Chapter 191
In Evelyn's mind, her son deserved the best. She insisted his daughter-in-law possess at least a master's degree, preferably from a prestigious overseas university. Ingrid fell far short of this standard. Evelyn only reluctantly agreed to meet her because of the baby she was carrying.
Marrying into the family? Ha! As if!
After hearing Evelyn's plan, Tina shrugged, unsurprised. She tossed a scarf into the trash and wiped her hands with a wet wipe, as if avoiding contamination.
"That better be it," she said. "Ingrid has nothing, and she wants to be my sister-in-law? She's not even on Miranda's level."
Ingrid's only claim to fame was the title of "campus belle." Besides a pleasant appearance, she possessed nothing of substance. Tina couldn't understand what her brother saw in her. He must be blind!
"This is so annoying. I don't want to hear about Hans's mess anymore, so don't tell me anything. I'm heading out!"
Tina gathered some gifts and imported fruits, preparing to leave. She planned to visit Christine and try again. If Christine agreed to expand enrollment, she still had a chance.
As Tina stormed out, Evelyn called, "The roads are slippery in this cold weather—drive carefully!"
When Tina arrived at Christine's house, memories of her previous rejection surfaced, tightening her lips with nervousness. Securing her spot in the graduate program, however, spurred her on. She grabbed her gifts and exited the car.
This time, she minimized the gifts, focusing on the idea that thoughtfulness mattered more. Before arriving, she had practiced her pleasantries and her most flattering smile.
Walking the serene path to Christine's house, she didn't see the professor but a familiar figure tending the garden. "Miranda?"
Christine loved plants. Living alone, she found flowers and greenery enlivened her home, so she'd cultivated a small garden. Lately, preoccupied and with the cold weather persisting, she worried about her plants' survival and asked Miranda for help.
The job suited Miranda perfectly. She was meticulous and loved gardening, possessing ample experience. Christine valued her so much she'd even given Miranda her house keys. For the past month, Miranda had visited every few days.
Tina noticed the soil stains on Miranda's gloves and the freshly turned, rain-dampened earth. Miranda had clearly been working for some time.
Tina no longer believed Miranda held a simple part-time job. Their relationship seemed far more significant.
Tina's tone turned bitter. "I really underestimated you. I didn't think you were smart enough to use these tactics to win over the professor. Is this why you scored so high in the interview?"
She'd heard that some students would do anything to please their mentors, acting more as personal assistants than students—worse than dogs, she thought.