Chapter 52

Chapter 52:

Bobby lay stretched out on the sofa in the CEO’s office at Vertex Investments, letting out a heavy sigh.

Cristian glanced at him and said,

“What’s bothering you now? If you’re not going to talk about it, either leave or stop with the moody vibe.”

“Wendy is back,” Bobby muttered.

“Yeah, you already told me that.”

Cristian had never met Wendy, Bobby’s ex, but he had certainly heard plenty about her.

He turned back to his computer screen and asked,

“So? Did you go see her today?”

“Not today, but yesterday,” Bobby grumbled. “She practically kicked me out with a whole list of insults.”

Cristian let out a small snort.

“Not surprised about that.”

Bobby, clearly frustrated, asked,

“Is my relationship with Wendy really over for good? I messed up before, but is there no chance to fix things?”

Cristian shrugged.

“Maybe you should get advice from a relationship expert. And while you’re at it, ask if constantly showing up is considered harassment. Wendy might appreciate that.”

Bobby ran a hand through his hair, his voice dropping.

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“There’s something I didn’t tell you. I never expected Wendy to know my angel.”

Cristian’s fingers froze above his keyboard. He turned to Bobby, eyes narrowing.

“Who are you talking about?”

“The woman who was having a beer on the sidewalk the other day.”

Cristian frowned.

“So, you’re saying she knows Wendy?”

“Yeah, I was shocked too,” Bobby said, shrugging. “We never really talked about it, but when I went to see Wendy at the bar where she works, I had one too many drinks. I went too far, and my angel actually pulled me away from Wendy.”

Just the memory made Bobby squirm. He tapped his knuckles against his head and muttered,

“It was obvious they knew each other. Now, thinking back on that night, I feel so embarrassed. My angel saw me acting like a creep. She probably thinks I’m a complete lunatic.”

Cristian didn’t respond immediately. He leaned back in his chair, slowly turning toward the large, spotless floor-to-ceiling window.

He was surprised to learn that Fernanda and Wendy actually knew each other—and that Fernanda had witnessed Bobby trying to make advances on Wendy.

As much as Cristian didn’t want to admit it, the truth was that Fernanda was Bobby’s fiancée. She was engaged to him, and Wendy was his ex. The whole situation was a tangled mess. The idea of Bobby’s fiancée stepping in to rescue his ex from him? It sounded like the plot of a chaotic talk show.

Cristian shook his head and turned back to Bobby, whose face now wore a look of regret.

“Did Wendy say anything about your fiancée?”

“She did,” Bobby admitted. “Wendy asked why I was still bothering her when I had a fiancée. She was furious that I was engaged to someone else yet still got involved with her. But honestly, I didn’t even know about the arranged engagement!”

The more he explained, the more convinced he became that none of it was really his fault.

“I haven’t seen my angel in days,” Bobby said, his voice laced with concern. “I have no idea what she thinks of me now. This whole mess is because of that stupid engagement. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t be stuck in this embarrassing situation.”

Grumbling to himself, Bobby picked up his phone and opened the news app.

Lately, articles about the Morgan family’s eldest daughter had been trending, and the comment sections were flooded with sarcasm and ridicule. Oddly enough, reading them gave Bobby a strange sense of comfort.

If he weren’t engaged to that country girl, Wendy wouldn’t be mocking him, and he wouldn’t be caught in this miserable loop.

Everything had started with the Morgan family’s daughter.

Cristian stood up and took the phone from Bobby’s hand, scrolling through the page.

The comments felt too polished, too coordinated. It was clear that someone had hired trolls to smear Fernanda’s reputation and manipulate public opinion. Many of the insults were brutal—hard to read, even.

As Cristian’s expression darkened, Bobby sat up from the couch, puzzled.

“Why are you upset all of a sudden?” he asked.

He could tell Cristian’s mood had shifted.

Cristian didn’t respond directly. Instead, he quietly took note of the media outlets responsible for spreading the scandal.

Then, without a word, he returned the phone to Bobby, leaned back in his chair, picked up his own phone, and began typing out a message.

The afternoon sun bathed the room in a soft, golden light. Fernanda lay stretched out on the carpeted balcony, eyes half-closed as she soaked in the warmth.

Her phone buzzed.

Unlocking the screen, she saw a message from Cristian:

“I saw those news stories. They’re outrageous. Want to handle it, or should I help?”

Fernanda replied simply,

“No need, thanks.”

Just then, the sliding door to the neighboring balcony creaked open. Fernanda glanced up to see Ector standing in the doorway, casually holding a tray.

Still lounging face-down on the carpet, she rolled onto her side to face him.

“Weren’t you supposed to be at the office today?” she asked.

“Just got back,” Ector replied, placing the tray beside her. “Had the servant slice up some fruit for you. Go on—eat.”

Fernanda picked up a piece of watermelon with her fork and took a bite. The sweet, juicy flavor instantly cooled her dry throat.

Ector took the seat across from her, one leg crossed loosely as he rested his arm over his knee. The afternoon breeze ruffled his shirt and tousled his hair, giving him a youthful, almost carefree look.

At twenty-five, even with time spent at the company, Ector still looked surprisingly young. He could have passed for a college student without raising an eyebrow.

“I saw those rumors about you last night,” Ector said casually. “You’re not going to say anything about them? You could talk to Dad. If he won’t step in, I will.”

Fernanda shook her head slightly.

“Let them entertain themselves with whatever lies they want to believe,” she said. “I’ve already taken the exams. Their gossip doesn’t bother me in the slightest.”

Ector let out a quiet sigh as he looked at Fernanda.

“You’re honestly the calmest person I’ve ever known.”

Not many public figures, even those in the entertainment world, could match Fernanda’s level of composure. Most people were too easily swayed by public opinion—especially when it turned negative.

Fernanda gave him a bright, genuine smile.

“I’m not a public figure, and I have no ties to the entertainment industry. Their opinions don’t affect me. Honestly, I couldn’t care less what they say.”

Watching her radiant smile, Ector realized she truly meant it. She wasn’t just pretending to be strong—she really wasn’t bothered. It made him feel more at ease.

His eyes drifted to Fernanda’s phone, which lay nearby with the screen still lit. He recognized the interface of a popular game that had been trending everywhere lately. While Ector didn’t play it himself, he’d seen plenty of his colleagues hooked on it. He was pretty sure it was called Apex Arena.

“I’ve seen Kevin playing that game,” Ector remarked. “He’s coming back from summer camp in a few days. You should join him for a game—he’d be thrilled.”

Kevin Morgan, the youngest member of the Morgan family, was still in high school.

Fernanda gave a casual nod.

She hadn’t met Kevin yet and wasn’t sure where he stood on her return to the family. For all she knew, he might be like Erika—cold or indifferent. Jumping into a game together felt like it might be a bit much.

Sensing her hesitation, Ector added,

“If you’re good at it, he’ll come around. Kevin really admires top-tier gamers. He showed me the leaderboard once and said he’d love to meet the players at the top.”

Fernanda fell silent, her mind turning over those words.

After all, she was one of those top-ranked players.

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