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.

idle-he reached across the table to serve Mila, passing her dishes just out of reach, helping fill her plate. The butler standing

Mila didn't

self-conscious under the watchful eyes of her aunt and friend, she forced herself to accept Forrest's gestures. She'd brought him here to set her aunt's mind at ease-this

did know her well. He served everything she liked, never missing a beat, and as she

once.

from the corner of

guest room, then kept Mila back

didn't mention

“This is weirdosn't

genuinely stumped. Honestly, even though she'd been married once before, this was her first time bringing someone home to meet the family-and she had no idea

was all

her last marriage had

Well, that was then...

observe a bit more?" Miranda rolled over to study her, then added, “But seriously, he

small. "I don't know.

"Wait. Are you just bringing someone home to keep your aunt from worrying?

Mila went silent.

back. "Marriage isn't something to joke about. Wasn't your last experience enough? And what

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

she