Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Chapter 548 Someone was watching her from nearby, their gaze bold and predatory-sharp as a knife stabbing into Mila's back. The hairs on her arms stood on end, her limbs turning rigid with alarm.

Who the hell was it? Was it Lysander? Was he hiding in the shadows, getting stwisted pleasure from frightening her, playing games in secret? Or was there something else he wanted? Maybe it was paranoia, or maybe it was the breaking point of everything she'd swallowed down for months-but Mila didn't bother ducking away or scanning the room to find whoever was staring at her. Instead, she strode out of the restaurant, her head held high.

It was blazing in the daylight.

She found herself on a busy street near the hospital, cars and people flowing past in an endless stream.

Mila stood there on the sidewalk, in the full glare of the sun, just standing tall as the world moved around her. There was not a trace of fear on her face; her eyes were cold, unwavering.

She could still feel that stare, heavy and insistent.

But she didn't move.

If this person wanted to see her scared, shrinking away, well, she wasn't about to give them the satisfaction. She'd stand right here, out in the open, letting them look all they wanted.

She pulled out her phone and dialed Leonard.

He picked up almost immediately.

Before he could even speak, Mila, still burning under that relentless gaze, snapped, "Are you people ever going to stop? If you've got this much tto waste, why not do something useful? What about Cossio? Just dropped the case? Why are you watchingday and night? What is it are you still hoping to squeeze something out ofthat you haven't already? If so, just say it. Stop with these disgusting games!" She'd had enough.

Whatever happened at that masquerade at the estate had already pushed her to the edge. Now, her own hhad been invaded, and she couldn't step outside without feeling hunted. No privacy, no peace-a little more each day, and now they didn't even bother to hide it.

She was done.

She wasn't going to exhaust herself playing cat and mouse forever. If they wanted to hide, she'd rip the mask off and force everything out into the open, no more letting it fester in the dark.

She refused to play along.

There was a long silence on the other end.

When Leonard still didn't answer, Mila took a breath and pressed on. "Don't bother tellingit isn't you. If this were your surveillance, I wouldn't be able to tell. And don't try and pin it on Cossio's people." She hesitated, then continued. "Coslikes his little games, sure, but tellwhat would he get out of watching me? What's the point? I'm not his target." Back in the hospital, when Leonard first told her she was being monitored, she'd accepted his explanation. But after her hwas broken into, the more she thought about it, the less sense it made.

Why would Cosstill be tailing her? If he wanted to hurt her, she'd given him plenty of chances over the past year, all those trips in and out of the country. He never made a move. And with how ruthless he was supposed to be, if he'd already broken into her home, why not just kidnap her outright? It didn't add up.

Still, Leonard said nothing.

"What does he actually want?" she demanded, voice tight.

No answer.

She pressed on, frustration mounting. "Whatever it is, whatever he's hoping to get from me, tell him to just say it. Can he be direct for once? Can he act like a grown man? Say something-cat got your tongue?" "Ma'am... Chairman Sutherland..." Leonard's voice finally came, low and careful.

"He doesn't mean you harm." Oh, wonderful. At last, an admission that the man was still alive.

As for his intentions? She didn't believe it for a second.

Fine. She said, "Good. Then letask him myself. What does he want? He's there with you, isn't he?" Leonard hadn't been with her since she got back to the country-her choice, after all the arguments-but knowing how stubborn he was, anger alone shouldn't have kept him away.

Unless, of course, he'd gone back to Lysander.

Because, at the end of the day, Leonard had always belonged to Lysander-the Montgomery family's loyal man. Serving Lysander's wishes would always cfirst. That was only natural.

She never expected anything else.

"He's there, isn't he? Put him on. Let him explain," Mila said, her voice icy.

Another silence.

Mila closed her eyes, not caring anymore. Whether or not the man was really on the other end, as long as Leonard heard her, so would he.

It made no difference.

She spoke, her tone suddenly calm and flat, cold as winter water. "I'm done with you. You always do whatever you please, never onc

caring about what I think. Always forcing your way into my life bringingnothing but trouble. ask your what you want and you never En answer. Maybe it's true-it's hard to admit when you're using someone. But why not just say it? What's so difficult?"

She paused for a moment before continuing, know what kind of person you are. I know exactly how rotten' now exactly you can be. For you, this is nothing, just something you do on a whim. So why the secrecy? Why try to cover it up?" She tore away the last thin veil between them.

Direct. Unforgiving.

"Or are you actually capable of feeling things like embarrassment or guilt?" Her voice dripped with mockery. "Don't makelaugh." Still, there was no reply.

She was done guessing.

She'd been patient for Cossio's sake, but how much longer did they expect her to wait? Nothing had been solved, and she was the only one left to pay the price.