Marina’s lips curled into a faint smile as she glanced at the time and spoke softly.
“We’ll come back down in two hours,” she said.
Kara hooked her arm through Marina’s and grinned.
“You’re still too merciful. If it were me, I’d let her stay in there all night,” Kara said.
Marina gave a small smile. “I’m not that merciful.”
Kara clicked her tongue, catching on to what Marina meant.
The two exchanged a knowing smile, their understanding perfectly in sync.
537
Two hours later, Kara and Marina came downstairs right on time.
Marina took away the speaker at the door first, while Kara pushed the door open.
Inside the bathroom, Kassidy Becker
was so terrified her legs went weak.
When the door finally swung open, she shot a panicked look toward the entrance. But when she saw it was actually someone real, she let out a heavy sigh of relief and had to brace herself against the wall just to stand up.
“Th…” Kassidy started to say, her voice shaky.
She was about to ask Kara for a hand, but before she could get the words out, she spotted Marina standing right there in the doorway.
‘So it was all because of Marina, Kassidy realized, a flash of anxiety in her eyes quickly replaced by anger as she glared at her.
“Marina! So it was you,” Kassidy exclaimed angrily.
Marina nodded slightly and offered Kassidy a small, polite smile, her voice gentle.
“Good evening,” Marina said.
Kassidy gritted her teeth hard, shooting Marina a furious glare.
“I’m going straight to Mr. Zamora about this!” Kassidy snapped.
Marina raised an eyebrow. “Sure, be my guest. Mr. Zamora can check it out himself. He’s got access to every bit of security footage in the Zamora Group building.”
Kassidy’s face went pale, but she kept her chin up, refusing to admit defeat.
“We’ve got no bad blood between us. Why did you do this to me?” Kassidy demanded.
Marina just smiled at Kassidy, saying nothing.
That smile made Kassidy’s skin crawl. All she wanted now was to get out of there.
Kara’s lips curled into a faint smirk as she spoke softly.
“Your partner wasn’t nearly as tough as you. She ratted you out the second she got the chance and didn’t even have to suffer
18:43 Sat, Jan 31 * M
Chapter 226
a bit,” Kara said.
Kassidy avoided eye contact with Marina and Kara, choosing instead to change the subject.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Kassidy said.
Marina just smiled and moved aside, letting Kassidy leave.
Kassidy bit down hard on her lip, glaring at Marina. “I’m calling the cops.”
Marina made a “be my guest” gesture, not the least bit threatened.
“Sure, go ahead and do it,” Marina said.
Kara backed Marina up with a chilly laugh. “We pulled you out of that bathroom, and instead of thanking us, you want to call the cops?
“By the way, did you even pay for your meal? Or are you planning to dine and dash?”
Kassidy’s expression froze.
Kara quickly grabbed the warning sign from nearby.
“Can you even read this? You walked in here on your own, so who are you gonna blame for that?” Kara said.
Kassidy’s expression darkened; she hadn’t seen that sign at all when she came in.
Kassidy bit her lip so hard it nearly bled, and it finally hit her. Marina and Kara had been plotting against her all along.
Even if she called the police, it’d be pointless.
Kassidy took a deep breath, her hands clenched tightly at her sides as she looked at Marina.
“Just what are you after?” Kassidy shot back.
Marina stepped right up to her, getting in Kassidy’s face.
Kassidy flinched and backed away.
Marina watched Kassidy’s nervous face, her voice cool and steady.
“Nothing personal. I just wanted to teach you a lesson,” Marina said.
“Today was only two hours. But if I’m ever in a bad mood, I might just lock you in there all night, just you, all by yourself.
Kassidy’s face fell, and she shot Marina a nervous look.
“Why? It wasn’t just my idea to lock you in the bathroom,” Kassidy insisted.
Marina smirked. “Because you were the one who actually did it. Lillian says she had nothing to do with it. She’s got a rock- solid alibi. According to her, it was all you, and she just watched from the sidelines.”
“She even said that she couldn’t care less, even if this whole thing blows up in front of Mr. Zamora himself,” Marina added.
Kassidy had worried Marina was just bluffing, but when Marina dropped Lillian’s name without missing a beat, that was all the proof she needed. Lillian had stabbed her in the back.
Her hands clenched tightly at her sides, her expression twisting with frustration.
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Chapter 226
“She started it! Seriously, it was all her idea I just… Kassidy blurted out.
Marina cut her off with a smile.
“Doesn’t matter whose idea it was. I’m only coming after you, so don’t bother throwing each other under the bus in front of me.” Marina said.
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Marina added.
Marina stepped aside, clearing the way for Kassidy to leave.
Kassidy’s chest heaved with rage as she practically marched out, not even bothering to look back. She couldn’t wait to get as far away from this place as possible.
