Chapter 25. An Unexpected Encounter

As the words of thanks and praise from everyone gradually subsided, Emma’s gaze accidentally met Ricard’s. She felt her heart suddenly beat faster when she realized he was looking at her with a strange expression. His deep eyes remained fixed on her. In that moment, Emma suddenly realized she was standing in front of Ricard looking far from her usual polished self. Her clothes were dirty from the fall she took when saving the child, her hair was disheveled, and her hands still had a few small scratches. Embarrassment quickly spread through her.

Emma was not accustomed to appearing in front of Ricard this way. Normally, she always presented herself perfectly, with every detail in place. But today, she stood before him in a different light—vulnerable, unexpected, and somewhat disheveled. This thought made her hesitate as she intended to thank him for saving her. Her steps faltered, and she decided to pretend to be caught up in the crowd surrounding her.

She stood there, in