Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 459

"No, no."

Mila repeated it twice, biting her lower lip as she pulled her mother into her arms, holding her tightly, helpless and powerless all at once. "Can we not go to Florence? Please, Mom, let's not go. I don't want to."

The woman in her arms finally let out a sigh of relief, though her face was still etched with confusion and resignation. "Alright, alright, we won't go if you don't want to. Don't cry, sweetheart. I'll do as you say."

But Mila didn't feel any better.

She could stop Felicity now, but the past was out of her reach. She couldn't go back and stop that eighteen-year-old girl. Back then, Felicity had definitely gone.

Outside the studio, in the shadowy corridor, Conrad leaned against the wall, listening to the voices inside. He covered his eyes with his arm, silent for a long, long time.

...

It took Mila until well past midnight to coax Felicity-who was still wired from the medication-into bed. But now Felicity insisted on sharing a bed with Mila, refusing point-blank to let Conrad sleep with her.

Wrapped up tightly in the covers, Felicity eyed Conrad with grave determination. "We're engaged, not married yet! I don't know how you convinced my parents to let you lock me up in your house, but I'm really angry with you! I'm not sleeping with you! Go away!"

She'd completely forgotten she was married.

Forgotten she had a husband.

Even forgotten she had a child.

To show just how angry she was, Felicity hurled a pillow at Conrad. He just stood there with a resigned look, not even trying to dodge, and let her throw as many as she liked.

doorway, watching with

about it, it

little sister growing up, with only one doting older brother and a childhood spent in the company of Conrad. They'd gotten engaged as soon as she turned eighteen, and up

else. Who would've expected that she'd hit such a

more Mila thought about it, the angrier she

Cossio truly was despicable.

after taking a couple more pillows and stuffed animals to the face, Conrad finally moved. He grabbed Felicity-blanket and all-and pulled her into his arms, messing up her hair in protest. When she tried to hit him, he caught her

"Hey!" Felicity shouted, furious.

heard Felicity's shriek and instinctively started to rush in to help-then caught sight of the scene and

heaven's sake, give your

those paintings at Cossio's place. The last thing she needed was to

keep an eye on her tonight Conrad said a few minutes later. He emerged from the room, hair and clothes disheveled, a few scratch marks on his face but looking entirely unbothered-no trace of embarrassment at being caught by

worry, I will,"

seem the least bit

many memories-yet she still remembered Mila, whom she'd met much later.

And she still was.

never let

The only light in the bedroom came from a small night lamp. Mila lay beside Felicity, exhausted but aware that Felicity was still wide awake. She decided to strike up

like your

me locked up, won't let me go anywhere, always saying this is dangerous, that's

worried about

fine with waiting for him to have time before we