Chapter 371
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Marina looked up at Daron, bit her lip, and said softly. “I’m flying to Yorelia early in the morning tomorrow. If I visit my sister too early, she might still be sleeping, and I don’t want to wake her up.”
Daron frowned. “Yorelia? What are you doing there?” Marina had never mentioned this trip before. All she had told him was that she would only be back in Vrufield after a few days.
Marina took the coat from him and hung it on the rack nearby. “There’s a business deal in Yorelia that my sister handled earlier.
“Since she’s sick, I’m the best person to handle it on her behalf. That’s why I’ve already booked a flight for tomorrow,” Marina said.
Daron looked at her calm expression, let out a heavy sigh, and felt a knot tighten in his chest. He wanted to say something but held back, afraid that it would trigger another conflict between them. In the end, he stayed silent.
Marina could tell Daron was upset, so she explained softly, “I actually wanted to talk to you about this when I saw you at
noon.
“But your aunt and Zara were in your office, so I didn’t say anything. I don’t want outsiders to know too much about our Finley family’s affairs.”
By calling Hayley and Zara “outsiders” in front of Daron, Marina was merely making her stance clear. In her eyes, no matter how deep the favors Zara and Hayley had bestowed upon Daron, she only regarded them as outsiders.
From the very beginning, they had never truly accepted her. Therefore, she had no intention of treating them as family members.
Daron stared into her eyes, which were calm and unreadable, and asked with a blank expression, “They’re outsiders, what about me?”
‘Does she see me as an outsider too, even though we’re married?‘ Daron couldn’t help but wonder.
Marina’s gaze met Daron’s without the slightest evasion. After a brief silence, she realized that to her, Daron stood at a threshold between an outsider and a family member. At times, he was a family member; at times, an outsider.
Daron watched her quietly, his chest subtly heaving in the silence. “Let’s not talk about this anymore,” Daron said, initiating to end the topic.
However, this time, Marina didn’t listen to him and continued, “Just like you said to Bette before, you can’t distance yourself from Hayley and Zara just because you married me. They’re your family members.
“Relatively speaking, I can’t possibly forget who I am just because I married you, or lower myself in front of them.”
Daron frowned, unhappy with what Marina said. “I’ve never asked you to lower yourself or play nice just for them,” he said, a little upset.
Marina looked up at Daron, letting out a soft sigh, and said, “Daron, you can see it too, can’t you? You can see that your aunt has never truly accepted me. You can also see my resistance toward her.
“But because of the kindness she showed you in raising you, you chose to turn a blind eye to it. In your view, they didn’t do anything that has caused me real, tangible harm.
“So you’re trying to strike a balance between them and me. And that so–called balance, isn’t it just expecting me to silently endure their little maneuvers and pretend that nothing is happening?”
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Chapter 371
Daron frowned, watching Marina’s calm face, and didn’t say a word for long what theed Savusly and and Inters honestly, I can quietly endure all their petty moves. I knew exactly why things done when it’s needed.
and how
I’m just bo
“But you keep asking me questions that have nothing to do with all five, and jew use it frustration in her tone.
“I don’t want us to keep fighting over these things I only hope we can fire them openly worked at Hy b what’s happening. Isn’t it right? Marina said, her voice calm bor m
Daron lowered his eyes, his voice slightly cold. I never made you force youred to put up with any of that. If you don’t like my aunt, I’ll try my best to keep you away from her. Marina
Marina interrupted him. “It’s fine, Daron. None of this really matters”
After all, Hayley had never really done anything truly aggresive or harmful to her. She over it wood’t easy for Daron he couldn’t just turn his back on someone who had raised him.
She also would never be dumb enough to make Daron choose between her and keyley. That’s just nor how real life works. she thought.
Hayley had raised Daron, which meant both she and Zara were chains be could never break free from Hayley knew exactly how to handle things. She always knew just how far to go, so Daron would never turn his back on her. She would never cross
that line.
‘Being Daron’s wife means putting up with all their petty, annoying little moves, the thought to herself
Marina was heading toward the bedroom, but paused at the doorway. She turned back to Daron, smiling softly, and said. “Since we’ve come this far, let me just add one last thing,
“If I ever run into trouble with them, I just hope you’ll be fair and impartial. That’s all I really need from you”
Daron met her steady gaze, silent for a moment before finally replying, “Alright”
Marina smiled softly, then turned and walked into the room. Daron quietly came in after her. Marina reminded him where the bathroom was and then got into bed.
She didn’t feel like sleeping earlier due to Kara’s matter. Perhaps after the talk with Daron, her mood changed. Or she felt at ease having someone familiar by her side in an unfamiliar place. Either way, she fell asleep not long after
After Daron finished washing up and went to bed, he saw Marina was already asleep. He didn’t do anything else, just lay down beside her, turned to face her, and stared at her back, his mind swirling with complicated thoughts
Since he was old enough to know how the world worked, Daron had never really hit any serious roadblocks. Strangely enough, the only times he had ever felt genuinely helpless and defeated were all arising from Marina
He let out a soft sigh, reached out, and pulled Marina into his arms, his voice low and heavy. “In the end, you still don’t trust me,” he said softly.
Marina opened her eyes, her gaze clear and wide awake, no hint of confusion. She marmured a son “Mm and left it at that saying nothing.
Daron had expected her to either ignore him or dodge the issue with one of her usual deflections. But to his surprise, she just responded with a “Mm.”
She was telling him, plain and simple; she didn’t trust him. And Daron was powerless to change that
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Chapter 371
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Daron pulled Marina into his arms, holding her a little tighter. “If you don’t trust me, that’s fine. Just trust yourself. As long a you believe in your own judgment, no one can harm you,” he murmured, his voice low and gentle.
‘As with your issues, I’ll never side with Zara and Hayley, he thought to himself.
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.
