Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Mila woke after only a short, restless sleep.

It was Adrian who woke her, fussing in the next room.

Fighting off the last remnants of drowsiness, she checked on her son. He seemed fine, so she didn't bring up anything from that awful day. Instead, she helped him wash up, fixed a simple breakfast-toast and scrambled eggs-and then called her assistant, Cara, asking her to come over.

She had to visit the school today.

Adrian wouldn't be allowed back for the time being. First, she needed to arrange his leave of absence, and while she was there, she wanted to get the real story herself. She no longer trusted a word from Leonard or the Montgomery family-if she wanted answers, she'd have to find them on her own.

But she couldn't take Adrian with her.

"Adrian," she said gently over breakfast, "Mom has to go out for a bit today, and I'll be back later. Miss Cara will stay here with you, okay?"

Adrian's face fell. "Why? Where are you going? I want to come, too." It was rare to have his mom home, and now that they were finally living together again, he didn't want to be apart from her.

"It's not a good time, sweetheart. I have some important things to take care of." She paused, trying to soften the blow. "Be good, and you can play with anything you like. When I get back, I'll bring you a present."

He hesitated, sulking. "You said that last time and didn't bring anything!"

Mila laughed awkwardly.

Fortunately, the house was stocked with all sorts of games and toys. She pulled out everything she could find, hoping to keep Adrian distracted and away from thoughts of what had happened at school. Cara arrived bright and early; Mila gave her a few last-minute instructions, then, on a whim, handed over a generous bonus-her phone pinged with the transfer.

Cara's eyes widened at the string of zeros. She nodded eagerly, confidence blooming. Taking care of a child? She'd looked after plenty of cousins and nephews-she could handle this, no problem.

headed upstairs to change. In the walk-in closet, she pulled

leave the window

to herself, closing the half-open window

drove to the

gate, a strange sense of unease

Or someone else from the

she didn't want anyone from their

her, their so-called "protection" was just surveillance in

openly, she wouldn't put it past them to keep tabs from the shadows. After all, she was still on their turf-good luck catching anyone in the act; they'd

ignored the feeling of eyes on her back and strode

learned that Adrian's teacher-Ms. Stephanie-had already been suspended pending investigation. She

on the scene that day. As the homeroom

been hoping to talk to her

Now, that wasn't possible.

as expected, they avoided the topic—even though she was one of

they'd been warned to keep

allowed to discuss

Ms. Stephanie's

during class, she walked to a

took several tries before the

was silence on the other end. Mila waited, then asked cautiously,

know. I really don't

woman's voice was

understanding all too well. The past few days