In a restaurant where the ambiance was bathed in a soft glow, pristine white tablecloths covered the tables, with gleaming silverware and spotless glasses reflecting the dim light.
The waiter, with practiced ease, poured the aged red wine into a long-stemmed glass. Under her father's watchful eye, Tina picked up the glass and took a sip, hoping to hide her unease behind the elegant curve of the glass.
To her right, Phillip, dressed sharply in a suit, spoke up in her defense, "I mentioned I had to work late today before I left this morning. She was just trying not to disturb me, hence the fib."
Hamilton's expression softened slightly. "She hasn't been too much trouble staying with you, I hope?"
Tina thought, "What trouble could I possibly cause?"
If she had known her father had planned to conduct this surprise inspection, she would have stayed home, playing the role of the demure and dutiful fiancée.
"She's quite independent, hardly any trouble at all. She's settled in well here and made a bunch of new friends," Phillip said, prompting Tina to glance at him. His face, usually devoid of any readable emotion, remained impassive, betraying no hint of his thoughts.
It must be sarcasm, Tina thought.
Her independence stretched to not coming home until past midnight, not to mention barely speaking to him.
Hamilton nodded, satisfied, then launched into his usual spiel about traditional roles, "Stonebridge is a great place; it's good you're making friends here. Phillip's busy with work; you need to be understanding and supportive, a true partner. A woman should be supportive of her man."
He never liked Tina mingling with what he considered unsavory characters; his current "approval" was simply a rush to marry her off.
Internally scoffing, Tina managed a sweet, obedient smile, "Of course, Dad. I'll make sure to be a good wife."
Phillip caught her gaze, his expression inscrutable.
After seeing Hamilton off and returning to Phillip's apartment, Tina retreated to her room to chat on the phone with her best friend. Her friend remarked, "Sounds like he was quite the gentleman, covering for you in front of your dad."
"Gentleman? More like he was mocking me," Tina confided.
Since arriving in Stonebridge, it was true she hadn't been home r
but Phillip had made no muchet
reach out either.
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If he had shown even a hint of interest, she might not feel so disconnected from him now.
"Just some faux engagement," she mused.
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"You might be reading too much it; he was clearly speaking well of you," her friend countered, then teased, "He looks handsome in his photos. What's he like in person?"
"Handsome doesn't help," Tina sighed, lying back and kicking her feet up, "He's too old, feels like there's an age gap."
"A mature man know how to treat a woman right."
"Then be my guest, come and take him off my hands," Tina joked.
velmet
Their laughter was cut short by a knock on the door. Tina turned to see Phillip's tall figure in the
doorway, realizing she'd forgotten to close the door.
Sitting up abruptly, she wondered if he had overheard their conversation.
Her friend's voice blared from the phone speaker, "Who's that, the "old" man coming to check on you?"
Tina grimaced, quickly ending the call before any more damage could be done, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Did you need something?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
Phillip, unfazed as if he hadn't heard a thing, simply held out his hand.
"Your phone."
"Why?" Tina's mind raced, half-convinced he was about to throw her phone out of spite.
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