Marissa had exited with Arabella, who was overwhelmed by the noise and needed rest. Marissa assisted her into the car, followed by Connor. Back at the Daniels family’s home, Connor relaxed on the sofa while Marissa helped Arabella to her room. After ensuring Arabella was comfortably asleep, Marissa returned to the living room and announced to Connor, “I’m leaving.”
As she walked towards the door, Connor’s voice halted her. “Do you need me to stay with you tonight as well?” Marissa’s heart raced, her steps faltering. Did he find out she was Riss? Not just Marissa, but also Domenic, Marc, and Terry, who had been observing from a distance, were taken aback by Connor’s unexpected offer. What was really going on?
After a moment of silence, Marissa turned around with an awkward smile. “Mr. Daniels, I’m not sure what you mean.”
Connor’s gaze was teasing as he responded, “Doctor Riss, did you already forget our night?” Faced with Connor’s directness, Marissa dropped her pretense. Feeling less embarrassed than expected, she replied, “Mr. Daniels, perhaps we should have another negotiation?”
“Sure.” Connor rose and walked out of the main building, signaling for Marissa to follow
Meanwhile, Domenic, Marc, and Terry exchanged bewildered glances in the living room, stunned by the conversation they had just overheard. In the meeting room in the adjacent building, a coffee table lay between two sofas where Connor and Marissa sat facing each other
“Mr. Daniels, as per our agreement, I’ll treat your brother’s legs. However, it’s crucial that my identity as Riss remains confidential,” Marissa stated firmly
“I understand and agree,” Connor replied with a nod. “I’ve reviewed your brother’s medical records, and the treatment will involve acupuncture, supplemented by medication. It will require a total of 9,999 needles, and my fee will be three hundred million.”
“No problem.” Connor nodded without hesitation
Pleased with his straightforwardness, Marissa continued, “Additionally, I don’t bring any provisions when I go out for treatments. You’ll need to pay an extra ten thousand per day for my food and accommodation. Any special requirements, like clothing and accessories, will also be your responsibility.”
Connor listened and nodded, agreeing to the terms without any objections. “Sure.” He nodded, then asked, “Any other conditions?”
Marissa felt a wave of embarrassment at his question. She needed his presence to help her sleep since her Serene Rest Pills wouldn’t be available for another three months. “Mr. Daniels, during our cooperation, when I need you to stay with me, you must be available immediately. You can’t be late,” she said, trying to keep her tone professional
Connor laughed softly, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Okay.”
His reaction made her feel more self-conscious. Trying to lighten the mood, she quipped, “Don’t read too much into it. I’m not interested in you. It’s just that your presence is like a sleep aid for me.”
Unfazed by her clarification, Connor responded with a playful undertone, “The armor you wore is quite unique-a chastity armor, isn’t it? It suits you well, and the designs are quite striking. Make sure you wear it again next time.”
Marissa was taken aback by his comment
Marissa was taken aback by Connor’s audacity. Her chastity armor, concealed within her suit jacket, should have been invisible unless her clothes were removed. The realization that he had seen it implied he had undressed her, revealing a side of him she hadn’t expected-a cold, abstinent exterior masking a shameless, evil nature
She had worn the armor not out of fear of him specifically, but as a habitual precaution from her days on missions where danger was a constant threat. It was her usual practice to wear the armor to protect herself from potential harm. Now, she was grateful for her foresight. If she hadn’t worn that armor last night, she shuddered to think what might have happened with this hypocritical man. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Abruptly standing, Marissa delivered a swift kick to Connor and cursed, “Bastard!”
Unable to bear his presence a moment longer, she stormed out of the room. Connor, clutching his aching leg, chuckled darkly, pleased to have avenged himself after the previous night’s events
As Marissa exited the meeting room, she encountered Domenic, Marc, and Terry huddled by the door, clearly eavesdropping. The three men offered awkward smiles. Previously, they had interacted with her casually, treating her as just a village girl. But now, they knew she was the distinguished Dr. Riss, and their demeanor changed completely. They seemed intimidated, particularly Terry, whose guilt was evident in his expression
Marissa, still fuming, did not mince words with them. “Three idiots!” she snapped. With that, she walked away without looking back. Domenic, Marc, and Terry watched her go, eyebrows raised. They had easily dismissed her as just a village girl before, even daring to talk back. But facing the ire of the renowned Dr. Riss, they found themselves unable to respond, swallowing their pride in silence
As Marissa stepped out of the building, her phone rang-it was Betty. Now aware that this woman, who had been harsh to her since childhood, was not her biological mother, Marissa felt a sense of detachment she hadn’t experienced before. The usual conflict and sadness were absent as she answered the phone with a flat, “Hello?”
