Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 496

International Airport.

While Leonard was on a call, not far from him, a car rolled slowly along the circular drive. The window slid down, revealing Johnnie's profile at the wheel.

He glanced at Leonard, who stood by his car on the lower lane, back turned, headset clipped over his ear as he spoke quietly into the phone. Johnnie's own voice was hushed when he spoke, "Father, Mila's left the country. She took Forrest with her. They're headed to Eldermere."

A low chuckle slipped out.

Mila had messaged him earlier that day, saying she was calling off that matchmaking arrangement she'd mentioned before. He hadn't pressed for details then, but now everything clicked into place.

Interesting.

Cossio's measured tone reached him through the Bluetooth earpiece. "You know Eldermere well. Arrange for someone you trust to keep an eye on things. See if the Montgomery family stirs. If anything's amiss, this time we'll know."

"Understood."

Johnnie knew exactly what was worrying his father.

He'd never met Lysander himself, but stories about the man were legendary in the Cossio family.

It was said that while still a university student, Lysander, accompanied only by Leonard, had brazenly infiltrated the Cossio family's ancestral estate and clashed violently with Johnnie's father. No one knew the precise details, but the incredible part was that despite being gravely injured, Lysander managed to escape.

Months later, he came back.

That time, the Cossio family was in the throes of civil war. A rogue faction had risen up, decrying Cossio's ruthless, authoritarian methods. Lysander, operating in the shadows, backed them with money, weapons, and heavy artillery.

The fallout from that brutal uprising was catastrophic. Johnnie's father, Cossio, was declared dangerously unstable and forcibly committed to a psychiatric hospital, locked away under the pretense of severe mental illness.

years ago, Cossio's maternal relatives orchestrated a daring rescue, smuggling him out of the asylum. He returned to the family's stronghold and, in a sweeping purge, eradicated those who'd conspired with Lysander. Only

Cossio still dreaded Lysander-even more than a year after the man's alleged death, he refused to act

left one last trick

his father's caution. Even from the stories whispered within the family, he could piece together a portrait:

time, an opportunity had presented

scheme-if Lysander's death a year ago had

home, with company, would surely

And if nothing happened-

tapping his fingers-red

the airport's loop and into the

drove away, Leonard seemed to sense the weight of someone's gaze. He slowly turned to look up at

He ended his call.

were cold,

England.

they finally landed

"Mila, over here!"

were greeted by Miranda Wayne, who waved brightly—at least until she caught sight of Forrest at Mila's side. Her hand faltered mid-air,

"What's he doing here?"

was stowing the luggage in the trunk, Miranda tugged Mila aside, lowering her

later. But

and Roland Lockwood? ran into him a few times at the gala while I was home. He kept asking about you. What's the story

anything, did you?" Miranda's eyes

Mila replied. She barely knew Roland-her loyalty was to Miranda,

whole

sure, but she'd also been running away from problems back home. Then, half

had stayed behind to care for her great-aunt, who had just