Chapter 943

Maria stared into Herman's eyes, noticing the sincerity and warmth in them. There wasn’t a hint of deceit. She smiled and said, "Whoever you fall in love with is going to be very lucky."

Herman smiled back and clinked his glass with hers. "I think that’s the least anyone deserves. Every person is an individual, free in their own right. Love shouldn’t be something that traps or binds you. It should make both people better, not something that drags them into endless suffering."

"Well said!" Maria clapped her hands, downing another glass of wine.

Herman watched her, his brows knitting slowly.

After a pause, he asked, "That man earlier... you know him, don’t you?"

Maria nodded, "Yes. He used to be a designer in my studio. Now, he’s my business partner."

She drank a bit too quickly, and the alcohol hit her fast, a rosy blush creeping onto her cheeks.

"At first, the way things started between us wasn’t great. It was full of calculations and ulterior motives. I thought once everything ended,