However, beneath that tone, his eyes held something sharper... a quiet warning directed at Angie.

’Don’t interfere.’

Angie caught that look. A faint chuckle escaped his lips, low and knowing.

"If that’s the case," he replied lazily, "then I won’t disturb you... for now."

..........................

Once they left, the cool evening air greeted them, carrying the faint scent of distant street food. Instead of heading straight home, Louis drove toward a restaurant.

As the dishes arrived one by one, Olivia’s eyes slowly widened.

There was no cilantro. Not even a trace.

Her gaze shifted to the soup, filled generously with mushrooms. Her favorite.

A subtle warmth spread through her chest.

’He remembered... everything,’ she thought, her fingers lightly brushing against the edge of the table.

She looked at Louis, who was pretending to be completely normal, though the slight stiffness in his posture betrayed him.

A small, genuine smile curved on her lips.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Louis coughed lightly, looking away. "It’s nothing."

But the faint redness creeping up his ears said otherwise.

..........................

After dinner, they returned to the car. For a while, there was silence.

Then, as if remembering something, Louis spoke casually.

"Uncle Angie is actually really good at painting," he said.

Olivia gave a faint smile but didn’t respond much.

Louis continued, his tone turning oddly playful, yet there was something uneasy beneath it.

"You know," he added, glancing at her briefly, "if you had met him first... you probably would’ve fallen for him instead of me."

Olivia’s expression shifted. She frowned slightly.

"That’s not true," she said.

Then she paused. Her gaze turned toward him, steady and calm.

"I haven’t fallen for you yet," she added.

The words landed heavily. For a second, the car felt suffocatingly quiet.

Louis blinked, stunned. Then his lips twitched as if he didn’t know whether to laugh or protest.

"You really know how to get on my nerves," he muttered.

Olivia let out a small laugh. "That’s my specialty."

They continued driving. But midway through, headlights flashed ahead. A car stood by the roadside, its hood slightly open.

And beside it was Angie.

He raised his hand, signaling them. Louis’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

’Ignore him,’ he thought.

But before he could drive past, Angie stepped directly in front of the car.

"Seriously?" Louis muttered under his breath, slamming the brakes just in time.

The tires screeched softly against the road. He pushed the door open and stepped out.

"Have you lost your mind?" he snapped. "What are you doing standing in the middle of the road?"

Angie smiled, completely unbothered.

"I didn’t want to interrupt your little date," he said, his tone calm, almost amused. "But I need help. If I don’t leave now, I’ll miss an important meeting."

Louis clenched his jaw, frustration evident in the way his shoulders tensed.

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.

"...Fine," he muttered reluctantly.

Angie got into the car. The moment he settled in, his gaze shifted toward Olivia, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

"Oh?" he said. "You’re still here? I thought you’d have left long ago."

Louis rolled his eyes.

"Not everyone is like you," he shot back. "Still single at thirty-two."

Olivia’s brows lifted slightly in surprise. She glanced at Angie.

"Thirty-two?" she repeated.

Angie shrugged casually.

"What can I do?" he said. "I just haven’t found someone I like."

Olivia tilted her head slightly, studying him for a moment.

"I thought you were older," she said honestly.

For a split second, silence fell.

Then... Louis burst out laughing.

Angie’s expression darkened instantly, a faint flush rising on his face.

He shot Olivia a sharp look. Olivia simply chuckled softly and turned her gaze back to the road, her expression calm.

’He deserved that,’ she thought coolly. ’How dare he bully my boyfriend?’

Perhaps sensing the tension, Angie shifted the topic.

"Since we still have time before you drop her," he said, leaning back slightly, "I want to ask you something."

Olivia glanced at him, her expression neutral.

"As long as it’s well within my limit, sure," she replied.

Angie nodded.

"It’s nothing personal," he said. "Just tell me... what do you like about Louis?"

The question lingered in the air. Louis’s fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

His ears practically strained to catch her answer.

’Now she’ll say it... right?’ he thought, his heartbeat quickening.

