Chapter 280
Daron lowered his eyes, gazing at Marina’s lovely features, and spoke in a gentle tone. “Do I need a reason to like her or dislike?”
Marina was stunned for a moment, then caught on to what Daron was saying. She gave a small nod and answered softly. “No reason is needed.”
Daron’s eyes never left her, full of warmth, and he spoke quietly. “That’s right, I don’t need a reason.”
There really was no need for any reason at all, Marina thought to herself.
Marina had used that line on him before, just to silence him.
Daron pulled his hand back, walked over to his office chair, and sat down. In a calm voice, he said, “Come with me to the old Zamora mansion for dinner tomorrow. Just be ready.”
Marina couldn’t help clenching her hands at her sides. She looked up at him, her voice barely above a whisper, “Do I really have to go?”
Daron replied, “Yeah, you have to.”
As he spoke, Daron looked up at her standing by his desk and asked, “Didn’t you say you weren’t afraid of my grandfather?”
Marina pressed her lips together and said quietly, “Okay, I’ll get myself ready.”
‘We’re already married. Sooner or later, I’ll have to face the Zamora family, Marina thought to herself.
Daron glanced at her, picked up some documents from his desk, and said softly, “Do you want me to fill you in on my family situation?”
Marina shook her head gently. “No need, I already know.”
“No need, I already know,” Marina replied.
Daron said, “Your grandpa taught you a lot back then, so I figure you can handle whatever comes up with my family.”
Marina nodded. “Yeah, I think I can.”
Daron didn’t get the answer he was hoping for, so he frowned slightly and asked, “If my aunt tries to make things difficult for you, how would you handle it?”
Marina thought for a moment, then replied, “It depends on the situation.”
Daron was left speechless.
‘Good. She probably never even thought about asking me for help, Daron mused.
“Just let me know if you can’t handle it,” Daron said.
Marina nodded slightly. ‘I should be able to handle it,’ she thought to herself.
‘Even if the Zamora family is upset about my marriage to Daron, they wouldn’t actually lay a hand on me, Marina reassured
herself.
Seeing the calm in her eyes, with even the earlier tension gone, Daron frowned slightly. He motioned for her to leave and 1/4
5:28 pm DN
Chapter 280
said quietly. “You can go now.”
Marina nodded. “Okay”
As she turned to leave, Marina noticed Daron’s phone lighting up on his desk.
He had set it to silent during the meeting.
Just before heading out, Marina gave him a heads–up, “Mr. Zamora, your phone is ringing”
Daron nodded, picked up his phone, and saw it was a call from Joyce. He frowned, then answered.
“What is it?” Daron said, his voice was cold, completely devoid of emotion.
Marina glanced at him, feeling relieved as she left his office. ‘He really doesn’t have any special feelings for Joyce. Guess I really was just overthinking it before, she thought to herself.
She had barely settled back into her own office chair when, just a few minutes later, the elevator doors slid open
Marina instinctively glanced over and saw Joyce stepping out of the elevator, a smile playing on her lips.
Joyce’s eyes landed on Marina first, and the two of them locked eyes for a moment.
Marina was stunned for a few seconds, then slowly looked away.
Joyce headed straight for Daron’s office, walking in with her head held high, a spring in her step, and a clear air of challenge about her.
Daron sat in his office chair, glancing up as Joyce pushed open the door and walked in, his face giving nothing away.
Joyce strode right up to Daron, pulled out some documents, and set them down in front of him, her voice carrying a note of complaint.
“Daron, I haven’t done anything to upset you lately, have I? If I wasn’t here delivering the contract for the Milner family. would you have even let me in? Aren’t we supposed to be friends?”
Daron reached out, picked up the documents, and started flipping through them.
He didn’t even spare Joyce a glance.
“If you were really my friend, you wouldn’t be encouraging my employee to go after my girl. Your little schemes aren’t even subtle. They’re just pathetic and an eyesore,” Daron said coldly.
When Joyce heard Daron say “my girl,” her expression darkened, and she gripped her handbag tightly,
“Ms. Finley is only being targeted because people just don’t like her,” Joyce said. “I…”
Daron’s icy stare shut her up instantly and she swallowed her words.
“That’s their own doing. It has nothing to do with me. If I really had that much sway over your company’s staff, do you the Milner family would’ve handed everything over to Howard?” Daron replied coldly.
Joyce’s voice had a touch of self–pity, almost like she was playing the victim.
Daron kept his face cold as he finished reading, signed the papers, kept one, and handed the other to Joyce.
think
2/4
5:28 pm DLM
Chapter 280
“You can go now,” he said.
Joyce took the document, her face tight with frustration at Daron’s cold attitude. She drew in a sharp breath, ning to herself, then said in a low voice, “Howard asked me to remind you about the party today. He’swatting for you at the gode
course.
Daron didn’t respond.
Joyce hesitated, lips parted as if to say something more, but in the end, she just got up and left.
Just as she reached the door, Joyce couldn’t help but pause, turning back to Daron with a serious look. “Daron Foneuly don’t know what I did to make you dislike me so much. Haven’t we always gotten along pretty well these past few years jar because Ms. Finley came back to Vrufield, you don’t have to treat me like this.
“And besides, I even let bygones be bygones and asked my aunt to treat Ms. Finley herself! You know how impossible so get an appointment with her. Given how things were for the Finley family back then, getting my aunt to see Ms. Finley wass next to impossible.”
“You…” Joyce began, but Daron cut her off before she could finish.
Daron looked up at her, his gaze cold as ever.
“Ms. Milner, when your aunt treated Ms. Finley, the Milner family and I agreed on all the terms up front. Since there were conditions, I don’t owe you anything, and I’m not asking you for any favors either.
“So, are you bringing this up now to hold it over my head, or is there something else you want?”
Joyce locked eyes with Daron, those dark, piercing eyes catching her off guard. For a moment, she was completely at a loss for words.
Her gaze caught on Daron’s red tie, and out of nowhere, she remembered seeing Marina earlier, rocking a suit in that ecz
shade.
She clenched the documents a little tighter, her breathing going a bit haywire.
“I’m not trying to use that to get anything back from you,” Joyce said, her voice a little shaky
“Honestly, after all these years between us, I just don’t think you should let what other people say make you haid in anst
me.”
She was sure Marina had said something to Daron behind her back, and that’s why Daron was acting so cold toward her now
After all, Daron had always treated her with respect before.
214
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.
