Chapter 553

Chapter 553:

“I went to see my cousin, Nolan.”

She sat up straighter. “Did you… go confront him?”

“Yes,” Cristian admitted. “I went to show off.”

He had gone to flaunt his health and fulfilled life—to rub in Nolan’s face that, despite his schemes, he had emerged victorious.

Fernanda didn’t know the intricacies of their history, so she assumed Cristian was simply boasting about a personal win.

“And Sammy?” she asked.

“He’s Nolan’s assistant,” Cristian said dismissively. “I had him reassigned.”

Fernanda nodded thoughtfully. “Was your meeting with Nolan unpleasant?”

Cristian’s lips curved into a sly grin. “Not for me. I found it quite enjoyable.”

“But if the rest of the Reed family finds out you confronted Nolan, won’t it cause trouble?”

Cristian didn’t answer right away. Instead, he smiled at her. “You’re really concerned about me, aren’t you?”

“Just asking,” Fernanda replied quickly, turning to look out the window. “If you’re not worried, then I won’t worry either.”

Cristian laughed softly. “Ah, but you are worried. I’m quite happy to know that.”

His ability to find amusement in an otherwise serious conversation impressed Fernanda.

When they arrived at the hotel, Cristian half-jokingly suggested accompanying her to greet Bonita, but Fernanda shut the car door on him without hesitation.

She murmured, “Thanks for the ride. Goodbye.”

Cristian waved back as he leaned back in his seat, watching her enter the hotel lobby. A genuine smile played on his lips, but it slowly faded as he pulled out his phone.

Over a dozen missed calls from Curran stared back at him.

With a sigh, he turned off the phone and drove away into the night.

Inside the hotel room, Fernanda found Bonita resting with a small bandage covering the last visible mark on her face.

“My father called me today,” Bonita said softly. “He told me to maintain a good relationship with you to secure my future. That was the first time I’ve heard him speak so gently to me.”

She laughed bitterly, tears streaming down her face. “To him, I’ve always been nothing more than a tool.”

Fernanda sighed, patting Bonita’s head gently. “You should focus on becoming independent and breaking free from them.”

Bonita’s eyes hardened with resolve. “I will.”

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