{Third Person}
"Do you want to co in with you?" Torin asked. "I could at least say hello to your parents."
Lila turned to him with a soft expression, already prepared.
"Next ti," she said gently. "I don’t want you to trouble yourself tonight. You should head ho and have dinner with your own parents."
Her tone was warm, almost thoughtful, as though she were putting his comfort first.
Torin frowned slightly. "It’s not trouble. I don’t mind—"
He barely got the words out before Lila stepped closer. She did not give him the chance to finish. Her hand ca up to his chest, and in the next second, she leaned in and kissed him.
The interruption was deliberate and effective.
Torin stilled for a mont, then responded naturally, his hesitation dissolving as he wrapped an arm around her.
When she pulled back, she rested her forehead briefly against his. "I will miss you," she murmured.
That was enough. Whatever he had been about to say disappeared completely.
"I will see you soon," he replied with a softer tone.
Lila smiled at him, her expression gentle and affectionate—perfect.
They parted, and Torin walked back to the driver’s side. A mont later, the engine started, and the car pulled away from the estate.
Lila stood at the sa spot, watching him go. She kept the smile on her face until the car disappeared completely. Then, it faded instantly.
Her expression went flat, the warmth gone as though it had never been there to begin with.
Without another thought, she turned and walked toward the house.
---
Inside, the atmosphere was completely different.
The living room lights were dimd slightly. Matilda sat comfortably on the couch, a glass of cocktail in her hand as she watched a show with casual interest.
Lila walked in and headed straight for her. "Mum," she said softly before leaning down to hug her.
Matilda smiled imdiately, setting her glass aside to return the embrace. "You seem to be in a good mood tonight," she said as Lila sat beside her.
Lila leaned lightly against her, her tone playful. "Just seeing your beautiful, young face is enough."
Matilda laughed, clearly pleased. "Flattery will get you everywhere," she said before studying her daughter more closely. "So, how was your date with Torin?"
Lila smiled, relaxed and composed now. "It was nice," she said. "We went shopping first, and then he took to a really good restaurant afterwards."
Matilda nodded, satisfied. "That sounds lovely." After a brief pause, she added, "Did you speak to him about our families eting?"
Lila’s smile softened slightly. "No," she said.
Matilda frowned, completely taken aback. "Why not?"
Lila lowered her gaze for a mont, as though choosing her words carefully. "I don’t think he’s ready," she said quietly.
Matilda’s brows drew together. "Did he tell you that?"
Lila shook her head.
"Then how did you co to that conclusion?" her mother asked.
Lila let out a small breath before answering. "I can feel it. He has been... bothered."
"Bothered by what?"
"By what people are saying," Lila replied. "You know how it looks. He dated Amara, and now he’s with , her sister. People are talking, and it’s affecting him."
Matilda’s expression shifted into concern. "That situation is... delicate," she admitted.
Lila watched her closely. Then, slowly, she leaned in and wrapped her arm around her mother’s.
"Mum," she said gently, "I think you should talk to Dad about this."
Matilda glanced at her. "About what?"
"About giving us more ti," Lila replied. "Torin and I aren’t ready for an engagent yet. Not like this. Not until things settle down."
Matilda sighed. "Your father wants the engagent precisely because of that. He believes it will silence the rumours."
Lila shook her head lightly, her tone soft but insistent. "It won’t," she said.
"If anything, it will make things worse. People will say Torin is a gold digger. They will accuse him of rushing into this for status. He’s already bothered by everything. If we push him into an engagent now, he won’t be happy."
Matilda fell quiet as she thought about it.
Lila remained still beside her, her expression calm, yet her eyes sharp—watching, waiting.
After a mont, Matilda nodded slowly. "You may be right," she said. "I will speak to your father when he gets ho."
Relief settled quietly in Lila’s chest, but it did not show on her face. Instead, she smiled and rested her head lightly against her mother’s shoulder, as though nothing more were at stake.
Inside, however, everything had gone exactly as she hoped.
---
The road stretched ahead of Torin, lit by passing streetlights, but his focus wasn’t on the drive.
His mind kept circling back to the evening—small monts replaying themselves whether he wanted them to or not.
The mall.
The argunt.
The way Lila had stopped him mid-sentence.
His fingers tightened slightly around the steering wheel before loosening again.
It wasn’t anything obvious. Nothing he could point to and say this is wrong. But sothing about it lingered in the back of his mind, faint and persistent.
It was the way she had redirected him so easily. The way the conversation had ended before it could even begin.
Torin let out a slow breath and leaned back slightly in his seat. ’You are overthinking this.’
The thought ca almost imdiately, as if he had been waiting for it.
Lila had always been like that—decisive, confident, unwilling to waste ti on things she didn’t consider important. That was part of what he liked about her. She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t second-guess herself.
Tonight had been no different. If anything, she had just been... herself.
He shook his head lightly, as though trying to clear the thought entirely. "She is just under pressure," he murmured to himself. "Anyone would be."
The rumours, the attention, the expectations weren’t easy. Of course, she would react strongly and seek control.
That made sense.
By the ti he pulled into his driveway, the unease had already begun to fade. He turned off the engine and sat there for a brief second before stepping out of the car.
---
anwhile, upstairs, in her room, Lila stood in front of the mirror.
The soft lighting cast a warm glow over her reflection, highlighting every detail she had so carefully maintained.
For a mont, she simply looked at herself, her expression calm and unreadable. Then, slowly, she smiled. It wasn’t the sa smile she had worn earlier. This one lacked warmth and carried intention.
She reached up and removed her earrings, placing them neatly on the table before speaking under her breath.
"He really is easy."
There was no affection in her voice, only quiet certainty.
She leaned slightly against the table, her fingers brushing over the surface as her thoughts settled.
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