There was an awkward silence between Alonso and Rose. That endless handshake that Natalie kept staring at could only be explained by one thing.
"Oh, you guys know each other from before? Is it perhaps the hospital where Rose works?"
"We have some history, Alonso and I," she said, releasing Alonso's hand and turning her attention to Natalie. "The Valois family has been a significant part of my journey. They supported me through college, offered a scholarship for my specialization, and I'm a beneficiary of the charity run by Alonso's dad." Rose's gaze shifted to the corner banner. "I wasn't initially planning on attending, but when I heard about the fundraising for that particular charity, I figured, why not?"
"That's very kind of you," Alonso's tone bordered on sarcastic, and Natalie couldn't quite figure out whether he was complimenting Rose or making fun of her.
One thing is for sure, he doesn't like her at all.
