The tension inside Wunmex Apparels and Bridals was thick enough to slice through as Bernard thought of what to say. Marissa had gone back to perusing the magazine on her lap after the curt ``hi" reply she gave him.

He had extended the flowers to her, and she had given him a perfunctory smile as she told him that she loved them, the expression in her eyes as flat as diluted palm wine. He had been expecting a different reaction, though he couldn't blame her. One more thing to blame Natalie, the wrecking ball, for Bernard thought.

The way she flipped through the pages, though, made Bernard doubt that she...