Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 491

She instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but his large palm pressed it back, not forcefully, but firm enough to keep her touch right over his heart. Forrest lowered his head, breath warm and close, so close she could hear his voice low and rough in the narrow space between them, his chest pounding beneath her trembling palm.

"Do you hear it?" His voice was hoarse, breathless. "Mimi, my heart-it feels like it's about to break free."

Her mind exploded in a dizzy rush, the world spinning before her eyes.

The thundering beat beneath her hand grew even wilder, making her fingers tremble and go weak. That electric, tingling sensation shot up from her fingertips, down her arm, leaving half her body stiff and frozen.

He leaned in, breathing even closer.

"Mimi."

Forrest reached up, slipped off his fogged-up glasses, revealing eyes sharp and intense. Whether it was heat or something else, his throat bobbed as he spoke, a bead of sweat sliding down his neck and landing on the back of her hand, making her shiver.

Mila barely noticed the predatory intensity in his gaze. Surrounded by the fresh scent of bamboo and adrenaline, she only heard his voice, muffled and distant, reaching her through a haze.

"Mimi, is it okay?"

His voice was so faint, she still hadn't come back to herself-when suddenly a loud crash jolted her from behind. The door slammed with a bang, snapping her out of her daze.

Panicked, she shoved at him.

He didn't move at first, but as she pushed again, Forrest stepped back on his own. Mila didn't dare look at him. She steadied herself against the trembling door, took a shaky breath, and turned the handle.

Leonard was outside, face unreadable.

Mila didn't have time to process his odd behavior. Almost desperately, she slipped past him and hurried down the hall.

She was completely rattled.

After a long moment, Forrest calmly picked up his glasses and put them back on. The fierce, predatory look was gone, replaced by his usual gentle warmth. He gave Leonard a faint smile as he

"Mimi!"

her hand. She dodged away before he could touch her, and his voice fell, suddenly

the car door, unable to meet his eyes. Her mind was a tangled mess. "I-I

needed time

Time to think.

didn't push. His tone softened. "Text me when you

seconds' hesitation,

stared down at his right hand, still tingling with the memory of her touch. He lifted it to his face, breathing in the faint trace of jasmine from

help

away... which, ironically, was the best

was just a

She'd flinched, not from dislike, but from something sharper-something raw and electric, a new kind

this awkward, clumsy act. He and Mila—as Giselle had once said-were too familiar, so familiar there

here nor there. Always

Mila had recognized that line, felt the

real, irreversible

he wouldn't settle for anything

Giselle really was useful after all. At least, having her around made things easier. As for her advice-when it came to love, he supposed some of it was worth listening

Well, some of it.

...

Mila sat in stunned silence for a long time before slowly lifting her hand. Only then did she realize it was still

Mimi.

heart-it's about to