too late for a second chance novel (Lila and Dorian) novel Chapter 3

Lila lay on the couch. She was upset and gradually fell asleep. Amid her sleep, it felt like somebody was touching her face, jolting her awake. Before she noticed the figure sitting before her, a faint scent of alcohol hit her nostrils.

The living room was dim, illuminated only by the faint glow of the streetlights filtering in from outside.

Kieran looked at her, his gaze deep and contemplative. He wasn't donning a suit jacket at the moment, and his necktie was loosened. His proper white shirt somewhat accentuated his muscular build.

Lifting his hand, he tugged at his necktie with his slender fingers to loosen it again, his movement charming and seductive.

"Uncle Kieran?" Lila could tell he was drunk. "How did you get so drunk?"

She rose and intended to help him back into his room, yet his warm hand cupped her face. Lila was stunned. She froze, afraid to move, but regretted her action the next second.

Kieran lowered his body, wrapped his arms around her waist, and carried her. With no choice but to split her legs, she sat on his lap and was trapped within his embrace, face-to-face.

Holy crap! Following that, he nestled his chin against the crook of her neck, his warm breath tickling her skin like feathers. It felt tingling.

At that moment, they resembled an intimate couple, slowly absorbing each other's warmth.

Lila was baffled to the core. She couldn't describe her feelings, but she knew her heart would jump out of her chest. With a delayed reaction, she pushed him away.

Kieran, seemingly dissatisfied by her movement, held her waist and pulled her into his embrace again. She could feel the heat from his body, even through his shirt.

"Don't move." His deep, hoarse voice sounded like he was suppressing something.

His voice had a hint of allure, and in that strange state, Lila fell silent. The next second, her eyes widened as his face loomed over her, causing her heart to skip a beat. Following that was a domineering yet restrained kiss.

The tip of his tongue, warm and wet, lightly traced her lips. Her body froze, and she had lost her ability to think straight. The heat from his palm traveled underneath her shirt, making direct contact with her skin.

It wasn't until then Lila realized what they were doing. The more she struggled, the more tightly he embraced her, as if he wanted to merge their bodies. Amid the panic, she tilted her head and bit on his neck.

Kieran gasped from the pain. Taking advantage of his distraction, she swiftly escaped from his hold and stood up. He pressed the spot she had been bitten with a frown, and after pinching between his brows, he appeared more sober.

"Uncle Kieran, I know you've mistaken me for someone else. Are you secretly dating someone?"

He looked up at her, still looking tipsy. "Lila?"

It was obvious he was unaware of the outrageous move he had committed earlier, and neither had he heard what Lila said. Her mind was in turmoil.

"Uncle Kieran…" Lila tried her best to calm down. "You're drunk. Why don't you wash up and rest? I'll head back to my room."

Kieran watched her retreating figure that looked like she was almost fleeing with a chilling gaze that resembled the stubborn remnants of snow on a mountain peak, making others quiver in fear.

He rarely drank, as alcohol would muddle the mind, making it hard to react swiftly and correctly in critical moments. Thus, he loathed that feeling of helplessness. However, that changed at a wine party when he heard about Dorian's behavior at the awards ceremony.

Kieran was the current president of Morgan Group. He took over the family business at 17 and, in just three years, elevated the family business to new heights. Known for his decisiveness and ruthless methods, he was a figure that everyone was wary of provoking.

Yet, tonight, the cold and aloof man was constantly distracted because of Lila.

Meanwhile, the restless Lila simply washed up and lay on her bed. Her thoughts, originally occupied by Dorian's controlling and revolting behavior, were now taken over by Kieran's domineering yet restrained kiss.

"This is madness! That's Uncle Kieran, Lila—wake up from your dirty thoughts!" she told herself.

After a night of tossing and turning, Lila woke up with an extremely poor complexion the next day, like a vampire had drawn all her blood. She initially planned to leave before Kieran woke up by rising in the early morning yet ran into him as he returned from his morning jog.