Chapter 213
When Marina reached the first floor, a sharp metallic scent of blod hit her.
The Ross family had already been taken away.
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The cleaning staff were busy scrubbing the lobby and doing their best. But no matter how hard they worked, the smell of blood still hung heavy in the air.
It was like the air itself was taunting Marina, reminding her of the kind of loser she used to date and the messed–up family he came from.
Marina’s eyes darkened as she walked out of the building.
Eddy was waiting at the entrance of Ross Group to pick her up after work.
He looked a bit anxious, but when he spotted Marina coming out, his tense expression instantly relaxed. He hurried to open the car door for her.
Marina walked over and slipped into the car.
Eddy closed the door, got behind the wheel, and drove away from Ross Group.
He didn’t bring up what he’d seen outside Ross Group earlier. Instead, he glanced at the rearview mirror, noticing Marina sitting quietly in the back seat. After a moment’s hesitation, he asked in a gentle voice, “Ms. Finley, are you unhappy today?”
Marina pulled herself out of her thoughts, gave Eddy a calm, faint smile, and said, “No, not really.
“Eddy, could you drive me over to Royal View? My car’s parked there. I want to bring it back myself.”
Eddy nodded right away. “Sure thing.”
Marina pressed her lips together, forcing a faint smile. Then she turned her gaze
to the window, her gaze vacant.
Eddy glanced away from the rearview mirror and, as if just making casual conversation, said, “I wonder when Mr. Zamora will be back. I’ve got some family matters to handle back home, so I was thinking of taking a few days off.”
Marina replied softly, “I’m not really sure.”
When she woke up this morning, Daron was already gone.
He’d left her a message, and she’d replied right after waking up, even filled him in on work stuff. But Daron still hadn’t replied to her.
She couldn’t tell if he was just crazy busy or if he just didn’t want to talk to her.
Hearing this, Eddy asked in a cautious tone, “If you happen to talk to Mr. Zamora, could you ask him for me?”
Marina nodded almost automatically. But as she came back to herself and was about to suggest Eddy just contact Daron directly, Eddy was already grinning and thanking her before she could say anything.
“Thank you, Ms. Finley,” he said.
Marina could only manage a faint smile and replied softly, “You’re welcome.”
Honestly, she was dying to know when she’d finally get to head back to Vrufield herself.
She’d already wrapped up everything on her end. Now all she could do was wait for Daron to give the word.
18:46 Fri, Jan 30 GG
Chapter 213
Back home, Marina punched in the code and stepped inside.
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She couldn’t help but glance at the entryway. Usually, whenever Daron got home first, he’d always grab her slippers from the shoe cabinet for her.
But today, with Daron gone, the spacious apartment felt extra quiet.
Marina took out her slippers from the shoe cabinet.
Daron’s slippers sat beside hers.
After slipping on her own, she reached out and placed Daron’s slippers on the rug, the way he used to do for her.
But the next second, she picked them up again and put them back in the cabinet.
Daron hadn’t told anyone when he’d be back.
For all she knew, she might wake up tomorrow and still not see him around.
Marina walked into the living room and sat on the couch.
Ever since Alyssa passed away, she’d gotten used to being alone. But tonight, for some reason, the silence in the apartment felt oddly unsettling.
These past few days living with Daron, having him around every day, made the quiet nights feel a lot less lonely.
Marina checked her phone. There was still no reply from Daron
She rubbed her temples, thinking, ‘It’s crazy how quickly I get used to someone.‘
She’d only spent a few days with Daron, and she’d already gotten used to him being there.
He’d only gone back to Vrufield for a while, but she already couldn’t take it anymore.
Marina bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then finally opened Daron’s contact and dialed his number.
The call rang a few times as she waited in silence. Eventually, no one answered it.
Disappointment flickered in her eyes, but she set her phone down and went to the kitchen to make herself some noodles.
As she cooked her noodles, she couldn’t help glancing over at her phone on the table every few seconds.
The moment the water started boiling, and she tossed the noodles in, her phone screen suddenly lit up.
Marina quickly walked out of the kitchen and snatched up her phone.
But it wasn’t Daron. It was from Elnora.
