Connor, overhearing this, raised his eyebrows and muttered under his breath, “You little liar, telling a lie whenever you want.”
Domenic, Marc, and Terry exchanged uneasy glances. Marissa didn’t seem to fit the image of a highly skilled doctor. Instead, she came across as deceitful. If they hadn’t witnessed her earlier disdainful and arrogant behavior toward Connor, they might have thought the two were a loving couple, judging from her words
Ignoring the men’s reactions, Marissa continued her conversation with Derek. “You’ve almost recovered. I’m going to treat you to another meal today. How about I send someone to pick you up at your home now?”
“Marissa, don’t do that!” Derek blurted out, his voice laced with alarm. “I… I’ll make a video clarification right now!”
“You should be quick about it. I’ll treat you to dinner if you take even a minute longer. Haa…” Marissa replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she ended the call. She glanced at Connor, handed back his phone without a word of thanks, and walked out of the room, leaving the four men dumbfounded
After exiting Connor’s property, she hopped onto her motorcycle and sped away toward her rental apartment on Vintage Street. An hour later, she arrived at her destination. The apartment door was slightly ajar. As she was about to push it open, she paused, hearing a conversation ongoing inside
Marissa overheard Denise saying, “Dad, Mom, Derek has released a video clearing up the rumors. We don’t need to hide anymore!”
“What did Derek say?” Betty inquired
“He stated that the fiancee who deeply hurt him wasn’t me. He urged the public not to believe the rumors or harm the innocent,” Denise replied
“No, he explicitly stated he no longer wanted to discuss his fiancee. He’s reunited with his biological parents now. He’s letting the past stay in the past and has moved on,” Denise continued
“Did he mention his fiancee was Marissa?” Korbin asked
Marissa pulled out her phone and checked the news online. Indeed, just as Denise had mentioned, Derek had posted a video clarifying the situation. Yet, he continued to portray himself as wronged and pitiful, not fully disclosing the truth. The notorious fiancee was still part of the narrative, but her name was no longer Denise
In the past few days, Derek’s parents and older brother had been actively posting videos, revealing Derek’s connection to the Daniels family. They had done much more, amplifying the news further. Netizens were shocked to learn that Derek hailed from Blebert’s most influential family, which only deepened their sympathy for his troubled life. They bombarded him with inquiries about his current condition
But recently, Derek had suffered from amnesia, rendering him unable to appear in public. His parents and older brother explained that his depression had intensified, and he was undergoing treatment. They assured everyone that as soon as Derek felt better, he would make a public appearance to express his gratitude for their concern. These revelations only increased the netizens’ sympathy for Derek
“He was born into a wealthy and powerful family, yet he ended up with a poor family because of vile human traffickers. He has endured so much hardship. I truly feel for him. I hope he recovers quickly and can greet us soon.”
As the online community expressed their concern and anticipation, Derek unexpectedly released a video today to set the record straight for Denise. Due to overwhelming fear, Derek had been plagued by nightmares recently and had visibly lost weight. Upon seeing his condition, netizens concluded that it was because he was battling depression, and their hearts went out to him even more. Countless people sent encouraging messages in the comments, and his popularity soared like never before
“Derek is too gentle. That despicable fiancee has caused him so much pain, yet he refuses to speak ill of her. Oh, he’s just too soft-hearted.”
“Good people will eventually be rewarded for their kindness. More power to you, Derek. Billions are behind you. We’re all your fans.”
After viewing those comments, Marissa simply scoffed. Derek’s family excelled at creating buzz. Now that the event had skyrocketed in popularity, they stood to gain significantly. She wasn’t sure how long this frenzy, fueled by a web of lies, would hold people’s attention
She decided not to dwell on it. Once Derek released that video, what would happen to him next was no longer related to her. At that moment, Denise exclaimed with a spark of excitement, “With the online harassment gone, I’m no longer the target of the netizens’ wrath. Instead, my misfortune has brought me fame. Now, I need to figure out how to capitalize on this newfound popularity!”
“Ha-ha-ha. Denise, you’re really clever,” Korbin and Betty couldn’t hide their delight. “I’m surprised Marissa actually managed to handle it. She’s quite capable,” Betty commented
“Hmph, I doubt that,” Denise retorted, her lips curling in disdain. “It’s obvious how she did it. She must have groveled to Derek. Maybe she even spent a few nights with him.”
