Too late for a second chance (Lila and Dorian)

Chapter 190

Lila turned to glance at Michael, who was already seated in the car. His usual relaxed posture was replaced by a rigid, upright position as if the were a soldier sitting next to his commanding officer. He looked more tense than someone who had been dead for a while.

Lila sighed softly. She could already imagine Michael's back cramping by the time they arrived at their destination.

"Let's grab a bite first," Cole said, driving straight to a restaurant.

Once they arrived, he stepped out to open the door for Kieran. Just as he turned to help Lila, she had already opened the door and stepped out on her own.

Michael, exiting from the same side as Lila, stretched and rubbed his back, grumbling under his breath. "The boss doesn't have to treat me so kindly. I'd rather not suffer like this."

Lila covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Quietly, she offered, "How about I sit next to Mr. Morgan on the way back?"

Michael shot her a skeptical look. "Why would you want to trade places and suffer?"

"Don't underestimate a manager's mental fortitude. It's no worse than yours."

He clicked his tongue in disbelief, recalling how she had managed to take over a collaboration he had been eyeing. "You're definitely not ordinary. Almost fell for that sweet and innocent act of yours."

"Deal, then," he muttered, relieved to avoid another round of tense silence beside Kieran. He couldn't shake the feeling that sitting too close to the boss for too long might give him frostbite—or nightmares.

the atmosphere during the meal was eerily quiet, as

eating but couldn't stop glancing at Kieran out of the corner of his eye. His gaze froze when he saw Kieran calmly placing a

What was that?

Morgan was renowned for his

about his employees, but not to the extent of personally serving

was stunned by

expression unreadable. For the first time,

flicker of confusion in his usually

fought the urge to laugh, finding the entire exchange

and placed it on Michael's plate. "Eat more. Boost

together, stunned, as he watched her immediately

more too. You've

but to his shock, Kieran picked up the shrimp with his

whole thing felt off-very off, but

the hotel.

had a

that today gave me a heart attack-he doesn't

an eyebrow but

I'll come by this afternoon to rehearse lines. Let me know if there's anything in