As they drove farther away, Kieran glanced into the rearview mirror. Vince was no longer in sight.
Meanwhile, Nicole was sitting with her in-laws while waiting for Lila. Worried that the elders would grow impatient, she suggested going outside to check if Lila had arrived.
Hazel smiled warmly. "There's no need to rush. It's a good thing that Lila's so dedicated to her work."
Frances, however, frowned in disagreement. "Work might be important, but definitely not enough to neglect her health like Kieran does."
Nicole watched the two of them bicker, as they often did like children. Shaking her head with a smile, she got up and left the room.
Deep down, she knew both of them doted on the kids more than anyone else and supported the youngsters in pursuing their dreams unconditionally.
After all, they didn't seem concerned at all even when Noah decided to pursue a career in e-sports.
Instead, they happily watched tournaments they barely understood and celebrated his team's victories as though it was theirs.
The memory brought an exasperated smile to Nicole's face.
Leaving the room, she walked down the corridor. As she approached the glass doors, she saw two figures approaching together.
Lila was saying something, so Kieran leaned in to hear better. Their good looks made them a surprisingly good fit together.
This realization startled Nicole, and she silently berated herself for having such thoughts.
She blamed her messy thoughts on that photo album.
She tried convincing herself that it wasn't unusual for Kieran to keep an album documenting Lila's growth since he had always been protective of her.
But she failed.
"Yeah, right!" she thought. "Not when the only person in the photos was Lila!"
Lila was so busy talking that she didn't notice the uneven pavement ahead, and she tripped.
Kieran reacted instantly, circling her waist with his arm while his other hand steadied her by the wrist.
"Careful there."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: too late for a second chance novel (Lila and Dorian)