Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 518

Rose Manor, study.

Jade lounged behind her desk, letting the video call invitation chime on her computer several times before she finally, lazily, nodded for the butler standing nearby to accept it.

The window popped open, revealing the lined, weathered face of Lysander's grandfather.

"Old man."

Jade never bothered with pleasantries when it came to the Montgomery family. Her first words were sharp, intentionally making things difficult. "You've really got quite the airs, haven't you? You call it an invitation, but you won't even show up in person-just sending a video call to brush me off?"

Lysander's grandfather chuckled, his patience seemingly endless. "Now, now, please forgive me. My situation is a bit complicated, you see. If I could, I'd haul these old bones over there in person, rust and all, just to pay my respects. But while I can't be there, at least the gifts should have arrived by now-think of them as a peace offering."

They had, in fact, arrived.

Every time the Montgomerys extended an invitation, it came with a parade of extravagant gifts: rare antiques, fine wines, gourmet delicacies. Money was never an object for them.

"You think the Sutherlands are lacking in the little trinkets your Montgomery family sends?" Jade sneered. "I had them tossed out the moment they arrived. Don't try to win me over with this nonsense."

"Yes, yes, just a few trinkets, nothing more." Lysander's grandfather knew perfectly well their side was at fault, and with a favor to ask, he had already resolved to let Jade vent as much as she pleased. Nothing she said would ruffle him.

Jade, however, wasn't swayed in the least.

After another jab or two, she took a sip of her tea, the porcelain cup poised at her lips, exhaling as the warmth steadied her mood. Her tone turned casual. "So, what is it you actually want?"

"Just to pay a visit to the family," Lysander's grandfather replied politely.

family-those ties were severed long ago. I won't have it." Jade cut him off before he could say another word, signaling the butler to

protested, still smiling, "Adrian misses Mila. The poor boy's been crying for

words were light, but

as Adrian existed, the Montgomerys and the Sutherlands would never be fully disentangled. Mila's responsibility to her child was also the only real link binding the two families now-the only

let go of that, so long as it

matured a lot over the past year. The boy's intelligence had

Jade fell silent.

implying, but understanding didn't

Adrian...

knew that, whatever the child had done in the past, it could be explained away he was young, confused, easily led astray. With the right guidance, he could be set straight. But somehow, even

new ideas in a flash, and the future looked bright for him. What grandparent wouldn't hope their

tangled—a mixture of pride and

with the Montgomerys, who knew where his loyalties would end

presented

she could push back,

Jade said suddenly, hiding her thoughts behind a cool facade, "Did you know I'm hosting a ball at my

Of course he knew.

all too well. If he hadn't learned at the last minute that his own grandson, Lysander, had gone to crash the Sutherland

would have gone through the proper channels

thing annoyed him to

take a genius among the Sutherlands to

Nothing but headaches!

do? He had to bite the bullet and keep smiling. "Lady Jade, an event you've organized yourself? I wouldn't miss knowing about it for the