Chapter: 2544

Rachel caught his gaze, her eyes widening slightly. She gently removed his hand but kept her eyes locked on his.

After a moment, she shook her head. “I'd better not."

Alberto's expression darkened slightly, his emotions unreadable, the air around them growing tense. "Don't you want to go?"

Rachel took his hand, intertwining their fingers. “Alberto, it's not that I don't want to go. Please, don't overthink it." Her voice softened as she explained, "This is a family dinner. It wouldn't be right for me to attend without an invitation."

"Rachel, you're overthinking this-they won't mind," Alberto replied, his gaze fixed on their intertwined hands.