How to Destroy a Cheater Without Saying Goodbye novel Chapter 78

"Fernando, hand over Laney!"

"Fernando—!"

The secret laboratory echoed with Eddy's voice, his crazed shouting from the conference hall blaring through the massive monitors, cutting through the tense air.

"Professor, if Mrs. Simmons doesn't leave now, we won't be able to hold them off much longer." Felipa burst into the office, not finding anyone in sight. She hesitated only a second before pushing through to Fernando's private lab in the back.

"Felipa, Felipa!" Blanche called desperately, pounding on the side of the containment pod.

Felipa rushed to the sound, quickly hitting the release and helping Fernando out of the pod. "Professor, what happened? Why were you—?"

Fernando steadied himself, then immediately reached in to help Blanche. Disheveled, Blanche hurriedly smoothed her dress and hair, trying to regain her composure.

"It was a misunderstanding," she said crisply, clutching the retrieved chip. Without another word, she strode toward the hidden door they'd used to enter.

Fernando hurried after her.

Blanche avoided his gaze, embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "You weren't like this before. You always said your life—your talents—were meant to serve your country, that you'd never let personal feelings get in the way."

Back at the base, his admirers had been legion—eager, relentless. He'd always refused them, and once, he'd even made a declaration in front of them all: that his life, gifted as it was, would be dedicated to his country and nothing else.

Blanche couldn't accept that the once-noble Fernando had so suddenly changed.

Remembering what he'd just said, she thought he sounded like a lovesick fool.

"I didn't realize how I felt about you back then," Fernando replied, his tone so natural and matter-of-fact that Blanche was at a complete loss.

"Laney, give me a chance."

"I'm better for you than Eddy—"

"Just let me leave," Blanche cut him off, her voice firm.

She glanced at the display in the lab's main hall. Eddy's eyes blazed with fury; if he couldn't find her soon, he might just tear down the entire building.

Fernando followed her gaze, his dark eyes smoldering with anger.

He remembered once asking why she'd wanted to become a white-hat hacker.

She'd told him her mother's dying wish was to see her live freely, chasing her own dreams—even if it meant hardship, as long as she was passionate about it.

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