“Definitely,” Cristian promised.

Once Martin and Judie had left, Fernanda slowly lifted her head from the comfort of Cristian’s embrace.

She cast a fleeting glance out the window, but Martin and Judie were nowhere to be seen.

“Feeling nervous?” Cristian asked, brushing a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. His smile was gentle, reassuring. “It’s fine even if they saw you. I can’t wait to tell them that you’re my girlfriend.”

“Let’s hold off a little longer,” she said. “It’s better to wait a bit before announcing our relationship. If we rush it now, people might start speculating too much.”

After all, she had only just ended her engagement with Bobby earlier that year. If word got out that she had been with Cristian while she was still Bobby’s fiancée, it would raise all sorts of questions. People would whisper, calling her shameless, and they would undoubtedly speak ill of Cristian as well, accusing him of being despicable for getting involved with his cousin’s fiancée before their engagement was even called off.

Even though Bobby was fully aware of the situation and had accepted it, Fernanda knew how cruel rumors could be. She didn’t want to give anyone the ammunition to tarnish their reputation.

Time had a way of making things fade, so there was no need for haste. Once Fernanda and Cristian entered the restaurant, the evening continued without a hitch.

Martin and Judie had already finished their meal and left, so there was no risk of running into them again. Plus, the dim lighting in the restaurant created the perfect cover, allowing them to enjoy their time without attracting any attention.

When the meal was over, Cristian drove Fernanda back to Esaham University.

As Fernanda reached her dormitory building, a young man stepped into her path, forcing her to stop. She recognized him immediately—he was from the student union.

Fernanda had met him a few times when she’d visited Sloane.

The man held a bouquet of baby’s breath in his hands. His expression was shy, and it didn’t take long for Fernanda to understand what he was here for.

“Fe… Fernanda,” he stammered, his nervousness evident. “I really like you. Would you… would you… be my girlfriend?”

His hands trembled slightly as he extended the bouquet toward her. The soft glow of the light bathed the flowers, giving them an almost ethereal glow.

The man swallowed, his whole body visibly tense.

Fernanda gave a gentle shake of her head. “I’m sorry, I already have someone I care about.”

The man’s eyes widened in surprise. “But… wasn’t your engagement called off?” he asked.

“Yes,” Fernanda answered. “But the person I broke my engagement with isn’t the one I love. I appreciate your feelings, but I can’t reciprocate them.”

The man lowered his gaze, his face clouded with disappointment. He bit his lip, his discomfort visible. “I’m… I’m sorry for bothering you,” he muttered.

Fernanda shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I hope you find someone who’s right for you. Someone who makes you as happy as you deserve to be.”

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