Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 336 The sun was rising over the eastern horizon, bathing the world in the soft gold of early morning.

Nestled in a lush green field surrounded by snowy peaks, jagged rocks, and winding streams, a handful of black tents stood pitched together. Not far off, dozens of sturdy cattle grazed and drank from the crystal-clear water, their breath visible in the chilly air.

White steam curled from pipes jutting out of the tent roofs, promising warmth inside.

A teenage boy, dressed in a deep red robe, darted from one tent to another, shouting cheerfully, "Mila! Con, tfor breakfast tea!" Inside the tent, Mila-also wrapped in a crimson robe-looked up. Her gaze, unfocused just a moment before, found its way back to the present as the boy entered.

She took the steaming mug he handed her. The drink, creamy and rich, was something like sweet, milky tea. The first sip sent warmth cascading from her throat through her chilled limbs, driving away the lingering cold of the night.

Looking back, she realized just how lucky they'd been.

Last night, when they'd first seen the herd, she'd assumed they were wild cattle roaming the mountains. It wasn't until the herders approached that she understood these were domesticated animals. The herders had noticed thick smoke rising from the spot where her and Archie's jeep had crashed, and, fearing a fire, had cto investigate-despite the rain.

Their unexpected arrival had been a blessing. Thanks to the herders' kindness, she and her cousin had found shelter for the night.

Now, warmed by the tea, Mila felt life returning to her body.

Together, she and Archie followed their young host to the main tent, where a table groaned under the weight of a hearty breakfast-eggs, bread, and a fragrant, nourishing soup. They ate gratefully, then went over their location one more twith the herders.

Despite all the mishaps along the way, they'd finally made it to Luminara. They were close to their true destination, Solaris City, though their route had strayed off course, and their jeep was a total loss.

After sbargaining, the herders finally agreed to take them to the nearest town on horseback.

Luminara was just a stone's throw from Solaris City now. Once they reached town, they could plan the last leg of their journey and set off again.

But...

Perched atop the sturdy cattle, Mila pressed her fingertips to her temples. Lately, she'd been plagued by splitting headaches-and sometimes, faint echoes of weeping would ring through her mind. Where were those cries coming from? Lost in thought, she didn't notice Archie watching her from the next animal over. He called out, concern coloring his voice, "Mila, is your head hurting again?" Her headaches had becfrequent; sometimes they were so bad she nearly passed out, which kept Archie on edge.

Mila shook her head. "It's better today," she lied.

Truthfully, the pain lingered, but it wasn't as sharp as before.

Still...

Her hand gripped the portable oxygen tank slung at her hip, brows furrowing in confusion. Normally, altitude sickness headaches faded with a bit of oxygen. Lately, though, nothing helped; if anything, the pain had worsened.

She simply couldn't figure it out.

Was this really just altitude sickness? "Mila! Mila!" While she was lost in thought, Archie's voice broke through again. Turning, she saw him his red robe bright against the snow-capped mountains, arms waving wildly. Behind him, the sun was climbing higher.

"Hey, Mila, take my picture! Hurry, I want a photo!" He wanted to capture the memory: riding cattle across the high plains in traditional dress, the wild landscape all around them. Something to bring home.

Mila couldn't help but laugh and shake her head. He was still just a kid at heart- after all they been through, even nearly dying, he was bursting with energy. But she didn't refuse him. She lifted the camera from around her neck and snapped a photo, freezing Archie's exuberant smile in the morning light.

Somehow, that made everything feel a little better. Even her headache eased, if only a little. She let herself relax, ignoring the troubled thoughts swirling in her mind, declining when Archie tried to snap a photo of her in return. Instead, she listened to the herders' warm, ringing voices as they sang, and let herself be swept up in the breathtaking beauty of this rare, peaceful morning on the high plains. By noon, the herders had brought them safely to the town.

They treated the herders to lunch, then asked around for any news-was anyone heading toward Solaris City? Or perhaps they could rent a car? No luck with rentals.

But fortune smiled on them again. A group of tourists had stopped in im town with their van. For the right price, they were willing to give Mila and Archie a ride for part of the journey. Mila quickly agreed.

Archie hesitated, reluctant to give up the thrill of driving the whole way himself. But with the roads ahead growing more treacherous, he knew better than to protest.

And so, with their plans settled, the pair set out with the caravan that afternoon, heading ever closer to Solaris City.