?


    "Sorry for troubling you," Rosalie said apologetically. "You''ve been busy helping me all day. Let me treat you to dinner. What would you like to eat? I''ll take you to a nice restaurant."


    Yerick thought for a moment and said, "I noticed a Toscanian restaurant nearby that looks pretty good. Let''s give it a try."


    Rosalie agreed. "Sure, let''s go. My treat."


    With that, Rosalie carried Steve and went to the restaurant with Yerick. Despite his slim build, Yerick had a surprisingly big appetite.


    "Rose, since you''re divorced from Sebastian and single again, does that mean I can pursue you now?"


    Rosalie was caught off guard by Yerick''s sudden question and felt a headacheing on. "You''re just a kid. Pursue me?"


    "I''m 19, and I''m a PhD student. Why can''t I pursue you?"


    "Yerick, don''t joke around. I''ve been divorced twice. Why would a kid like you want to pursue me?"


    "I''m not a kid," Yerick said with frustration. "Rose, I''m an adult now. I''m 19, and 20 in a few months. You''re only three years older than me. I think I''m a good match for you."


    He lowered his head, muttering under his breath, looking like he was wronged.


    Rosalie chuckled helplessly. "Stop fooling around. Hurry up and eat. It''s gettingte, and we should head back soon."


    Even if she weren''t freshly divorced, she could never see Yerick that way. To her, he was like a little brother.


    Yerick dropped the subject and focused on his food.


    After dinner, they walked back. Yerick carried Steve for Rosalie on the way.


    "He''s so well-behaved, not fussy at all," Yerickmented.


    Rosalie smiled. "He''s calm now, but when he was just a newborn, he cried all the time."


    "That must have been exhausting for you."


    Yerick''s words brought Sebastian to Rosalie''s mind. He had always helped her care for Steve, so her struggles hadn''t felt too overwhelming. "Not really," she replied.


    Before long, they arrived at Rosalie''s apartment building.


    "You should head upstairs. I''ll get going now," Yerick said.


    Rosalie nodded. "Alright, be careful on your way home. Make sure to text me once you get back."


    "I will." Yerick took a few steps


    before turning back. "Rose, I''mContent ? copyrighted by N?velDrama.Org.


    net


    serious. Can I pursue you? You''re""


    divorced now. Wouldn''t it be nice to have someone like me?"


    From Yerick''s eyes, Rosalie saw a hint of sincerity.


    After a moment, she said, "Yerick, I just got divorced. Can you give me some time to breathe? I don''t want to date anyone right now. I just want to focus on raising my child and living peacefully."


    Yerick lowered his gaze, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. He nodded. "Alright. Take your time. I''m not in a hurry-I''m still young.''


    Rosalie was amused. "If you meet someone else you like, you should pursue them."


    "No way, Rose! I''ll wait for you. If you''re ready someday, I''ll pursue you. If not, I''ll still wait. I don''t mind."


    Rosalie sighed inwardly. Another admirer-this one a young one.


    "Alright, Yerick. Head home now. Be careful on the way."


    Yerick simply said goodbye, then turned and left.


    Rosalie carried Steve upstairs. Once back in her apartment, she ced Steve on the bed and let out a soft sigh.


    "Baby, don''t worry. For now, Mom


    just wants to live a good life with you. If I ever do find someone, it will be someone who respects me, doesn''t lie to me, and stays devoted. If I can''t find someone who can make us happy, it''s fine. The two of us will make it on our own. We don''t necessarily need a man."