26. Unpleasant Reunion

Seeing that smile, it felt like someone punched Lyla in the chest, leaving a heavy pressure behind. She had wanted to question him about why he had disappeared so suddenly and why he had just as suddenly reappeared, but now, she no longer felt the desire to ask.

She feared being deceived, but even more, she dreaded his evasive and cryptic answers that would drag her back into a whirlpool of pain.

"What do you want?" she asked, her tone cold and composed.

Carlo remained nonchalant. "I forgot to return something to you." He leaned down, picking up a sleek laptop bag from beside his feet, and placed it in front of her.

Lyla quietly unzipped the bag, already knowing that inside was the laptop Carlo had dismantled three years ago.

Without even bothering to check the contents, she zipped it back up, a bitter smile forming on her lips. "Thanks, but I’ve already bought a new one. I don’t need this old one anymore."

At that moment, a waitress arrived at their table, carrying a tray. She placed