Chapter 59

Chapter 59:

Fernanda and Ector climbed into the car to head home. As they neared the entrance to Dawn Villas, Fernanda suddenly spoke up. “I’m not ready to go back just yet.”

Ector glanced at her, concern in his eyes. “Is it because you’re upset with Dad?”

Fernanda sighed and shook her head. “It’s not that I’m upset. I’m just frustrated. Going back means I’ll have to deal with his attitude all over again, and I really can’t stand it.”

Ector felt the same. Dismissing Fernanda’s worth over one exam and speaking to her so harshly had crossed a line. His voice was calm and reassuring. “If you don’t want to go back, we don’t have to. How about we go somewhere else?”

He turned the wheel toward the nearest hotel. In the lobby, the manager spotted them and hurried over. “Mr. Morgan, it’s been a while. We were wondering if you had switched hotels for your SVIP membership.”

Ector smiled politely. “One deluxe suite with a view, please.”

The manager nodded and escorted them to a sofa while he completed their check-in. To the right, a cozy café beckoned. Noticing Fernanda’s glance, Ector offered, “The coffee here is excellent. My favorite is the bold dark roast. I’d recommend it if you don’t mind struggling to sleep later.”

Fernanda’s expression shifted. She turned to Ector with curiosity. “Do you visit this hotel often?”

Ector nodded. “Quite often, actually.”

Fernanda stared out the window as the car idled. The hotel was so close to Dawn Villas, yet he chose to come here rather than go home. She guessed it must be because he was meeting someone.

Ector grew uncomfortable under Fernanda’s curious gaze. After a moment, he realized what she was implying. “No, you’ve got it all wrong!” he said quickly, sitting up straighter. “It’s not what you think.”

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“Relax,” Fernanda replied with a reassuring smile, her eyes conveying, We’re both adults—no need for details. Ector’s cheeks warmed in the soft lobby light, his distance melting away.

“I often arrange for out-of-town business associates to stay here,” he explained. “It’s close to home, so it’s easier for me to manage their visits. Plus, we can head out together in the mornings for meetings. It’s purely for convenience—nothing more.”

“That makes sense,” Fernanda said, releasing a soft sigh tinged with slight disappointment.

Ector nodded and then ventured, “What did you think was happening?”

“I thought you were seeing someone here,” she said plainly. His embarrassment deepened.

He had been teased before, but Fernanda’s straightforward tone struck him differently. As he reflected, he realized it was because she rarely joked and always kept a composed, serious demeanor.

Just then, the manager returned from the front desk and motioned them toward the elevator. Ector stood and hurried forward, almost as if fleeing, with Fernanda following at a casual pace.

At that moment, the hotel’s grand entrance swung open again. A different manager approached a wobbly figure leaning on a stunning woman. “Mr. Harper, it seems you’ve had a bit too much again?”

Bobby let out a loud hiccup, waved a finger in the air, and slurred, “Same… same room.”

“Of course,” the manager said. “Please sit over there. I’ll take care of your check-in right away.”

Bobby stumbled into the beautiful woman as he tried to steady himself, then wobbled toward a nearby sofa. After a few unsteady steps, he froze.

He squinted at the figure in the distance, rubbing his eyes repeatedly.

“What’s wrong, Bobby?” the woman helping him asked gently.

Bobby furrowed his brows, certain he hadn’t imagined it. The person ahead looked exactly like his angel.

Ector entered the elevator first and stood at the back, followed by Fernanda and then the hotel manager. As the doors began to close, Bobby caught a fleeting glimpse of her face—it was unmistakably his angel. And she was getting into the elevator with a man.

Bobby shoved the woman beside him aside and shakily pulled out his phone, intending to call Cristian and report what he had just seen. But his head spun, the screen blurred, and the phone slipped from his hand with a thud. Bobby collapsed beside it.

The woman tried to catch him, but without strength, she ended up pinned beneath him. The hotel manager called for assistance to help Bobby and guide him to his room.

Once Ector had escorted Fernanda upstairs, he took his leave. Feeling restless, Fernanda wandered to the floor-to-ceiling window and gazed at the sparkling city lights of Esaham. She then reclined on the sofa and logged into her game account.

She opened her main account, which she hadn’t checked in days, and was instantly bombarded with messages—all from Fourteen:

“Man, I got crushed in the game.”

“Some guys from the Esaham University esports team beat me!”

“In the third match, I couldn’t defeat a single opponent, and they knocked me out more than a dozen times! I’ll never live it down!”

“Could you help me get revenge when you can? You’re my only hope.”

“I told them I know someone professional and promised that next time you’d crush them. You can’t let me down, or I’ll lose all my credibility!”

“Please reply when you get my messages!”

Fernanda thought this kid had a fierce competitive spirit. She typed a simple “I see” to show she’d read the messages, then logged off.

It was already late, and she needed a good rest to prepare for the important tasks awaiting her the next day.

The next morning, Fernanda didn’t wait for Ector to pick her up. Instead, she hailed a cab and went straight to Esaham University. She headed directly to the dean’s office.

After knocking, she entered and found Dean Damian Castro, a familiar figure often featured on education channels. Damian paused at the door, then recognized her. “You’re Fernanda Morgan, correct?”

He had reviewed the basic details of all exam candidates, and Fernanda’s striking appearance made her impossible to forget.

“Yes,” Fernanda replied with a nod.

“Is there something you need?” Damian asked. “I remember your exam score was just shy of the admission threshold.”

“I apologize for the interruption, but I need to discuss something important.” Fernanda stepped forward and stood before his desk. “Mr. Castro, my exam results were altered.”

“What?” Damian exclaimed in surprise. “That’s impossible!”

Fernanda pulled a USB drive from her pocket. “This is—”

Before she could finish, another knock came at the door. A woman in professional attire entered, carrying a large stack of paperwork.

“Mr. Castro, these are the student aid program applications. I brought them for your signature.”

Damian nodded. “Just leave them here, thank you, Ms. Ross.” Fernanda glanced at the name tag on the woman’s chest: Mabel Ross.

Mabel offered a small, polite smile as she set the documents down and turned to leave. But just as she reached the door, she overheard Fernanda say, “Mr. Castro, this USB holds evidence that my entrance exam results were altered. Please take a look and set things right.”

The words hit Mabel like a cold splash of water. She froze in place, paralyzed with shock.

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