Chapter 371
Chapter 371:
Cristian immediately stood. “I’ll walk you out.”
He turned to leave, but Haley called out to him, “Cristian, please stay. I need to talk to you.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” Cristian said, his voice icy. “You’re here to pick up your son, and now that you’ve got him, you can just go.” With that, Cristian turned on his heel and walked away.
Haley rushed after him. “Cristian, wait!”
But no matter how desperately she called, Cristian never looked back. Inside the elevator, the tension was palpable, a storm cloud hanging over Cristian, darkening the air.
Fernanda felt a twist of confusion. The boy had called Haley his aunt, but why had Cristian insisted he was her son? And their exchange felt like walking on eggshells, charged with an unspoken rift between them—a crack deep enough to swallow the silence.
Fernanda couldn’t shake the image of Haley’s face, lingering vividly in her mind. She was radiant, carrying an aura of effortless grace and sophistication. Sliding into the car, Cristian lingered without starting the engine. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette.
The lighter sparked to life, casting a fleeting yellowish glow across his face. Just as the flame brushed the tip of the cigarette, he hesitated, glancing at Fernanda beside him. With a soft click, he snapped the lighter shut.
“You can smoke,” Fernanda said, her voice steady. “It doesn’t bother me.”
She had always understood that for some, smoking was a way to ease tension. Noticing the tension in Cristian’s demeanor, she figured denying him this moment might only deepen his mood.
“I won’t,” Cristian replied simply, slipping the cigarette back into its pack. He turned the key in the ignition, and the car rumbled to life as they left Zero Degree behind.
The crisp autumn air, sharp and fresh, swept in through the window, weaving through Fernanda’s long hair. A few strands floated down, brushing against Cristian’s hand resting on the wheel. In that fleeting moment, the tightness in his chest seemed to unravel.
“Feel like taking a walk?” Cristian asked, breaking the silence.
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Fernanda offered a small smile. “Sure.”
The city lights flickered to life as evening descended, and Cristian drove to Central Park, just a short distance away.
Even at night, the park thrummed with life. Children’s laughter rang through the open square, bright and unfiltered. Paths lined with towering trees branched in all directions, leading into shadowed groves that offered quiet sanctuary.
Their steps muffled against the smooth stone, they ventured deeper into the grove, leaving the vibrant hum of the square behind. Streetlights cast a faint glow along the path, while moonlight filtered through the leaves, painting them in soft silver.
For a while, neither spoke. Then Cristian broke the silence. “Are there questions you’re holding back?”
“Not really,” Fernanda replied, her tone calm. “I’m curious, but I don’t feel the need to pry. It’s your family’s business, and your privacy matters. I won’t ask what I shouldn’t.”
A faint smile touched Cristian’s lips. “That’s why I enjoy your company. It’s… effortless.”
Fernanda wasn’t one for idle chatter, yet when she spoke, her words carried purpose. She never let silence stretch into discomfort.
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