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Chapter 187
When Marina made her way to the Sicester branch of the Zamora Group, Daron still had visitors in his office.
The receptionist had seen Marina and Daron together at the office several times before. When she saw Marina step out of the elevator, she walked over to greet her politely.
“Hello, Ms. Finley,” the receptionist said.
Marina returned the polite smile.
“Hello,” Marina replied.
She was going to be working at the Zamora Group for the next three months.
These people would all be her coworkers, so it made sense to be friendly and build some good relationships early on. That way, the next three months would go a lot smoother.
“Mr. Zamora still has guests in his office. I’ll let him know you’re here, so please wait here for a moment,” the receptionist said.
While speaking, she gestured for Marina to follow her to the lounge.
Marina nodded. “Sorry for the trouble.”
The receptionist returned to the front desk and called Daron’s office to let him know Marina had arrived.
Daron’s voice on the other end was icy and heavy, with no trace of warmth.
“Tell her to wait,” he said.
With that, he hung up, his voice thick with barely contained anger.
The receptionist could instantly sense Daron’s mood. After hanging up, she went to check on Marina in the lounge.
Mallory stood across from Daron’s desk, watching as his deep, dark eyes locked onto the photo of Marina in a wedding dress, her smile radiant as a flower. There was a storm brewing in his gaze, shadows flickering beneath the surface. Mallory felt a surge of satisfaction and couldn’t help but let a smug smile curl at her lips.
“Daron, did you know Marina’s been dating a guy in Sicester for seven years? They’re about to get married,” Mallory said, her tone sweet but laced with mischief.
Daron’s eyes turned icy and sharp as he finally looked away from the photo, meeting Mallory’s gaze. He didn’t respond, his silence heavy with suppressed anger.
Mallory was taken aback by the look in his eyes, a wave of unease rising inside her.
Even though she was the one standing and Daron was sitting, she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was towering over her, completely in control.
12:16 Mon, Jan 12
Chapter 187
“Daron,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
She couldn’t help but sound a little timid, even though she tried to keep her voice steady.
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“None of us ever knew Marina even had a boyfriend. She’s about to get married, but she’s still messing with you. She’s just using you, Daron. She’s lying to you,” Mallory said, her voice low and urgent.
Daron’s eyes narrowed, his gaze turning cold and scrutinizing.
“Where did you get these photos?” His voice was cold, laced with suspicion.
There was a chill glint in his eyes, as if something dark flickered beneath the surface.
A chill ran down Mallory’s spine. She felt like prey caught in the sights of a giant snake.
The snake before her was already on the attack, its tongue flicking out at her in warning.
Mallory had always gotten along well with Daron before. They met in most of those business banquets and family gatherings in Vrufield.
At those events, Daron was always the picture of sophistication and gentlemanliness, every move exuding an air of refined elegance and nobility.
But now, he seemed like a completely different person. Even just meeting his gaze made her feel an intense pressure.
“I just stumbled upon them,” Mallory replied, keeping her tone as neutral as possible.
Daron didn’t respond, just fixed his eyes on her, his expression giving nothing away.
Mallory couldn’t help but take a deep breath, nerves twisting inside her as she spoke in a hushed voice.
“Daron, that’s not the main thing. What matters is that Marina is deceiving you.”
“What is she supposedly lying to me about?” Daron asked, his voice flat and cold.
Mallory looked stunned for a moment, completely lost by his question.
She wondered to herself, then couldn’t help but ask quietly.
“Did you know Marina has a fiancé in Sicester?” Mallory asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Daron’s brows furrowed, impatience flashing in his eyes. “I know.”
His tone was sharp, laced with irritation, and his voice was clearly displeased.
Mallory’s face went stiff, completely thrown off by Daron’s answer.
‘He actually knew?‘ she thought, stunned.
‘So Marina wasn’t lying to him after all,‘ she realized, a wave of disbelief washing over her.
12:16 Mon, Jan 12
Chapter 187
So what was the point of dragging those wedding photos of Marina and Lavern all the way here today? Mallory thought, suddenly feeling like she’d made a fool of herself for nothing.
