Augustine blinked, taken aback. His mind reeled with Lucien's accusation as he sifted through his memories of Anne—the hesitation in her eyes, the moments she had pulled away, and the one night she had drunkenly leaned toward him, trying to kiss him.
"But she said she wanted to take things slow," he recalled. "I didn't want to pressure her. I thought it would scare her away."
"You fool," Lucien scoffed. "Sometimes a girl's 'no' just means she wants you to try harder. You've got to read her signals, not just her words. That's where instinct comes in."
Augustine scratched his head in confusion. Could it be that she had wanted him to make a move? That she had been waiting for him to step forward and take that final leap?
"Go to her. Talk gently. Tease her, tempt her—seduce her. You'll see, she won't resist you."
Something sparked in Augustine's chest—hesitation turning into a quiet, simmering determination. A slow smile curved his lips, confidence returning like a long-lost flame.
