Just then, an announcement came over the speakers calling for passengers to check in. “Let’s go. They’re checking tickets,” Marissa said. Once they boarded the train, Marissa received a text from her assistant, Ferris Frazier
“Riss, are you truly planning to marry Derek? He’s not the right match for you. It’s just not right! If this is about repaying Derek’s grandmother for her kindness when you were young, you’ve already done more than enough for them, both in public and in secret over the years.”
After reading the message, Marissa responded, “I have to keep my promise.”
Ferris replied, “You were just six when you made that promise. It’s absurd that Derek’s grandmother convinced a child to agree to marry Derek. You shouldn’t feel bound to such a promise!”
What she dreaded most was breaking a promise. When Marissa was four, someone promised her, “I will come back to you safely!” Marissa smiled and then fell silent. She feared she might never see it realized, which made her take her own promises very seriously. Yet, that promise remained unfulfilled to this day. Even as a child, she felt a duty to keep the promises she made
Ferris changed the topic. “Riss, Connor, the wealthiest man in Biebert, has reached out to our team. He’s requesting your services to treat his brother’s legs. Should we accept the case?”
Marissa answered without hesitation, “No.”
Ferris teased her, “That’s odd. Why would a compassionate doctor like you refuse to treat someone? I heard Connor’s brother got hurt while protecting Connor. Connor has been burdened with guilt ever since. If you manage to heal his brother, perhaps Connor would even marry you in gratitude. Isn’t that an offer too tempting to pass up?”
Marissa was left speechless. She desperately wanted to cut all ties with Connor. What if Connor found out she was actually Riss, the famous highly-skilled doctor, and demanded her earnings from the previous day be considered community property? In fact, she had earned 200 million more than him yesterday. Splitting that would be a considerable financial blow!
As evening approached, Marissa and Derek finally made their way back to Adagend. Derek’s family home was near the village entrance. Out of courtesy, Marissa accompanied Derek there first to greet his family. What they saw upon arriving was astounding. Derek’s previously desolate home was now bustling with visitors. Dozens of luxury cars were parked outside the gates. The yard was filled with people, including reporters carrying cameras. Villagers had climbed walls and tree branches to get a better view, murmuring among themselves. Worried that something bad had happened to his family, Derek pushed his way through the crowd and hurried into the yard
Before he could say anything, a well-dressed middle-aged couple rushed up and hugged Derek, shedding tears of joy. “Son, after all these years, we’ve finally found you…”
Marissa attempted to follow Derek, but the crowd suddenly swelled in the courtyard center. Before she could see anything clearly, she was pushed outside the gates. A group of villagers gathered around Marissa, eager to share the news
“You haven’t heard, have you? It turns out the Tucker family bought Derek from a human trafficker. Now his real parents have found him!”
“See those luxury cars? Derek comes from a wealthy family!”
Marissa was astounded that a scenario straight out of a TV drama was happening right before her eyes
“Marissa, are you regretting not securing that marriage certificate with Derek sooner? You used to be everything to Derek. But now that he’s a member of a wealthy family, he might leave you.”
“Derek will likely marry a rich girl now. You’re just a village girl with a sullied reputation and no college degree. You don’t stand a chance.”
At a loss for words, Marissa decided to head home. As she walked through the two alleys that separated her home from Derek’s, she found them empty. All the villagers had gone to Derek’s house to catch up on the latest news. The alleys were eerily silent. Walking alone, she turned a corner and unexpectedly bumped into a tall figure
It was Marissa’s father, Korbin Nash, along with her mother, Betty Nash, and her sister, Denise Nash. Korbin and Betty were carrying some local specialties, clearly intending to give them as gifts. Denise wore a new outfit and had styled her hair with a fresh perm
They had been enjoying a lively conversation and laughter until they saw Marissa, and then their faces turned stern. Betty asked impatiently, “Why have you returned?”
Marissa, who had long been familiar with her parents’ favoritism and unfairness, responded casually, “Mom, did you forget I’m getting married to Derek tomorrow?”
Suddenly, Betty scoffed, her expression contorted in disdain. “Still set on marrying Derek? Do you think you’re worthy of him? You left home at fifteen. Everyone in the village says you’ve been making a fortune by sleeping around in nightclubs. Back then, Derek couldn’t find anyone better, so he settled for you. But now that he’s back with his wealthy biological parents, he surely doesn’t want you anymore. Just face it. Don’t embarrass our family any further!”
