In Capital City, the air was dryer than in Stonebridge, and Phillip had been sitting in the café for forty minutes, yet his arranged fiancée was nowhere to be seen.
He had flown into Capital City especially for this meeting, arranged by their parents, only to be left hanging.
Over the phone, Hamilton Watson's frustration was barely contained as he apologized profusely, "Phillip, I'm terribly sorry for the wait. I've sent someone to fetch her personally. She'll be there in thirty minutes, tops."
Thirty minutes later, with a fresh pot of coffee on the table, Tina finally made her entrance.
The café door slid open and in walked Tina, decked out in the most casual beige loungewear you could imagine.
Her features were striking, her complexion fair and unblemished, radiating the youthful clarity of a young woman. She wore no makeup, and on her feet were a pair of slippers.
Despite her casual attire, the elegance instilled in her from a family known for its meticulous upbringing was evident. She took her seat across from Phillip, her gaze sweeping over him with a measuring look. "Sorry, I was up late last night editing photos and overslept."
For Phillip, a man whose every minute was scheduled, being late to a formal meeting without explanation was certainly not something he admired.
But his prospective fiancée was only twenty-three, at an age of unpredictability. Being seven years her senior, Phillip felt it was his duty to be tolerant.
"No worries. I have no other plans this afternoon."
Tina folded her arms. "You've waited for over an hour. You're not angry?"
"Anger serves no purpose," Phillip replied calmly. "Today's meeting is out of respect for you, in the hope that you'll get to know me a bit before our engagement. If you think it unnecessary, then missing it wouldn't matter."
"You'd be okay with an arranged marriage?"
"If I wasn't, I wouldn't be sitting here."
Tina swung her slippered feet, shrugging. "You're not fussy, I see."
Phillip saw her unwillingness, clear as day.
With his legs crossed and one hand resting on his knee while the other held a coffee cup, he looked at her steadily, his tone indifferent yet firm. "Ms. Watson, it's not too late to back out."
"Did I have right to back out?" Tina inwardly scoffed. "Who in the modern world wanted an arranged marriage?"
But being born into the Watson family, raised in luxury and accustomed to material comfort, contributing to the family was her duty.
The Watson family was extensive and highly traditional, with little room for female heirs to take over. Tina's greatest value to her family lay in her marriage-a fact she had accepted from a young age.
Tina took a sip of her coffee, cutting
to the chase. With our backgrounds, marriage isn't a choice. A corporate executive like you is forced to wait over an hour for me, and I have no right to refuse. Whether we're compatible or not, this marriage has to happen. But before we get engaged, I want to set some ground rules."
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Phillip, unopposed, listened as if attending a business briefing. "I'm listening."
"First, we won't interfere in each
other's careers post-marriage," Tina began. "Second, we're not obligated to fulfill marital duties. If needs arise, we'll discuss them, but discretion is key. You can see other people if you wish, but keep it low-key and never lébit embarrass me or tarnish our families' names."
As she laid out her terms, Phillip's gaze hinted at hidden depths, but Tina pressed on, undeterred. "Third, regarding our marital assets and inheritance, we must act responsibly towards both our families. I expect no illegitimate children from you-and you can expect the same from me."
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Her demands, though coming from a place of youthful cynicism, were rooted in a practical consideration of their families' interests. Phillip found no fault in them. "Agreed."
"Good. It's a deal then," Tina said, her tone indifferent. She left her half-finished coffee on the table and stood up to leave briskly.
Tina was a freelance photographer. She valued her freedom and autonomy, disliking constraints. Yet, fresh from studying abroad, she found her father, Hamilton, had already chosen a husband for her.
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