Chapter 115
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As Daron walked around the front of the car and got into the driver’s seat, he caught Marina looking at him with a hint of pity in her eyes.
He reached out and flicked her forehead. “You’d better toss out a that junk in your head.”
It stung a little, and Marina quickly covered her forehead with a sheepish look.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but then thought better of it, knowing anything she said would just make things worse for Daron, so she shut her mouth.
Daron glanced over, seeing her sitting there all quiet and obedient, and said calmly.
“Me and your sister? There’s nothing between us,” he said.
Marina nodded eagerly.
“I know,” she replied.
It’s not like Elnora ever wanted anything to do with him in the first place, Marina thought to herself.
Just like back then–when she heard what he said, she backed out herself. She never wanted to be the girl fighting her own sister for a man.
Her sister had always doted on her, so she was sure her sister would think the same as her.
She’d already called off the engagement with Daron, and her sister never even considered him. Even if he said now that he didn’t care about her sister, Marina would buy it.
After all, guys had their pride too.
Besides, the Finley Group still needed Daron’s help, so she wasn about to piss him off.
She was just thinking that to herself, but to her surprise, Daron actually said exactly what was on her mind.
“I don’t have any interest in your sister,” he said.
Daron put it all out in the open, just hoping she’d stop overthinking things.
Maybe because she’d already braced herself for this, Marina stayed calm and just nodded.
“Oh, she replied.
For a split second, Marina felt like she could be a mind reader–he’d totally nailed Daron’s inner thoughts.
Her reaction was so chill it was almost unsettling–not a trace of hock or even the tiniest spark of excitement in her eyes. Daron shot her a sideways look, and it felt like someone yanked his heartstrings. He suddenly stomped on the brakes.
Marina lurched forward from the sudden stop, only to be yanke back by her seatbelt.
Her back hit the seat hard. She sat there, stunned for a few secols, then tuned to look at Daron.
He was glaring at her, his eyes practically crackling with suppressed fury.
Marina was at a loss for words.
Is he upset because my answer was too perfunctory? Or does he think I don’t trust him? Is he mad?‘ Marina wondered.
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19:25 Thu, Dec 25 W.
Chapter 115
“I do! I believe you, really!” Marina blurted out.
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She clung to her seatbelt, staring at Daron with wide, earnest eye, not even daring to blink, just to prove she was being completely sincere.
Daron frowned at her, let out a quiet breath, reined in his tempe, then looked away and started the car, driving out of the underground garage.
Seeing that, Marina stayed silent.
An awkward silence instantly filled the car.
She didn’t dare bring up her sister again, worried she might accidentally hit a nerve and set him off.
Once they were out of the garage, Marina glanced over at Daron again. His face looked calm enough, but his slender, attractive hands were still gripping the steering wheel with a tense, unyielding force.
The veins bulging on the back of his hand made it clear he was far from calm inside.
All these years, there hadn’t been any tabloid rumors or gossip about Daron. That just showed how devoted he was.
He’d had feelings for her for so many years, and at one point, he genuinely wanted to marry her. But in the end, it all ended in disappointment. No wonder he couldn’t let it go.
The air in the car was so suffocating, Marina felt like she was reliving that heavy moment when she broke off the engagement with Daron herself.
It was like a stone was pressing down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Marina took a deep breath, hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly.
“Mr. Zamora, are you free tonight?” she asked.
Daron didn’t answer right away. He shot her a sideways glance, and his grip on the steering wheel finally loosened a little.
“What do you want?” Daron asked.
He sounded curt, obviously still wrestling with his feelings.
Marina, trying to break the heavy silence, picked up her phone and gave it a playful shake.
“Wanna play a game?” she suggested.
Daron was speechless.
He shot her a look–her eyes were shining, she had that smile lik she was trying to butter him up, and her long lashes fluttered as if she was trying to charm him. In the end, he just sighed and gave in.
“Alright,” he said.
‘What’s the point of arguing with her?‘ Daron thought. ‘She’s just heartless, isn’t she?‘
Marina flashed a cheeky grin. “I saw the update today–there’s a few skin and it’s crazy hard to get. Did you snag it? Let me try it out, oh mighty VIP King.”
Daron said, “Yeah, I got it.”
Marina said, “Sweet! I read the details and this skin is totally my ibe. Don’t worry, I won’t just freeload–I’ll boost your rank and carry you to a win.”
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Chapter 115
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Daron gave a quiet hum and said, “This new skin can’t hold a calle to the one you made. You’ve got real talent for game design. Ever thought about going pro with it?”
Marina glanced out the window. “I’ve thought about it, just neve did anything about it.”
At first, it was because she didn’t have the funds. Later on, Laver just didn’t like the gaming business.
Back when Ross Group was just getting started, they went back and forth about it, but in the end, they followed Lavern’s plan -and it turned out to be a success.
After a while, it was like her own thinking got boxed in.
Daron watched her, noticing how lost she looked, and said in a calm voice.
“Why not let the Finley Group switch things up? Drop the old brick–and–mortar stuff, lighten the load, and pivot to entertainment,” he suggested.
“If a company wants to stick around, it has to keep changing. Clinging to the old ways just holds you back. Getting too sentimental is bad for business. If you want to protect what matters, you need the strength to do it. Change doesn’t mean vanishing–going bankrupt does,” he added.
Marina was really struck by Daron’s words. She’d been totally los about where the Finley Group was headed, but it was like someone flipped a switch–suddenly, everything made sense.
She turned to Daron, her eyes full of gratitude.
“Mr. Zamora, now I totally get it,” she said. “My sister was spot on–being around you is like a crash course in life. From now on, you’re officially my personal mentor.
Daron had just dropped some major wisdom on her, so of course she was going to shower him with appreciation.
Maybe her sister’s approval probably meant something to him, too.
Daron’s face barely changed, but when he saw how excited she was, the corner of his mouth lifted in a faint smile.
“I’m spoon–feeding you here. Whether you can actually swallow it, that’s on you,” he said.
Marina nodded enthusiastically. “Even if I end up choking, I’ll still force it down.”
Daron let out a laugh, and the tension in the car finally melted away.
“If you actually manage to choke on it, then you really are a certified fool,” he said bluntly.
Instead of getting mad at his savage remark, Marina just grinned and leaned in with a cheeky smile, totally embracing her role as the ultimate brown–noser.
“Then please, Mr. Zamora, teach this fool a thing or two,” she sai, flashing him her most shameless grin.
Daron was speechless.
‘She really does know when to play it smart and when to swallow her pride, Daron thought to himself.
19:25 Thu, Dec 25 W.
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.