A few seconds passed. Then, Olivia let out a soft chuckle.

"I think I’d rather stay silent," she said.

Angie raised an eyebrow, amused.

"If you don’t tell me," he said, glancing at Louis, "he’ll definitely keep bothering you about it."

Olivia’s expression turned calm, almost distant.

"In that case," she replied gently, "let him ask me on his own. There’s no need for you to know."

She turned her head toward the window, humming a faint tune, her reflection flickering against the glass.

From the outside, she looked perfectly fine. But Louis noticed the shift immediately.

Something was off.

’Did Angie’s words... offend her somehow?’ he wondered, unease creeping into his chest.

...............

After dropping Angie at his destination, Louis was about to drive off when...

Tap. Tap.

Angie knocked lightly on Olivia’s window.

She flinched slightly and instinctively leaned back, her eyes narrowing with caution.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

Angie smiled faintly.

"Nothing," he said. "I just think you’d look better with your hair down."

His gaze lingered, deeper than before. Olivia’s expression didn’t change.

She let out a small, almost amused chuckle.

"I’ll keep my hair open if I want to," she replied coolly. "And if I ever want to look beautiful, I’ll do it for my boyfriend."

Her eyes met his, sharp and unwavering.

"So you don’t need to decide when or how I should look good."

With that, Olivia casually took out her phone, her fingers gliding across the screen as she scrolled, her expression turning distant and occupied, as though Angie had already faded into something unimportant.

Angie stood there for a moment, silent.

A subtle shift passed through his expression, something unreadable flickering in his gaze before he finally spoke.

"If you ever need help in the future," he said, his tone smooth, "you can reach out to me."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, his posture relaxed, his steps unhurried, as if nothing had happened.

The moment he disappeared into the distance, Louis’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Through the rearview mirror, he watched Angie’s retreating figure, his jaw clenching, a flicker of irritation flashing across his face.

’If I still don’t understand what he was trying to do... then I’d be a complete idiot,’ he thought bitterly.

He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to calm down before turning toward Olivia.

"I’m sorry," he said, his voice quieter now, laced with regret. "I should’ve stopped him earlier."

Olivia didn’t even look up immediately. She continued scrolling for a second before locking her phone and glancing at him.

"It’s fine," she replied calmly. "Honestly... I think he’s a bit foolish."

Louis blinked, caught off guard.

"Foolish?" he repeated, curiosity creeping into his tone.

Olivia leaned back slightly, her fingers resting loosely on her lap.

"He acted like he had never seen a woman before," she said, her lips curving faintly. "As if I was some kind of rare exhibit."

Louis let out a small snort.

"That... sounds about right."

Olivia continued, her voice steady but firm.

"And even if that was the case, he should at least take a hint," she added. "Instead, he kept trying to flirt with his nephew’s girlfriend. That’s... honestly below the belt."

Louis nodded immediately, his brows furrowing.

"Yeah. That crossed a line."

Olivia’s gaze turned slightly colder as she continued.

"What bothered me more," she said, her tone sharpening just a little, "was how comfortable he acted. As if he already had some right to get close to me when I barely even know him."

Louis sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"When you put it that way... yeah, he was overstepping again and again."

Olivia let out a quiet breath.

"It’s not like I want to nitpick everything," she continued, "but I really don’t like it when someone politely, yet firmly, tries to tell me how I should look... what I should wear... or how I should present myself."

Her fingers subconsciously brushed against her earrings, a faint irritation flashing in her eyes.

Louis lowered his gaze slightly. "I’m sorry," he murmured again.

Olivia waved her hand dismissively. "Forget it."

There was a brief silence Then Louis spoke again, his tone more serious this time.

"I didn’t want to say much about my family," he admitted slowly. "But after what happened... I think you deserve to know."

Olivia turned her head slightly, her attention returning to him.

Louis hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"Angie... isn’t actually my uncle," he said.

Olivia’s brows knitted together. "What do you mean?"

Louis exhaled.

"He’s my father’s stepson," he clarified. "Which technically makes him... my stepbrother."