Chapter 200
36 vouchers
Marina stayed silent for a while. Daron glanced down to find her quietly nestled in his arms, her
gaze downcast.
His eyes darkened, but he let it go. He carried her over to the car, opened the passenger door, and set her down in the seat.
Once Marina was seated, she leaned back into the seat, trying to put some space between herself and Daron.
His body heat was so intense, she felt like she might burn.
But Daron leaned in closer.
Marina’s heart raced.
“What… What are you doing?” she blurted out, her voice trembling.
Daron caught the nervous glimmer in her eyes and curved his lips into a teasing smile, leaning in even closer.
“I went through all that trouble to get you in the car. Wouldn’t it be fair if I wanted a little something in return?” Daron’s voice was low and playful.
Marina took a deep breath, her hand flying to Daron’s chest, desperate to keep some distance between them.
Her voice was soft but firm as she said, “You’re about to head back to Vrufield for an arranged marriage. If you’re doing something like this, it won’t look good for you.”
Daron paused, his hand hovering over the seatbelt. He looked down, his eyes intense as he stared at her.
“Who told you I’m going back to Vrufield for an arranged marriage?” he asked.
Marina clenched her jaw and turned her head away, refusing to answer.
Daron reached out, firmly pinching her chin and making her meet his gaze.
“Where did you hear these rumors?” he pressed, his tone firm but not unkind.
Under his intense stare, Marina retorted stubbornly, “Does it matter? I just know.”
Daron’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Did Winnie tell you that?”
Marina stayed silent.
Daron scoffed, letting go of her chin, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he said, “So you just believe whatever people say? Passing judgment on me before you even hear my side?
“Marina, was it the same back then when you insisted on breaking off our engagement?”
Marina froze, her gaze vacant as she stared at Daron’s face, so close she could feel his breath.
Daron leaned in, bracing his hand on the back of her seat, casting his shadow over her and making her feel completely trapped.
*Come on, tell me. Why did you insist on breaking off our engagement? Was it because of some nasty gossip you heard about me?” he demanded, his voice low and intense.
1/4
Chapter 200
Marina looked away, a heavy ache settling deep in her heart.
“No,” she said quietly.
25 voucher
What she’d heard wasn’t just rumors. She’d witnessed it herself and heard Daron say those words with his own mouth. Daron’s lips curled into a silent, mocking smile. He reached over and buckled her seatbelt, then closed the passenger door.
I’m going to have a smoke,” he said coolly. Then he walked off.
Marina glanced up at him, nibbling at her lip, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Could you hurry? I’m really hungry,” she murmured, almost pleading.
Daron’s hand froze over the cigarette pack, and he turned to glance at Marina.
Marina sat in the car with her head down, looking all gentle, her voice soft and barely audible.
“I haven’t eaten since noon,” she added.
She was making herself seem small and pitiful on purpose.
Elnora had told her before. Daron loved playing the hero, and he had a soft spot for women who acted cute around him.
Marina had been hesitating about it for ages.
She couldn’t just throw herself at Daron and act all sweet without a care, but she could at least play the weak card.
Truth was, she’d always been at a disadvantage around Daron.
They still had to work together, and the last thing Marina wanted was for things to get all awkward between them.
Whatever happened before, she just wanted to leave it behind. She didn’t want to keep drowning in old hurt, and she hoped Daron wouldn’t keep dragging up the past either.
Daron shoved the cigarette back into the pack, fixing her with an intense look.
“Not eating for so long? You’re amazing,” he shot back, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Marina shook her head, lifting her gaze to meet Daron’s, her eyes shining with determination.
“I just want to get the evidence, fast,” she said, her voice steady.
Daron gave her a cold, narrow–eyed look and asked, “Weren’t you the one who wanted to go easy on him? So why are you still chasing after evidence?”
Marina met his gaze without flinching. “I’m finding evidence to make Lavern pay for what he did. And to show you I’m telling the truth, so you’ll believe me,” she replied.
Daron’s eyes stayed icy, a faint, almost mocking smirk playing at his lips.
“My trust doesn’t seem to matter much to you,” he said, his voice low with a hint of irony.
“It does,” Marina replied, her voice soft but unwavering.
“We’re going to be working together, so your trust is absolutely crucial to me,” she added.
2/4
Chapter 200
At her words, a faint smile tugged at Daron’s lips.
“Didn’t Elnora ever teach you how to please me over or make me smile?” Daron joked, his tone half–mocking.
He was pleased just now, but then she changed the topic and started talking business again.
Marina shook her head and replied, “Never did.”
Daron walked back to the car and tossed the cigarette pack inside.
“So what did she teach you?” he asked, his tone teasing.
Marina shook her head again. “Didn’t teach me a thing.”
She couldn’t exactly tell Daron that Elnora had told her to play the cute card with him.
Except for Elnora, it had been ages since Marina had acted all soft and sweet with anyone.
Even after years of dating Lavern, she’d never once acted cute or tried to win him over with charm.
Daron narrowed his eyes and asked, “You sure about that?”
Marina nodded. “Yes.”
Daron leaned in, not holding back as he busted her right away.
“You’re lying,” he said.
Marina pressed her lips together, refusing to back down.
“No,” she said quietly.
35 vouchers
“Daron, please, I’m really hungry. Can we go get something to eat?” she added, trying her best to sound sweet and hoping he’d let it go.
Daron stared at her sheepish smile, his eyes narrowing, a storm of complicated emotions swirling in his gaze.
Finally, he opened the driver’s door, got in, and drove off.
Marina let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She’d defused another tense moment between herself and Daron.
As the car pulled out, Marina was both hungry and exhausted, not really in the mood to talk.
Even though the tension had eased, she knew the more she said, the more likely she was to mess things up. Better to just keep quiet and avoid any more conflict.
She leaned her head back against the seat, her gaze drifting out the window.
The car moved slowly, passing under the dim streetlights before finally reaching the brightly lit streets of the city.
“Do you know what kind of person I would definitely trust?” Daron’s deep voice suddenly cut through the quiet in the car.
Marina turned away from the window, her eyes glimmering with curiosity.
3/4
7:09 pm p p p M
Chapter 200
“What kind of person?” she asked softly.
35 Vouchers
She was genuinely curious. Just what kind of person could ever get Daron to trust them completely?
Anyone Daron trusts definitely wouldn’t have to stress about business deals or watch their family go down the drain. If I can just earn Daron’s trust, all he’d have to do is throw the Finleys a project, and we’d bounce right back, she thought
Daron looked into her bright eyes and replied, “My wife.”
His voice wasn’t its usual deep. It was magnetic, with a hint of something soft and lingering.
Marina felt as if something brushed lightly over her heart, leaving her breathless and making her lashes tremble.
But she quickly calmed herself down.
‘Such a shame.
‘Guess I never become his wife in my lifetime,‘ she told herself, a bittersweet ache settling in her chest.
AD
Comment
Send gift
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
