Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

"I picked this out for you. Do you like it?"

Forrest finally managed to tear his eyes away from Mila, stretching out his arms and making a slow turn in front of her. "I love it. But what about you, Mimi-do you like it?"

It really was a funny coincidence.

His suit carried the same blooming motif as her dress: pure white, tailored to accentuate his lean, athletic frame. Delicate white and pale blue blossoms trailed from his left shoulder down to his waist, where the jacket cinched just so. A soft green butterfly hovered at his chest, and under the warm lights, the silk shimmered with a gentle sheen-romantic, almost ethereal. On Forrest-already handsome, refined, with a quiet charm—the effect was simply otherworldly.

Nothing on earth could compare. Mila found herself staring at him in the light, unable to shake the thought: he looks like he's stepped out of a dream.

"Does it look good?" Forrest caught her gaze and broke into a sudden smile, his eyes gleaming beneath the chandelier.

“It looks amazing,” Mila blurted, barely thinking.

"Then do you like it?"

"I do,” she answered, just as quickly.

His low laugh rumbled in her ear, and Mila, cheeks flushing, gave him a playful thump on the shoulder. "You're teasing me again. So, are we settled on this one?" "We are."

Forrest grinned, his tone softening. "Honestly, anything you pick for me, I'll love. But what I really want is to wear something you've made with your own hands. When we have our real wedding-would you design my suit? I'd love to help, too."

Mila froze for a moment.

Suddenly, she remembered something from not so long ago-just a year or two back. She'd been struggling with her divorce, and over the holidays she'd taken Jade and Eugene Montgomery to church. Underneath that ancient tree by the chapel, she'd found a small red sachet. Crooked stitches on the front spelled out a single wish: "May Mimi know happiness always."noveldrama

She couldn't help asking, "Was that you?"

Forrest pushed up his glasses and looked away, uncharacteristically shy. "I made it. Took me forever to get the stitches right... It can't compare to your work."

Of course it was you.

Mila smiled. "But I loved it, Forrest. Thank you."

"So, about the wedding suit?"

"Of course I'll design it for you," Mila replied, then hesitated. “But I can only do yours-Jade already claimed my wedding dress. She's wanted to design it herself for years."

"That's perfect, actually."

Forrest slipped an arm around her waist, gathering up the soft tulle of her gown, and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Then my suit-will you make it, Mimi?"

"I'd love to."

She tipped her face up, neither dodging nor shying away.

Under the lights, the two of them stood together-their features both striking and delicate—surrounded by layers of pastel silk and a thousand embroidered blossoms. The scene was so beautiful that even the boutique owner stood frozen, caught up in the moment, and almost absentmindedly reached for her phone.

She snapped a photo, capturing the dreamlike splendor of it all.

A perfect memory.

...

Despite the tight timeline, everything for the engagement party came together smoothly and on schedule. But the night before the celebration, Mila received a call-one she never expected.

"Eugene?" She remembered the last time they'd spoken, how fragile he'd seemed. "Are you... feeling any better?"

"I'm fine." The boy's voice was

steady, but his next words were sharp with accusation. "You're getting engaged. Why didn't you tell me? Aren't we family? Something this important, and I have to hear it from someone else?"

"I... I'm sorry." Mila searched for the right words. "For certain reasons, I can't

invite anyone from the Montgomery family to the party."

Eugene's tone darkened. "Can't, or don't want to?"

She frowned, falling silent. Sensing his own harshness, Eugene paused, then spoke again—softer now, but with an edge of hurt.

"Is it because I'm a Montgomery? But, sis... do you really think of me as one of them? This is such a big moment for you. I can't just stay away."

Mila's heart wavered for a second.

But then she thought of Cossio, lurking in the shadows, and that softness vanished. She couldn't risk any surprises-nothing, not even a hint of the Montgomery family, could be allowed at her engagement.

She let her silence say what she couldn't.

Eugene understood.

After a long pause, realizing she wouldn't budge, he finally asked, "Do you love him?"

He meant Forrest.

Mila hesitated, then answered quietly, "I want him."

In his darkened room, Eugene's fingers tightened around his phone, knuckles white. His green eyes, deep and unreadable, stared straight ahead as he answered, each word measured and calm. "Alright sis. I promise-I won't show up at your engagement."

Mila sighed softly.

She hesitated, then offered, "If you can't come to the engagement, will you come to the wedding? By then everything with Cossio should be over. You'll be able to travel, and you can come to the real ceremony abroad."

Right now, it just wasn't possible.

In the darkness, Eugene's long lashes lowered, hiding the storm in his emerald

eyes. His reply was gentle. "I'll be there. I promise."

When the call ended, Mila found herself frowning, lost in thought for a moment before shaking her head.

Tomorrow was the engagement party.

She needed to get a good night's sleep.