Chapter 208: The Man She Always Wanted
{Third Person}
Morning sunlight spilt gently into Lila’s bedroom, illuminating every polished surface with a warm golden glow.
Seated before her vanity table, Lila carefully applied a fresh coat of deep red lipstick, taking her time as she admired her reflection in the mirror. A satisfied smile rested on her lips as she tilted her face slightly from one angle to another.
She had gone through considerable effort to look perfect today, and judging from the woman staring back at her in the mirror, every minute had been worth it.
Just as she finished tracing the corner of her lower lip, her mobile phone vibrated loudly on the vanity table. The smile on her face faded almost instantly.
Without much interest, she reached for the phone and glanced casually at the screen. The moment she saw the caller ID—Baby with a pink heart emoji her expression darkened.
The affectionate contact name that had once made her smile now only irritated her.
She stared at the screen for a brief moment before pressing the decline button without the slightest hesitation.
Tossing the phone back onto the vanity table, she picked up her lipstick again and continued touching up her makeup as though nothing had happened.
Barely a few seconds later, the phone began vibrating again.
Lila froze.
The persistent ringing grated on her nerves until she finally slammed the lipstick onto the vanity with enough force to make several cosmetic bottles rattle.
"For goodness’ sake..."
She grabbed the phone in annoyance, declined the call once again, then immediately unlocked it with her fingerprint.
This time, instead of putting it aside, she opened her contacts and searched for Torin’s number. Her finger lingered over the screen for only a second before she selected the option to block the contact.
The confirmation message appeared. Without even reading it properly, she pressed Confirm.
Only after seeing the notification that the number had been successfully blocked did the irritation on her face begin to disappear.
"There," she muttered under her breath. "Now leave me alone."
Satisfied, she set the phone aside and returned her attention to the mirror. Within minutes, she completed the final touches to her appearance, picked up her designer handbag, and gave herself one last approving look before leaving her room.
Her heels echoed softly against the marble floor as she descended the staircase into the spacious living room.
Matilda happened to be seated on one of the sofas, leisurely flipping through a fashion magazine while enjoying a cup of tea. Hearing the footsteps, she looked up, and a warm smile immediately spread across her face.
"My goodness," she said with admiration. "You look beautiful today."
Lila smiled sweetly. "Thank you, Mom."
Matilda closed the magazine and rested it on her lap before studying her daughter more carefully. "Going somewhere?"
"Yes." Lila casually adjusted the strap of her handbag before picking up her car keys from the centre table. "I’m meeting an important friend."
"I see." Matilda smiled, though she found herself wondering which friend required such careful preparation.
Lila walked over, leaned down, and kissed her mother lightly on the cheek. "I’ll probably have dinner outside, so don’t wait up for me."
"I’ll let your father know."
"Thank you." She gave a small wave as she headed toward the door. "Bye, Mom."
"Drive safely."
"I will."
A few moments later, the front door closed behind her, followed shortly by the distant sound of her sports car leaving the Caldwell residence.
The smile that had lingered on Matilda’s face slowly disappeared, replaced by a thoughtful frown.
She could not explain why the thought had suddenly crossed her mind, but something about Lila’s cheerful mood felt... unusual.
She had called the person she was meeting an important friend. But for some reason, Matilda found herself doubting that the friend was a woman.
Her fingers lightly tapped against the armrest as she stared absentmindedly toward the doorway. "...Could it be a man?"
The possibility refused to leave her thoughts. Then another question quietly followed. "Have Lila and Torin really broken up?"
She slowly leaned back against the sofa.
The rumours she had dismissed over the past few days suddenly no longer seemed so far-fetched after all.
---
Later That Afternoon...
Lila’s car rolled smoothly into the underground parking garage of one of the city’s most prestigious shopping and entertainment complexes.
After parking neatly, she switched off the engine, glanced at herself once in the rear-view mirror, and smiled with satisfaction before stepping out.
She had barely reached the entrance to the cinema when a familiar voice called her name.
"Lila."
She turned around immediately. A handsome young man was walking toward her with an easy smile on his face.
Dressed in a perfectly tailored charcoal-grey suit, Fredrick Lion carried himself with the kind of effortless confidence that came from someone who had never needed to prove his social standing.
His expensive wristwatch, polished shoes, and understated elegance spoke quietly of wealth without demanding anyone’s attention.
The sight of him instantly brightened Lila’s mood. "Rick."
"I’m glad you made it," he said as he reached her.
"So am I."
Without another word, Fredrick naturally took the small handbag from her hand while gesturing toward the cinema entrance.
"We still have a little time before the movie starts. Would you like something to eat first?"
Lila smiled politely. "I don’t mind."
"I will be right back."
A few moments later, he returned carrying popcorn, drinks, and several other snacks. He handed one of the drinks to her before leading the way toward their screening room like the perfect gentleman.
The movie lasted a little over two hours.
By the time they emerged from the cinema, night had already settled over the city, and the streets outside glittered beneath thousands of lights.
Instead of ending the evening there, Fredrick invited her to dinner at an elegant riverside restaurant.
The atmosphere inside the restaurant was quiet and refined. Soft music drifted gently through the dining hall while conversations from nearby tables blended into a pleasant murmur.
Seated opposite one another by the large glass windows, Lila and Fredrick spoke comfortably as though they had known each other for much longer than they actually had.
At one point, Fredrick began talking about his family’s businesses, mentioning one company after another with remarkable ease. He spoke about upcoming investments, overseas partnerships, and expansion projects that were already underway.
Occasionally, he mentioned the names of influential business families with whom the Lion family had maintained close relationships for years.
Lila listened attentively throughout the conversation.
The more she listened, the more convinced she became that the man sitting across from her was everything she had always wanted.