“Everyone assumes I agreed to marry Tiffany because my grandmother pressured me. That’s only partly true. The other reason was Tiffany herself. She tried for a long time to win me over, but when she couldn’t, she knelt before me one day, poured out her heart, and pleaded for my help. She told me she could no longer bear living with the Nash family and that marrying me was her only chance at a fresh start. But she admitted she wasn’t worthy of me, didn’t genuinely love me, and merely sought to use my status to escape her predicaments. She proposed a deal: we would marry, and she would devote herself to caring for my grandmother. It would last one year. After that, we’d discreetly divorce and go our separate ways. At that time, my grandmother’s health was failing, and true enough, Tiffany’s presence might bring her joy and aid in her recovery. After considering everything, I accepted the arrangement.”
Marissa, puzzled by this revelation, asked, “If you had this agreement, why did she flee the wedding?”
“I’ve been wondering that myself, but honestly, I’m not interested enough to look into it. To me, Tiffany is irrelevant. I’m not going to trouble myself with her affairs. Had Tiffany not vanished on our wedding day, and had my grandmother not been critically ill, I would never have mistaken you for her and brought you back here.”
At that moment, Connor finally lifted his head to meet Marissa’s gaze. “I’m telling you this to make sure you understand that after she ran away from the wedding, the only thing connecting her to me is you, Marissa. She’s my wife’s sister. Do you get what I’m saying?”
Marissa grasped his meaning, yet she couldn’t linger on the thought. Her mind was preoccupied with worries about Tiffany. She had a strong desire to locate her and unravel the conspiracy threatening their family
After a brief pause, Connor added, “If you remain silent, I’ll take it you didn’t grasp my point. So, I’ll be straightforward. You can reject me for any reason you like, but let it not be because of Tiffany. She shouldn’t stand in our way.”
“I’m going to sleep now,” Marissa said, quickly slipping under the quilt and falling silent. Her emotions were in turmoil. She and Connor had been thrust into a bizarre marriage based on misunderstandings and had maintained it out of necessity. The expected course would have been to divorce, terminate their partnership, and sever all ties
Marissa couldn’t tell if he had truly fallen for her or if he just wanted to sleep with her. Yet, his confession had been so heartfelt. The thought of entangling their lives further frightened her, so she pushed it from her mind, closed her eyes, and drifted toward sleep. At that moment, drowsiness embraced her
From behind her, Connor’s voice softly broke the silence. “Good night.”
The following morning, as Marissa opened her eyes, she found Connor still perched on the sofa. However, his demeanor had shifted-gone was the sullen anger, replaced by a serene calmness. He looked surprisingly composed and in high spirits. He had already dressed for the day in a formal black suit and tie, which, paired with leather shoes, accentuated his handsome features. Reflecting on the events of the previous night made Marissa flush with embarrassment. She stole a quick glance at him and then averted her eyes
In contrast, Connor seemed utterly at ease. Flashing a smile, he said, “Time to get up. Grandma is waiting for you downstairs.”
The mention of Arabella spurred Marissa into the bathroom to freshen up. When she returned, her eyes caught several peculiar objects scattered around the room. Puzzled, she looked at Connor and asked, “What’s all this?”
There were various boxes of different sizes on the floor. Marissa found these boxes “peculiar” because she had designed them herself. Seeing her own creations in Connor’s space made them feel strange to her
Upon opening one of the boxes, Connor revealed a dress and said to her, “This is the dress I prepared for you. Do you like it?”
Marissa was taken aback. It was a lilac fishtail, off-shoulder dress that she had designed, valued at thirty million dollars. Even though it was her own design, Marissa had never worn such lavish attire. These were the kinds of clothes meant for wealthy women, whereas she favored simple, comfortable casual wear
Noticing Marissa’s astonished expression, Connor said with uncertainty, “I’m not sure what your tastes are, but Domenic mentioned that Sara, the lead designer for the Sarth Group, is a favorite among women all over the world, so I chose this one for you. Don’t… Don’t you like it? If this one isn’t to your liking, I’ve got a few others here, all crafted by Sara. Feel free to pick any that appeals to you. If none of these catches your eye, I’ll arrange for other options.”
With that, Connor proceeded to open more boxes, each revealing yet another stunning dress
Just then, Marissa received a text on her phone: “Boss, a mysterious buyer purchased all our top-priced dresses and several expensive shoes yesterday, spending over 300 million dollars! Oh my God! I can’t wait to see a princess wearing them.”
The word “princess” made Marissa’s lips twitch slightly. She imagined the reaction of the Sarth Group staff when they realized their boss was the one wearing the dresses. As Connor observed her reaction, his confidence waned further. “You… You don’t like any of these?”
Before she could respond, Connor’s face soured as he complained, “It’s all Domenic’s fault. He claimed Sara’s designs are leading the fashion trends, saying each piece is unique and cutting-edge. I took his word for it.”
