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

Lila sat in the car momentarily, her gaze drifting to the thermos on the passenger seat. She fell silent.

After a brief hesitation, she picked up her phone, intending to send Kieran a message.

Before she could type anything, his text appeared first. "Had to leave for a last- minute business trip. I forgot to tell you, I'll probably be back the day after tomorrow."

Lila erased the words she had been about to write. Instead, she replied, "Stay safe."

After a second's thought, she added a sticker of a little bear offering a hug.

There was no response.

She waited a moment, then started the car and drove back to Vermilion Estate.

When she arrived, a car was parked directly in front of the entrance, blocking her way.

Lila tapped the horn. The vehicle remained still.

Just as she reached for the door handle to step out, the driver's side opened, and Moses emerged.

She hesitated, frowning. Her hand was still on the handle.

He stood in front of his car, watching her. When she made no move to get out, he walked over and knocked on her window.

Lila pressed her lips together before lowering the window, just enough for a single finger to fit through.

The Moore family was full of short-tempered people. She had no interest in getting tangled up with any of them.

"Lila, long time no see," Moses said, unfazed by her caution.

She met his gaze through the narrow gap.

"What do you want?"

"There's something I need to talk to you about."

Her gaze remained calm, a faint, distant smile playing on her lips. "I told you before, there's nothing for us to talk about."

Moses still looked easygoing, almost harmless. "Last time, when Andy sent people after me, I know you were the one who called security. I wanted to thank you."

Lila nodded. "I would've done the same for anyone. Now that I've received your thanks, can you move your car?"noveldrama

Moses nodded back. "Aside from that, there's something else I need to talk to you about. If it's convenient, can we go inside?"

"It's not," Lisa rejected him outright.

"I'm home alone. A man and a

l.ne

woman alone together itill cause misunderstandings. If you have something to say, say it here."

Moses glanced at the small space between them, then paused briefly before

letting out a casual chuckle.

"Fair enough. I get why you'd have concerns about me and the Moore family. But that's exactly why I came to warn you about them.

"Lila, you and I are on the same side.

I hate the Moore family too. All because Dennis couldn't keep it in his pants, my mong spent years being whispered about behind her back.

"And me? People call me a bastard. Meanwhile, he gets to stay on his high horse just because he was born into a powerful family We're all human, so why the hell should he get to be above anyone else?"

Lila listened without much reaction.

She wasn't a saint. She couldn't save anyone.

Moses let out a mocking laugh. "Both of our lives got messed up because of the Moore family. That's why I came to warn you.

"Mr. Morgan left for his business trip today, didn't he? Took only one assistant with him, along with Faith. You knew that, right?"

Lila's fingers twitched slightly.

He took Faith?

She hadn't known that.

Her eyes lifted to meet his. "And?"

"The Moore family still hasn't given up on tying themselves to the Morgans through marriage. Now that they've got a chance, they won't let it slip away.

"One pawn-Faith—is all it takes to win over Morgan Group. No matter how they play it, they can't lose."

Moses held her gaze, his tone steady, his expression sincere-like he meant every word.