Chapter 851
Chapter 851:
“I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I made a bit of everything,” Fernanda said, setting the plates down. “Just tell me what dishes you enjoy, and I’ll make them for you next time.”
Whenever they dined out together, Cristian had always catered to her tastes, ordering dishes he knew she loved. In doing so, he had never once revealed his own preferences.
Cristian picked up a shrimp, placed it on his plate, and smiled. “I am not picky. Everything works for me.” He peeled the shrimp with practiced ease and added, “Growing up, I never had the luxury of choosing. As long as I had something to eat, that was enough.”
During his childhood in the Reed family, Marc and Nolan had the freedom to wrinkle their noses at dishes they disliked, to push their plates away and demand something else.
Yet, if Cristian had dared to do the same, his plate would have been taken from him altogether. Hunger had been both a punishment and a lesson.
He still remembered Curran’s cold, indifferent voice: “If he doesn’t want to eat, let him starve.”
A tightness settled in Fernanda’s chest, an ache she hadn’t expected.
He spoke in a calm, effortless tone, not seeking sympathy, just stating facts. Yet his words stirred great waves in Fernanda’s heart.
She placed a piece of spare rib onto Cristian’s plate, met his gaze with quiet seriousness, and said, “From now on, you can be yourself with me. You do not have to hide your feelings or pretend to be perfect. I want to know the real you—your joys, your frustrations, everything. You do not need to always smile at me or be endlessly considerate. You do not have to keep up a cheerful front or bend to my expectations. You are allowed to be upset, to feel what you feel. It is alright to be human.”
She thought there should be no need for him to hide his feelings from her.
Cristian’s throat tightened as he looked at her.
Haley wanted him to grow more exceptional so he could earn Curran’s recognition.
Amory expected him to always be bright and unwavering, as he was the CEO of Vertex Investments.
𝙈𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 ⓘ𝓷 gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⧼𝖼𝗈𝗺
They all wished him to be perfect. But Fernanda—she was the first to tell him there was no shame in imperfection, that having faults did not mean he was failing.
She wanted to accept all of him.
A steady warmth settled over him as Cristian felt a soft, cool hand cover his own. His eyes flickered slightly, drawn to her slender fingers pressing firmly against his skin.
“You do not have to carry the weight when you are with me,” Fernanda said, her voice gentle but firm, her eyes unwavering. “I like you just as you are, Cristian. That is the person I care about.”
Under the glow of the bright crystal chandelier, Fernanda exuded a calm gentleness, her eyes sparkling with the light of joy.
She had just confessed her love to him.
The grip Cristian had on his spoon loosened, causing it to clatter onto the plate and splash scalding sauce onto his hand, marking it red and swollen. Fernanda immediately put down her fork and rushed to his side, examining his hand with concern. “You’re so careless. Doesn’t that hurt?”
Cristian, seemingly unfazed by the pain, asked with a slight smile, “What was that you said just now? I didn’t catch it.”
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