Marissa quickly clarified to ease Connor’s misunderstanding, “No, I actually love these dresses. Domenic was right. Sara really is influential in the fashion world.”
Connor looked up at her and questioned, “Then why don’t you seem satisfied?”
“I’m just…” Marissa offered a helpless smile. “I think it’s a bit excessive for me to wear such opulent dresses. Today isn’t my engagement party. Wearing such expensive attire might seem like I’m trying to outshine everyone else.”
Connor’s face broke into a smile. “Didn’t you say you want to be the most stunning woman there?”
Marissa smiled. “I believe I can be the most stunning there, even without makeup and fancy clothes.”
“You’re right,” Connor agreed, smiling back. “But as my woman, you deserve the finest garments and jewels. As the leading lady of the Daniels family, it’s only fitting.”
Marissa felt her cheeks warm. She wasn’t actually his!
By then, Connor had already picked up the lilac dress again and was offering it to her. “Try this one. It should complement your complexion and personality perfectly.”
“Okay,” Marissa said, accepting the dress. She almost laughed. It was almost like striking a great deal. Connor had spent a fortune on the clothes she designed, only to present them to her as gifts. She had unintentionally made a windfall!
Yet, she couldn’t reveal to Connor that she was actually Sara, so she kept this secret to herself
She retreated to the dressing room and slipped into the dress. When she reemerged, Arabella and a few maids were present
“Oh, my granddaughter-in-law looks beautiful in that dress, like an angel coming down from heaven!” Arabella exclaimed joyfully. She then nudged Connor with her walking stick and urged, “What are you waiting for? Help my granddaughter-in-law with her shoes, quickly!”
Marissa was dumbfounded. Arabella was asking Connor to assist her with her shoes in front of everyone? This man was not likely to stoop to such tasks!
When Arabella nudged Connor with her walking stick, he was lost in a daze, his eyes steadfastly fixed on Marissa, utterly captivated. Marissa had claimed she could outshine anyone even without makeup and fancy clothes. Connor wholeheartedly agreed; her allure seemed to radiate effortlessly, setting her apart even in the humblest attire
Typically, Connor saw Marissa in laid-back outfits and trousers. Yet today, she was in an opulent gown valued at thirty million dollars, presenting an entirely new spectacle of elegance. The dress enveloped Marissa perfectly, enhancing her natural grace as if she were a living masterpiece. The sight of her stirred a protective instinct in Connor, a desire to sequester her beauty for himself alone
Brought back to the moment by Arabella’s prompt, Connor opened the shoe box. He extracted a pair of sparkling, white diamond-encrusted high heels, approached Marissa, and gently said, “Please, take a seat.”
He was poised to assist her with the shoes. Marissa, surprised by his intention, hesitated. “Are you really going to help me with my shoes?” she asked, her voice laced with shyness. Without another word, Connor gently pressed on her shoulder, guiding her to the sofa next to him. He then knelt on one knee, cradled her foot in his hand, and carefully put on the shoe
This gentle act was unexpected from Connor, known to many as the city’s formidable tycoon. As his hands touched her, a warm surge flowed through Marissa, igniting a heat that cascaded from her feet to her entire body. The vivid memories of Connor’s kiss and touch from the previous night washed over her, intensifying the heat. She was nearly overwhelmed by the sensation. Marissa’s cheeks flushed a deep red, mirroring the bloom of a flower, further intensifying the charged atmosphere around them
Arabella, observing quietly, allowed a knowing smile to play across her lips, delighted by the unfolding scene. However, the maids standing near Arabella were taken aback, their eyes widening in disbelief. When did Mr. Connor Daniels become so humble? Connor, known for his typically cold and aloof demeanor, rarely displayed such attentive gestures towards any woman, much less kneeling to help a woman with her shoes
It seemed the rumors were true-Connor had truly fallen for Marissa. Yet, Connor remained oblivious to others’ opinions, his attention fixed solely on Marissa. Her feet, delicate and perfectly proportioned, seemed to complement her figure beautifully. Her skin was as smooth as jade
After securing the shoes on her feet, Connor meant to ask about her comfort but paused, noticing her flushed face and the unusual warmth radiating from her skin. With a low, reassuring voice, he advised, “Relax, there’s no need to be nervous.”
“I’m not nervous!” Marissa responded quickly, a hint of defensiveness in her tone. Connor chuckled gently, then continued to assist her with the other shoe. Once done, he looked up at her and asked, “Are you comfortable?”
Marissa glanced at the logo on the shoes she had designed. This pair was worth a staggering six million dollars. Of course, she felt comfortable. Yet, her curiosity was piqued by how perfectly the clothes and shoes he had chosen for her fit. A twinge of unease stirred within her as she pondered what he might have done while she was asleep. Before she could hold it back, the question tumbled out
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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