Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

"Useless! You can't even keep an eye on a child-what good are you? You've always been like this, dragging me down since you were little..."

As expected, Nathaniel Pembroke was getting an earful.

Maybe it was just his imagination, but tonight Sophia Pembroke seemed especially irritable. She latched onto Nathaniel and didn't let up, scolding him about everything from his childhood mistakes, all the way to his failure tonight to watch the kids.

Not a moment's peace the whole evening.

He didn't dare ask how things were going at the hospital. Judging by Sophia's fury, it clearly hadn't gone well.

And he didn't dare hang up either.

Meanwhile―

Mila Sutherland was handling something important, so Forrest Whitmore didn't linger. They parted ways, and he slid into the car that had come for him. On the drive, his phone lit up with a call from Giselle Harvey.

He knew exactly why she was reaching out.

He answered without hesitation.

"Mr. Whitmore, should I congratulate you in advance? Looks like there's good news coming your way," Giselle's cheerful voice chimed through the phone.

"If things are going so well already, aren't you worried I might change my mind?" Forrest replied bluntly, cutting straight to her intention.

Giselle fell instantly silent.

She wasn't surprised by Forrest's directness-and truthfully, she was worried. She'd never expected Mila and Forrest to get so close so quickly. They were already looking after each other's kids? If things kept moving at this pace, Mila would soon be whispering in Forrest's ear at night. If Mila decided to throw a wrench in the works, what would happen to the project?

At least until Lysander Montgomery returned, the project she'd set up still needed Forrest's reputation to keep the research team steady.

afford

"Why would I worry? I asked for your help because I trust your professionalism—and your integrity when it comes to contracts. Honestly, if you two are getting married soon, I can claim a little credit for that, can't

both a feeler and a genuine

sooner, the better, so Mila wouldn't mess up her plans. On the other hand, if things moved

between a rock

quite so soon," Forrest replied, sounding as if he hadn't picked up

a

could finally relax, her tone lightening, "Adrian Montgomery? I know that boy well. Let me teach you how to handle him-it'll

was unreadable. "Strange.

like he can't

66

smile. "That's... complicated. He has some misunderstandings about me right now, but we used to get along perfectly well. You're new to him, so he's not on guard yet. Once you figure out what he likes, make a little effort-he's

it

didn't bother challenging her obvious sugar-coating. He simply smiled and let it

done, the details didn't matter

He could tolerate plenty.

Giselle had been more than worthwhile

ambitious, and in

were

ever

lips twitched in a silent,

But she didn't head for the old family estate, or

with Jade in

had never been here before. Maybe it was the excitement of having his mother back, but even though it was late, he was bursting with energy, darting all

Mila dragged him into

bathe himself, promising a bedtime story and to sleep beside him. Only then did she finally go