Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband? novel Chapter 436

One year later, Kingsford Airport.

At the entrance to the VIP lounge, a sharply dressed man stood tall and composed, his cool, steely gaze fixed straight ahead. It was Leonard.

He’d been waiting for about five minutes when the sound of women’s laughter drifted from the corridor, growing louder until two figures finally emerged.

Instinctively, Leonard straightened his posture.

Two women exited the VIP passage. The shorter one was chattering animatedly, her laughter ringing in the air, but Leonard’s eyes immediately sought out the other woman beside her—a striking figure of quiet elegance.

She was tall and poised, her refined features framed by a cascade of dark hair. Long legs were sleekly outlined by tailored black trousers, cinched at the waist with a slim black belt over a crisp white silk blouse. A cropped blazer completed the classic, effortlessly chic British executive look. There was a subtle, almost imperceptible smile at the corners of her lips, lending her an air of cool detachment.

In just a year, she had changed beyond recognition.

“...Chairman Sutherland.”

Leonard stepped forward to greet them.

“Leonard! It’s been ages!” Cara, the lively one, beamed, her smile growing even brighter at the sight of him. She greeted him with genuine enthusiasm.

Leonard responded with a polite nod.

Feeling his gaze, Mila’s brow furrowed slightly, and whatever faint smile she’d shown faded away. She returned his greeting with a reserved nod—despite their frequent interactions over the past year, she still felt an instinctive aversion to Leonard.

That was precisely why, on Jade’s advice, she’d hired a personal assistant to act as a buffer—Cara.

But even that couldn’t shield her completely.

Whenever she returned from England, whenever she was back home, Montgomery Holdings business made encounters with Leonard inevitable.

Once they were in the car, Leonard, now behind the wheel, handed her a tablet. “The topics for this headquarters meeting are all here. Please take a look.”

“Where’s Chairman Montgomery?” Mila asked, referring to Conrad.

Montgomery Holdings now had two major shareholders: herself and Conrad. Without him, the pressure would be unbearable. After all, Montgomery Holdings wasn’t her only responsibility—her time and energy were stretched thin.

A year ago, when Lysander’s accident had set off a media firestorm and immense public scrutiny, she—by both birthright and the terms of the will—had been the natural choice to step up. She and Conrad had weathered the crisis together.

Fortunately, Montgomery Holdings was built on a solid foundation.

Even so, it had taken nearly half a year for things to stabilize again, not without losses along the way.

Once the worst had passed and things had settled, she’d gone to England to help her great-aunt. Though she retained real authority at Montgomery Holdings, she’d stepped back out of necessity. This time, she’d been summoned back unexpectedly for the board meeting. Was Conrad not available?

“His wife isn’t feeling well. Chairman Montgomery couldn’t get away,” Leonard replied quietly.