Too late for a second chance (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.

"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?"

polite but noncommittal. "I don't

it. Thank you for your time

lightly, then said goodbye

friend in the passenger seat, having overheard their

you think she was telling the truth? Amelia is her close friend, so

reliable. But whether she was holding something back... I

married, even if he didn't love me, he'd still treat me

thought. "But

car. Neither of them had

car, then suddenly remembered a flower shop not far from the office. On a whim, she decided

complementary

bet.

the parking area, a familiar

"Matthew."

Matthew turned around. He was wearing a

in her arms, he asked, "Who are

pretty? I got them for

like the brightest star in the night sky. "They're

seemed

earliest memories of marriage were nothing but

always taken their anger out on each other,

bruises, leaving

meeting Lila and

watching how effortlessly harmonious their relationship was, he realized that marriage didn't have to be