Marina hadn’t expected Daron to say something like that with the driver right there. A flicker of embarrassment flashed in her eyes.
She quickly shut the car door and muttered under her breath, “Okay, I got it.”
Daron noticed her cheeks turning a little red and the way she looked uncomfortable. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“Come on, get inside. The wind’s picking up,” he said.
Marina nodded and turned to head inside.
She took a few steps, then turned to look back.
Daron didn’t tell the driver to go, so the car stayed put.
As Marina glanced back, their eyes met for a moment.
Something stirred inside her, but she quickly looked away and picked up her pace, heading inside.
As she walked into the yard, she finally heard the sound of the car pulling away outside.
Marina took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and headed inside.
Just thinking about Daron’s explanation and how he’d actually suggested putting her name right next to his in the Zamora family records made her heart race a little.
As she stepped into the living room, her smile vanished completely when she saw a pair of the latest designer heels from a top brand sitting by the front door.
Marina glanced inside and spotted Hayley sitting on the couch, flipping through her favorite jewelry collection.
The collection was from the section of Daron’s bookcase that held only jewelry design books.
Whenever Marina had some downtime, she loved browsing through them too.
When Hayley saw Marina come in, she looked up and gave her a polite yet distant smile.
“Not working this afternoon?” Hayley asked.
Marina nodded slightly, changed into slippers, and stepped inside.
Hayley closed the book in her hands, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she spoke.
“I noticed the books seem to have been moved around. Do you like reading them too?” she asked.
Marina nodded. “Yeah.”
She kept things brief around Hayley, choosing her words carefully.
After all, less said meant fewer chances to slip up.
Marina’s reaction didn’t seem to bother Hayley at all.
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Hayley got up from the couch, put the book back on the shelf, and said with a smile,
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“Zara actually wanted to study jewelry design at first, but I always thought Daron was working way too hard at the company. I wanted him to have a supportive wife, so I had her study finance instead,” she said.
She deliberately used the term “supportive wife,” her gaze gentle as she looked at Marina.
But Marina didn’t bat an eye at what Hayley said, her face giving nothing away.
A faint smile played on her lips, matching Hayley’s politeness, but with a hint of distance.
“These books were probably collected by Zara back when she was staying with Daron. She’s all about helping him now, so she hasn’t touched them in ages. Didn’t expect you to like them, too, Ms. Finley. Guess it’s good they’re not just collecting dust after all,” Hayley said.
“Funny how you and Zara seem to have such similar tastes in books,” Hayley added.
She paused, her voice dropping to a murmur barely above a whisper.
“Looks like you two even have similar tastes in men,” she said, her words laced with meaning.
She knew Daron had surveillance set up in the living room, so she kept her voice soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
Only loud enough for her and Marina to catch, but not for the cameras to record.
Plus, she timed it just right, turning away to put the book back, so the cameras couldn’t even read her lips.
Marina could tell from Hayley’s body language that she was here to mess with her, trying to trip her up.
Hayley was clearly hoping to see her lose her cool.
But Marina wasn’t about to give her that satisfaction.
“Since you’ve been talking so much, Aunt Hayley, you must be thirsty. Want something to drink? I’ve got orange juice and yogurt. Or if you’d prefer coffee, I can make you coffee,” Marina offered.
Hayley’s expression shifted the moment Marina actually called her “Aunt Hayley.”
She turned to Marina, her lips curved in a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. There was a flicker of displeasure hiding underneath.
Marina had never called her “Aunt Hayley” when Daron was around.
That “Aunt Hayley” just now was a deliberate jab, her way of firing back.
Hayley locked eyes with Marina, her gaze unwavering.
Marina’s smile was also perfectly poised, and she met Hayley’s stare head–on, not backing down one bit.
“Aunt Hayley, is there a problem?” Marina said calmly.
Hayley smiled back.
“Coffee it is, then. Didn’t Uncle Edmund say your coffee–making skills are top–notch? I’d like to see for myself,” she said.
Marina smiled in response.
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“Uncle Edmund was just being polite, giving me a little praise out of courtesy,” she replied.
“Honestly, my coffee–making skills aren’t really that good,” Marina admitted.
“But if someone tries to put me on the spot, I can always step up my game,” she said.
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As Marina spoke, she grabbed a handful of ground coffee from the jar, picked any cup she could find, threw the ground coffee in, poured in some hot water, and handed it over to Hayley.
The whole thing took less than a minute.
Hayley frowned as she looked at the cup of coffee Marina had just handed her.
Honestly, the coffee Marina made was so careless that even the cheapest cafe would have done a better job. There was no effort or care put into it at all.
Hayley just glanced at the cup before looking up at Marina.
“Aunt Hayley, you call me that and then make me coffee like this? So half–hearted,” Hayley said, her voice tinged with
sarcasm.
Marina bent forward a little, her eyes apologetic.
“Sorry, Aunt Hayley. There aren’t any proper coffee–making tools here, and there wasn’t even any coffee before. The ground coffee is just something I brought back from work,” she explained.
“If you think this coffee is too half–hearted, just let me call Daron and have the driver bring over some premium coffee, and maybe even set up a whole coffee station for you,” Marina said, a hint of playful challenge in her voice.
From the way Hayley had been careful to avoid the cameras while talking, it was clear she hadn’t let Daron know she was dropping by.
Marina wasn’t surprised that Hayley had the code to get in.
After all, Bette had it too.
With how much Daron respected Hayley, there was no way she wouldn’t have a code.
But there was no way Marina would actually call Daron just because of something so petty.
She was letting Hayley know she wasn’t some pushover she could mess with.
Like it or not, Marina was officially married to Daron.
Dropping Daron’s name at the right time was the perfect way to stop any gossip before it started.
Sure enough, Hayley went quiet, just as Marina expected.
Her smile vanished, and her eyes locked onto Marina.
Marina didn’t miss a beat, either. She pulled out her phone and dialed Daron right away.
Daron picked up instantly.
“What’s up?” he asked.
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Marina turned up the volume, letting Daron’s deep voice come through the phone loud and clear in the quiet living room, so Hayley could hear every word.
Hayley hadn’t expected Marina to really dare to make the call.
Her face went stiff, and that fake smile she’d been wearing vanished in an instant.
Marina smirked, arched her brow at Hayley, her smirk unmistakable as she responded.
“Nothing, just wanted to ask if you’ve arrived at the office yet?”
Daron let out a helpless chuckle.
“Do you think the driver’s flying a plane or something?” he teased. “It had only been a few minutes.”
Marina made a small sound of acknowledgment, but before she could even answer Daron, Hayley jumped in.
“Daron, I’m at your place right now. Do you have time to come back? I need to talk to you about something,” Hayley said.
Marina wasn’t surprised at all that Hayley spoke up.
She knew Hayley wasn’t the type to just let herself be threatened. She’d always take the initiative and make a move to break the stalemate.
Honestly, Marina hadn’t planned on snitching to Daron anyway, as Hayley hadn’t really done anything to her.
So even if she did complain, she’d just be worrying about nothing.
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.
