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.

it back with a gentle

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

school? Okay, a graduate student, but... 24? Great-aunt, what

He's just a kid!

She hesitated, then said, "Um, you know I have a child, right?

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

"...Thank you."

the server left, Mila spoke up again, "Look, since you're still in school, you should probably focus on your studies for now. There's no need to

want to wait until I graduate?" Johnnie asked with a faint smile. "That might take a

Mila took a deep breath. "I mean... you're so

settled over the

Sutherland, you don't

just... everything else is negotiable,

"I understand."

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

"Well, that makes this

Mila blinked. "Pardon?"

with a wry grin, "my parents don't like how

nonstop. I

it

back home to escape for a while. And

Mila understood instantly.

had no choice. She

sense of kindred spirits

honestly, even though

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

you," Mila replied quickly, then added, "But as

refusal didn't seem to bother Johnnie. He just smiled. "Ms. Sutherland, since we're both being pressured by our families but neither of us wants to rush