Hamza protested from the other end and then subtly inquired.
– But why are you asking that?
When Dylan didn’t answer right away, Hamza’s voice became tense.
– Did Gia go to a cocktail bar? I heard there was a gathering today.
‘Gathering, my foot!’
Dylan almost let out a snicker without realizing it.
Gia was currently drinking in a revealing outfit that was so provocative it was hard to tell if she was dressed or undressed.
To be honest, Dylan wanted to spill everything, but,
“No! I just asked my brother-in-law. I was wondering if I should let Lola go if she wants to go to such a place. I don’t really approve of women going to those kinds of places. It doesn’t look good.”
He made an appropriate excuse.
Hamza chuckled.
– I think you’re being overly sensitive, Dylan. Women can go to those places as much as they want. Sometimes, when they’re stressed, it’s not a bad idea to take a break and recharge.
If he had actually seen Gia in her revealing outfit, would Hamza still be able to say such relaxed things?
Dylan was extremely curious.
“Hmm… I didn’t know you were such a lenient person, brother-in-law. But are you really okay with other guys looking at Gia? To be honest, even though Gia has had two kids, there must be a lot of men who still have their eyes on her when she goes out. Are you really okay with that?”
– If there are really guys like that, I would gouge their eyes out.
A rough exhale mixed with a growl came through the speaker.
‘I’m not the only one who’s strange.’
Seeing Hamza react the same way, Dylan thought that, and then Hamza asked.
– But Dylan, is there really nothing going on with Gia? Is she with other guys at the cocktail bar right now?
“How would I know? Didn’t you say there was a gathering today? Why are you suddenly so tense when you said it was fine earlier?”
– ……
There was a moment of silence on the other end. Still, thinking it would be good to give some appropriate advice, Dylan opened his mouth again.
“By the way, brother-in-law, Gia should be careful. She’s like a ping-pong ball that can bounce anywhere. If you take your eyes off her for even a moment, she could cause a major incident. It would probably be hard to clean up afterward.”
– Dylan, I understand what you’re saying.
And then he hung up, but instead of feeling relieved, Dylan’s frustration only grew, and he splashed cold water on his face repeatedly.
******
Lola couldn’t concentrate all day. Even while looking at a patient’s chart in front of the nurse station on the 19th floor, her gaze kept drifting toward the elevator.
Since Professor Xavier was hospitalized, Dylan had been coming to the hospital almost every day. The visits were merely an excuse; he came to see her face. Lola was not unaware of this, and it had become a habit for her to feel a sense of emptiness whenever he was late or didn’t show up.
‘Is he very busy today?’
Dylan didn’t show up at all throughout the day.
[Dear, are you not coming to the hospital today?]
She typed that message to him in the middle of the day, then deleted it and sent another.
[Dear, you must be very busy today?]
Still, there was no reply, so Lola, feeling her pride hurt, sent another text.
[Did I do something to upset you?]
He always said he wasn’t a narrow-minded man, but he was acting like one.
She grumbled inwardly, but,
[😩😭]
Yet, her phone did not buzz with a single text notification; it remained silent.
“That’s too much!”
Lola pouted and stuffed her phone into her gown pocket.
She firmly resolved not to text him again.
Her pride was wounded.
But contrary to that resolution, whenever she heard footsteps, her eyes instinctively turned toward the sound.
Then, if it was someone other than him, she would feel disappointed, and the day would pass like that.
Dylan, who had not shown his face all day, finally appeared in the hospital corridor on the 19th floor as the day grew dim.
As he strode past the nurse station and headed straight for Professor Xavier’s room, Lola tilted her head.
‘Did he not see me?’
Or was he pretending not to see her?
Lola immediately began to follow him.
“Dear.”
As Dylan stopped walking, Lola quickly grabbed his arm.
“Can we talk for a moment?”
“Later.”
“It’ll only take a minute. Are you very busy?”
He merely looked at her silently, and Lola’s expression turned sullen.
“Fine. If you’re busy, I can’t help it. Goodbye, Prosecutor Dylan Eve.”
Suppressing her disappointment, Lola turned her back.
