Who's Crying Now, Ex-Husband?

Felicity had always been part of the game, even if she never realized it herself.

But up until now, they'd managed to keep her safe.

Now she was in Cossio's hands.

The very thought of it made Mila's blood boil.

What in God's name were those two men thinking?

"Forcing the enemy out of hiding," Forrest said suddenly. "They're probably running out of patience. Besides, even if Cossio is here, it's not easy for him to pin down a location. If Felicity is too well protected, the other side will just grow more cautious... Loosening the guard a bit might actually give us an opening."

It was a risky move, though.

One wrong step and the whole plan would collapse.

It would all come down to who reacted faster.

Mila covered her face with both hands, then let them slide up to clutch the garland atop her head, her knuckles turning white. She gritted her teeth. "I get it. But what if we can't get her back?"

What if something goes wrong again?

There were so many uncertainties.

This was pure gambling-sheer recklessness!

No one seemed to care about Felicity's safety at all.

A bunch of cold-hearted bastards!

But worry as she might, Mila had no choice. She could only start combing through the surveillance footage, checking the guest list for anyone suspicious, hoping for a lead... To whisk someone away from a party with this much security, there was no way Cossio's people weren't involved. Mila didn't believe it for a second.

They were totally in the dark.

This was all they could do.

...

The sun dipped low in the sky.

At dusk, an armored car snaked along a winding mountain road, its tires gripping the asphalt just feet from a jagged cliff's edge.

Inside the vehicle, silence reigned.

A man in a black overcoat sat in the back seat, his gloved hand wrapped around a blackwood cane with a silver-engraved handle. His striking, almost otherworldly face was expressionless, icy and remote. But what truly seemed out of place was the delicate, pale woman lying limply in his arms, her skin so translucent it looked like fragile porcelain.

"...Mmm."

A soft sound escaped the woman's lips.

The man's emerald eyes dropped to her face as she slowly blinked awake, her gaze childlike and pure, clouded in confusion-she seemed completely lost. Felicity didn't understand.

How had she blacked out so suddenly? And why did she wake up to such devastatingly handsome features... It took her a long moment to realize she was lying in a stranger's arms. No, not a complete stranger-they'd met once before.

But what was going on?

Her head was swimming. Everything hurt.

"You..." she started, her voice barely above a whisper. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain stabbed through her skull, as though she'd been struck from behind. It was an agony that prickled all over, making sweat break out across her brow.

Before she could move further, cool fingertips pressed gently against her aching temple. As the man leaned closer, the heavy scent of roses enveloped her-rich, dizzying, and strangely soothing.

Somehow, as she breathed it in, the pain in her head softened, enough for her to let out a shaky breath. Her hand, weak and trembling, came to rest on his chest, and her body instinctively leaned toward him.

...That scent.noveldrama

"Does it still hurt?" The man's voice was low, deep, right by her ear. Felicity shook her head.

Halfway through the motion, she jolted back to herself. "Who are you? Why am here? Where's Conrad?" The words tumbled out, panic rising, and she tried to pull away. She didn't notice the flash of darkness in the man's green eyes at the mention of Conrad, nor did she succeed in

escaping.

His arm locked around her waist, holding her firmly against him. The heady

fragrance clouded her senses, and for a moment she felt dazed.

"My little angel, have you forgotten me?"

Little angel?

The overwhelming scent dulled Felicity's thoughts, but she managed to mumble,

"I—I don't know you... Conrad, Conrad-" Her plea was cut short.

Suddenly, his face was right in front of hers, the impact of his features almost shocking. She felt the warmth and softness of his lips, the taste of roses filling her mouth Felicity's eyes went wide; the fog of his scent snapped as her mind cleared. She shoved him away with all the strength she could muster.

Smack!

The slap landed with more bravado than force-years of illness had left Felicity weak, and her palm stung more than his cheek did.

Ignoring the pain in her hand, she tried to scramble off his lap, turning to pound on the divider between the front and back seats. "Stop the car!" she shouted, panic sharpening her voice.

Somewhere deep inside, alarm bells were ringing.

But the car didn't stop.

And as she pulled away from him, the scent faded, and the pain in her head began to claw its way back, leaving her dizzy and disoriented. Her hand slipped from the divider as she doubled over, head throbbing.

Before she could collapse, the man caught her again, drawing her back into his arms-warmth radiating through her thin blouse, holding her too tightly for her to resist. The floral fragrance surrounded her once more, numbing the pain, dulling her senses to the point she could hardly think.

A low chuckle sounded by her ear.

"Did you forget me?"

"That's all right. You can get to know me again."

"My name is Cossio."

"Remember it this time. Don't forget me again."