Cristian hesitated for a moment as if choosing his words carefully. “Her boyfriend couldn’t handle her popularity with other guys. They would fight over it all the time. Eventually, their relationship became strained, and Evie ended it. But after the breakup, the guy started lashing out at her, calling her ‘dirty’ and all sorts of things.”

Fernanda’s eyebrows furrowed in surprise. She hadn’t expected that side of Evie’s past.

“That guy claimed that rich people were all the same—promiscuous and careless. Of course, Evie didn’t take that lightly. They ended their relationship on bad terms after a nasty argument.” Fernanda sighed, piecing it together. “Ah, now I get it.”

No wonder Evie had reacted so strongly today.

“Maybe Evie’s anger isn’t just because of what Clement said. It might be something from her past that’s causing her distress,” Cristian remarked, looking at Fernanda. “You should tell Clement to stop blaming himself so much.”

“I’ve already told him,” Fernanda replied casually. “They’re just kids. They won’t dwell on it for long.”

Cristian, unable to resist, playfully flicked Fernanda’s forehead. “Oh, really? You speak as if you’re far older than they are.”

“I may be young, but I’ve been through a lot,” Fernanda dramatically sighed. “My mind is way ahead of my years.”

“That’s not what I see,” Cristian said with a smirk. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re just like any other young woman.”

Fernanda shot him a look, eyes narrowing with a touch of challenge. “Is that so? No difference at all?”

A sly grin tugged at Cristian’s lips. He reached over, pinching Fernanda’s cheek with a teasing motion. “Sweetheart, are you trying to start something with me?”

She knew precisely what his words implied, but she purposefully questioned him about how she differed from other women.

Fernanda swatted his hand away, laughing.

As the car pulled up to the Coast Restaurant, Cristian paused, keeping the engine running. He didn’t exit the car immediately. Instead, his fingers found her cheek again, pulling her gaze toward him. “You’re everything to me. No one else even comes close.”

“Alright, alright, I was just kidding!” Fernanda said with a light laugh, brushing his hand away.

Cristian’s smile lingered, his usual warmth intact, but there was something deeper in his gaze. As the streetlight flashed across the window, it caught his eyes, giving them a subtle, almost otherworldly shine.

“You can tease about plenty of things, but not my feelings,” Cristian murmured, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “If you do, I might just get upset.”

His tone carried a hint of playful sorrow, an act so convincing that Fernanda’s heart immediately softened.

Although she recognized the strategy, the sincerity behind his words tugged at her, and she found herself unable to hold back. Her instinct to offer him comfort took over.

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