Love On Ice: Don’t Leave Me, My Charming Liar

Chapter 80: Nyla was caught off guard. Over the years, the Higgins family had presented Callie as their eldest child. "Johnny? I've never heard of him. Where is he now?" Nyla frowned, drying her face and stepping out of the bathroom. "He's living in ForestVoice Villa on the west side of the city. Runs a flower shop there. It took some effort to track him down-it's like the Higgins family is deliberately keeping him under the radar." Bonnie's tone turned slightly exasperated. "Do you think he might've been involved in what happened back then?" Nyla paused, recalling a vague memory.

On the day she'd delivered documents to her father, there had been a young man in the room-a presence she couldn't quite place. Could that have been Johnny? "Maybe," Nyla said thoughtfully. "Thanks, Bonnie." "No big deal," Bonnie replied, her tone lightening. "Helping you makes me happy." After a few more words, they hung up. Nyla grabbed her keys and prepared to leave. The west side of the city, nearly on the outskirts, was an hour's drive from her apartment in the city center. Bonnie had sent her the exact address, and after navigating the winding roads, she arrived.

The flower shop stood modestly at the edge of a quiet neighborhood. Its name, Nostalgia, was painted in simple, understated lettering above the entrance. Nyla stepped inside, pretending to browse. The shop wasn't large, but it had a cozy charm. Despite the winter season, the flowers were vibrant and well cared for. Whoever owned this place clearly had a deep love for their craft. Her gaze fell on a cluster of hydrangeas-out of season yet blooming beautifully. They must've been specially imported.

Your next tale lives on g Ɐ lnσ ν ℓs, com "Are you here to buy flowers?" The voice was soft, almost soothing. Nyla turned to see a man emerging from the back of the shop, wearing a light blue apron. He had a kind face, a single mole resting under his left eye. His calm demeanor and ever-present smile made him seem approachable, almost disarming. But the moment his eyes landed on Nyla, the smile faltered. The flower stem in his hand slipped from his grasp as his expression shifted from surprise to disbelief. "Are you...

Nyla?" Nyla was momentarily taken aback when Johnny recognized her first; it wasn't what she'd expected. Still, she couldn't let on that she remembered him. Masking her surprise, she tilted her head with feigned confusion. "Do you know me?" Johnny froze, realizing he might have said too much. A flash of panic crossed his face before he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. "Well... you might not remember me. I'm, uh, acquainted with Hayes-your brother." Noticing the dirt on his hand, Johnny quickly dropped it to his side, flashing an uneasy smile. Nyla studied him carefully.

For someone as cunning as Callie, it was hard to believe she had such an innocent-seeming brother. "Are you... a friend of Hayes?" she asked, shifting her gaze to the hydrangeas. She ran her fingers gently over the petals, suddenly realizing they were thriving because the shop maintained a carefully controlled temperature. . . .