“Dylan Eve, you’re not seriously thinking of marrying Aliza, are you?”
One of the classmates, who had been closely observing Aliza’s actions from the beginning, asked with uncertainty, as if they had been waiting for such a question. As if expecting this, Aliza affectionately linked her arm with Dylan’s.
“Do you think we look good together?”
Dylan swatted Aliza’s hand away as if brushing off an unsightly bug.
“Annoying. And uncomfortable.”
His cold gaze and icy voice caused the previously cheerful atmosphere to suddenly become heavy. While it could have been embarrassing, Aliza merely shrugged it off lightly.
“Aliza, didn’t you return to the country after your divorce?”
“Isn’t it a bit unfair if Dylan marries Aliza?”
The whispers came from the female classmates.
Aliza’s lips curled up at one corner, reflecting her displeasure.
Feeling irritable, her tone was anything but gentle.
“Why? Is it because I’m a divorcee?”
The serious conversation made the already tense atmosphere feel like it was about to explode at any moment.
If someone didn’t intervene, it seemed like the women would start pulling each other’s hair, so the playful Tadeo Leon hurriedly stepped in to diffuse the chaotic mood.
“Why is everyone acting like this when we finally gathered? Let’s just drink.”
Even in that tense atmosphere, Dylan silently drank without revealing any emotions or expressions, but internally, he was suffering.
This boredom was incredibly frustrating and exhausting.
******
For a moment, Lola felt unsettled when her mother unexpectedly showed up without notice. However, thinking about fitting her wedding dress tomorrow made her feel a bit giddy and excited.
She decided she should go to bed early tonight.
That way, she would look good with her makeup tomorrow and be in good condition.
But wait!
What time did she say for tomorrow?
It seemed Dylan hadn’t given her the exact time, so Lola fumbled for her phone in her gown pocket.
He had mentioned he had some meeting in the evening and would contact her late.
Should she wait a bit longer?
Since he had given her a heads-up, Lola hesitated to contact him right away.
One minute, one second…
After a moment of hesitation, Lola finally seemed to make up her mind and pressed the shortcut for his number.
A short ringing tone sounded, and when the call connected, Lola cautiously asked.
“Dear, are you free to talk now?”
If the surroundings were noisy or if he seemed uncomfortable, she planned to say they could talk later and hang up immediately.
But,
– Lola Dax? This is Aliza. Dylan is with me right now. He’s had too much to drink and can’t take the call. Bye.
Hearing the familiar voice of the woman, Lola felt as if cold water had been poured over her.
What the…?
How did Aliza have Dylan Eve’s phone?
Even after the call had ended for a while, Lola’s mind was still blank, unable to think or judge properly.
She needed to contact Dylan Eve immediately to find out what was going on.
This situation felt absurd, like a bolt from the blue, and she couldn’t understand it logically, making it hard for her to accept.
Tomorrow was the day she was supposed to fit her wedding dress.
Yet, the man who had clearly stated he had no interest in Aliza was drinking with her right before such an important day.
If he was drinking with Aliza at this late hour, it couldn’t be a normal relationship.
Did that mean Dylan Eve had been lying to her all along?
As she thought that might be the case, tears streamed down Lola’s face before she could even stop herself. The shock of betrayal and loss was overwhelming because she had trusted him so deeply.
Sitting still felt suffocating, so Lola tried to stand up but ended up collapsing back onto the bench.
What should she do?
Her feelings for him had grown so strong.
Lola didn’t know how to navigate this sudden, malleable situation that had hit her without warning.
She felt angry and resentful, thinking she didn’t want to see Dylan Eve’s face for a while.
After wiping her tears with the back of her hand and taking a deep breath, Lola finally seemed to make a decision. Holding her phone, she entered someone’s number, and soon the call connected.
Lola cautiously opened her mouth.
“Professor, this is Lola Dax.”
– I know. What’s going on at this hour?
On the other end, Professor Kent Hollis seemed a bit surprised by the late-night call.
“I heard Dr. Anderson’s seminar on psychiatric medications is being held in Lapper tomorrow. I want to go, too.”
– But didn’t you say you had plans for tomorrow?
“I think the seminar is more important. I really want to attend this seminar.”
– Then go ahead.
“Thank you, Professor.”
After ending the call, Lola sat quietly with her head down, eyes tightly closed, trying to calm her racing heart.
Perhaps this decision wasn’t the wisest.
However, at that moment, filled with rage that made her blood boil, Lola couldn’t think rationally and responded in a foolish manner.
Unaware that she was making a significant mistake.
