Chapter 233
Marina’s nose stung with emotion as she slipped into the front seat and plunged her head into Elnora’s embrace.
Elnora looked down at her sister, who was snuggling up to her like a spoiled kid, a trace of resignation in her eyes as she spoke softly.
“You only ever act like this when you’re with me,” Elnora said.
If Marina ever dared to pull this in front of Daron, he’d probably be willing to lay down his life for her.
Anya got into the car, glanced at the rearview mirror, and asked quietly, “Where are we headed, Ms. Finley?”
Elnora replied, “To Hans’s studio.”
Anya nodded and started the car.
Marina stayed quiet in Elnora’s arms for a while, calming herself down. She didn’t move to get up, just rested her head on Elnora’s lap and whispered, “Let me help you out at work, Elnora.”
“I’m really good at design, especially game design. I totally get what young girls are into these days. I…”
Before Marina could finish, Elnora interrupted her.
“Did Daron say you could leave?” Elnora asked.
That was enough to make Marina clam up.
Marina’s face went stiff for a moment as she remembered how Daron had acted in the office earlier. She replied, a little unsure, “Maybe he will.”
Elnora pressed, “Did he actually say that?”
Marina shook her head. “Not yet.”
“But I’ll go talk to him. He probably can’t stand having me around right now, so I doubt he’d want me working under his nose.”
She figured if she just asked, Daron would probably let her go.
From the way Daron acted today, Marina could already tell. She didn’t really matter to him.
The only thing linking them was that engagement she was dead set on canceling.
Besides that, there was nothing between them.
Now that everything was out in the open, whatever made her special to him was totally gone now.
Honestly, she doubted Daron ever really liked her.
22:09 Tue, Feb 3
Chapter 233
71
55 vouchers
Elnora glanced down at Marina, catching the gloom in her eyes, and said casually, “Alright, go ahead and call him now. Tell him you’re not coming to the Zamora Group tomorrow.”
Marina was stunned for a moment, then nodded, quickly sat up, and whipped out her phone, ready to call
Daron.
But just as she unlocked the screen, Elnora calmly reached over, took her phone, and added, “And while you’re at it, let him know who from the Zamora family reached out to you and what they said.”
Marina’s expression froze for a moment. “Elnora, do I really have to bring that up? I…”
She just couldn’t bring herself to say it.
When Bette came to see her, she hadn’t actually made things difficult.
She just brought up Marina’s past to keep her quiet. And honestly, the engagement with Daron was something she herself had called off.
She’d made such a scene back then, the Zamora family must’ve been mortified.
Elnora caught the troubled look on Marina’s face and narrowed her eyes a bit.
“Did Bette come to see you?” Elnora asked.
Marina’s eyes went wide as she looked up at Elnora, totally unable to hide her shock.
She hadn’t even mentioned Bette’s name, but Elnora had nailed it.
“How did you know?” Marina blurted out.
Elnora looked at her, a faint, cold smile tugging at her lips.
“Who else could it be?” Elnora replied.
Marina always figured Elnora and Daron were basically the same. They were both groomed by their families to take over the family business.
But honestly, if anyone out there had a vibe like Elnora, it was definitely Bette.
After her mom passed away, Bette was brought back to the Blanchard family and raised there.
She wasn’t just the Blanchard family’s heiress. She had to step up as the big sister, too.
Elnora glanced at Marina and said dryly, “So when Bette came to see you, you weren’t cowering like a turtle, were you?”
Marina shook her head. “Of course not. Grandpa’s lessons are always in the back of my mind.”
Elnora just hummed, a subtle smile playing on her lips.
“Since you promised Daron three months, then for those three months, unless he says otherwise, you need to
22:09 Tue, Feb 3
Chapter 233
do your job properly at Zamora Group,” Elnora said.
55 vouchers
Marina was stunned. “But you just said I could tell Daron I’m not going to Zamora Group. Why the sudden change of heart?”
Elnora shot her a sideways glance.
“I said no, and that’s that,” Elnora replied.
Marina bit her lip, saw Elnora’s serious look, and just dropped her head, not daring to talk back.
“Alright,” she said quietly.
Elnora reached out and ruffled Marina’s hair. “Be good. Just do your best for now. I’ll help you hold your head high again.”
Marina was taken aback, looked up at Elnora, and couldn’t help but bite her lip.
“Elnora, it’s really not necessary…” she said softly.
She pretty much understood what her sister was getting at.
‘Is she planning to set me up on arranged dates just to get under Daron’s skin?‘ Marina wondered.
But honestly, he wouldn’t have any reaction to her at all.
“Ms. Blanchard was right. I was the one who gave up on the engagement. No matter how much I regret it now, I have to deal with the consequences myself,” Marina said, her eyes steady.
She forced a smile at Elnora, one that looked even worse than if she were crying.
“Elnora, I can handle it,” she said, her voice steady.
Elnora watched the tears welling up in her eyes, staying silent for a long moment.
Marina continued, “Elnora, even if he does care about me a little, and this whole mess somehow brings us together, he still wouldn’t marry me, right? Marriage is basically a business deal. What does the Finley family even have left to offer the Zamora family?”
Anya had been quietly listening from the front seat, but finally couldn’t help jumping in.
“Ms. Marina, you really don’t have to be so down on yourself. Look at the Finley family and the Campbell family in Port City. They’re worlds apart too,” he said.
Marina bit her lip hard and muttered, “It’s not the same.”
“Elnora deserves any great guy out there. Other than his family, Albert can’t compare to her at all. He’s the one reaching up,” she said.
But Daron was just on another level.
22:09 Tue, Feb 3
Chapter 233
She couldn’t even catch up to him.
Marina had to admit it. She really was a coward at heart.
55 vouchers
She never even had the courage to start anything with Daron. The difference in their backgrounds scared her to death; she was terrified it would all end up like her mother’s tragedy.
No matter how things played out, she knew she couldn’t bear the outcome.
Elnora just sat there, quietly watching Marina, saying nothing.
Marina bit her lip and turned to look out the window, hoping the passing scenery would help wash away the sting in her eyes. Once her emotions settled, she turned back to Elnora with a smile.
“Elnora, did you ever look into Larry’s family background? If it all checks out, I’d like to spend a little time with him and then just get married quick. I’m fine with registering the marriage first, just like you did,” she said.
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.
