Chapter 564
Chapter 564:
Another cookie found its way into her hands, and she devoured it eagerly, as though trying to consume not just the treat, but also the warmth of her past. Despite the extravagant pastries she had tasted over the years, this simple one offered a comfort nothing else could match. To her, it felt like home.
After devouring several, Fernanda felt a sharp constriction in her throat, nearly choking.
She wiped her face, her gaze meeting Cristian’s. “How did you find out I like this?” she asked.
“I visited your hometown and asked a few people,” Cristian answered.
Fernanda’s eyes were still damp, their usual sharpness replaced by softness.
Fernanda whispered, clutching the box tightly. “What else did you learn?”
“Not much,” Cristian responded casually, then added, “I did hear about Hiram—how incredible he was, especially the way he treated you.”
A smile tugged at Fernanda’s lips, and she nodded eagerly. “Yes, Hiram was everything to me. He was the best person in the world.”
“Without a doubt,” Cristian said, agreeing. “I also believe Hiram was one of a kind. But I’ll do my best to be the second-best person in your life.”
“I’m not so sure you can manage that,” Fernanda teased.
“Why’s that?”
After a brief pause, Fernanda smiled faintly and said, “Because my beloved mentor already holds that place.”
Cristian’s gaze sharpened, his curiosity piqued. “Your beloved mentor? Which one are you talking about?”
The thought of Mr. Bernard made Fernanda retreat into silence almost instantly. She stole a glance at Cristian before saying, her voice quiet but firm, “You don’t know him.”
ᵐᵒʳᵉ ᵘᵖᵈᵃᵗᵉˢ ⁱⁿ ᵍᵃˡⁿᵒᵛᵉˡˢ.ᶜᵒᵐ
Throughout the years Mr. Bernard had mentored her, he kept his personal life a secret. Fernanda suspected that he had his reasons for keeping things under wraps. Given that, she saw no reason to bring up Mr. Bernard to Cristian. She respected his privacy too much to do so.
“Perhaps, if you try, you could settle for being third,” Fernanda said, her gaze meeting Cristian’s as she blinked slowly. “Would you be okay with that?”
“I would,” Cristian said, nodding with a gentle smile, his voice reassuring. “Hiram and your mentor hold a special place in your life, and I wouldn’t dream of competing with that.”
The sparklers on the ground had long since burned out. The world’s frenzy had faded, yet Fernanda felt as though the excitement within her was only just beginning.
Her eyes drifted to the ground, where a few unused sparklers lay forgotten. Turning to Cristian, she asked for a lighter and began lighting them, one after another, each spark catching the night air.
“What are you doing?” Fernanda inquired, her curiosity piqued.
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