Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 498

"Jade, why are you doing this again? I keep telling you, it's not good for your back. What if you throw it out again?" Mila dashed down the garden path into the flower beds, reaching for the trowel in Jade's hand.

"I'm not that fragile," Jade muttered, brushing her off. "If I don't keep moving, that's when my back will really give in... And who's this?" She cut herself off mid- sentence, nodding toward Forrest, who was trailing behind Mila.

"Jade, this is Forrest the one I told you about. He's brilliant-helped me so much with my research since college," Mila explained. "Forrest, this is my great-aunt."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am." Forrest's voice was a little tense, but he managed a composed smile.

"Friendly, aren't you?" Jade's tone was less than warm.

"Jade!" Mila tugged at her sleeve, worried. She'd brought Forrest home to reassure her aunt, not to have him grilled.

"Oh, relax.” Ignoring Forrest, Jade looked Mila up and down, her frown deepening. "So, does the Montgomery family feed you at all? Every time you visit, you come back looking thinner. I've told you again and again-what's so great about that place? Why bother with them?"

"Jade..." Mila softened her voice, giving her aunt's hand a gentle squeeze.

"Hmph." With Forrest present, Jade held her tongue, dropped the trowel, and took Mila by the hand. “You must be hungry. I've got everything ready; let's eat and get you settled in first."

The dining room table was piled high with food-a generous spread of both Western and homey comfort dishes. The Sutherland family didn't stand on ceremony; Mila and Miranda sat on either side of Jade, who presided at the head of the table, occasionally joining the conversation.

Forrest kept mostly quiet.

not idle-he reached across the table to serve Mila, passing her dishes just out of reach, helping fill her plate. The butler standing by to serve found

time, Mila didn't

forced herself to accept Forrest's gestures. She'd brought him here to set her aunt's mind at

served everything she liked, never missing a beat, and as she ate,

once.

Jade watched Forrest from the corner

over, Jade arranged for Forrest to have a guest room, then kept Mila back for a brief chat before declaring

mention Forrest at

Mila flopped onto the bed, still feeling out of sorts. Miranda threw herself down beside her. Mila sighed. “This is weirdosn't my aunt supposed to be desperate for me to get

been married once before, this was her first time bringing someone home to meet the family-and she had

all strangely

last marriage had

Well, that was then...

to study her, then added, “But seriously, he seems nice, but have you really

"I don't know. But I want

a flash of realization crossed her face. "Wait. Are you just bringing someone

Mila went silent.

about. Wasn't your last experience enough? And what

do." Mila's voice was weary. She told Miranda about her aunt's phone call the day before, frustration clear in her tone. She was never good at handling relationships, but she couldn't bear to upset her aunt. Still, the idea of

she