For a moment, Mallory had no idea how to handle the situation.
Then Mallory suddenly remembered all those cozy, almost too–close moments between Marina and Daron back in Vrufield. She sucked in a breath and suddenly got an idea,
“Daron, you knew she had a fiancé, and you’re still seeing her?” Mallory blurted out, her voice full of shock and accusation. “She’s making you the side guy!”
Daron’s gaze grew even colder as he looked at Mallory.
“Didn’t even get your facts straight before barging in here, acting all high and mighty? No wonder your family doesn’t take you seriously. Compared to Mila, you really don’t have the composure she does, Daron said, his voice laced with contempt.
Mallory felt his words cut deep, leaving her stunned and hurting inside.
She’d actually considered passing the photos to Joyce, letting her drop the bomb on Daron and stir up all the drama herself.
But she just couldn’t bring herself to give up this rare chance to spend time with Daron.
If these photos made Daron turn against Marina, then Mallory would have an opening to worm her way into his life. They’d be tied together by this whole mess, and getting close to him later would be a breeze.
But she never expected things to turn out like this.
Daron is actually willing to be Marina’s side guy?‘ Mallory thought, her mind spinning in disbelief.
What does Marina have that she can pull someone who’s always been above everyone else down from his pedestal?‘ Mallory fumed to herself.
Mallory clenched her teeth in frustration.
“Daron, Marina doesn’t really love you. What she’s after is your family name, your background, and your status,” Mallory said, her voice tight with accusation.
Daron stared at her, his face completely expressionless, his voice icy.
“I know my own worth better than you ever will,” he replied coldly.
Mallory realized she’d just stepped right on one of Daron’s landmines, and her nerves instantly went on high alert.
But she’d already laid all the evidence out in front of him, so she had no choice but to keep pressing her case.
After all, good advice is hard to hear, but Mallory was sure that if Daron ever saw through Marina and lost interest, he’d thank her for opening his eyes one day.
12:16 Mon, Jan 12
Chapter 187
- સચવું હશે કે પા
“Daron. Marina is just using you. She wants you to bail out the Finley Group, and once the company’s back on its feet, she’ll show her true colors,” Mallory pressed, her voice urgent and insistent.
Her face was tight with worry, acting like she was determined to rescue Daron from Marina’s lies before it was too late.
Daron smirked, his tone dripping with mockery. “Thanks for the warning, then.”
Mallory totally missed the sarcasm in his voice. Her nerves finally eased up, and she breathed a little easier.
“Daron, you don’t need to thank me. I don’t want to see you get played by her. She’s always pulled this trick. Even back in school, she’d use that sweet, harmless look to fool everyone. She-” Mallory pressed on, her voice urgent.
Mallory barely got halfway through her sentence before Daron interrupted her.
“She’s a handful, but as long as the Finley Group stays under Zamora Group’s thumb, she won’t need to play innocent for anyone else. Tricking me alone is more than enough,” Daron said, his voice thick with sarcasm.
Daron had given Mallory too much credit, thinking she’d pick up on his sarcasm. Instead, she bought it hook, line, and sinker, acting all grateful and polite.
“What?” Mallory gasped, thinking she must’ve heard him wrong.
‘Seriously, what does he mean by just tricking him is enough?‘ she thought, totally thrown off.
Wait, does he actually love her that much?‘ Mallory wondered, feeling a wave of disbelief.
Mallory stared at Daron, completely stunned. When the truth finally sank in, the realization hit her like a ton of bricks.
Daron, a guy like him, actually pulling strings at the Finley Group just to keep a woman who’s about to marry someone else by his side?‘ Mallory thought, her mind spinning in disbelief.
Has he completely lost it?‘ Mallory wondered, a cold shiver running down her spine.
He could have any woman he wants. Of all the women out there, why is he so obsessed with Marina?‘ Mallory fumed, jealousy gnawing at her.
Why Marina, of all people?‘ Mallory seethed, unable to wrap her head around it.
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.
