All Chapters of UGLY? No More!: Chapter 151 - Chapter 160

The silence that followed wasn’t hostile, but it wasn’t comfortable either.Elara gestured toward the armchair opposite her. “You can sit,” she said.Leonard did, setting his briefcase beside him, fingers brushing against the silver clasp before he leaned back.His eyes swept over the table, the half drunk coffee cups, the delicate remains of breakfast.“You seem… settled here,” he said finally, tone polite but distant.“It’s been a productive trip,” Elara replied, sitting across from him. “I’ve met with the partners from Zurich and finalized the textile deal. The press conference this evening should close it all.”He nodded, opening a folder as if to verify her words against something written. “Good. You’ve handled the negotiations well. I suppose congratulations are in order.”Her brow lifted slightly at the measured formality in his voice.This was not the Leonard she remembered from the early meetings, the man who used to lean back, smile too easily, find excuses to stand close en

Diana exhaled shakily, forcing her expression back into composure, though her pulse was still racing. “You’d better be.”For a long moment, neither of them moved. Milo just stared down at his hands, small fingers twisting in his shirt.His cheek was red where she’d struck him, the mark fading but his silence heavy.Diana straightened, pressing a trembling hand to her forehead. Her heart was still hammering. This wasn’t supposed to happen.Milo had been her key, her way back into Julian’s life, her way of ensuring Elara never stood a chance.She’d paid enough people, said enough prayers, built enough lies to make the story airtight.A woman scorned, raising their supposed child alone while Julian buried himself in guilt and work.But now, now that child, her perfect illusion, was slipping through her fingers, smiling at the very people he was meant to replace.The image of Julian’s face when he’d said Elara’s name replayed in her mind, the warmth, the ease. She could hear it still, and

Julian should have been finished. Elara should have left him. The press should have torn them apart. But no, Elara was still there, by his side, holding on like love made her invincible.Lila clenched her jaw. “Unbelievable,” she whispered under her breath.Leonard frowned. “What?”“Nothing.” She pasted on a smile. “Just admiring the irony.”He gave her a confused glance but didn’t ask. He was too absorbed in his own world, already walking toward their jet.She stayed behind for a moment longer, watching Julian and Elara board theirs.The little girl’s laughter carried faintly on the wind, bright and pure.Lila’s throat tightened. There was something cruelly unfair about that sound. About the fact that even after all the damage, Elara still got to have that, the man, the child, the picture perfect ending.And Lila… she was left with a husband who didn’t look at her anymore, and a lie she had built too carefully to ever escape.She turned sharply, following Leonard up the ramp.He glan

Diana smiled again, slow and practiced. “Oh, sweetheart,” she murmured. “You don’t have to think about them. They’re not important, okay? All that matters is you. You and me. That’s what Daddy needs to see, that we’re his real family.”Her hand slid under his chin, tilting his face up until he met her gaze. Her smile was soft, but her eyes weren’t. “You love me, don’t you, Milo?”He nodded, small and uncertain. “Yes.”“And you love Daddy too?”Another nod.“Good,” she said, her tone brightening like she’d just solved a puzzle. “Then that’s all you have to show him. You be the sweetest, happiest boy he’s ever seen. You make him want to stay with us. Do you understand?”He didn’t answer right away. His throat felt tight.Diana’s thumb brushed over his cheek, her voice dipping lower. “You’re my little miracle, Milo. My whole world. You know that, right?”He nodded again because that was what she wanted.Her smile deepened, pleased. “Good boy. I knew you’d listen.”She straightened and sm

Vivienne swirled her wine, eyes glinting under the soft light. “You know,” she went on, “When I finally saw a clear photo of that boy, Milo. Lydia, tell me I’m not losing my mind, but he looks exactly like Julian did at that age. Same stubborn jaw, same eyes that look like they’re judging your entire existence.”Lydia chuckled, nearly choking on her sip of tea. “Oh, absolutely. The resemblance is… uncanny. When I saw it, I thought, well, that’s going to cause some family discussions.”Vivienne groaned softly. “Family discussions? My dear, I nearly spilled my coffee on my poor assistant when I saw it. I had to sit down and ask myself if maybe there was some sort of cloning experiment I wasn’t told about.”Lydia laughed. “Maybe it’s a Cross thing, you all come out with that same expression. Mira has it too, just with a bit more sweetness. She’s got Elara’s spark though.”Vivienne smiled at that, her features softening. “Mira’s a heart stealer, I’ll give her that. Julian can’t even say n