“Nia.”
Lola’s gaze turned icy as she looked at Nia. Nia flinched for a moment but quickly returned to her haughty demeanor, wearing a relaxed smile.
“As you said, Dylan is cold and prickly. He’s so decisive that it’s almost heartless, and his personality is as sharp as a knife. But you know what? He’s not like that with me.”
“……!”
“I’ve told you clearly before not to get too close to him. It’s really inappropriate to keep hovering around a man who will soon be married. I feel uncomfortable every time I see you, Nia. So I hope you’ll stop. I’d prefer it if we didn’t have to face each other and talk like this anymore since we’re not even close.”
Originally, Lola wanted to confront Nia without holding back.
Nia, you lied to me last time.
Isn’t that behavior just disgraceful?
I wish you would keep that sharp tongue of yours in check.
However, despite the unpleasant words that rose to her throat, Lola maintained her composure until the end, finishing her statement before turning away.
Nia’s expression twisted oddly at Lola’s fierce counterattack.
‘Did I underestimate Lola Dax too much?’
Just like last time, he couldn’t shake off the feeling that he had somehow been outmaneuvered.
Lola’s retaliation was always unexpected for Nia, making it all the more humiliating.
‘What on earth does that woman have that makes Dylan like her?’
I never understood why Dylan Eve would date and marry someone like her.
From the beginning, it didn’t make sense, and that made it even harder to accept, filling me with a sense of defeat.
“Ugh…”
Nia bit her lip so hard that she didn’t even notice the metallic taste of blood in her mouth.
Looking at Dylan, who was reluctant to give her any space, she should have been ready to give up, but her heart wouldn’t budge.
No, she wanted him even more desperately.
If only he would look at her with warmth, just once.
If he would treat her a little kindly.
If only she could feel secure and reliable in his embrace.
She didn’t know how many futile hypotheses she had made like that.
“If you ruin that woman you cherish, will you crumble too?”
What would it be like to see the arrogant Dylan Eve fall apart?
“I’m quite curious about that.”
Nia murmured to herself, suddenly lifting the corners of her mouth into a cold smile.
******
“Phew, phew…”
Leaning against the railing of the hospital emergency stairs, Lola took a moment to catch her breath.
Her heart, still racing with tension, wouldn’t calm down easily.
It was a reflexive reaction that appeared after talking to Nia.
She felt that Nia seemed prettier than her, looking perfect as if she had everything, and that she matched Dylan better.
So when she stood in front of that woman, her confidence dwindled, and she involuntarily shrank back.
Even so, she tried not to show it, straightening her back and staying alert, but after the conversation ended, she often felt drained like now.
“Phew! Still…”
That woman seemed unable to completely sort out her feelings for Dylan.
It seemed that Nia liked Dylan more than Lola had imagined.
It was understandable…
But understanding made her feel even more dislike, anxiety, and discomfort.
For now, she felt relieved that no matter how much Nia clung to him, Dylan didn’t even spare her a glance, while also feeling a sense of pride.
Because the woman he liked was her.
Whenever she felt dizzy, she always wanted to see him.
She wanted to hear his voice.
No, even a text would be fine.
His very existence served as a calming agent for her heart.
Before she knew it, Lola had taken her phone out of her coat pocket and was typing a message to him.
[Dear, are you busy?]
– A little. Why?
She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was being a nuisance since he was busy, but eventually sent the text.
[I have something I’m curious about.]
– What is it? Tell me.
Should I ask or not?
Lola’s hesitation was growing longer.
But despite her indecisive heart, her fingers danced across the keypad.
[Why do you like me?]
She clicked ‘send’ and immediately regretted it.
‘I’ve done something unnecessary.’
What would he think?
He would probably say it was out of the blue.
He might even laugh at her.
“What should I do?”
The message was already marked as ‘read.’ She felt both nervous and excited about what his response would be.
– I don’t know.
“Ha!”
Of course, she didn’t expect a profound reply.
She thought it would be a relief if he didn’t mock her for being trivial.
But ‘I don’t know’?
The short and concise message seemed lacking in sincerity. She didn’t know how to interpret the meaning of ‘I don’t know.’
