Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 543 "Sophia." Mila spoke again, her voice barely a whisper. "You have no idea I used to envy you. Julian only ever lovedbecause he mistookfor his mother. But his love, from beginning to end, was always meant for you. It always has been." Her conviction was unshakeable.

"You have to believe him." "You can't do this to him." She simply wouldn't allow it! Tpassed.

So long, in fact, that Mila started to think she'd never get a reply; that, this time, she'd failed. Then, at last, a voice rose from the bed beneath her.

"Move." "You..." Mila hesitated, worried Sophia would lash out the moment she stood, so she stayed frozen.

"Move!" After a moment's pause, Mila finally shifted away, stepping off the bed and putting a safe distance between them. She couldn't help it-Sophia was always so volatile, and Mila could never quite guess what she was thinking.

Sophia rolled over onto her back with seffort.

For a while, she just stared up at the blank, white ceiling. Then, suddenly, she spoke. "Mila, you really are... unbelievably stupid." Mila said nothing.

"You've got enough trouble of your own, and yet you still want to meddle in my business? In my child's life?" Sophia turned her head slightly to look at Mila, face unreadable. "Haven't you figured it out yet? Why do you think your husband ctofor a partnership?" "He's not my husband." "Oh? If you say so." Sophia let out a cold laugh. "He certainly doesn't see it that way." Mila's brow furrowed.

Sophia went on, "That man-Cossio, right? he can't show his face right now because of this person. But what if that person was gone?" "What are you getting at?" Mila's voice had turned icy.

"Don't you see?" Sophia's eyes sparkled with a sly amusement. "You've been his from the very start. You don't even know what promises he made toto keep his grip on you." A chill ran through Mila's chest-a creeping sense of dread, mingled with disbelief. "To keep me?" She let out a bitter laugh. "What makes you two so sure you can just manipulate someone else's life like it's yours to control?" "Simple. Because you're still standing right here." Sophia smiled.

Mila fell silent.

She bit down on her lip, then managed, "What did he promise you?" Was it the sthing Sophia had mentioned before-the absurd 'destroy to rebuild' scheme, using a child as a pawn? If so, there had to be a gentler way.

No need for this kind of madness.

Sophia, reading her thoughts as easily as if they were written on her face, let out a low chuckle. "Oh, Mila. If that was all I wanted, I could handle it myself. Why would I need to work with Lysander of all people? You know how petty and troubleshe is." The unease in Mila's chest only grew.

She pressed again. "What did he promise you? I can—” "You can't." Sophia's smile grew sharper.

"What I want is something only the Montgomery family can give me. Only he can give it-oh, unless you still consider yourself Mrs. Montgomery. In that case, maybe you could give it totoo. Imight even consider ditching Lysander and working with you instead? After all, Julian is my child. I don't want to see him suffer, either... But, what a pity." Mila's expression darkened. "What is it you want, exactly?" What could possibly exist that only the Montgomery family possessed? Power? Influence? Money? "When he comes to you, you can ask him yourself." "He's coming to me?" "That's right." Sophia watched her, half-smiling. "Don't you think you've been a little too reckless lately? Or do you really believe he has endless patience for you?" Mila didn't know what to say.

She just couldn't understand Lysander. If this was all about stwisted possessiveness over what he used to have, was that truly enough to drive someone to such extremes? Or was there something else about her- something he needed? What could it be? If not, then why? She spoke, almost without realizing the question had escaped her lips.

Sophia stared at at her for a moment, then-suddenly-burst into laughter. Real, uncontrollable laughter that rang through the room. "Oh, that's rich! No wonder he ctofor help. So that's it... Turns out you're just as clueless as the rest of us. He's really made a mess of things, hasn't he?" It was all just too amusing.

After a good while, Sophia slowly sat up on the edge of the bed, looking at the stunned Mila. Her Smile widened. "You know, I'm starting to like your suggestion after all. Maybe we should make a deal." Though, the terms might need a little adjustment.

Sophia's mood had shifted.

Given the circumstances, she suddenly had no interest in playing Lysander's ganymore. Sure, he had something she wanted-but now, Mila seemed far more intriguing.

Maybe, just maybe, She was starting to understand Lysander's obsession.

There was something about Mila that people like them found desperately scarce and impossibly alluring a kind of love that seemed endless, that ve refused to wither, that could never be exhausted no matter how much it was trampled or hurt. It was like a patch of earth rich and fragrant, calling out for life to take root and flourish, to drink deep of its nourishment. The tragedy was, Mila clung to her treasure, stingy to the last- Giving her love only to those she chose.

What a selfish, cold creature she was.

Someone like her could thrive anywhere-so why shouldn't she belong to the Pembroke family? Her guardian Jade Sutherland, was so eager for her to marry, and the Pembrokes certainly weren't lacking in eligible men. Why let the Montgomerys have her? Why let Lysander have her? Sophia's smile lingered. For the first time, she thought maybe her indecisive little brother wasn't so useless after all... and even her own cowardly, disappointing son didn't seem quite so hopeless.

If only they could lay claim to this treasure.

Then what she wanted would finally be within reach.

Lysander would never refuse her.

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