Chapter 516
Chapter 516:
Fernanda noted that his hand felt warmer than hers.
“Hey, we’ve got company around,” she whispered, her voice tinged with caution.
“So?” Cristian replied nonchalantly.
“Aren’t you a bit worried about sparking rumors again?”
“Let them write their hearts out,” Cristian said, his tone laced with a defiant confidence. “Anyone feeling gutsy can take a shot.”
His laid-back attitude made him seem even bolder, his words ringing with an air of undeniable confidence.
Cristian glanced down briefly before meeting her gaze once more. It was a sign. Her hesitation to hold his hand was no longer about reluctance; it was about the potential stir they might cause.
The reason had evolved from personal to practical—a sign that she was warming up to him. It was definitely a good sign.
Without realizing it, Fernanda followed Cristian to a nondescript building entrance. They took the elevator up to the second floor, stopping in front of an apartment door. Cristian knocked, a confident rhythm to his taps.
The door quickly swung open to reveal an elderly woman with a crown of white hair.
“Can I help you?” she asked, her voice slow and measured.
Cristian flashed a small, charming smile. “Hi there, is Henrik Molina home?”
“He is,” the elderly woman replied, then turned her head and called into the depths of the apartment. “Henrik, you’ve got company!” A middle-aged man in an apron and slippers soon appeared, his face draining of color at the sight of Cristian and Fernanda.
He tried to close the door, but Cristian was quicker. He wedged his arm against it while his other hand firmly grasped Henrik’s collar.
Keep reading at gⱯlnσν𝓮ℓs.cøm
“Let’s not alarm your family, shall we? How about we step outside to talk?” Cristian’s voice was calm but carried an edge that brooked no argument.
Henrik’s face reddened, and he sputtered, “I don’t even know you!”
“That’s alright; I know you well enough,” Cristian replied, glancing briefly into the room. “Shall we let the lady know we’ll be stepping out for a quick chat?”
Under the weight of Cristian’s commanding presence, Henrik knew he was cornered. With a sigh, he peeled off his apron and reassured the elderly woman that he was stepping out with friends and wouldn’t be back for dinner. Cristian, ever the charmer in front of an elder, flashed his signature, gentle, refined smile—the type that always seemed to put the elderly at ease.
When Henrik emerged from the room, his face was etched with visible panic.
The trio made their way downstairs, and once outside, Cristian halted, hands casually tucked in his pockets. He looked down at Henrik, who stood significantly shorter.
“You guys didn’t waste any time, did you? Is that the extent of your nerve? Even the studio’s been cleared out.”
.
.
.