Too late for a second chance (Lila and Dorian)

Lila could see the exhaustion written all over Kieran. He had always been polished and put-together, but now his usually neat hair was a mess.

His clothes, typically dry-cleaned and impeccable, were wrinkled and misshapen -probably hand-washed due to a lack of proper facilities. A few stains even lingered here and there.

But none of that mattered. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him.

"Kieran, next time, don't keep things from me. I was really worried."

Kieran pulled her in tightly with his arm. No one had expected that what was meant to be a short separation had nearly turned into a final goodbye.

The fear and anxiety that had weighed on Lila for days only began to fade when she breathed in his familiar scent, grounding her in the reality that he was here, safe.

Watching them, Alfredo couldn't help but smile, a rare sight after everything that had happened.

After a moment, Lila finally pulled away, only to catch Alfredo grinning at them. Her ears flushed slightly.

She quickly changed the subject. "Let's go to the hospital first and get you both checked out. Then we'll head home. Grandpa's been in good spirits today. He even called Aunt Jasmine and Bryce over for dinner."

Neither Kieran nor Alfredo had heard about Frances gathering the family.

Given Frances's declining health, they had been especially worried that news of the company's troubles might push him too far.

Hearing that he was feeling well enough to host a family dinner was a small relief. After their checkups at the hospital, they wasted no time heading home.

Only after showering and changing into fresh clothes did Kieran and Alfredo finally start looking a little more like themselves.

By six in the evening, Jasmine and Bryce arrived, only to be stunned by everything that had happened.

Both looked visibly shaken.

Morgan Group right

assets are still stuck overseas. We need to fill the gap

settled over

employed over a hundred thousand people. If the company collapsed,

focus on your

this crisis —it was clear just how

something that could be solved with

to believe in Kieran, but more than anything, she felt a deep ache in her

on him alone, and it

spoke up as well. "Nobody panic. We're family, whatever happens, we'll

room fell into a heavy silence as

Frances came downstairs that they forced

his two sons, weary and battered, and after a brief pause, simply

stilled at his words. Then he

old, too blind, and too out of touch to know what was

sighed. If only Amelie

moment later, he

He'd be seeing her

he didn't say any of that aloud. Instead, he simply told everyone

for dinner.

old now, not much

you've all

figure things out, and