“How did you know my size?”
Regret washed over her immediately, especially with so many onlookers present. She braced for Connor’s response, hoping he wouldn’t disclose that he had measured her as she slept. As she tried to steer the conversation away, Connor’s unexpected answer took Marissa completely by surprise
Every eye in the room was fixed on Connor, filled with curiosity about how he knew his wife’s exact size. Under normal circumstances, a husband knowing his wife’s size would hardly raise eyebrows, but Connor was a notable exception. Previously, he had harbored a strong dislike for his wife, seldom even giving her a second look. How, then, could he possibly be aware of such details? Lately, however, there seemed to be a stark transformation in his feelings toward his wife. This left everyone pondering when he had fallen for her and what remarkable qualities she possessed to capture his affections
Ignoring the puzzled stares and Marissa’s evident discomfort, Connor said in a slow, deliberate tone, “I measured you with my hands when I held you.” His declaration seemed to elevate the room’s temperature. The maids turned away, their faces flushed with embarrassment. Arabella’s mouth fell open in astonishment, and she quickly covered it with her hand to stifle her shock
Marissa silently prayed for the ground to swallow her up. Connor’s words had set imaginations racing, with everyone speculating about the nature of his holding. As teasing looks came her way, Marissa felt like a cornered cat. Yet, Connor had more to say. After slipping the other shoe onto her foot, he looked up and inquired, “Is the measurement by my hands correct?”
Marissa’s eyes widened in dismay. She desperately wished he would stop talking. Her embarrassment was palpable. Without thinking, she looked around at the others gathered in the room. Catching Arabella’s deep, inscrutable look, she felt compelled to clarify. “Grandma, it’s not what you’re thinking. We actually…”
Her voice trailed off before she could finish. She had wanted to declare that there was no romantic involvement between her and Connor. But voicing such a statement was impossible, as they had always portrayed a facade of a loving couple before Arabella. Revealing their actual relationship would be catastrophic
When Arabella noticed Marissa’s abrupt pause, her face lit up with a knowing smile. “Sweetie, why are you feeling shy? I was young once, too. I understand. It’s natural for young couples to be intimate. How else would you have children? All children come into this world because their parents have been intimate. What’s there to hide? The more intimate you are, the more it warms my heart. Connor was once a dull boy, hardly interesting. Now, he doesn’t shy from sharing his feelings. You’ve truly brought out the best in him. Hahaha…” She ended with a gentle laugh, then added thoughtfully, “Truly, marriage brings maturity to a man.”
Marissa’s cheeks flushed a deeper red. Unable to explain, she was forced to suppress her frustration. Fuming, she shot Connor a glare, furious with him for his reckless words and for misleading everyone. However, as she glared at him, she caught him smirking slyly. It dawned on her that he had done it on purpose
With her anger fueling a crafty idea, Marissa decided to turn the tables. Shedding her embarrassed demeanor, she smiled sweetly and said, “Honey, my legs are numb. Can you help me stand up?”
Her voice dripped with exaggerated sweetness. Connor froze for a moment, his eyes shifting to her. Her smile was disarmingly charming, overly so. Her feigned affection and apparent tenderness sent a shiver through him. Connor quickly realized she was plotting her revenge. In a room full of onlookers, he had no escape. He silently cursed himself for provoking her publicly. Resigned to his fate yet seeing an opportunity for playful payback, he returned her smile warmly. “Sure.”
In the next instant, he reached out, wrapped his arms around her waist, and lifted her effortlessly
Marissa hadn’t expected Connor to dare pinch her waist, yet he not only did so but also sneakily squeezed the soft flesh. He was clearly taking advantage of her. First, Connor teased her with his words, and now he was being physically intrusive. Did he think she was a pushover? But in front of Arabella, she couldn’t push his hands away. She had to maintain a sweet smile while Connor held her close
After pulling her into his arms, Connor looked down at her, smiling gently. The scene appeared so sweet that everyone in the room felt happy for them, witnessing their open display of affection. Yet, beneath the sweet exterior, tension simmered
With a smile plastered on her face, Marissa gritted her teeth. While she was in Connor’s embrace, her high-heeled shoe found its way to his foot, pressing down hard. Given her training as the chief instructor at Doomsday Base, her strength was formidable. For an ordinary person, such a step could break bones. Even Connor, the battle-hardened Lone Wolf, winced in pain. He realized just why Black Snake was known as the strongest female mercenary; her revenge was fierce yet masked by a gentle smile. His foot would likely ache for days
He expected Marissa to stop after one step, but she showed no signs of letting up. Since he was trapped by the presence of Arabella and unable to show his pain, his response was to laugh harder, despite the pain he felt. Thus, the situation turned somewhat comical. In Marissa’s revenge, Connor’s smile grew wider. Only Marissa understood the deeper meaning behind it
Lifting her head, Marissa looked at Connor with a smile. With each deepening of his smile, she stepped harder and her smile grew brighter. The sight of the couple exchanging sweet smiles for an extended period filled the room with romance. The maids blushed as they watched, and even Arabella’s aged heart was touched. Connor and Marissa’s sweetness and affection were undeniable. Yet, if Connor and Marissa spoke, the sweetness and love in their eyes would shatter
Their conversation would go like this:
“Miss Nash, is that the extent of your revenge?” Connor asked
“Oh? It seems your foot doesn’t hurt enough. I’ll apply more pressure then!” Marissa replied
“Is that all the strength you have? I’ve felt more pain from mosquito bites!” he teased
“Really? Mr. Daniels, don’t worry. I haven’t used up all my strength yet!” she countered
Their eyes locked as they continued their playful battle. As Marissa stepped increasingly harder, Connor kept smiling. Despite the trembling pain in his heart, he would not reveal his discomfort to her
About a minute later, Connor leaned in and whispered in Marissa’s ear, “Mrs. Daniels, it’s tough pretending to be a loving couple with me today, isn’t it? But aren’t you tired from stepping on me for so long?”