Just as Kassidy was about to make her escape, a restaurant staffer stepped in and blocked her path.
“Excuse me, miss, you haven’t settled your bill yet,” the staff member said.
Kassidy shot back, her teeth clenched in frustration. “I didn’t even touch the food! Why should I have to pay?”
Kara snorted at Kassidy’s protest, unable to hold back a laugh.
“If you really want to skip out on the bill, suit yourself. I’ll just take the footage of you ordering food here and bring it straight to Daron at your company. I’m sure Daron won’t let me eat the loss for you,” Kara said.
Kassidy’s face went pale in an instant.
If this got back to Daron, she’d be out of a job for sure.
Gritting her teeth, Kassidy paid up, feeling like she’d just been robbed. She hadn’t even touched a single bite.
“I’ll take it to go,” Kassidy said, her voice tight with frustration.
The staff member remained perfectly polite and courteous.
“Of course, miss. Please wait a moment, and we’ll get that packed up for you right away,” the staff member said.
Kassidy’s face was dark, but she didn’t dare say a word. She just waited at the door, her expression set in a grim scowl.
Once she left, her phone finally got a signal.
She called Lillian right away, but Lillian didn’t pick up at all.
Kassidy was sure Lillian was dodging her out of guilt.
Marina watched as Kassidy stomped off in a huff, then gave a lazy stretch and flashed Kara a grin.
“I’m heading home. Gotta get to the office early tomorrow to catch the show,” Marina said.
Kara pouted in disappointment.
“I’m so jealous. You get to catch all the drama live!” Kara said.
Marina grinned.
Kara linked arms with Marina again and leaned in to whisper.
“So, how far have you gotten with Daron?” Kara teased.
18:43 Sat, Jan
Chapter 226
“She started it! Seriously, it was all her idea. I just… Kassidy blurted out.
Marina cut her off with a smile.
“Doesn’t matter whose idea it was. I’m only coming after you, so don’t bother throwing each other under the bus in front of me,” Marina said.
“Don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Marina added.
Marina stepped aside, clearing the way for Kassidy to leave.
Kassidy’s chest heaved with rage as she practically marched out, not even bothering to look back. She couldn’t wait to get as far away from this place as possible.
Just as Kassidy was about to make her escape, a restaurant staffer stepped in and blocked her path.
“Excuse me, miss, you haven’t settled your bill yet,” the staff member said.
Kassidy shot back, her teeth clenched in frustration. “I didn’t even touch the food! Why should I have to pay?”
Kara snorted at Kassidy’s protest, unable to hold back a laugh.
“If you really want to skip out on the bill, suit yourself. I’ll just take the footage of you ordering food here and bring it straight to Daron at your company. I’m sure Daron won’t let me eat the loss for you,” Kara said.
Kassidy’s face went pale in an instant.
If this got back to Daron, she’d be out of a job for sure.
Gritting her teeth, Kassidy paid up, feeling like she’d just been robbed. She hadn’t even touched a single bite.
“I’ll take it to go,” Kassidy said, her voice tight with frustration.
The staff member remained perfectly polite and courteous.
“Of course, miss. Please wait a moment, and we’ll get that packed up for you right away,” the staff member said.
Kassidy’s face was dark, but she didn’t dare say a word. Sh
Once she left, her phone finally got a signal.
just waited at the door, her expression set in a grim scowl.
She called Lillian right away, but Lillian didn’t pick up at all.
Kassidy was sure Lillian was dodging her out of guilt.
Marina watched as Kassidy stomped off in a huff, then gave a lazy stretch and flashed Kara a grin.
“I’m heading home. Gotta get to the office early tomorrow to catch the show,” Marina said.
Kara pouted in disappointment.
“I’m so jealous. You get to catch all the drama live!” Kara said.
Marina grinned.
Kara linked arms with Marina again and leaned in to whisper.
“So, how far have you gotten with Daron?” Kara teased.
18:43 Sat, Jan 31 ?
Chapter 226
“Why’s it been so quiet between you two lately?” she added.
Ever since the Clark family’s engagement party, when Kara saw Daron defending Marina, she’d been sure those two were definitely a thing.
Lately, Marina hadn’t said a word about Daron.
Marina went quiet for a second before flashing a smile.
“There’s nothing between us to begin with, so what progress could there possibly be?” Marina replied.
between
Kara frowned, realizing things had hit a snag them.
“Marina, it’s right there within reach. Are you really just going to let it slip away?” Kara couldn’t help but ask.
Marina bit down on her lip, her voice barely above a whisper.
‘So close, yet it’s all just an illusion, Marina thought to herself, her voice barely audible.
She and Daron were worlds apart.
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.
