Terry grabbed Amelia''s arm. "Are you crazy? That''s Kieran you''re talking about, not some dude you can just snatch away."


    "And if I could?" Amelia retorted.


    He was left speechless-neither stopping nor letting her go seemed a good option.


    They both turned to L, who had been silent the entire time. Feeling their stares, she lifted her head and met their gazes.


    A faint smile yed on her lips, calm and unbothered. "Come on, we were just gossiping. Why take it seriously?


    "I trust Uncle Kieranpletely. But if he truly has someone he loves, of course,


    I''d step aside. Honestly, haven''t you two already guessed why Uncle Kieran and I got married so suddenly?"


    Amelia and Terry exchanged nces, visibly relieved.


    If there were no love, there wouldn''t be heartbreak.


    "If ites to that, you can just get a divorce, and I''ll marry you," Terry said confidently, patting his chest like a dependable friend.


    L chuckled, and Amelia gave him a shove. "What''s wrong with you? There are plenty of eligible bachelors in Northridge. Do you really think it''d ever be your turn with L? She has the entire Morgan family behind her!"


    "As a well-rounded guy, am I not good enough? This is outrageous." Terry looked much more cheerful now.


    He had genuinely liked Yelena, but he knew there was no point in forcing fate.


    Compared to L, betrayed after five years of a rtionship and rushed into a marriage, his own situation didn''t seem so bad.


    Some things just weren''t meant to be.


    L took a bite of her cake, but the sweetness she had once enjoyed now tasted strangely dull.


    The words she''d said earlier were a lie, but only she knew it.


    She shouldn''t have been moved.


    She couldn''t allow herself to be moved.


    When all of this was over, she would find more work to keep herself busy- anything to forget.


    They didn''t bring up Kieran and Ruby again, but they made sure others couldn''t either.


    Even so, the gossip around her carried on as if she weren''t there.


    "Mr. Morgan and Ms. Clemence really do make a perfect couple."


    "I''ve heard their families were


    nning to arrange a marriage, et


    Ms. Clémence hadn''t gone abroad for so long, they''d probably be married by now."


    "The two families are a perfect match. She''s definitely more suited to be Mrs. Morgan than the adopted daughter, isn''t she?"


    Amelia''s brows furrowed, clearly itching to step in, but L stopped her.


    "This is just idle chatter, like celebrity gossip. It won''t change Uncle Kieran''s decisions. Don''t worry." She smiled faintly. "Besides, I have Grandma and Aunt Nicole on my side."


    "I wonder if I have the right to back Mrs. Morgan."


    Before she could say more, a familiar, pleasant voice cut in.


    L turned and found herself meeting Kieran''s gaze. She hadn''t even noticed when he''d arrived.


    But his words... Why did they sound so much like flirting?


    She pinched her palm discreetly, a silent reminder to stayposed. Kieran only did this to silence people, she told herself.


    As if on cue, Kieran cast a piercing nce at the gossiping group. His expression was icy, his gaze sharp enough to freeze the air.


    Then, he turned back to L, his expression softening. "Mrs. Morgan, you don''t seem worried."


    Was that grievance in his tone?


    Grievance?


    "What''s wrong?" she asked.


    Kieran slid an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Caught off guard, L


    found herself pressed against his firm chest.


    His voice was deep and quiet. "I got


    hit on by another woman, and not only do you not care, but you ran off.


    Aw you''re asking me what''s " off.


    His deep voice sent a ripple through her, leaving her momentarily speechless.


    "Do I not even hold a ce in your heart, Mrs. Morgan? Aren''t you worried some other woman might catch my eye?"


    L looked up abruptly, her eyes locking with his dark, unreadable depths.