It had been a while since Mariana’s figure disappeared from sight, but Aliza still hadn’t started the car.
Even though she was curious about how Dylan was doing, Aliza couldn’t just go to him recklessly. Even if she went, that cold and prickly man wouldn’t spare her a glance.
So it would be pointless. She had to wait for a suitable opportunity to meet him naturally. However, there was still some time left until the law school reunion, and waiting idly without doing anything was driving Aliza crazy.
Whenever she showed excessive interest in Dylan and pried into his life, Alan, her senior, would always mutter that she was a step too late, but Aliza couldn’t agree with that.
So what should she do?
After racking her brain and pondering repeatedly, Aliza found herself at Dylan’s family home.
She was honestly curious about what Dylan’s parents were like. She had seen Dylan’s mother a few times back in school, but at that time, she was too young and immature to understand well.
The Dylan’s mother she met again today left a deep impression on Aliza. Despite her middle age, she still looked beautiful and elegant. She maintained her manners while drawing a line in a strangely firm way, and she didn’t seem superficial at all.
Dylan must have taken after such a mother. Meeting her only intensified Aliza’s desire to have Dylan.
Indeed, she had never been unable to get what she wanted until now.
Gripping the steering wheel tightly, Aliza twisted her lips as she glared at Dylan’s house gate before starting the engine.
*****
At the same time.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Lola was chatting in real-time with Gia through text messages in the moving car. The ding-dong of message notifications kept ringing.
– Lola, I had a great time, thanks to you. How about you?
[I had fun too.]
– Lola, how can you cook so well? Do you know how much my husband praised you?
[I’m glad he enjoyed it.]
– It was so good that it could put any restaurant to shame. By the way! Send me some photos when you have time.
[Got it.]
– Thanks. See you at the hospital tomorrow.^^
[Okay. ^^]
As Lola flipped through the various strange photos stored in her digital camera, she couldn’t help but burst into laughter. This trip seemed like it would remain a good memory for a long time.
Focusing on driving, Dylan turned his head to look at Lola when the car stopped at a traffic light. She was staring intently at the digital camera, laughing to herself. He couldn’t help but be captivated by her, and when he accidentally turned his head, their eyes met. Lola’s face immediately stiffened.
“Why do you get nervous every time you see me?”
Seeing her expression change so quickly whenever their eyes met made Dylan want to tease her more.
“I-I’m not nervous.”
“Your face went completely pale, though?”
“R-Really?”
Unable to check her reflection in the mirror, Lola touched her cheeks with her hands.
“Anyone would think I’m about to eat you.”
Recalling the several times she had almost been devoured by him, Lola’s face flushed, and she lowered her gaze. Watching her fidget with the innocent camera, Dylan muttered softly.
“Then I want to eat you more.”
No, he wasn’t a beast, yet he had started saying that as if it were a habit. Every time he did, Lola’s heart raced. Dylan’s gaze, which had lingered on Lola, finally shifted forward when his phone rang. The caller was Mariana.
His mother rarely called unless it was urgent.
Wondering if something was wrong, Dylan tilted his head and answered on speakerphone.
“Yes. Mother, what’s the matter?”
As soon as Dylan asked, Mariana’s gentle voice came through the receiver.
– Are you free to talk right now?
“Yes.”
Lola remained silent, still with her head down.
– Dylan, I called to ask you something.
“Yes, go ahead.”
– Who is Nia Aliza?
As Mariana suddenly mentioned Nia Aliza, Lola’s heart sank. The unexpected name caught Dylan off guard, but he maintained his composure.
“Why do you ask about her?”
– She said she was your friend. Did you have such a friend? She came to our house today.
This time, Lola felt as if her heart was plummeting into an abyss.
Given that Nia Aliza had come to Dylan’s house, it was hard to say she had nothing to do with him. A sense of unease washed over her, and she felt something was off.
Startled by Mariana’s words, Dylan quickly glanced at Lola’s profile and hurriedly made an excuse.
“Mother, I’m driving right now, so let’s talk later.”
– Okay, I understand.
After ending the call, a cold silence fell in the car. Lola, with her head down, pretended to look at the photos stored in the camera with a troubled expression. Dylan, feeling uneasy, focused solely on driving.