On the other end, Betty’s tone was accusatory and demanding. “Marissa, I haven’t heard from you for days. Where have you been? I can’t even find you at the flower shop. Do you know we’re nearly starving at home?”
Marissa wasn’t surprised. Calls from Betty usually involved requests for money. She responded with a hint of sarcasm, “You’ve already spent the twenty thousand dollars?”
“Blebert is expensive. Is twenty thousand supposed to be enough?” Betty retorted
“I’ll send more money later.”
“Hurry up. We need food,” Betty demanded, taking Marissa’s support for granted. After a brief pause, Betty resumed her insults. “I went to your flower shop to look for you. The neighboring shop owners said the flower shop has been closed for nearly a month. Are you making money by sleeping around again?”
Marissa narrowed her eyes, barely containing her frustration. “Anything else?”
“Yes!” Betty snapped. “Didn’t you say you would handle the online harassment? It’s been days, and it’s only getting worse. We have to disguise ourselves just to go outside, like we’re criminals.”
“I’ll take care of it as soon as I can,” Marissa replied curtly, eager to end the conversation. She hung up before Betty could continue. Since Derek had lost his memory due to her actions, he hadn’t yet addressed the cyber harassment issue. She realized she might need to discuss this with Connor. With a sigh, she turned back, deciding to ask for Connor’s assistance with the matter
In the small meeting room, Connor was engrossed in documents while Domenic reported on their work. Marc and Terry stood guard at the door
Marissa entered the room without knocking, instantly causing Connor to look up with a mild smile. “What’s up?” he inquired casually
Maintaining a serious demeanor, Marissa glanced at Domenic, Marc, and Terry before focusing on Connor. “How is Derek?” she asked directly
Domenic, Marc, and Terry discreetly moved to the side, well aware of her influence and not wishing to provoke her. Connor reached for his phone and made a quick call to check on Derek
After a brief conversation, he hung up and reported to Marissa, “He has recovered his memory, but he’s still physically weak.”
Marissa, hearing that, turned to leave without a word of thanks, her exit marked by a sharp glare thrown over her shoulder at Connor
Watching her leave, Connor simply smiled again, amused rather than offended. Domenic, Marc, and Terry, observing this, relaxed slightly. If their boss could handle Marissa’s brusque manner, they felt less bothered by her treatment toward them
Outside the building, Marissa tried calling Derek, but he didn’t answer. She wondered if he was still frightened or perhaps had reservations about speaking to her. After a brief pause, she returned to the meeting room and approached Connor again. “Can I borrow your phone?” she asked straightforwardly. Connor handed over his phone without hesitation
Marissa dialed Derek’s number using Connor’s phone. This time, Derek answered immediately, his voice carrying a tone of respect. “Uncle Connor.”
The corners of Marissa’s mouth twitched as she responded in a nonchalant tone, “Hello, my dear nephew-in-law.” She then heard scrambling noises from Derek’s end of the line. Her sharp instincts allowed her to visualize his reactions, piecing together Derek’s movements from the sounds she heard
When Derek heard Marissa’s voice on the phone, panic seized him, causing him to drop the phone to the floor. Scrambling to pick it up, he hesitated, driven by instinct to end the call, but the realization that she was using Connor’s phone made him freeze, too frightened to disconnect. With a feigned cheerfulness, Marissa asked, “My dear nephew-in-law, when will you clarify the rumor online?”
Derek, however, sidestepped the question. “Marissa, how… how are you using my uncle’s phone? Is my uncle with you?”
Marissa chuckled at his nervous inquiries. “Your questions are ridiculous,” she said playfully. “I can use my husband’s phone as I like. It’s not strange at all. Don’t be nervous. He’s not with me right now; he’s taking a shower. You can say anything you want.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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