Marissa felt a mix of anger and helplessness at her mother’s harsh words. Originally, her parents had been against her marrying Derek because his family couldn’t even provide a decent wedding. Eventually, Marissa began sending more money home every month, paid for Denise’s university tuition in full, and even committed to a substantial dowry of five hundred thousand for Denise’s future wedding. Only then did her parents grudgingly agree to her marriage to Derek. Now, her mother was opposing it again, but with reversed reasoning. Others, driven by envy of Marissa’s financial aid to her family, had been spreading rumors and slandering her. But she had ignored it. Now, hearing these cruel words from her own mother was deeply upsetting to Marissa
Seeing Denise dressed lavishly, Marissa suddenly asked, “Mom, do you think Denise is now a better match for Derek?”
“Isn’t that obvious?” Betty, despite having her intentions exposed, displayed no guilt. “Denise is smart, attractive, and holds a university degree. Doesn’t she deserve Derek more than you? Why are you so upset?”
Marissa was amused. In the past, her parents and Denise had looked down upon Derek, considering him a failure. They had even refused to let him into their house, despite Marissa’s intention to marry him. Denise once said Derek wasn’t even fit to be her servant. Now, however, their attitudes had drastically changed, as they eagerly sought Derek’s approval. Sometimes, Marissa struggled to accept that these relentless opportunists were her family
“Marissa, what’s with that expression?” Denise shoved Marissa away, clearly upset. “Derek will never marry you. Our family’s only chance at wealth is if I marry him!”
Korbin added, “Marissa, you’re going to need to depend on your sister moving forward. It’s time to accept that reality.”
Marissa felt helpless. “Alright, go ahead and charm the wealthy. I’ll just stay here and wait for you to bring home the fortune.”
The three of them looked at her with indifference and quickly left for Derek’s place. Marissa went home, had her dinner, and went to sleep
Left by herself, in the middle of the night, she woke up to the sound of yelling and swearing. It was her parents, coming back with Denise. They appeared crushed and miserable. As soon as they walked in, they all turned their anger toward Marissa
“You’re a disaster, Marissa! You’ve ruined everything for us!”
“If only I had known this would happen, I would have strangled you when you were little!”
“It’s shameful that we ever raised you!”
Marissa was stunned. She had already guessed that they would fail to impress Derek’s real parents. But why were they blaming her?
Gradually, Marissa understood the situation. The three had been thrown out by some bodyguards before they even had a chance to see Derek’s real parents. Then, Derek was taken away by his biological parents, and his adoptive parents got arrested for their involvement in child abduction and trafficking. One might have thought that was the end of it, but the Nash family was now caught in the midst of a storm. The Nash family became the focus of harsh online criticism, especially Denise
Marissa was baffled. While she understood the initial happenings, she couldn’t grasp why her family was now caught up in this aftermath, subjected to severe online backlash. Her parents and Denise kept blaming her without any logical reasons. Amid the overwhelming accusations, Marissa felt a headache, so she went out alone to find peace and clarity, settling in a quiet place to go through her phone. After she read through numerous news articles, the entire scenario finally became clear to her
The news of Derek’s family reunion was all over the internet. Keywords such as “wealthy heir,” “impoverished village,” “human trafficking,” and “biological parents finding their son” combined to make the story incredibly sensational. Major media outlets were broadcasting it far and wide, and it quickly climbed to the top of the trending topics list
So far, reports had only described Derek’s parents as wealthy and successful, without disclosing their identities or showing their faces. Instead, the focus was on showcasing Derek’s miserable past, which had drawn significant sympathy and tears from numerous people online. Speculation circulated about which wealthy family Derek’s parents were from and what his future would look like after the reunion. The media kept the public in suspense, generating considerable attention and discussion
Derek quickly became a sensation on the internet. Marissa could see that there was a deliberate effort shaping this narrative. A professional PR team was carefully orchestrating stories before, during, and after the reunion. If her guess was correct, Derek’s parents would soon go public and start appearing in various interviews, strategically increasing their fame. Next, they would likely start their careers as internet celebrities
It appeared that Derek’s parents understood how to harness online fame and were using the family reunion as a commercial opportunity. However, Marissa was not bothered by their business tactics. What truly upset her was that she, as Derek’s fiancee, was being exploited in their marketing ploy! To enhance Derek’s tragic image, the PR team fabricated numerous bizarre stories, including a painful love story. They portrayed her as someone who had pursued Derek for his intelligence and looks, leading to their engagement. Then, they claimed she grew disdainful of his poverty, was unfaithful during their engagement, and eventually left him. According to the story, she publicly humiliated and assaulted Derek, damaging his reputation and driving him to a suicide attempt, only to be rescued by a kind-hearted person. They also spread that Derek had been living under the shadow of her mistreatment, which supposedly caused him mild depression. This fabricated storyline sparked intense backlash online, with everyone condemning and berating her
“She’s just a gold digger with a messy personal life. How could such a shameless woman even exist?”
“I wonder if she’s locked herself in the bathroom crying now?”
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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