Unable to bear watching their daughter idling at home, her parents scraped together every penny they had and sent her to France for a language program.
But when Rosaline said she wanted to return home because French life didn’t suit her and studying wasn’t her thing, Paulina couldn’t help but worry.
“I’ll talk to Rosaline.”
She wasn’t sure if Rosaline would listen, but she thought saying that would end the call quickly.
Paulina continued.
—How’s the prosecutor? Is he treating you well?
Paulina belatedly asked about Lola’s well-being. When her mother asked about Dylan, Lola’s heart instinctively pounded.
“Yes, he is.”
‘How well he treats me.’
Living with him, there were times when she wasn’t relaxed, but there were even more times when she wondered if she could be this happy.
—That’s good. I was worried because he’s as taciturn as your father. He’s so different from Gia.
“You don’t have to worry about me.”
—Okay, I understand.
Paulina hung up after that.
After being tense several times in a short period, Lola felt completely exhausted.
She had enough on her plate, and now Rosaline, who had been quiet, was causing trouble again.
It wasn’t a day off, and she felt restless and overwhelmed.
‘But first, I need to put out the immediate fire.’
Lola started racking her brain, thinking of how to explain the strange text message to Dylan at dinner.
******
Contrary to Lola’s wish that Dylan would be late or work late tonight, he got off work on time.
With her nerves on edge at the sound of the front door opening, Lola walked towards him nervously.
“Dear, you’re home? You got off work early today.”
Lola greeted him shyly, her face flushed.
“Dear, go upstairs and change quickly. I made a lot of your favorite food today.”
Dylan stared intently at Lola, who was being unusually attentive.
“Oh!”
Subtly avoiding his intense gaze, Lola snatched the briefcase from Dylan’s hand.
Following Lola as she crossed the living room and went upstairs, Dylan tilted his head, wondering what was going on.
In the dressing room, Lola took the suit Dylan had taken off and hung it on the rack. Then she untied his tie.
Her excessive attentiveness felt unusual, but not unpleasant, so Dylan didn’t push her away.
He watched her every move with intense eyes.
After untying his tie, it was time to unbutton his shirt, but Lola hesitated. The corners of Dylan’s lips curved upwards.
“Oh! If you’ve started, you have to finish. It seems like it’s not over yet.”
“Ah, yes.”
Approaching him again, Lola reached out and began to unbutton his shirt, one by one. Her heart pounded harder, and her fingertips trembled.
His gaze was so intense and explicit that she felt like she was naked.
Trying to calm herself, she finally hung up the shirt and was about to leave the dressing room.
But just as she was about to move, Dylan wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close and whispering softly,
“Pants too.”
“Pants.”
Lola’s eyes trembled. Dylan gently brushed her lips with his long, delicate fingers as he spoke.
“If you’re going to do something, do it perfectly. Why stop halfway? You’re making me anxious.”
“Dear, you need to eat soon. I’m setting the table.”
“It’s not a big deal if it’s a little late. I’m not starving or anything.”
“B-but the pants… you…”
Lola stuttered, unable to finish her sentence, but Dylan immediately took over.
“I’d like you to take them off for me.”
“I-I can’t do that.”
“Why not? Didn’t you say you’d do anything I wanted? Didn’t you say that yesterday? Why? Have you changed your mind?”
On that rainy day, she had said those words out of gratitude for him coming to pick her up.
But Dylan’s request felt overwhelmingly burdensome to Lola.
Her heart raced for no reason, and her face flushed with heat.
“I-I’m sorry.”
Caught tightly by Dylan, Lola couldn’t escape and bit her lip nervously.
“Hmm…”
His voice lingered above her.
“Then you can repay me with something else later.”
‘Something else?’
The ambiguity of his words made her feel uneasy, and without realizing it, Lola pouted her lips.
“Just don’t feel too wronged about it. You said it yourself.”
Only after Dylan said that did he let her go.
Once her body was free, Lola hurriedly left the dressing room as if fleeing.
At the sound of the door closing, Dylan chuckled softly.
Her flustered appearance, caught off guard by his mischievous antics, was always amusing to him.
Sometimes, even when he thought he should hold back, Dylan found it hard to stop teasing Lola.
If he didn’t see her blush or fluster for even a day, he felt something was missing.
He thought to himself how ridiculous he was.
‘What should I ask for later?’
As he pondered slowly, Dylan began to change into comfortable clothes.
