At that moment, Raymond gently pulled her even closer and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her forehead.
It was warm, and reassuring.
Silent — yet filled with meaning.
At that moment when he pulled back slightly, his gaze softened, and his lips curled into a small, almost teasing smile.
"Well," he said quietly, "it seems you must have loved me a little too much to start imagining we met in school."
Valentina blinked, her brows raising slightly in confusion, Raymond chuckled faintly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
"I mean, really—me? In school with you?" he said with playful disbelief. "That's not even possible."
He shook his head gently, his tone light, as if trying to brush off the heaviness that had clouded the room.
"Come on, you've been through so much already," he added, cupping her cheek tenderly. "You don't need to overthink things right now. Just relax. You're safe. That's what matters."
