Twenty - one , " Murphy said softly . " You're so young . Do you even know what love is ? " Murphy's gaze darkened slightly . " Have you ever considered that maybe what you feel for her isn't actually love ? Perhaps it's because you grew up without a mother and you've developed an emotional attachment to an older , nurturing figure . Maybe 1/3 Chapter 18 +25 Bonus you're just too young to distinguish between affection and romantic love . " These were the very words Murphy had wanted to say to Gemma . Gemma was so young . She was only 18. Did she truly understand what love was ? Murphy had refused her back then because he feared she was confusing love with dependency . Young people would often mistake admiration or attachment for romantic feelings , especially when it involved someone older . " Sir , just because I'm young doesn't mean I'm stupid ! " the young man retorted , his voice brimming with indignation . " Why do you older folks always assume we don't know what we're feeling ? We're not clueless . We know what love is ! And by the way , I'm a biology student at Telford University . I can tell you with full confidence that young people might actually understand love better than you do . " We're young , our bodies are healthy , and when we meet someone we like , we release more hormones ! That means our love is hotter , more reckless , and more passionate than yours . But that doesn't make us foolish - it just makes our love purer ! " His words left Murphy momentarily speechless . He had always thought of young people as immature , impulsive , and incapable of understanding love . Yet at that moment , he realized the truth - the one who did not understand love was him . Rationality ? Restraint ? When you truly loved someone , none of that mattered . Love would come like a tidal wave , washing away all sense of reason . All his self - control and carefully maintained composure seemed laughable now . " I'm sorry , " Murphy finally said . " I shouldn't have questioned your feelings for her . She's lucky to have someone like you in her life . " The young man's face flushed red , and he shook his head shyly . " No , I should say I'm the lucky one for having her in mine . "