She answered right away, her cheerful tone covering up that flash of sadness inside.
“Hi, Elnora,” she said.
Elnora’s voice, usually so cool, always turned gentle when she talked to Marina.
“I saw Daron’s back in Vrufield. Didn’t you come with him?” Elnora asked.
She’d just seen Daron at the Milner Family’s party. Normally, whenever he went back to Vrufield, he’d always bring Marina along.
18:46 Fri, Jan 30 ca
Chapter 218
Back home, Marina punched in the code and stepped inside..
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She couldn’t help but glance at the entryway. Usually, whenever paron got home first, he’d always grab her slippers from the show cabinet for her.
But today, with Daron gone, the spacious apartment felt extra quiet.
Marina took out her slippers from the shoe cabinet.
Daron’s slippers sat beside hers.
After slipping on her own, she reached out and placed Daron’s slippers on the rug, the way he used to do for her.
But the next second, she picked them up again and put them back in the cabinet.
Daron hadn’t told anyone when he’d be back.
For all she knew, she might wake up tomorrow and still not see him around.
Marina walked into the living room and sat on the couch.
Ever since Alyssa passed away, she’d gotten used to being alone. But tonight, for some reason, the silence in the apartment felt oddly unsettling.
These past few days living with Daron, having him around every day, made the quiet nights feel a lot less lonely.
Marina checked her phone. There was still no reply from Daron
She rubbed her temples, thinking, ‘It’s crazy how quickly I get used to someone!
She’d only spent a few days with Daron, and she’d already gotten used to him being there.
He’d only gone back to Vrufield for a while, but she already couldn’t take it anymore
Marina bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then finally opened Daron’s contact and dialed his number.
The call rang a few times as she waited in silence. Eventually, no one answered it.
Disappointment flickered in her eyes, but she set her phone down and went to the kitchen to make herself some noodles.
As she cooked her noodles, she couldn’t help glancing over at her phone on the table every few seconds.
The moment the water started boiling, and she tossed the noodles in, her phone screen suddenly lit up.
Marina quickly walked out of the kitchen and snatched up her phone.
But it wasn’t Daron. It was from Elnora.
She answered right away, her cheerful tone covering up that flash of sadness inside.
“Hi, Elnora,” she said.
Elnora’s voice, usually so cool, always turned gentle when she talked to Marina.
“I saw Daron’s back in Vrufield. Didn’t you come with him?” Elnora asked.
She’d just seen Daron at the Milner Family’s party. Normally, whenever he went back to Vrufield, he’d always bring Marina along.
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Chapter 213
Elnora just naturally assumed Marina was back in Vrufield, too, probably at home right now.
Marina bit her lip and asked, “Where did you see him?”
Elnora said, “At the Milner family’s party. You didn’t know he came back to Vrufield?”
Marina felt her heart ache at Elnora’s words.
She quietly took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She didn’t want Elnora to worry, and she definitely didn’t want Elnora to catch even a hint of how upset she was.
She replied, “I didn’t come back.
“I’ve just got a little work left at Ross Group. I’ve already finished everything Daron asked me to do, so I’ll be heading back to Vrufield to be with you really soon.”
Elnora replied, “I’ll be waiting for you.” Her voice was so soft, nothing like the tough businesswoman everyone else saw.
Marina’s voice softened too. “Okay.”
Then, remembering Elnora had seen Daron at the Milner family’s party, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why would the Milner family invite you to Joyce’s birthday party?”
The Milner family was notorious for being snobbish, always acting like they were above everyone else.
With the Finley family’s current situation, there’s no way the Milner family would invite them.
Lately, rumors about her and Daron had been everywhere. There was no way the Milner family hadn’t heard about it.
Joyce never bothered to hide how much she hated Marina, and with all the talk about the Milner family and the Zamora family getting engaged, it just made things worse.
She figured they probably invited Elnora just to give the Finley family a warning.
Elnora wasn’t in the best health, but she still had to go to a party like this, one that felt more like a trap than a celebration. Marina’s heart ached for Elnora, and her longing to return to Vrufield burned stronger than ever.
AD
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.
