“Yes,” Glenn replied, his voice filled with excitement. “I do feel some pain, but it’s subtle.”
“Since this is your first acupuncture session, the effects might take a while to appear,” Marissa explained. “I merely wanted to demonstrate that there’s potential for recovery for your legs today, but patience and extended treatment are necessary.”
For over a decade, Glenn had been unable to feel his legs. Today, that changed, igniting a spark of hope. He looked at Marissa with eager eyes and asked, “Is there really a chance my legs could heal, Tiffany?”
“Absolutely,” Marissa assured him. As she packed up her needles, she continued, “Today is merely the start, meant to boost your confidence. Going forward, your treatment will include both acupuncture and medication. We’ll sort out the details once Dr. Riss is back. Staying patient and confident is essential.”
“I will!” Glenn declared, his smile brightening the room. It had been years since Glenn had shown such a smile. Today, his face was alight with joy and expectancy
The topic of Glenn’s legs had always been delicate for the Daniels family, often skirted around in conversations. However, today marked a shift, as a sense of relief and optimism pervaded the atmosphere
After she had tucked away her silver needles and applied the ointment she had made herself to Glenn’s legs, Marissa stood up
At that moment, Domenic reminded Connor again, “Mr. Daniels, it’s time for us to depart.” Marissa handed Glenn the half-empty bottle of ointment, advising, “This ointment is excellent for burns. Apply it twice daily, and you should see improvements soon.”
“Understood,” Glenn replied, gratitude warming his tone
Marissa moved to escort Arabella out. “Let’s go, Grandma.”
However, Arabella, who always cherished Marissa’s company, gently pulled her hand free. “I’ll walk with Glenn. You can accompany Connor.”
She then leaned closer, whispering mysteriously into Marissa’s ear, “You should spend more time with Connor and give me a great-grandchild soon. I won’t be the third wheel.” Despite her attempt at secrecy, Arabella’s voice carried, and everyone in the room overheard her, resulting in laughter from all corners. This was not the first time Arabella had broached such a topic, invariably making Marissa feel self-conscious
“Grandma,” Marissa murmured, her face coloring with embarrassment
“What are you waiting for? Escort Glenn and me to the car!” Arabella prompted the maids
At her words, Cade and the maids sprang into action, efficiently guiding Arabella and maneuvering Glenn’s wheelchair out of the room
Just as Marissa was about to express her objection, Connor embraced her
“What do you think you’re doing?” she protested, trying to push him away. “Remember, we’re only pretending to be a couple. You’ve mentioned you are wooing me, but I haven’t agreed. Please, don’t be so forward.”
Connor kept his gaze fixed on her, maintaining a respectful distance even as he held her. “Thank you, Marissa.”
“For what?” Confusion marked Marissa’s tone
“For giving Glenn hope. It’s been over a decade since I’ve seen him laugh. Today, he laughed genuinely, and it was all thanks to you.”
Marissa’s cheeks flushed deeper. “You’re being too formal. I accepted three hundred million dollars for his treatment. It’s my responsibility to do my best.”
With a chuckle, Connor kissed Marissa’s forehead gently. She pushed him away briskly and wiped her forehead. “If you dare to touch me again, I will…” Before she could finish her threat, Connor was already whisking her out of the building, disregarding her unfinished warning
Marissa simmered with irritation as they left. Once they were in the car, Marissa’s phone buzzed-a message from Derek had arrived
Derek’s message read, “Marissa, meet me in the bamboo grove in the back garden soon. I have something to tell you.” He added quickly, likely worried she might not appear, “If you don’t come, you’ll regret it forever!”
