But when he reached the bench where he had left her, a smile crept across his face. Belinda wasn't alone. Kiara sat beside her, and the two seemed completely at ease, as if they had known each other for years.
Fionn, however, chose to ignore Kiara entirely, treating her as if she didn't exist. He didn't even spare her a glance and only concentrated on Belinda.
"Hey, lovely. This is the last time I'm going around looking for your sweet boy," he said softly, though loud enough to startle Kiara.
She looked up and saw him, dressed in the same attire as Belinda, holding an English cocker spaniel in his arms. His face was flushed, the redness speaking of irritation.
The way he spoke to Belinda, with such mindful respect, warmed Kiara's heart. Something within her stirred, watching him talk to Belinda with such affection. But what hurt, Fionn had completely ignored her.
Belinda gave Fionn a warm smile, the same one she always reserved for him before speaking. "That's what you say every time he goes missing," she said softly.
Fionn didn't respond. Without a word, he gently placed the dog into Belinda's arms and turned to leave. How could he? Not even a single word for her.
Then his eyes landed on Kiara. For a moment, his expression went blank, as if unsure what to say.
"What are you doing here? " he asked.
"I don't owe you any explanation," Kiara replied. She didn't care to hide the fact that she was angry at him. Why? Simply because he had ignored her.
"Whatever," he muttered under his breath, but loud enough for the two women to hear. Without another glance, he walked away.
"He is such a good boy," Belinda cooed.
At first, Kiara assumed she meant the dog, which Belinda was petting with obvious affection. But no, Belinda was referring to Fionn.
"Good boy." Kiara echoed.
"Yes," Belinda affirmed. "But don't get fooled, sometimes he can get nasty."
"How nasty?" Kiara asked, joining in to pet the dog, enjoying the simple act. The thought of getting a pet for herself briefly crossed her mind.
"He has a bad temper, that's his biggest flaw. Sometimes he can act like an animal, especially to strangers." Belinda said.
Her gaze followed his retreating figure, eyes soft with admiration. She continued to fill Kiara in about Fionn, as the two watched him until he disappeared from sight.
Belinda's words offered a sort of justification for his behavior, easing Kiara's curiosity. Up until now, she had wondered why he had kicked her out of the house without cause. She had done nothing to provoke him; she was willing to share the house, yet he couldn't stand her presence.
Kiara was right on her earlier conclusion; he had anger issues. But why?
That was the question that now lingered stubbornly in her mind. Even so, she wasn't ready to dig for answers yet.
Belinda invited her for a meal, and Kiara found it difficult to refuse. She hadn't eaten since that morning, and besides, the meal was on the house.
Not that she would have declined if it hadn't been free, two thousand, five thousand, or even ten thousand euros wouldn't have stopped her from tasting Belinda's cooking; she had the money.
But her hesitation was solely attributed to her unwillingness to feel indebted.
The two women walked down the street toward Belinda's restaurant. Kiara cradled the dog in her arms, patting him soothingly. She felt a sudden reluctance to return him; if it were up to her, she wouldn't give him back to his owner.
The walk wasn't quiet. They talked at length about Belinda's relationship with Fionn. It turned out he was talented at cooking and had been working with her for the past five years.
Kiara was surprised that his efforts were entirely voluntary; she hadn't thought he was that kind of person. He didn't even take advantage of the free meals offered to staff and always paid for everything he consumed.
Beyond her dog, Belinda considered him her only family. The way she spoke about him painted a completely different picture from the kind of person Kiara thought him to be. Belinda's words even rekindled a spark of admiration for him in Kiara.
No, this can't be happening. I thought I was done with love. But she couldn't deny her feelings.
Kiara had brushed off every man who had shown interest in her, including Samuel. So why was Fionn different? Why was it so hard to get over him?
He hadn't even shown any romantic interest in her, of course, leaving aside the whole marriage thing. Yet she found herself willingly falling for him.
Kiara, are you crazy? Why are you choosing to love him? I thought challenging him to make me fall in love with him would scare him away. But I'm actually falling for him without him even putting any effort into it. The thought raced through her mind.
When they arrived at the restaurant, Kiara was taken aback. It was far more impressive than she had expected. Judging by Belinda's simplicity and appearance, she had anticipated something modest, unremarkable, but this establishment exuded luxury.
The restaurant gave off five-star hotel vibes, a miniaturized version of the fine-dining venues found in luxury hotels.
Hosts stood at the door, assessing each guest with discerning eyes. Not everyone was welcome; if Kiara hadn't been escorted by Belinda herself, she might have been turned away.
This was the kind of place where reservations were essential, and casual walk-ins were rarely accepted.
The restaurant was filled with high-class men and women, all dressed impeccably. Kiara felt out of place in her simple outfit; if it hadn't been for Belinda, she wouldn't have dared set foot inside.
They weaved through the dining area in search of an empty table. Kiara's confidence came entirely from Belinda, who led the way. She let out a quiet sigh as they stopped at a vacant table, the best spot for her frazzled nerves.
Nestled almost in a corner, it offered a sense of refuge, away from the other tables occupied by people who made her feel out of place.
Belinda soon returned from the kitchen, carrying a plate flawlessly arranged. She had prepared it herself, despite the many employees at her disposal.
Kiara felt a surge of importance; being personally served by the restaurant's owner was an honor she didn't take lightly.
With Belinda back in the kitchen attending to her work, Kiara ate in peace, though her eyes constantly searched the room, not for anyone else, but for Fionn.
Belinda's words had shifted Kiara's attitude toward him. It wasn't that they revealed anything extraordinary; rather, they came at the perfect moment, when all she needed was a glimpse of Fionn's better side to unravel her carefully guarded feelings.
She realized she didn't hate him; Kiara was only angry and had chosen to deny what she felt.
How has it come to this? Why am I suddenly longing for him? Kiara, are you losing your mind?
She tried to push the thoughts aside and continued eating in peace until she saw Edward walking toward her.