My Wife is a Hacker (Nicole Riddle and Jared) novel Chapter 3146

Chapter 3146

"What did you say? I didn’t catch that." Doretta noticed Ellar's clear displeasure, her own face losing some color at his reaction.

Before things could escalate, Patricia stepped in, "Jumping to talk of marriage is jumping the gun, don't you think?" "But Aunt Emma adores you. She's quite keen on the idea of you joining the family," Doretta couldn't help but smile again, trying to lighten the mood.

Noticing Ellar's continued annoyance, Patricia subtly pinched him as a cue to ease up.

"Ouch!" The pinch caught Ell ar off guard, making him grunt involuntarily.

"Ellar?" Doretta's confusion grew, looking between them for an explanation.

Catching Patricia's subtle cue, Ellar took a deep breath, attempting to soften his stance. "Like we’ve mentioned earlier, marriage isn't on our agenda for the next few years. Mom's on board with that decision, so it's not something we're rushing into." "Oh, I understand," Doretta replied, her smile returning. "Well, in that case, Ellar, you'll have to really look out for Patricia. It'd be a real loss if you let someone as wonderful as her slip away."

Ellar mustered a tight smile in response, choosing to keep his peace.

Given his sour mood, he figured it was wiser to hold back any comments that might inadvertently reveal his current state of irritation.

The trio reached the restaurant Ellar had picked out.

Opting for the main dining area rather than a secluded private room turned out to be a fortunate choice, considering the addition of Doretta. This setting made the dynamic less awkward than it might have been in a more intimate environment.

Once they had placed their orders, a palpable silence descended over the table. The lack of conversation lent an almost ghostly air to the meal, with each person focusing solely on their food.

Ellar, already in a foul mood, silently wished for the meal to end quickly so they could all go back.

Patricia, who had used up much of her diplomatic energy during the car ride, found it increasingly difficult to engage with someone as chatty as Doretta. For someone as naturally reserved as Patricia, Doretta's incessant talking was becoming a test of her limits.

Doretta, picking up on the silence from Ellar and Patricia, chose to mirror their quietness, perhaps sensing the tension.