Chapter 17
After finishing their meal, Mila and Miranda chatted for a while before heading out.
As they left, they could still hear faint laughter coming from the private room across the hall, with Adrian’s childlike giggles most prominent
Miranda caught the sound and glanced cautiously at Mila, relieved to see her friend’s face calm and unperturbed. Still, her inner worry was far from alleviated
Her friend was dealing with more than just a rocky mariage
Miranda had seen the group head upstairs earlier, including Mila’s son, who seemed unusually attached to that Giselle
No wonder Mila had decided to give up custody when she first talked about divorce. Miranda hadn’t pressed for details then, even though she’d had her suspicions. In the seven years since her friend’s marriage, Mila often brought her son over to play, and they’d even discussed making Miranda his godmother
But over the past year or so, Mila stopped bringing him around. Whenever asked, she simply said he was busy with school. Now, it seemed clear that the bond between Mila and her son had weakened.
However, if Mila chose not to talk phout it. Miranda respected her silence. Matters involving children were indeed sensitive
When Mila married Lysander, Miranda had her doubts. He never mingled with Milla’s circle, showing complete disregard for her friends.
When Miranda started dating someone, she always made sure to introduce him to her closest friends over dinner. Yet, Lysander remained a stranger to Mila’s social world.
In the seven
ven years of their marriage, Miranda–Mila’s closest friend in Kingsford–had never met Lysander in a private setting.
That part, at least, she could somewhat understand. Marriage was between the couple. Besides, Lysander was the head of Montgomery Holdings, a formidable figure who had ousted his own father from the company within seven years of taking over. He was known for his ruthless and decisive business moves, particularly in the field of A1.8
Miranda had been shocked when Mila managed to win over such a distant and formidable character during their university days. Though she had her reservations, she hoped that Lysander’s indifference to their circle was just his way and that he treated Mila well.
But reality had painted a different picture, Mila was completely shut out from Lysander’s world.”
Thinking back to the recent public confrontation and the people sitting in that private room, including her friend’s son, Miranda’s mind buzzed with disbelief.”
What a mess.
After parting ways downstairs, Miranda made sure to remind Mila to eat properly before they said goodbye. Mila returned to Lillian’s Studio, where she worked late into the night, eventually falling asleep there.
Meanwhile, at the Montgomery mansion, the lights were out, and neither Lysunder nar Adrian returned home that evening
The next day, Mila had barely started her day when she received a call from HR
They mentioned a few senior programmers available for interviews over the weekend and asked if Mila could spare some time]
She agreed, eager to find a replacement so she could focus more on her passion for art and design.
After reviewing the resumes, she decided on one candidate whose location was conveniently close to her studio, arranging for a Saturday afternoon interview at a nearby cafe. It would be a good opportunity to grab lunch as well, given how inconvenient meals were
around the studio.
Milla headed to the cafe around noon, had her meal, and then waited for the interview to begin.
