Chapter 8

We sat in our usual café, same seats, same people—only now, we had kids.

“Clara Bennett! You had a kid and didn’t tell me? Bold move.” Lila grinned.

I smiled, saying nothing.

“Does Owen know?”

I shook my head. “No.” It was obvious—Milo looked just like him. And Lila was his sister.

“We totally missed whatever was going on between you two back then.”

I teased her. “You were too busy with Elias—and pregnant! Like you’d notice. Unless you had a crush on me?”

She laughed and turned to Milo. “What’s his name, sweetie? Let Aunt Lila hear.”

“Milo Bennett.” I watched him dig into his dessert, softening.

“Cute. Way better than my son’s name. I should’ve let you pick. His name’s Yu Nian—nickname Nian Nian.”

At the sound of their names, both kids looked up, confused. Lila and I ignored them, grinning.

“Are you leaving again? Have you thought about getting back with Owen?”

“I’ll leave eventually—no idea when. How’s Owen… when’s his wedding with his girlfriend?” I avoided her question. Only I knew—I’d never let him go.

“Girlfriend? That was a fake! He helped her out, and her real boyfriend showed up, carried her away in the middle of the night. Total comedy.”

I froze. A fake?

We hugged goodbye, promising to hang out like old times.