CHAPTER 261

Elijah’s POV

I walked into the TV network studio and immediately scanned the area, my eyes settling on the door to the set where Lila was wrapping up her guest appearance. My heart pounded with anticipation. This conversation had been a long time coming.

The door opened, and Lila emerged, looking as poised as ever in her stylish outfit. Her eyes widened when she saw me, a flicker of surprise—and was it nervousness?—crossing her face. I stepped forward, forcing a smile.

“Hey, Lila,” I greeted her. “How did it go?”

She composed herself quickly, offering me a bright smile. “Elijah, hi! It went well. Everyone was warm and friendly. The public loves me, or so they say.”

I nodded, not entirely convinced by her easy demeanor. “That's good to hear. But we need to talk, as you promised.”

Her smile faltered slightly, but she nodded. “Yeah, we do. There's a cafe nearby. Let's go there.”

We walked in silence to the cafe, the bustling city sounds filling the void between us. The cafe was cozy, a s