Chapter 599

But the Fernanda who reemerged was a revelation—graceful, self-assured, her every gesture a silent ode to her mother’s elegance. She’d even snagged a spot at Esaham University, turning a rough start into a promising future.

Still, Martin had to admit she wouldn’t stick around for his son. It wasn’t that he doubted his boy; he just knew his son was out of his league with a girl like Fernanda.

Her not calling off their engagement at the get-go was a surprise to him.

Catching the time, Fernanda stood and announced, “Martin, Judie, it’s getting late. I better head out.”

“Alright then,” Martin agreed.

“I’ll walk you out,” Judie offered, rising to her feet.

Fernanda nodded, aware Judie had more on her mind.

Outside, the chill of the night brushed against them. Fernanda snuggled into her scarf, her eyes sparkling above the fabric.

Judie, cloaked in a white coat that screamed elegance, confessed, “I’ve been wrestling with accepting you, but tonight threw me for a loop.”

“Judie, after tonight, you won’t have to struggle anymore,” Fernanda replied, her smile steady.

“I just can’t warm up to you,” Judie admitted openly. “Every time I look at you, I see her—especially those eyes, the spitting image of your mother’s.”

“Yeah,” Fernanda said with a nod. “I get that feeling too.”

As they stepped away from the mansion, Judie leaned on the gate and casually advised, “Focus on your books and career now. You’re young, and it’s too easy to get swept off your feet. Don’t end up like your mom, taking a wrong turn and never finding her way back.”

Judie lifted her eyes to the sky and sighed. “Your mom was a good soul, just too trusting. She never really saw people for who they were, and that’s what did her in.”

Fernanda fixed her gaze on Judie and asked, “Did you know my mother?”

“Nope, just heard stories,” Judie said with a shrug. “Someone always spoke highly of her.”

Fernanda realized that the “someone” she was talking about was likely just Martin.

She offered a gentle smile and spoke in a soft tone. “Perhaps my mother wasn’t as flawless as some people remember. It’s just that she’s no longer here, so in their memories, she becomes this perfect image, where all her faults vanish. Nobody’s perfect. Besides her questionable judgment, my mother surely had other shortcomings too. She was, after all, just an ordinary person.”

Judie was taken aback by Fernanda’s candidness, her gaze shifting to one of curiosity and budding respect.

She mulled over Fernanda’s insight for a moment, then her face lit up with a smile.

It was a smile that brought out her natural beauty and the grace of someone who had seen much of life, a charm that was truly ageless. Judie, often perceived as aloof due to her stern demeanor, suddenly seemed more approachable, with her smile softening her features.

“You don’t come across as someone who’s only twenty. You see things with remarkable clarity,” Judie observed. “If your mother had just a bit of your rationality, perhaps things might have been different.” Then, clapping her hands lightly, she stood tall and announced, “I’ll have the driver take you.”

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