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

When Kieran arrived at Magi Pictures, Lila had just stepped out of the cafeteria.

Seeing him, she was visibly surprised.

"Aren't you supposed to be negotiating with the Moore family? You're alreadynoveldrama

done with the gala?"

That didn't seem right.

She quickly did the math in her head, and the timing felt off.

Kieran easily caught her skepticism. He reached out and gently pinched her

cheek, using a little more force than usual.

Sensing his displeasure, Lila smiled and squeezed his hand in return, coaxing him

softly.

"I am happy to see you. I just don't want you to delay important business. After all,

we see each other every day. If you wanted to see me, I could've just come to

you."

As expected, Kieran's frown eased, looking quite pleased with himself.

Seeing this, Lila grinned and pulled an orange from her coat pocket. "Ta-da!

Today's post-meal fruit from the company cafeteria. Lucky you, Mr. Morgan."

Still smiling, she took his hand and started leading him toward her office.

But after a few steps, she suddenly paused. "Wait. Have you eaten lunch yet?"

"No."

Lila gasped. "Why didn't you say something? Come on, food first."

Without hesitation, she turned them around and pulled him toward the exit. "The

cafeteria's pretty much empty by now. Let's head downstairs instead."

As they reached the main lobby, they ran into Cedric.

He looked between Lila and Kieran, clearly surprised. "Mr. Morgan? Weren't you

supposed to be at the Morgan Group event?"

Seeing his reaction, Lila couldn't help but laugh. "He's just here for a meal. He'll

head back soon."

Cedric nodded. "Got it. Mr. Morgan, enjoy your meal. Let me know if you need

anything."

As he watched them walk away, a thought crossed his mind.

All those online discussions pairing Kieran with Faith... Honestly? The real couple

looked way better together.

Nothing could beat the real thing.

At the restaurant, Lila borrowed a knife from the kitchen and carefully sliced the

orange into four pieces.

Since she knew Kieran wasn't a fan of sour flavors, she tasted a piece first to

make sure it was sweet before offering him the rest.

Meanwhile, the restaurant owner, who recognized Kieran, had been sneakily

watching them from the moment they walked in.

He wanted to say something but didn't dare interrupt.

"Boss, do you want an orange or something?" a clueless waiter whispered beside

him.

He had no idea who Kieran was, but after watching his boss stare at the man

eating fruit for so long, he figured he should at least ask.

"What do you mean? Go buy a few, then send two to that table as a

complimentary gift from the restaurant."

"Huh?"

"Just do it! And throw in some other fruits too, make it a full fruit platter."

The internet had been buzzing with

rumors about Kieran and the Moore

Group heading toward a marriage

alliance, but look at these

two-sweet as honey.

Those gossip accounts were out here talking nonsense. If anyone actually

believed that crap, they had to be complete idiots.

Just as Kieran was finishing his meal, a waiter arrived with a beautifully arranged

fruit platter.

Lila blinked in confusion. "We didn't order this."

The waiter smiled smoothly. "Congratulations! You two are today's lucky

customers, so our boss is treating you to a fruit platter. Please enjoy."

Kieran glanced over at the restaurant owner in the distance, then back at the

waiter. "Thank you."

Once the waiter left, Lila's

expression brightened. "This is the

first time I've ever been picked for a

special event at a restaurant. Am I

having a lucky day? Maybe I should

buy a lottery ticket."

She was half joking, but the moment

they left the restaurant, she actually

made a detour into a nearby lottery

shop and bought two scratch-off

tickets.

"One for each of us."

Kieran took the ticket she handed him, raising an eyebrow slightly.

A first.

Lila scratched hers off first, only to deflate a little. "Nothing. Looks like all my luck

went into that fruit platter."

Then, after a beat, she perked up and looked at Kieran excitedly. "What about

yours? Did you win anything?"

Amused by her enthusiasm, Kieran's lips curled slightly.

"Why don't you try it?" He handed his ticket over to her.

"No way! I bought it for you, you do it."

Lila shoved a scratch tool into his hand, motioning for him to hurry up.

Kieran arched a brow, slowly scratching off the first row.

"Whoa! You won something!" Lila gasped, genuinely excited.

Kieran glanced at the ticket.

The prize? A grand total of 20 dollars.