Chapter 3
Thomas' hand, holding the towel, suddenly trembled.
He shot me a sideways glance as I walked in, and for a split second, I caught panic flicker across his face.
Then came a look, disappointment mixed with a silent warning, like he was telling me not to mess things up.
Honestly, it was the kind of look he'd give a kid who just started acting out of line.
He was clearly worried I'd blow up and blurt out the truth about us right there.
I sat down by the hospital bed. I held out my hand, showing my dad the bracelet. "Dad, I'm getting engaged soon. This time, I mean it."
Thomas' worried expression froze for a second.
His hand, still holding the towel, just hung there in midair.
He looked like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard, standing there completely stunned.
It took him a while to snap out of it, and when he did, he put his usual calm mask back on.
He probably figured I was just saying whatever to make my dad feel better.
My dad stared at me in disbelief. "How is that possible? Who is he? You've never even mentioned him to me."
I pretended to be shy. "It's someone you like, too."
For a moment, Thomas' face turned cold.
He thought I was talking about him.
My dad stared at the bracelet on my wrist for a moment, then his face lit up with surprise.
He said, "That looks familiar. So it really is someone I know.
"Come on, tell me who he is. Who's the lucky guy that caught my precious daughter's eye?"
In his eyes, I was always the best.
I replied, "We're planning to get engaged in two weeks. You'll know then, Dad."
My dad was in such a good mood that even his pale face looked a little healthier.
He started joking with Thomas, his tone a lot lighter. "Thomas, look at her. She's not a kid anymore, but she's still so shy.
"Who ever heard of a future son-in-law only meeting his father-in-law at the engagement party?"
He grumbled, but didn't press me any further.
He just chuckled and said, "I don't ask for much, but at least he should know how to treat you right.
"He should be gentle and mature.
"Someone like Thomas."
Thomas' face looked like he was about to lose it.
He was over ten years younger than my dad, but my dad always respected his abilities and treated him as an equal.
He never held back when talking to him.
My dad glanced at Thomas as he spoke. "Thomas, don't you agree?"
Thomas just muttered a vague "Yeah," grabbed the towel and basin, and quickly slipped out of the room.
At the door, he turned back and called to me. "The doctor wants us to pick up a test result. Nina, come with me."
I got up and followed him out.
He headed straight for the end of the hallway, while I went the other way toward the doctor's office.
Thomas, his face grim, turned back and called out to me. "We're not seeing the doctor. Come with me."
He walked to the corner at the end of the hallway, where no one else was around.
He set down the towel and basin, then reached out and pulled me sharply into the corner.
All these years, he'd always been gentle with me.
But now, his grip was tight, almost rough.
His voice, uncharacteristically unsteady as he spoke, held a faint tremor. "Even lying to your father has its limits.
"Half a month will pass in the blink of an eye. What lie will you tell to cover things up then?"
I stared at him, suddenly realizing I could barely recall the flutter of my heart I'd felt when we first got together.
After five long years of unrelenting insecurity, of constant fights and cold silences, much of our love seemed to have worn thin.
After a long pause, I said calmly, "Who says I'm lying to him?"