Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 438

April 5

After wrapping up work at the company, Mila made a stop at the cemetery before heading home to see Felicity.

Thunderheads loomed overhead, casting the world in gray.

She came alone, without her usual retinue. Stepping out of the car, Mila walked in by herself, a small bouquet of white flowers in hand. She placed them gently at the gravestone, lingered for a silent moment, then knelt to wipe the dust from the black-and-white photograph embedded in the granite. The man in the photo stared back with fox-sharp eyes, a touch of cruelty in his smile. Her own face remained impassive.

"I'm a day late," she murmured.

Yesterday had been the Day of Remembrance. She hadn't come-had deliberately waited until today.

Her voice softened as she continued, "You were late so many times in my life. Always showing up after I needed you. So now I'm a little late too. And next year, maybe later still. One day... I'll just stop coming. If that makes you mad, well, you'll just have to bear it."

But then again-

Even if you are angry, I'd never know.

Straightening up, Mila let a faint, rueful smile curve her lips. "I'm leaving now. Maybe I'll see you next year. Or maybe not. The paths here are hard to walk, the April air so damp... and after all, the living need me more. I hope you understand."

As she finished, her smile faded a little.

Annoyed at her own sudden sentimentality, Mila shook her head and turned away, walking out of the cemetery. She had gone quite far before a tall figure stepped silently from the trees behind the grave, one strong hand resting on the cold stone.

His long black coat billowed in the wind.

...

Montgomery Manor

the conservatory and found her mother tending to the plants inside, a small trowel in hand. The iciness Mila wore in boardrooms melted away at the sight. Her steps were heavy

"Mom."

"Mila! You're back!"

lit up with a childlike joy. Dropping the trowel, she rushed forward, not caring about the dirt on

island a year ago, she caught her mother with steady arms. Nuzzling into Felicity's neck, she whispered, "Mom, I came home to

moment before Mila gently released her, studying Felicity's increasingly pale face.

others, somehow keeping Lysander's death a secret for a whole year. Even now, Felicity didn't know.

so

you could visit more often, Mila. I wanted to fly out and see you myself, but Conrad kept stopping me. He says he feels anxious

Mila's smile faltered.

to

Felicity had always been instinctively averse to leaving the country-an echo of

puzzling it over

Conrad enter. He nodded to her, then gently

it's time for

eat with

his grasp

said you'd come. I asked the kitchen to make your

browns," Conrad

but unease gathered in her chest. She glanced back at Conrad, who could only offer a weary,

After dinner,