Our Summer Is Not Over - vanish into fiction

Mia fell silent for a moment, trying to understand Dylan’s words.

She couldn’t figure out why he was asking her something that didn’t require her opinion. After thinking it over, Mia slowly opened her mouth.

“I’m leaving, but you’ll have to stay and live here, so that’s why I mentioned it. There’s nothing wrong with preparing in advance, thinking about that time.”

Mia, wearing a drawn-on smile, continued as she met Dylan’s eyes.

“I didn’t understand your stubbornness at first, but looking back, I’m glad I listened to you. If we had divorced right away, you would have been in quite the difficult situation.”

Maybe it was just a bit of misplaced sympathy.

She thought she didn’t need to worry so much, but for some reason, she always felt a kind of kinship toward Dylan, as if her heart would soften.

“It doesn’t feel right to just leave for my own comfort when you’re in a tough spot.”

Every time she spoke, her chest throbbed.

Mia forced herself to ignore that sensation and smiled.

“Wouldn’t it be good for you to have a lot of people supporting you? Above all, you and I will be divorced, so if you build many relationships in advance, your life will be peaceful even after that.”

Dylan’s eyebrows twitched upward once.

If he truly wasn’t interested, he would have cut her off and told her to leave, but the fact that he kept listening meant he was also contemplating the matter of inheritance.

“After the divorce, there will be plenty of rumors, and if there are many people on your side, it will be easier when you take on a new duchess as well.”

“Mia.”

“Of course, you probably can’t remarry right away, but after a month or two it should be possible.”

Mia’s hands tightened as she spoke.

“Whatever the case, having time is a good thing in many ways.”

That was enough.

Dylan was smart, and he would have clearly understood the purpose behind her words. Anything more would be excessive meddling.

She knew it wasn’t necessary.

“To add a little more of my own opinion, things might be a bit chaotic then, so why not look for someone to become the next duchess in advance?”

Now Dylan gave a small, incredulous laugh, as if finding it absurd. He pressed his lips together, as if to see how far she’d go with this, and stared at Mia.

“If you bring someone in too hastily, it might not be good for you, and there are complicated matters with property and all, so it’s better to look in advance.”

A sigh slipped repeatedly from Dylan’s lips.

“Since you’re not familiar with high society, I can organize a list of young ladies from each family and give it to you.”

He put down the fountain pen he was holding. With a click, Dylan opened his mouth, his subdued voice making the sunlit office feel suddenly cold.

“Then why not go ahead and arrange some meetings for me, at least so I can get acquainted?”

As he spoke, Mia suddenly imagined Dylan having tea with some unknown young lady. The woman beside him would be smiling without a single shadow, and Dylan’s lips would be relaxed as well.

For a moment, Mia’s heart seemed to sink.

It was only natural that someone would take her place at his side once she was gone, so why did she feel so unpleasant about it?

Pushing down those unnecessary thoughts, Mia forced a gentle smile.

“That wouldn’t be so bad either. Should I invite them to the residence and arrange a gathering?”

But as she spoke, her throat tickled and her stomach churned. Mia’s gaze unconsciously dropped.

When she heard the sound of her teeth grinding together, she looked up in surprise to see his blue eyes darkened. The look in Dylan’s eyes was more menacing than usual, and Mia’s body stiffened. Without saying anything, Dylan stood up and strode unhurriedly to the office door.

He put his hand on the doorknob.

Was he going to tell her to leave? The moment she wondered that, there was a click as he locked the door.

As she tilted her head in confusion, a suppressed voice struck Mia.

“What kind of wife in this world arranges matches for her husband?”

“…Did it sound like I was forcing you? That wasn’t my intention.”

Dylan’s attitude was somehow different from usual. Mia quickly tried to retreat, but it didn’t seem like he intended to end the conversation. Before she knew it, Dylan was right in front of her.

He was close enough that she could feel his breath mingling with hers. Caught in his gaze, Mia flinched.

Dylan roughly took off his outer jacket and tossed it onto the desk. It was a gesture she had never seen from someone who preferred to always be perfectly put together. As she was still puzzling over this, she heard Dylan’s mocking tone.

“Miss Mia Blair, do you not understand what I’m saying?”