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

Lila's gaze remained calm as she silently considered Xyla's words.

She didn't respond right away, so Xyla continued, "You seem close to Ms. Joyce. I was wondering if I could ask-why didn't the arranged marriage between their families go through? Would you mind sitting down for a bit at that cafe over there?"

Lila met Xyla's eyes. Aside from curiosity, there wasn't much emotion in them.

But she didn't nod.

Instead, she simply said, "I don't know much about it, so don't overthink things, Ms. Zimmerman. The two of them probably didn't move forward with it because their personalities and values were not aligning."

Xyla frowned slightly. "Personalities and values?"

Lila wasn't about to go into too much detail, so she kept her answer vague. "You've spent time with Vince, so you should know he's easygoing, polite, and respectful.noveldrama

"He treats people with kindness and carries a strong sense of responsibility. As for Ame... she's always been free-spirited and used to doing things her way.

"Marriage was never something she wanted. One values stability and the other craves freedom. Naturally, their ideals didn't match."

Xyla listened, deep in thought.

It made sense.

But to Xyla, it all felt a little too surface-level. Was it that simple?

Still, Lila had made her stance clear.

After a brief pause, Xyla asked, "So, it was Ms. Joyce who didn't want the engagement?"

Lila remained polite but noncommittal. "I don't know the details of their discussions."

Xyla nodded. "Got it. Thank you for your time today."

Lila chuckled lightly, then said goodbye and walked away.

Xyla got into the car, and her friend in the passenger seat, having overheard their conversation, turned to her.

"Do you think she was telling the truth? Amelia is her close friend, so could she have left something out?"

Xyla hesitated. "Ms. Hart's words should be reliable. But whether she was holding something back... I can't say."

She shook her head, feeling just as uncertain as before. "Vince is a responsible person. If we got married, even if he didn't love me, he'd still treat me well, at least out of duty as a husband. But..."

Her friend glanced at her, then softly finished the thought. "But a marriage based on respect alone, is that what you want?"

Silence filled the car. Neither of them had an answer.

Lila got into her car, then suddenly remembered a flower shop not far from the office. On a whim, she decided to stop by.

She picked out a few sunflowers, pairing them with delicate complementary blooms, and waited as the florist wrapped them into a

bet.

As she approached the parking area, a familiar figure caught her eye.

"Matthew."

Hearing his name, Matthew turned around. He was wearing a black baseball cap and a face mask.

"Lila, what a coincidence." Noticing the flowers in her arms, he asked, "Who are those for?"

"Aren't they pretty? I got them for Kieran."

As she spoke, her eyes carried a soft smile, like the brightest star in the night sky. "They're beautiful."

Their marriage seemed so... good.

Matthew's earliest memories of marriage were nothing but shouting and fights.

His parents had always taken their anger out on each other, and when that wasn't enough, they turned it on him.

Most of his childhood had been filled with bruises, leaving him deeply skeptical about love and marriage.

But after meeting Lila and Kieran,

and watching how effortlessly harmonious their relationship was, he realized that marriage didn't have to be a cycle of yelling and resentment.

"Oh, right. Hold these for me a sec, I have something for you." Matthew took the bouquet while Lila rummaged through her canvas bag, searching for something.

Not far Mayback outside and immediately

sat in silence. Cole

away, a newly parked

bet

"That looks like Madam keced

up.

there."

Kieran lifted his gaze. His eyes landed on Lila first, then shifted to Matthew

standing across from her, holding the bouquet.

His expression darkened slightly, and his eyes narrowed.

The temperature in the car seemed to drop instantly.

Cole, suddenly feeling the chill, wanted to slap himself. Why the hell did he say that?