Jeff had always been drawn to the kind of romance his parents shared, a sweet love story that started in high school and ended in marriage. It was the kind of relationship he secretly longed for.

This year also marked the tenth anniversary of Ector and Lynda’s first meeting, which, in Jeff’s mind, seemed like a lifetime ago. Fernanda, on the other hand, was caught off guard by the question.

“I’m not sure,” she replied quietly, her voice soft with uncertainty. “Ector has never mentioned anything about it to me.”

Through the rearview mirror, Jeff caught Fernanda’s gaze just as the headlights of an oncoming car briefly illuminated her face. She winked playfully, adding, “But I’ll get the scoop for you, don’t worry.”

Jeff chuckled gently. “Alright, I’ll be waiting.”

As she thought about it, Fernanda realized she had heard of Graystone Law Firm. She’d seen those legal notices making their rounds recently. At first, she’d assumed Ector had hired the firm out of frustration with all the defamation, but now, the situation seemed far more complicated.

The revelation that Ector had once been courted by Lynda surprised Fernanda. It was hard to imagine Ector, of all people, tangled up in such a passionate romance. Her curiosity was certainly piqued.

Out of nowhere, Sloane shifted in her seat next to Fernanda, a sudden twitch running through her body. Before Fernanda could react, Sloane slumped against her, her weight pressing down as she leaned toward her.

Instinctively, Fernanda braced her, guiding Sloane to rest her head gently on her shoulder, offering her the comfort she needed.

In a daze, Sloane muttered weakly, “Champion… champion… I want… the championship…”

With a gentle, reassuring whisper, Fernanda replied, “We’ll win, I promise. We’ll give it our all and bring the trophy home.”

Half-conscious, Sloane smiled and snuggled closer, her head rubbing against Fernanda’s shoulder in a gesture that reminded Fernanda of a contented kitten.

Fernanda’s body was slightly twisted to accommodate Sloane’s position, and Jeff caught a glimpse of their reflection in the rearview mirror. He could see that the posture was far from comfortable for Fernanda, yet she didn’t budge, holding the position to ensure Sloane was at ease.

At that moment, Jeff thought to himself, “Fernanda may come off as distant, but deep inside, she’s incredibly compassionate.”

He knew that she’d faced her own struggles in the past before returning to the Morgan family, which explained her aloofness. Yet, he also saw that she still carried an unshakable kindness.

Without a doubt, she was an extraordinary person.

While Jeff’s mind wandered, Fernanda’s voice broke the silence. “Could you pull over for a second?”

“Is everything alright?”

Taking a moment, Fernanda replied, “Sloane threw up.”

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