His breath tickled her ear, prompting her to shift away slightly. Then, with a smile, she whispered back, “I’m not tired at all.”
As soon as she finished, she increased the pressure. Connor gasped from the pain and clenched his teeth to bear it. Yet, his smile widened even more. He leaned closer to whisper in Marissa’s ear, “Mrs. Daniels, the atmosphere is so lovely. I can’t let you be the only tired one. As a man, I should be doing more.”
His tone turned suggestive as he came close to kissing her ear. “If you don’t stop, I’ll have to kiss you, and it will be even more intense than last night.”
Connor expected Marissa to retreat after his playful threat. She was usually shy, and a kiss in front of an audience would surely embarrass her. But contrary to his expectations, she suddenly reached out her hands
“Honey, your tie is crooked. Let me help you straighten it.”
As Marissa spoke, she discreetly pinched the tender flesh on Connor’s chest. They were positioned in such a way that onlookers saw only her adjusting his tie. Connor gasped, unable to maintain his facade of comfort
His foot, protected by a leather shoe, managed the pain well. However, the sharp pain from his chest was overwhelming, radiating up to his teeth. He offered a weak smile and whispered, pleading for mercy, “Mrs. Daniels, I’m sorry.” It was indeed difficult to make Black Snake yield. If she remained steadfast, he would have to concede, considering he was towering over her
Marissa did not release her pinch immediately. Instead, she whispered back with a stern smile, “Release me first!” She shot him a sharp look before easing her pinch. Attempting to step back, she found her leg numb and stumbled backwards. In an instant, Connor’s hands steadied her by the waist, lifting and placing her gently on the sofa before she could react. His lips inadvertently grazed her cheek as he set her down-a fleeting, tingling sensation
Though it appeared accidental to everyone else, Marissa knew better. Feeling violated yet again, she longed to confront him, but the setting demanded decorum. She could do nothing but swallow her fury. She pouted and shot him a resentful glare
Connor, oblivious to her ire, suggested kindly, “Mrs. Daniels, your leg is numb. You should rest.”
“Then take a seat and relax,” Arabella added cheerfully. “Connor, would you fetch the necklace I intend to give to my granddaughter-in-law and help her wear it?”
“Certainly, Grandma,” Connor agreed. He opened an ornate jewelry box, and as it clicked open, light seemed to dance across the room. Inside was a magnificent necklace, featuring 999 brilliant diamonds, each reflecting its own story of luxury and craftsmanship-an undeniable masterpiece
The maids couldn’t contain their excitement
“Oh my goodness, it’s breathtaking. The brilliance almost blinds me!”
“This necklace is part of Mrs. Arabella Daniels’ dowry, valued at one hundred and seventy million dollars!”
“One hundred and seventy million dollars? Oh my goodness! Seeing such exquisite jewelry is a dream come true. I could die happy now.”
Marissa was also taken aback, but not by the jewelry’s opulence. As Sara, a celebrated designer who had created for the ultra-wealthy internationally, she was no stranger to extravagant materials. Her astonishment stemmed from Arabella’s decision to offer her this diamond necklace, appraised at one hundred and seventy million dollars. Accepting it was out of the question
Arabella had a soft spot for Tiffany, and while Marissa could mimic Tiffany to gain some affection and support, accepting such a lavish gift would cross a line. Her marriage to Connor was bound to dissolve. How could she ever return such a gift in the future?
She demurred, “Grandma, I cannot accept such valuable jewelry. It’s best if you keep it.” Yet Arabella persisted
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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