Organizing a private meeting with his ex-fiancee at his engagement party was certainly peculiar
Surprised by the request, Marissa replied, “Alright, I’ll let you know when I arrive.” After sending her response, she smirked to herself and resumed browsing on her phone. At the moment, the internet was full of announcements about Derek’s engagement
Previously, Neil’s family had cleverly turned their reunion into a sensational event, catapulting Derek to stardom with two hundred million followers. Leveraging this surge in popularity, Neil launched a luxury live streaming channel featuring Derek as the main attraction and initiated a product sales venture. Although many had used similar strategies to gain fleeting attention, their popularity often waned quickly after the initial excitement, with their marketing tactics criticized as manipulative. Derek’s situation was distinct, though. As the heir to a prominent family, he exuded a genuine aura of affluence and prestige, setting him apart from typical profit-driven individuals
During their first streams, the entire family made appearances, thanking their fans and fate for their reunion and highlighting their charitable efforts. This genuine display of gratitude and generosity endeared them to their audience. With the stage properly set, Derek began to promote products, insisting he was sourcing high-quality items at favorable prices to reciprocate his followers’ support
By using the Daniels family’s influence, Neil managed to negotiate rock-bottom prices with many suppliers. This strategy, combined with Derek’s carefully crafted image, earned him overwhelming support from fans and propelled him to smash daily sales records. As Derek became the internet’s top celebrity, his engagement became a major talking point, trending across social platforms for consecutive days. Melinda, now Derek’s fiancee, was thrust into the limelight, quickly gaining a following that lauded her grace and beauty
Formerly overshadowed as Chloe’s subordinate, Melinda emerged as a star in her own right. Her delight was palpable in every interaction with her new followers. Recently, she had shared photos of her engagement dress-a lavish gift from Derek-that sparked a frenzy among her followers. “Wow, this dress is incredibly luxurious and stunning. It takes my breath away every time I see it. This is ‘Purple Angel,’ designed by the internationally acclaimed designer Sara, valued at thirty million.”
“Thirty million for a dress? My imagination can’t even stretch that far!”
After browsing through the comments, Marissa opened the photo of the dress and smirked knowingly. They were wearing the same dress! The design and color of Melinda’s dress matched Marissa’s exactly. Sara’s creations were renowned for their uniqueness; each design was a singular piece worldwide. Any resemblance implied a counterfeit. Being Sara herself, Marissa knew her own dress was authentic, making it clear that Melinda’s was a fake
At that moment, the car pulled up to the venue. Before stepping out, Marissa draped a long shirt over her dress, thinking it best to be discreet at others’ engagement party. With a puzzled expression, she said casually, “It’s chilly.”
Connor looked even more confused. “It’s summer, isn’t it?”
But he decided not to dwell on it. As Marissa exited the car, she told him, “I need to handle something. Please, don’t follow me.” With that, she walked off. Connor, respecting her independence, watched her go
“I’m here.”
Marissa made her way directly to the bamboo grove in the back garden and messaged Derek. When she reached the grove, Derek was already there waiting. As soon as he saw her, he approached her
When Derek strode towards Marissa, she stopped in her tracks. Unexpectedly, Derek demanded, “Marissa, you must leave Connor immediately.”
“It’s none of your business,” she retorted, a smile playing on her lips
“It’s a kind reminder, Marissa,” Derek said, his voice hardening. “You’re just a village girl daring enough to impersonate Tiffany because you resemble her. These influential families are a complex web. If you don’t heed my advice, you’ll end up in misery.”
“If that’s all, I’ll be going.” Turning on her heel, Marissa started to walk away
“You…” Derek was furious. He reached out, gripping her arm and pulling her back. “Marissa, you’ve been my protector for a long time, so I owe you the honesty. Connor has a long list of enemies. Many of them want him dead. He’s crossed paths with an international criminal named Amiri recently. He’s going to meet his end on the Sunrise in a few days. You act as if you rule the world as the wife of the wealthiest man in the city, but in truth, Connor has dragged you into danger. You could be taken from this world without warning. Keep your distance from him, for your own safety. Do you understand?”
Marissa blinked slowly, her mind racing. “How do you know he will meet his end on the Sunrise?”
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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