Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 537

By now, Mila had lost all interest in small talk. She exchanged a few polite words with the principal, firmly declined his offer to escort her, and made her own way out.

...

She stepped out of the academic building.

It was the end of class, and the playground nearby was swarming with children. Teachers stood at the edges, keeping a watchful eye on their students. The air was thick with laughter, shouts, and the sheer, deafening volume of kids at play. It was less a cheerful background and more a wall of noise.

Mila quickened her pace.

"Hey, you're Adrian's mom, right? Where is that guy?" She was almost past the playground when a voice called out behind her, and someone tugged at the hem of her coat.

She turned around.

A boy she recognized stood there, glaring up at her—a face she knew all too well. It was Parker McKenna, the kid from the McKenna family who'd once gotten into a fistfight with Adrian and hurled insults that could rival a sailor's.

Still, he was just a child. Mila saw no reason to hold a grudge. She replied calmly, "He's resting at home. He won't be coming to school for a while."

"Why?" Parker blurted out, then added, "Is it because of Julian?"

Mila froze.

She hadn't expected even this kid to know.

from across the field and hurried over. She gave Mila an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Mrs. Sutherland. Kids say the

was-she'd attended last year's big fundraising gala as the board chair, and Adrian was,

Parker might say

Now that the teacher was here, she gave a polite

do something like

Mila turned, surprised.

do something like that. If he's mad, he'll just punch someone. He's not sneaky-he'd never do

Mila was speechless.

defending her son, but somehow

Still, it was well-meant.

out and ruffled Parker's hair,

her hand away,

help it—she let out

really were impossible

Sutherland..." The teacher grabbed Parker,

have touched

two boys fought so much-wasn't just the

hen

free from the teacher and caught up to her, grabbing her sleeve. "Hey, is he coming back of not? He still owes me a fight-

at her. "You're such a clueless mom. He hit me first-I only called him names! He's lying, and you believe everything he

was still nursing a grudge about

dad hadn't listened to his side of the story either, and he'd been