too late for a second chance novel (Lila and Dorian) novel Chapter 73

In the hospital VIP room upstairs, Teddy looked around restlessly. Even with his broken leg, he wouldn't stay put in bed.

He insisted that Jamie get him a wheelchair, so he could roll around the room, touching everything he could get his hands on. He was as lively as a hyperactive kid.

"Jamie, this is the first time I've ever stayed in such a fancy hospital room. This place is way better than the tiny apartment the company set me up with."

With that, he suddenly clasped his hands together. "Thank you, God, for Mr. Morgan!"

"Are you insane?" Jamie raised her hand as if to smack him on the head. But catching sight of his leg in a cast, she stopped halfway.

Still, Jamie couldn't resist the urge and gently tapped his head anyway, muttering, "Look at you, acting like you've never seen the world."

Teddy pouted. He knew better than to argue with Jamie when she was in battle mode. There was no chance he would win.

"Ms. Hart, what are you going to do about that trending topic about your relationship?" Teddy asked, worried as he looked over at Lila, who was quietly peeling an orange.

Lila lowered her gaze, focusing entirely on the bright, juicy orange in her hands. She mindlessly pressed it a bit too hard, and the juice slid down her pale, long fingers onto the back of her hand. It created a striking contrast between the yellow of the orange and the porcelain-white of her skin.

Teddy sighed again and couldn't help but think that Lila was truly beautiful.

He knew Lila had argued with Zara over him. She even fell down the stairs as a result. He felt both guilty and touched, shedding tears over it. However, the news of her past relationship with Dorian was a shock to him.

Jamie was annoyed by his lack of tack, bringing up the wrong topic at such a time.

Unfazed, Lila split the orange and handed half to each of them. She then slowly cleaned her hands with a wet wipe.

"The relationship was real but I'm just an ordinary person. As long as it doesn't affect my personal life, there is nothing to respond to."

They both watched Lila closely as she spoke. Her expression was calm, as if she was discussing something insignificant.

"Teddy, I've requested three days off for you from the film production. Fortunately, you don't have many scenes, and your role doesn't involve much action. You'll have to work with the injury given the current situation."

"Now that Zara has already compensated for all the losses, even if we were to report it now and have her detained for a few days, it wouldn't make much difference.

"Worse yet, the production could get a reputation for on-set conflicts. And if things spiral, public backlash could crush the project before it's even completed."

Lila said nothing in response. She had anticipated this from the start. None of them had much say in the industry. Even if Zara had done it on purpose, she wouldn't face serious consequences with Dorian protecting her.

The three of them were silent. They were unaware that Cole had gone to find Mr. Lawson at the film set.

…

"W-What?" Leonard's eyes widened in shock. "We've already shot a third of the scenes and you want to replace the female lead? I know Zara has issues, but the film set can't afford to replace her now."

He looked stunned and deeply troubled. Leonard knew he couldn't justify such losses to the investors and the company. That said, Kieran was not someone he could afford to offend either.