Korbin dismissed the details with a wave of his hand, saying, “It doesn’t matter how it happened. The important thing is you’re okay now.”
Betty let out a heavy sigh. “We were forced to take in that little bitch. It was so unfair, so all we ever gave her were scraps and worn-out clothes. Who would’ve thought she’d end up giving us so much money over the years?”
“Enough!” Korbin cut her off sharply. “You know the kind of people we’re dealing with. We can’t talk about this to anyone, or we’ll be the ones in trouble!”
“But why should I be scared? I want to talk about it!” Betty retorted, her voice rising with frustration
Meanwhile, outside the door, Marissa pressed her ear against the door, straining to catch every word
“Enough already. Stop!” Korbin’s voice quivered with fear
“What’s got you so scared?” Despite the urgency in his tone, Betty didn’t seem to take the matter seriously
“It’s been years, and those people haven’t shown up again. They’ve probably forgotten all about that little wretch by now.”
Korbin’s reply was laced with anxiety. “It doesn’t matter how much time has passed. We must never talk about it. If we provoke them, it could be the end for our whole family.”
Betty fell silent for a moment before conceding. “You’re right. We shouldn’t talk about it. Besides, Marissa keeps sending us money. Her identity and origins don’t really matter.”
“Dad, Mom, who are you talking about?” Denise interjected, curiosity piqued
“I have no idea who they are, but they’re scary. Let’s not talk about them anymore,” Korbin cautioned
After their conversation ceased, silence enveloped the apartment. Outside, Marissa stood upright, her expression tight with concern. From Betty’s words, she discovered that they had been coerced into adopting her. They didn’t know who had forced them or who she was. It was merely chance that they shared the same last name
Memories from her early childhood resurfaced in her mind. Usually, young children struggle to recall their earliest years. Yet, Marissa’s memories were vivid, etched into her mind due to the daily struggles of that period. Each day’s pain and terror were indelibly imprinted
At the age of four, tragedy struck when her adoptive parents, refugees in Blo Grein, perished in an explosion. Subsequently, her ten-year-old brother assumed the role of her guardian. Despite the constant threat of death, her brother clung to a hopeful outlook on life and defiantly battled their harsh fate. He always saved the best portions of food for her, often going hungry or eating only her scraps. When she was too tired to walk, he carried her on his back. At night, when sleep eluded her, he would soothe her with stories. Whenever they were harassed, he would defiantly wield his steel knife, ready to fight, undeterred even by adults. No matter the peril, he stood firm
During each terrifying blast or whenever she witnessed someone’s death nearby, her brother would reassure her with unwavering resolve, “Don’t be afraid. We will survive this war.” She vividly recalled the days of being without a home. Hunger, fear, and the shadow of death were constant companions. Yet, her brother’s valor instilled in her a profound sense of joy and optimism about the future
Then came the day when individuals dressed in suits located them, claiming they had found her parents and intended to take her away from Blo Grein. She was reluctant to leave her brother behind, but he encouraged her earnestly, arguing that reuniting with her parents was preferable to their nomadic existence. Clinging to his sleeve, she received his promise. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure we meet again.”
Desperate, she pleaded with the suited individuals to take her brother too, but they refused, citing rules. Powerless against their fate, she tearfully bid her brother farewell, insisting he keep his promise. Later, she traveled to Adagend with Korbin and Betty. Since then, she had never heard any news about her brother
As she grew older, she finally had the opportunity to return to Blo Grein. She tried every possible way to locate her brother, but to no avail. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. No one knew whether he was alive or dead. For years, she clung to the hope that he would appear and fulfill his promise. She never dared sever ties with Korbin and his family, fearing that losing that connection would mean her brother could never find her
As Marissa snapped out of her reverie, tears streamed down her face. She yearned for her brother, Kevin Vaughn. His handsome and wise image remained vivid in her mind. Then, as if by fate, she received a message from Silver Fox: “Hey, Black Snake, haven’t you always wanted me to find a guy named Kevin Vaughn from Blo Grein? I have news!”
As Marissa read the message from Silver Fox, her heart raced with excitement. “Tell me,” she demanded
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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