In the evening, the dining room of Fritz Manor was brilliantly lit like crystal.
The dishes were exceptionally lavish, and the level of hospitality was very high.
Agnes had invited her parents to meet the Fritz family elders for the first time, and their polite conversation left a good impression on everyone, making the meeting very pleasant.
They discussed the engagement details, and Grandma gave a meeting gift to Agnes’s ‘parents’ and also handed a purple brocade box to her.
They talked about the betrothal gifts. Every moment felt surreal and torturous for Agnes; she knew it was like a dream, yet it was happening right before her eyes.
After dinner, both sets of parents sat in the living room chatting. Agnes saw the kind and joyful smile on Grandma’s face. Grandma really hoped Tom would settle down.
Tom was in the yard on a phone call, and Agnes occasionally glanced out the window, her thoughts entirely on him. He seemed to have a magical allure that drew her out of the living room to stand just three meters behind him.
Tomorrow she would be engaged to him, her beloved Mr. Cat.
Under the bright moonlight, Tom Fritz was on the phone with one hand in his pocket, his voice low and gentle.
“Professor, rest assured, tomorrow afternoon’s flight is confirmed; there will be no changes this time. We can start the first meeting as soon as I land.”
Hearing this, Agnes’s heart slowly sank to the bottom. He was leaving… He really was leaving… Even though she had known since this morning that he would leave, hearing it again made her uncontrollably sad.
Soon, the call ended. Tom Fritz turned around to walk back inside but saw her standing there. Their eyes met in the night breeze as Tom walked towards her. She stood still, her dark eyes filled with sorrow. She desperately wanted to ask him to stay but didn’t know how; she knew her words held little weight.
“Agnes, thank you so much for your help,” Tom Fritz said as he stopped in front of her, expressing his gratitude once more.
She looked up into his eyes; was that all he wanted to say? Summoning her courage, she asked, “Will you be very busy when you return to the lab?”
“Yes,” he replied without hesitation.
“I won’t have my phone with me; it’ll be locked away.”
She wouldn’t be able to contact him; they would lose touch. Agnes bit her lip and looked away, trying to suppress the pain in her chest.
“Let’s go inside; it’s getting windy,” Tom Fritz said as he casually patted her shoulder before walking back inside.
She turned to watch his tall figure disappear into the house. She wondered what that unconscious gesture meant-did it signify any affection for her? Even just a little?
Agnes felt obsessed with whether he liked her or not, searching for answers in every detail. But she could only conclude that he didn’t dislike her.
Agnes didn’t stay at the manor that night; she went home with her ‘parents’ since they had driven over. Tom did not drive her back…
That night in the apartment, Summer looked at Agnes with surprise as she walked in dejectedly.
“What’s wrong? You didn’t come home last night and now you seem upset.”
“Nothing,” Agnes quickly composed herself and smiled.
“I’m back now, aren’t I?”
“Have you eaten?”
“Yes,” Agnes replied with a smile.
“I’m going to take a shower; I’m a bit tired and need an early night.”
Her sister said nothing more as she watched Agnes head to her room.