Chapter 686
“Why would I ever think that?” Fernanda chuckled gently, noticing the tension on his face. Her smile grew warmer, a gentle reassurance. “You’re like family to me, Clement. After all this time, do you really think I don’t know who you are? Relax, I’d never think that about you.”
Relief washed over Clement as Fernanda’s response sank in.
In the vast sea of people, Fernanda was the one who truly mattered to Clement.
His thoughts were consumed by Fernanda’s opinion—nothing else held any weight.
Her views were the only ones that shaped his world; everything else faded into oblivion. Despite knowing that Fernanda had a circle of close friends and that her world would continue without him, he couldn’t imagine his life without her.
To him, Fernanda wasn’t just a friend—she was like family.
He feared that if he made a mistake, Fernanda would leave him.
And he would be left all alone again.
Breaking the silence, Fernanda flashed a smile. “Your birthday’s next week, right? How about we hit up Zero Degree for a celebration?”
Clement’s lips tightened briefly before he nodded. “Okay.”
Whenever he stood before Fernanda, he would stifle his darker emotions, his fierceness replaced with a softness that made him seem almost meek.
“Get some rest when you head back,” Fernanda advised with a smile, her hand giving his shoulder a reassuring pat. “You’ll need energy for tomorrow’s studio session.”
With a slight nod, Clement’s gaze lingered past her shoulder, his attention briefly caught.
“Looks like your boyfriend’s here,” he remarked.
Turning her head, Fernanda spotted Cristian approaching them.
Her smile brightened instantly as she called out to him, “What’s this? No warning, just a surprise visit?”
Cristian stepped closer, his face lit up with a warm, affectionate grin. “I just wanted to surprise you.”
Clement’s gaze flickered toward their hands, now intertwined before he broke the silence. “I’ll head out now.”
“Alright,” Fernanda replied, meeting Clement’s gaze with a nod. Once inside Cristian’s car, Fernanda began to recount the day’s events, including the minor exchange with Clement, sharing the details with him as they drove.
“Indeed, it was a misunderstanding,” Cristian said thoughtfully. “Actually, Evie is not the type to hold onto grudges. She’s probably regretting letting her emotions get the best of her.”
He paused briefly, his tone shifting as he continued, “Actually, there’s a deeper reason behind how sensitive Evie is about this.”
Fernanda turned to him, curious. “What do you mean?”
“Since she was young, Evie’s always had an open heart. She’s straightforward and generous, which is why people are drawn to her—especially the guys. Back in high school, she had a boyfriend, but…”
.
.
.