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.

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 then did

more than a year after the man's alleged death, he

had left one last trick up

whispered within the family,

this time, an opportunity had

hidden scheme-if Lysander's

with company, would surely

And if nothing happened-

his fingers-red thread still wound around his wrist-against the steering

the airport's loop

to sense the weight of someone's gaze. He slowly turned to look up

He ended his call.

were cold, expression

England.

nearly a full day in the air, they

"Mila, over here!"

who waved brightly—at least until she caught sight of Forrest

"What's he doing here?"

trunk, Miranda tugged Mila

later. But you-"

her own voice low. "What's going on with you and Roland Lockwood? ran into him

anything, did you?" Miranda's

not," Mila replied. She barely knew Roland-her loyalty was to Miranda,

whole situation was

when they'd first left for England, things had been complicated between Miranda and Roland. Miranda had wanted to help Mila, sure, but she'd also been running away from problems back home. Then, half a year ago, Miranda's parents had summoned her back to England, using her father's illness

for her great-aunt, who had just recovered