Chapter 842

Chapter 842:

Or had Cristian simply forgotten her, considering her presence in his life as nothing more than another fleeting encounter, indistinguishable from any other?

This thought triggered a sudden, inexplicable sadness in Fernanda, stirring a profound discomfort within her. It felt as if something deeply valuable to her was considered insignificant by another.

While she pondered, Cristian tenderly raised his hand, placing it atop her head and softly stroking it.

Fernanda raised her eyes to meet his, remaining silent.

His face was serious, his entire demeanor marked by an unusual gravity. His lips were tightly drawn, exuding a sense of pride and detachment, yet his eyes conveyed a resolute and unwavering certainty.

“I wasn’t sure if I should tell you,” he said. “I was scared.”

It was the first time he admitted his fears.

Despite being ignored from birth and enduring mockery and insult throughout his early years, fear had never touched him. Even as his acts of revenge led to further reproach and punishment, even when he was left to survive alone in an unknown place, even when he leaped into the cold river on a summer night, feeling the chill creep over him, he had not been scared.

But facing Fernanda again filled him with fear.

“I actually didn’t want you to know I was the same person from back then.” Cristian’s voice grew raspy. “I feared you might be frightened of me, disgusted, and that you would flee from me.”

He was aware that his past self, reclusive and brooding, might have seemed bizarre to others, and he feared it might terrify Fernanda.

She had been just a little girl then; he might have left a negative impression on her.

Now, however, he had stepped out from those shadows, eager to present himself anew, to get to know her, and pursue a relationship.

𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓬𝓮: 𝓰Ɐ⃟ln𝗈ve𝗅⃟s. c𝗈⃟𝗆

As Cristian looked at Fernanda, he recalled their shared history. He used to isolate himself in his dark room on the second floor of the dreary villa, occasionally glancing through the curtains to watch the lively, optimistic girl in the garden below as she read and learned to paint with Lennon.

He longed for the life and brightness she embodied. His admiration for her was not fleeting; he found himself continually drawn to her vibrant presence. Though she lacked wealth, Fernanda’s dedication and industrious spirit consistently earned her praise from Lennon.

This early impression shaped Cristian’s understanding of what life should embody.

He chose a life filled with hope and ambition, always meeting challenges and hardships head-on without hesitation. He lived authentically, laughing freely when joyful and shedding tears when sad, always avoiding pretense and insincerity.

To Cristian, the young Fernanda served as a stark contrast to his own shadowed existence, highlighting not only his darkness but also the duplicity and scorn he encountered from others.

In their remote village, Fernanda’s vibrant spirit began to melt the icy barriers around Cristian’s heart, sowing a seed of light within him. Over time, this seed of hope took root and blossomed, breaking through his once cold exterior.

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