"Hmph," Kyle mumbled, "Only 13 and already thinking she knows the world, huh? Since when have you been so brutal to your own mother, huh?"

"When my own mother is rather oblivious to certain obvious things," Lianne replied, her face no showing any emotion, "You've never been like that before."

Kyle ran his hand through his hair and leaned back on the chair. He didn't answer immediately but seemed to be lost in thought.

"Sometimes, it's easier to see from the outside looking in," Kyle said after a while, "You have phenomenal observation skills to notice how I felt about Sayuri even before I did, but if you're anything like me, then you may be blind to your own feelings as well."

He turned and looked at her seriously and admitted, "I was hurt badly by your father and had some unfinished business before my death. I was disillusioned about love. Then, I got my heart torn out by the first person I really fell in love with, making me close myself off from anything else."

"You're a bit like that, you know," Kyle said softly, "You see all the guys around you as bumbling fools and you're easily irritated by them."

"I don't blame you honestly because well, guys are generally immature and you're far more mature than an ordinary girl. So, naturally, you'd see them as kids even though you're still a kid yourself."

"I mean, look at me. I regarded everyone around me as little kids because heck, my soul is 40 years older than any of them. So, the feelings I had for Sari kind of threw me for a loop. I was too emotional then."

"And with Sayuri, I was too logical."

"All I'm saying is, don't close your heart," Kyle continued, his eyes on Sayuri, "I wouldn't want you to find out your true feelings the way I did."

He leaned forward, his arms on his knees as he said in a barely audible voice, "At a time when it may be too late."

Lianne pursed her lips, thinking that there was no way any guy would interest her. However, her mother had a point.

"Fine," she said begrudgingly, "I will try not to dismiss guys too much and give them a chance."

Kyle smiled at that, and he tilted his head as he looked at his daughter from his previous life, "That's all I ask, really."

Then he turned to look back at Sayuri.

Little did Kyle know that their conversation today was the turning point for Lianne.

Previously, she had built up this wall around herself - and her heart - because she just couldn't believe any guy would be able to capture her interest. Those that she did find interesting, it was merely on a superficial level.

She never considered them as anything more than 'objects of interest' and would dismiss them from her mind completely.

Now, however, she began to wonder if it really was just an 'appreciation of beauty' or whether she had some other feelings slowly developing.

Because of this, it helped her allow some sort of feelings and be clearer in her mind about her feelings. It also made her much more self-aware of the people around her and how she felt about them.

This, in turn, gave a certain someone in the future a chance. It made his efforts to woo her go slightly easier for she didn't push him away or block him from her mind (and heart).

Well, okay, she did but the walls that she built weren't that high or sturdy.

Just then, Junior returned to the ward. Dian had taken him for a meal and that had allowed Kyle to talk to Lianne without worry.

Junior hesitatingly came over to Kyle and without a word, he picked Junior up and let him sit on his lap. Although Junior was not a little boy, Kyle knew that the boy needed some assurance.

After all, Dian had taken him out for a meal. Even if the reason was logical, he would not think that way. He was too young and would only feel what he feels - which would be, he wasn't wanted in the ward at that time.

"Did you enjoy your dinner?" Kyle asked, starting the conversation.

Lianne kept quiet and let the two talk.

✿ Author only posts on w.e.b.n.o.v.e.l. ✿

Kay lay on her stomach on the bed, scrolling through the various reading platforms. Lance had been bugging her to try out this app called 'Webnov' because there was this book that she just *had* to read.

He had been asking her almost everyday whether she had read it yet or not.

So, today, she thought of checking it out just to get him off her back. He was sure that she would like it, and he wanted to know her opinion about it.

There were so many out there and she had wanted to check some of them out first to see if the novels there were to her taste. She was thinking of telling Lance she was checking out another site if that was so, and he would not bug her anymore.

Unfortunately, however, none really 'popped' out for her and most of the novels in all of the sites were the same.

Thus, in the end, she figured, 'Why not?'.

It would be something that would pass the time.

But the moment it was a drop-dead gorgeous young CEO guy that dotes on a stupidly naive girl that had her entire family scheming against her, she would drop the novel like a hot potato.

"Let's see …" Kay mumbled to herself, "Lance said it was the contest winner. Ah there it is."

'My Secret, My Love, My Guilt'

Lance hadn't told her much other than, 'Girl, go read it. You'll love it.' Knowing his taste, she doubted it but she still read the synopsis.

Her eyebrow went up a notch.

Younger stepbrother falling for the sister?

Might as well give it a try … just a few chapters. She had work tomorrow.

✿ Several hours later ✿

"Nooooo!!" Kay shouted at her phone.

That was it? That was the last chapter? How could this be? She had to wait another day for a new chapter?! She had joined the ranks of those who now had the story in their mind, wondering what is next?

Worse, it was a cliffhanger!

Authors who put cliffhangers should be strung up!!

The best way to deal with such Authors?! Stockpile! She won't read for a month and let the chapters collect.

Yes.

That is what she will do.

She is *totally* not interested to know whether or not Ben ended up sending that letter to Kara.

Kay flung the phone onto the bed and groaned upon seeing the time. This was all Lance's fault! Kay set the alarm and made a mental note not to binge read again. Putting down her phone, she lay her head on the pillow while yawning widely.

One hour power nap was better than nothing. It was a good thing there weren't any meetings in the morning. Yawning again, Kay went to sleep.

The next morning, Joseph's eyes bulged wide upon at the notification he got on his Webnov app. As an author, he would receive notifications whenever someone commented on the novel - whether it was a comment at the end of the chapter, or a comment at a paragraph.

There were over 200 comments in total and when he went through them, it was mainly from this new reader 'kemsey'. He smiled upon reading all of the comments made.

It always made him happy when there were readers who liked his jottings, and from the looks of it, this kemsey person was really into it. Kensey would give thoughts and opinions on some scenes like 'I feel you, I feel you. It's hard keeping quiet', or would have 'reaction' type comments like 'Kyaaaaa! That is so cute!' that showed how a particular scene went.

Everything that kemsey did was just so cute.

He replied to some of them whilst thinking how nice that it was to have a new reader that was so into the novel.

Joseph smiled, thinking that his choice in writing on this Webnov platform had been a good one. Even his readers from his blog came over when he told them about this. They came to support him and they stayed.

So, he now had his 'old' readers and 'new' readers.

Some came and left, some had commented a lot in the beginning and then disappeared. Joseph thought, 'let's see which category kemsey falls under'. Hopefully, kemsey will stay.

Whatever it was, he was grateful to anyone who supported his novel. Having people who enjoyed his writing made him happy and in turn, he could write more. Never did he think, that writing to get his feelings out, would have this sort of effect.

With that thought, he began writing that day's chapter.