Even Tina couldn't quite articulate the fleeting panic that, in that moment, became tangible.

She felt like a caged eagle, majestic and beautiful, with a free and unyielding spirit and a clear mind, seeing through the life she had no choice in.

She had convinced herself to spend a lifetime tied by convenience to a man devoid of love, indifferent to whomever he might emotionally cherish or physically be with. That was why she laid out those clear-cut terms at their first meeting.

She wasn't looking for love in this marriage but to safeguard the Watson family's interests and her dignity.

But if she fell in love with her husband, her desires would change inevitably.

She could tolerate a husband who shared her bed but not her heart, where there was no affection, only mutual benefits, but not one who couldn't reciprocate her feelings. She could no longer calmly accept the idea of Phillip having affairs.

In truth, she harbored an extreme purity of spirit and body, wishing he would remain faithful. If other women appeared in his life, she'd lose her mind, becoming a hysterical, jealous wife.

She didn't want to be like that, too ugly and sad.

quietly

wind seeped through her coat, chilling her to the bone, though the cashmere scarf around her neck was soft and warm. Yet, she knew the comfort was something Phillip could retract at any

envisioned the sad trajectory of

upon their first meeting,

with it," she said,

normal but

morning when Phillip was leaving for the office, the housekeeper mentioned Tina hadn't yet woken up.

her door, instructing the housekeeper not to disturb her sleep. She usually woke up around

were moments when he wondered if he should have checked

cake. He noticed she was down, even though he couldn't put a finger on the

told him that Tina had

left just as lightly

social media was still active, showing her in Tanzania, capturing the migration of wildebeests across the Serengeti's eastern

by the river during Tanzania's

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