman's act of cruelty."

Cossio's green eyes grew darker, haunted by some inner shadow.

"History tells of a tyrant who, for sport, threw a lavish banquet and rigged the ceiling with a deadly surprise-nearly four hundred thousand roses poured down upon his guests, suffocating them beneath a sea of petals. Thus was born the legend of the deadly rose."

"Sellers, do you think petals can really kill?"

"I wouldn't know, sir."

Cossio's lips curled into a sly smile. "Well, I'm curious to find out. Go on, let's send our guests a little present."

Sellers nodded and slipped away.

Downstairs, as the music swelled to its fevered peak, a sudden explosion erupted overhead. A torrent of crimson roses rained down from the domed ceiling,

drenching the crowd in a downpour of petals.

Guests screamed at first-then broke into delighted cheers, spinning and laughing as they danced in the floral storm.

Mila looked up, stunned. The endless cascade of roses bursting from the spire above made her eyes widen in shock. But as she gazed at the scarlet rain, she noticed black roses spinning among the red, arcing toward her like dark omens.

Cossio.

He's here.

Suddenly, someone seized her wrist and yanked her aside. She saw Lysander throw himself in front of her, his tall frame shuddering violently before he crashed to the floor amid the swirling petals.

What just happened?

At the top of the tower, Cossio drew a small silver pistol from his cane, his gaze calm and unwavering as he looked down through the storm of flowers at the fallen man below. A smile flickered across his lips.

"Sellers," he murmured, "I never bought into that story."

"Soft, beautiful flowers can't kill. They only intoxicate and distract... You young people are too arrogant."

the pistol

blood soaking his shirt and the life draining from his eyes, Cossio felt

"Lysander, you've lost."

never

this island-no, the moment he decided to risk everything to save her

been defeated by

obstacle between himself and

At last,

could be reunited

Are you kidding me?

rose petals underfoot. Mila knelt on the floor, clutching Lysander's bleeding body,

What happened?

Her voice shook so badly it was barely recognizable. “What's going on? Lysander, are

Why?

supposed to be

with Cossio?

Why are you the

"Why?!"

She couldn't understand.

"Somebody! Please, someone help!"

frightened crowd surged past,

Leonard.

Yes-Leonard!

Lysander's wound, her bloody hands scrabbling to get up and call for help, but the man's grip tightened around her fingers. Lysander managed a thin, strained smile as

"Darling... it's too late."

promised I'd protect

asked for your protection!" Something inside

raw. "I don't need you! I

you the right to

"I-I

would you take the bullet for me? I

no

want to

"...Don't cry."

couldn't keep up.

"This is better, really."

I hate the word 'ex-husband."

so much better. The Montgomery family... never divorced...

"You"

broke into sobs. She couldn't form a single word, her chest tight with grief and