Too late for a second chance (Lila and Dorian)

Chapter 454

Noah thought he must have misheard. "Who?"

"You," Ruby said with a faint smile. "Noah."

She reached for his glass with her slender fingers, stood up, and walked over to him. "Be good. Drink up."

"Whoa..." Amelia chimed in, her exaggerated enthusiasm adding fuel to the moment.

Lila, sitting nearby, leaned over, plucked the card from Amelia's hand, and glanced at it.

Then, without a word, she shoved it back into the pile.

Sure enough, Amelia had made it up.

Amelia just grinned mischievously, her eyes sparkling as she watched the scene unfold. Noah looked visibly torn, his reluctance plain, but he seemed unable to refuse.

He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, wearing the expression of someone being cornered into doing something ridiculous.

As the gathering wound down, Lila excused herself to use the restroom. On her way back, she spotted Noah standing alone at the end of the hallway.

She walked over, her voice soft as she spoke. "If you don't feel like coming next time, just don't."

For once, Noah's expression was unusually serious. "It's fine. A little noise helps clear my head. Otherwise, being alone all the time isn't much better."

He paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "How are things with you and Uncle Kieran lately?"

Lila chuckled softly. "We're doing great. Starting over, dating from scratch."

Noah nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like one of those drama plots you're always into—married first, love later. And there's even that whole childhood sweetheart angle."

She smiled, nodding.

genuinely happy for her. "Nice. Just make sure you keep

raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

that drink just now. It wasn't just for fun. That

Lila blinked, surprised.

brief pause, she asked, "That's how you see

Noah replied, his tone laced with mild irritation as if he couldn't

paused, and then added, "But... it could also be for a different

Lila watched him expectantly.

times, but now and then, his overthinking managed to hit

one of those rare moments where he

before Noah opened his mouth, and Lila realized she'd expected too

probably

failed confession

she's deliberately picking me to make people speculate even more

at a

pause, she asked,

some serious thought for about two seconds before shaking his

guy she's most interested in. What if she does

shot back, rejecting the idea instantly without so much as a second of

Ruby's voice interrupted

gentle smile, making her seem even more elegant and

sparkled with mischief. "Noah just said... he kind of likes you,

finish, Noah clamped a hand over her

circumstances, Lila would never meddle in someone

attention that might hint at feelings he wasn't

planned to do was give him a little nudge. After that, the rest was up to

like that!" Noah hissed, his voice