As Lira walked out of the study, Felix's gaze lingered on the doorway. He couldn't shake off the feeling that their conversation had changed something between them. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together.
"Lira's growing up," he thought, a mix of pride and unease swirling in his chest. He'd always known she'd develop feelings for someone, but he'd never expected it to be complicated.
Meanwhile, Lira trudged to her room, feeling a mix of emotions. She'd been honest with Felix, and while she respected his boundaries, a part of her felt rejected. As she changed for dinner, she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in," she said, expecting Felix.
But to her surprise, it was their housekeeper, Mrs. Jenkins, with a mysterious smile. "Lira, there's someone here to see you," she said, stepping aside to reveal a young man with piercing blue eyes and chiseled features.
"Who's this?" Lira asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I'm Ethan," the young man said, extending his hand. "I'm a friend of Felix's from college. I just got back into town and thought I'd drop by."
Lira's eyes narrowed slightly. Something about Ethan's charming smile seemed off.
As they headed downstairs for dinner, Felix joined them, his expression unreadable. "Ethan, good to see you," he said, his tone neutral.
The dinner conversation was stilted, with Ethan dominating the discussion with stories of his travels. Lira found herself both fascinated and annoyed by his charisma.
As the evening drew to a close, Felix excused himself, leaving Lira alone with Ethan in the living room. "So, Lira," Ethan said, his eyes locking onto hers. "Tell me more about yourself."
Lira hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Ethan's intense gaze made her feel like he already knew more than he was letting on...