Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 455

Her taste in clothes wasn't bad at all—a pale blue, long, soft-fabric coat draped over her shoulders, cinched casually at the waist with a dark belt she hadn't bothered to tie properly. There was an effortless ease about her, a touch of nonchalance that somehow made it all look artistic.

It was the kind of look that made Mila want to pull out her sketchbook and capture

her on the spot.

"Chairman Sutherland." The driver's door opened and Leonard stepped out. He spared a brief glance at Johnnie, who stood there smiling but silent, before turning to Mila. "It's pretty late," he said. "Are we dropping him off at home now?"

“I haven't had dinner yet.” Johnnie spoke suddenly, his gaze warm and direct. “Ms. Sutherland, if you're free, would you join me for dinner?"

"Of course," Mila agreed at once.

She'd planned to have a proper conversation with him after picking him up anyway, and dinner was as good an opportunity as any. After all, this was the child of her great-aunt's dear friend-she couldn't just let him go hungry. "But don't you want to drop off your luggage first?" she asked, glancing at the suitcase covered in Van Gogh's Starry Night.

"It's fine. It's not heavy."

Of course, Mila couldn't be expected to handle it herself. Leonard, silently taking the hint, picked up the suitcase and stowed it in the trunk. When they pulled up outside an elegant little restaurant, he suddenly got the sense that something was

off.

He watched as Mila and Johnnie went inside, but instead of following, he hung back and made a quick call. The response came almost immediately.

A set-up. Arranged by Jade, no less.

Once he confirmed it, Leonard—usually the picture of calm—actually looked a little surprised. But this wasn't his business, especially if it was Jade's idea. Still... he tapped his fingers lightly on the steering wheel and sighed inwardly. Trouble, he thought.

...

Upstairs, on the second floor of the restaurant.

handed the menu to Johnnie, inviting him to order whatever he liked. He pushed it back with a gentle

properly introduced myself. I'm Johnnie. My family's been in the perfume business for several generations. My parents moved abroad in their time, and I'm currently doing my master's at the University of Glasgow in the UK. I'm 24. Planning to settle in

heard that right? He was still in school? Okay, a graduate student, but... 24? Great-aunt, what were

He's just a kid!

her expression shifted. She hesitated, then said, "Um, you know I have a child, right? He just

"I've seen pictures-he's adorable. I

"...Thank you."

the waiter arrived with their food, and conversation stalled. After the server left, Mila spoke up again, "Look, since you're still in school, you should probably

Johnnie asked with a faint smile. "That might take a while I'm probably going to do a

took a deep breath. "I mean... you're so much younger than me. You're still so young. We're not really

over the

Sutherland, you don't like me?"

exasperated. "It's just... everything else is negotiable, but

"I understand."

words had barely left her mouth when Johnnie, who'd been wearing that polite little smile, suddenly let out a long

mischievous. "Well, that makes this

Mila blinked. "Pardon?"

Johnnie said with a wry grin, "my parents don't like how much I'm immersed in academics They've been hounding me

I couldn't ta

it

to escape for a while. And then, well... here

Mila understood instantly.

both here because they had no choice. She looked

a sense of kindred spirits in

honestly, even though

"if I ever had to marry, think someone as straightforward and easy to talk to as you would be a great

replied quickly, then added, "But as for marriage, I really don't think

both being pressured by our families but neither of us wants to rush into anything,