"She's gone. My dad brought his mistress and her daughter home, filling the space she left. Aside from me and my grandparents, it feels like no one else in the world would miss her." Talking about it still choked her up. She lowered her eyes, took a deep breath, and steadied herself before she continued.

Cracking open the box of her feelings made the rest spill out a bit more easily.

"I've struggled with bipolar disorder before. Even though I've got it under control, it's not something you fully recover from. If I can't find equal love in you, if you betray me, I might just lose it. I'm terrified of ending up that way."

Tina never showed her vulnerabilities to anyone. But these vulnerabilities existed because of her love for Phillip.

"Phillip, if I didn't love you, I'd marry you in a heartbeat. But I refuse to end up pitiful and tragic like my mom. You've never seen her lose it. I have. She was beautiful, but in those moments, she was just... not." Her tone was steady and calm, but her eyes slowly filled with tears. "I can't bear the thought of you looking at me with the same disgust my dad had for her."

Phillip, who had been silent till now, finally spoke, "You're not your mother, because I love you."

"I'm not great with words. I prefer actions, thinking you'd understand how I feel," he said. "Sorry, Tina, for not making it clear sooner. I love you, just as much as you love me."

Tina wasn't one to cry, but now, tears rapidly gathered in her eyes.

first engagement was arranged by our families, but now, I want to marry you because I love

and she asked him,

it, cleaning her tears, as Phillip got up from the coffee table, lifted her into his arms, and set her

you

handkerchief wasn't very absorbent, and Tina found it

had made her see through the fickleness of men

marriage and set impossibly high standards

no idea how possessive I am. I can't stand the thought of you being with another woman, touching, kissing. I'd rather

gently wiped the tears

and patient. "First off,

you feel

So far, you're

has, and you're the only one

QUMS

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