too late for a second chance novel (Lila and Dorian)

Lila noticed Amelia hesitate for a moment, a flicker of frustration flashing through her eyes before she finally turned to look behind her.

Before they could exchange greetings, Xyla approached from behind. "Vince, have you been to this restaurant before? They have a signature dish that—"

She stopped mid-sentence when she spotted the group, momentarily surprised to see them.

"What a coincidence."

Lila nudged Amelia, and the two of them stood, offering a polite nod. "Ms. Zimmerman, we meet again."

Jamie smoothly picked up the conversation. "Since we've encountered each other, why don't you join us?"

Seeing that everyone had already composed themselves with casual ease, Soren signaled the waiter to arrange a different table.

Vince's gaze flickered toward Amelia, but she kept her eyes forward, never sparing him a glance.

Xyla noticed his reaction, pressing her lips together slightly, though she chose to stay silent.

The two of them walked side by side, yet a noticeable distance remained between them.

Lila glanced back, sensing an odd atmosphere-one that reminded her of Jamie and Soren.

They should have been close. After all, they were engaged. Yet something about them felt distant as if they were still learning how to exist in each other's orbit.

The group was moved to a small round table. Amelia pulled Lila to sit beside her, while the two men sat together, leaving Xyla on Victor's other side-right next to Amelia.

Xyla turned her head slightly and smiled.

Amelia returned the gesture, her expression composed and unreadable.

The atmosphere at the table was almost too harmonious, so much so that it felt strangely unnatural.

Sensing the tension, Jamie-usually not much of a talker-took it upon herself to start a conversation.

She shot a somewhat apologetic glance at Lila and Amelia, but they didn't seem to mind. They simply smiled in return, after all, this meeting hadn't been planned.

Xyla watched as the three of them exchanged glances, then shared a knowing smile. "You three are really close."

Jamie nodded. "Yeah, we've known each other for a long time. These two have always looked out for me, they're really great. Once you get to know them, you'll like them too."

Xyla cast a sideways glance at Amelia, giving a small nod but saying nothing.

She had heard rumors about Vince and Amelia before. On paper, their arranged marriage made perfect sense-their families were a flawless match in every way.

Curious, she had even asked a friend to look into it. But there wasn't much to find.

All her friend had said was, "Maybe they just don't like each other."

Xyla had only smiled at that answer.

Not like each other? Since when did high-society marriages care about that? As long as the arrangement brought benefits, that was albthat mattered.

But Vince

her so-called arranged fiancé had captivated her from the very first moment she saw him.

Refined, charming, effortlessly graceful. He wasn't a man of many words, but in the few he spoke, his intelligence was undeniable.

Unlike the countless suitors who had pursued her before, this time, she was the one who took the initiative.

She reached out to Vince first. Started conversations, learned his interests, and carefully picked out gifts that matched his taste.

The first time she gave him a present, he accepted it.

Her heart leaped. If he took it, did that mean he had at least a little interest in her?

But just two days later, he sent her a return gift, one even more expensive than hers.

She liked it, of course. But it made her hesitate. Maybe she was overthinking things.

So a few days later, she tried again.

Once more, Vince accepted her gift. And once more, he sent one back just as quickly.

By then, how could she not understand what this meant? Accepting gifts and returning them in equal measure was just his way of being polite.

Fairness. And fairness meant he had no intention of letting their relationship go any further.

For two days, Xyla wrestled with disappointment. She went back and forth, questioning herself, then finally pulled herself together.noveldrama

She did like Vince.

A friend had warned her not to get too emotionally invested.

Relationships like theirs -arral

strategic-weren't meant for real feelings.

She had simply smiled and said, "Feelings aren't something you can control. I'll

give it a shot, but I know where to draw the line."