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?"

remained polite but noncommittal. "I don't know

"Got it. Thank

said goodbye

and her friend in the

truth? Amelia is her close friend, so could she have left something

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

uncertain as before. "Vince is a responsible person. If we got married, even if he didn't love me, he'd still

friend glanced at her, then softly finished the thought. "But

car. Neither of

into her car, then suddenly remembered a flower shop not

complementary blooms, and waited as

bet.

the parking area,

"Matthew."

Matthew turned around. He was wearing a black

the flowers in her arms, he asked,

pretty? I got them for

a soft smile, like the brightest

seemed so...

earliest memories of marriage were nothing

parents had always taken their anger out on each other, and when that wasn't enough,

bruises, leaving him deeply skeptical

after meeting Lila

relationship was, he realized that marriage didn't have to be