Out of Ashes Into His Heart novel Chapter 85

The single term of address "Mrs. White" left everyone in the room stunned, with their jaws practically hitting the floor.

This misunderstanding had just gotten much bigger.

Now, they all knew that I wasn't Alvin's significant other but Tom's.

In an instant, all eyes locked on me, brimming with curiosity. After all, it was the first time anyone had seen Tom bring a woman to a gathering like this.

"You weren't going to explain it to them? Hmm?" Tom's voice was light as he reached out to ruffle my hair. His teasing tone made my heart skip a beat.

"I didn't have the chance to explain. You showed up too fast…" I replied, trying to sound calm.

"I'll believe you this time," he said, his fingers trailing down to the back of my neck for a quick, gentle squeeze before letting go.

But even though the touch was brief, the roughness of his fingertips brushing against my skin left a lingering warmth that I couldn't quite shake.

My hand drifted to the back of my neck almost absentmindedly, rubbing the spot as I fought an odd sense of fluster. It was just a casual touch, but the familiarity of it unsettled me.

It was almost like… I had felt it before…

I shook the thought from my head. Maybe I was getting too into character, so much so it was starting to mess with my mind.

"Mrs. White, nice to meet you."

The group's voices snapped me back to reality. One by one, they greeted me, all calling me Mrs. White in unison.

I had never been in a situation like this before. My smile felt stiff as I nodded and greeted them back politely, though I could already feel the muscles in my cheeks aching from the effort.

"Alright, get lost. Stop crowding around like that!"

Noticing my discomfort, Tom waved them off with a playful grin.

As the group reluctantly backed off, he took my hand and led me toward a corner booth with a plush couch.

"This whole thing was put together by Alvin. These are all his friends. If you're feeling bored or overwhelmed, just let me know, and we'll head home," Tom explained as he sat beside me, draping an arm casually over the backrest behind me.

The gesture was natural yet carried a subtle, almost possessive energy.

Despite being shooed away, the group didn't stray far. They lingered nearby, keeping a distance but still stealing glances at Tom.

It was clear that within this circle of friends, there was a hierarchy. And Tom, without a doubt, stood at the top of it.

Not long after, a few people who seemed closer to him wandered over to our booth.

"Tom, I heard you're involved in military tech research?" one of them asked.

"Yeah," Tom replied with an easy nod, crossing one leg over the other as he leaned back slightly. "Why? Thinking about investing?"

"Haha, I'd love to! The question is whether you'd even give me the chance…"