Agnes pressed her pink lips together and bravely met the gaze of the middle-aged woman. She said softly, “Please go ahead.” She was already mentally prepared.
Jane saw the sincerity in the girl’s eyes and believed she would answer earnestly. So, Jane did not pressure her and asked in a friendly tone, “Who was that boy yesterday?”
The clever Agnes had guessed she would ask this. She answered truthfully, “His name is Ansel. He is my teacher’s son. We have known each other since childhood and grew up together. He has confessed to me many times, but because I don’t have feelings for him, I have always refused.”
Jane had a rough idea. If Agnes liked that boy, why would there be a look of love in her eyes when she looked at Tom?
“Last night, you saw us hugging. It was just a simple farewell hug,” Agnes explained sincerely. “We had a thorough talk before that, and he decided to give up on pursuing me.”
Hearing this, Jane felt relieved. In relationships, being straightforward is really commendable. Nowadays, some girls like to keep people hanging, neither agreeing nor refusing, occasionally accepting small gifts to show their charm.
“That’s good,” Jane responded to her honesty.
The two continued chatting, and the atmosphere gradually became relaxed and pleasant. Finally, Jane said to her, “Agnes, we should keep this matter a secret for now. Just live your life as usual and take it one step at a time, okay?”
She knew that Auntie was worried that Grandma couldn’t handle it if she found out, given her age.
So, the girl nodded, “Okay.”
About ten minutes later…
After finishing their coffee, they got up to leave. Jane had the driver take Agnes back to her apartment building before returning to Fritz Manor.
On the way back, she gazed out the window at the scenery with an unusually serious expression.
When she got home, Jane resumed her gentle demeanor. Grandma asked what she had been doing that afternoon, but Jane made up an excuse and did not reveal the truth.
After dinner, Jane went into the study. She locked the door deliberately and took out her phone to call her son.
It connected; his phone wasn’t off.
Soon after, her son’s familiar voice came through the phone, “Mom.”
“Tom, I’m giving you a chance to be honest. Is there something you’re hiding from us?” Jane got straight to the point.
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.
But Tom knew very well that it was likely about the fake engagement being discovered.
Jane gave him plenty of time to think and did not rush him.
After a while, she gently asked again, “Let me ask you now: do you like Agnes?”
Tom remained silent and didn’t respond immediately because he couldn’t figure out what his mother knew.
“Son, if you like her, you need to be more attentive,” his mother reminded him. “There is a boy pursuing her. Although she doesn’t like him and has refused him, he won’t give up easily.”
At that moment, Tom had just returned from working 24 hours straight at the research institute.
He was in his apartment study with his social media account open on his computer screen in the process of replying to an email from Bubu when his mother called.
“I understand,” Tom said in a low voice and then tried to explain further about the engagement.
“You don’t need to explain about the engagement anymore,” Jane told him gently. “I saw Agnes’s parents on TV and found out about the situation from them. You shouldn’t blame Agnes; she’s doing her best to help you. And I don’t blame her either.”
“The reason I’m calling is just to remind you that Grandma really likes Agnes; your father and I do too. And Agnes likes you as well. If you like her too, don’t miss this chance,” Jane emphasized again clearly. “There is really someone pursuing her; if you’re not careful, she might become someone else’s bride.”