Chapter 3
Chapter 3:
The moment Fernanda spoke, the entire table fell silent, their expressions shifting to shock and disbelief.
Erika, her patience wearing thin, slammed her hand on the table. “Country bumpkin, what are you even saying? My mom was kind enough to offer you this beef, and you have the nerve to be rude about it?”
Fernanda met their astonished gazes with a look of feigned innocence. “I was clearly referring to the beef,” she said, pausing deliberately. “It’s raw, and honestly, it looks unappetizing. What else could I possibly mean?”
“You…” Erika’s retort caught in her throat, unwilling to admit that she thought Fernanda was insulting Michelle.
With a slow, calculated blink, Fernanda continued, “Unless, of course, you think there’s something even more disgusting on this table than the raw beef?”
At this, Erika’s face registered complete astonishment, and for a brief moment, she was speechless.
Michelle broke the awkward silence, smoothly interjecting, “Fernanda, the dish you’re referring to is called beef tartare. It’s a renowned delicacy made from the highest quality beef and a pasteurized egg, typically found in upscale restaurants. Perhaps you haven’t had the chance to try it before.”
Her tone subtly suggested that Fernanda’s simpler upbringing might not have included such refined cuisine.
A mischievous smirk played at the corners of Fernanda’s lips as she replied, “Our ancestors mastered countless sophisticated recipes and techniques. I doubt they refined the culinary arts just so we could go back to eating raw meat, as if we were lost in the wild.”
Michelle’s expression flickered with discomfort, but she managed to hold her polite smile, nodding stiffly. “You bring up a valid point, I’ll give you that.”
“I agree. I’m not fond of beef tartare either,” Robert said, his gaze settling on Fernanda with clear pride. “I’ve always preferred classic flavors myself. It seems Fernanda inherited that from me.”
L∆tєѕt chαptєrs ιn g𝒶lnovєl𝑠.𝑐ᴏm
Fernanda offered a subtle smile, neatly wiping her fork on a napkin after sampling the beef tartare, then continued eating with composed poise, seemingly unfazed by Erika’s resentful glare.
Michelle suddenly ventured a soft query. “Fernanda, which university are you attending these days? Erika is at Luminaly University, one of the top schools in the country. What about you?” At this, Erika’s face morphed into a self-satisfied grin.
Robert’s tone grew cooler as he intervened on Fernanda’s behalf. “I’ve spoken to a few contacts back in Fernanda’s hometown. Currently, she isn’t enrolled in any university.”
Michelle’s eyes went wide, her voice cutting through the silence as she blurted, “What did you just say? Fernanda isn’t attending any university? That simply cannot be! What will happen when the Harpers find out? Mrs. Harper mentioned just a few days ago that they were planning a grand welcome party for Fernanda upon her return. If they learn she’s not enrolled anywhere, it could be disastrous.”
Robert intervened again, his tone laced with irritation, cutting through Michelle’s rising panic. “Enough. I will take care of Fernanda’s education myself.”
From the corner, Erika couldn’t suppress a snicker. Imagining Fernanda managing to sneak into some low-ranked school through connections was downright amusing to her.
The Harper family, celebrating the arrival of what Erika considered a rural nobody, was an absurd thought. Fernanda’s crude and graceless demeanor would certainly earn their disapproval the moment they saw her.
Erika found Bobby Harper quite charming, but his family’s insistence on honoring their promise to engage him to Fernanda and pushing Robert to reintegrate Fernanda into their circles seemed ridiculously foolish to her.
She was convinced that the Harper family would never develop an affinity for someone as lacking in education as Fernanda.
The mood around the table grew tense as they discussed Fernanda’s academic prospects.
Amidst the awkward silence, Fernanda herself reached for a napkin, dabbing at her lips gracefully. “I have already registered to take the entrance exam for Esaham University,” she announced, her voice steady and clear. “Assuming all goes well, I plan to attend there in the near future.”
Erika was caught off guard and, for a moment, was speechless before she burst into unrestrained laughter.
The idea that Esaham University, the most prestigious in the nation, where seats were as coveted as gold, would allow Fernanda to take the entrance exam was laughable. Clearly, this was a lie.
Robert’s demeanor hardened, his eyes narrowing in a cold glare. He furrowed his brow in disapproval and said sternly, “Fernanda, how could you lie about being given the opportunity to take the entrance exam for Esaham University? Was lying the only thing you learned in your little hometown?”
“Honey, calm down,” Michelle interjected quickly. “Fernanda was only trying to impress you.”
She turned to Fernanda with a soft, maternal expression and said in a soothing tone, “There’s no shame in not going to college, Fernanda. You don’t have to pretend or feel lesser because of it. We’re family here, and we don’t judge you on such things.”
Her words, though gentle, were laced with disbelief, assuming Fernanda was making it all up.
Without offering a word of defense, Fernanda took out her smartphone. After a few taps, she slid it across the table to the center.
Everyone leaned in to look at the screen. Erika’s laughter died instantly as she stared at the display.
Shown prominently was Fernanda’s Esaham University entrance exam admission ticket, complete with her photo and her name in bold letters.
Snatching up the phone, Erika’s eyes widened as she checked it over and over. Finally, her anger boiling over, she tossed it aside and exclaimed, “This can’t be real! You edited this, didn’t you?”
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