The outfit wasn''t shy-its appealy in its simplicity andfort.


    L then wore a in down jacket over it.


    After changing, she looked at Kieran and said softly, "Thank you, Uncle Kieran."


    Kieran lowered his gaze, his expression serious. "Mrs. Morgan, don''t you think it''s time to call me something else?"


    L froze. Calling her legal husband "Uncle" did feel awkward.


    But after years of addressing him that way, switching to something else wasn''t easy.


    Kieran took her scarf from the coat rack and carefully wrapped it around her neck. She blinked, her bright, dewy eyes filled with a mix of confusion and vulnerability as if silently protesting.


    He covered her eyes with his warm hand. "You''re not ying fair," he said, his voice slightly hoarse.


    L didn''t understand what he meant. She gently moved his hand aside and looked at him again.


    Kieran had masked the dark flicker in his eyes with a helpless smile. "L, can you call me by my name?"


    Seeing her ears flush red, the affection in his eyes deepened. But he hadn''t pushed her too hard.


    L nodded hesitantly, and Kieran took her cool hand in his. "Mrs. Morgan, shall we head out now?"


    She nodded again, feeling her responses had been unusually slowtely.


    It wasn''t until they were halfway to their destination that something urred to her. She asked, "Uncle Kieran, is the Clemence family''s youngdy the same girl who delivered the invitation the other day?"


    Kieran kept his eyes on the road, answering softly, "Yes."


    When L didn''t respond, he nced over at her. She was looking out the window, lost in thought.


    So, his first love was the girl in the white dress that day, the one from the Clemence family.


    "What''s wrong?" he asked gently.


    "When did you meet her?"


    Kieran''s voice was calm as he


    velet


    replied, "When we were very young, shortly after her father was


    transferred to Northridge. That was about 20 years ago."


    L nodded slowly. So they were childhood sweethearts.


    "You don''t know her because she left to study abroad seven years ago, Kieran added. "After graduating, she stayed overseas to start her


    business and hasn''t returned since."


    To L, his exnation only reinforced the idea that the girl held a special ce in his heart.


    He remembered exactly when she left and knew she hadn''te back.


    After some thought, L asked, "What else?"


    Kieran shot her a surprised nce, amused by her curiosity.


    He answered patiently, "She''s a determined person. She excelled in school, went against her family''s wishes, and chose to study abroad.


    "After graduating, she faced


    pressure from her family but stuck to her decision to build her career


    overseas. She''s done well foo herself."


    Life for children of prominent families came with privilege but also heavy expectations and sacrifices.


    Kieran felt a sense of rity as his gaze lingered on L.


    It was rare for someone from an influential family like the Morgan family or his


    own to have the freedom to choose their partner.


    For the first time, he felt lucky.


    L bit her lip. The admiration in Kieran''s voice when he spoke of the Clemence girl stung.


    Everything made sense now-why the girl could have a private dinner with him, why she had been weed into Evergreen Heights.


    She turned her face to the window as the car pulled into the hotel parking lot.


    They had arrived at the venue for Ruby''s wee banquet.