Chapter 97
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A flicker of shock crossed Marina’s eyes; she could hardly believe what she was hearing.
“Who is it… Daron?” she asked hesitantly.
Lately, she really had heard some talk about Daron getting engaged to Joyce.
Elnora frowned and tapped Marina lightly on the head.
“What are you thinking? Why would I care about the guy who’s about to become my brother–in–law?” Elnora said.
Marina gave an awkward smile, feeling a bit embarrassed. “Then… who else could it possibly be?”
Elnora looked at her with utter indifference, as if talking any further would be beneath her, then marched straight back to her room.
Marina hurried after her. Just as Elnora was about to shut the door, Marina poked her head through the doorway, not even worried about getting her head slammed.
“Elnora, who is it, really?” Marina pressed.
Elnora reached out and shoved Marina’s head–her hair all messy from squeezing through the door–right back out.
“Who it is doesn’t matter,” Elnora said.
Marina just stood there, staring as Elnora closed the door on her.
Since she knew Elnora wouldn’t spill anything, Marina made a beeline downstairs straight for the servants‘
quarters.
Gauri had just finished tidying up and was about to lie down when Marina burst in, all out of breath and
anxious.
Gauri startled, immediately perking up. “What’s wrong, Miss Marina? Is it Miss Elnora?”
Gauri was so worried about Elnora that she immediately started toward Marina, about to rush upstairs.
Marina quickly stopped her, lowering her voice to a whisper as she asked, “Gauri, has my sister ever been in a relationship with anyone all these years?”
Gauri paused, thinking back, then shook her head.
“No, not that I know of. Miss Elnora’s been so busy running the Finley Group these years, she barely had time to breathe–so honestly, I can’t be sure,” Gauri said.
Marina wasn’t ready to give up yet, so she asked, “Have you ever seen anyone bring my sister home?”
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Chapter 97
Gauri shook her head again.
Gauri really didn’t know anything.
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Elnora had always been pretty cold. She never talked about her private life.
Couldn’t get any answers, Marina had no choice but to head back upstairs.
When she walked past Elnora’s door, Marina almost knocked, but the memory of how down Elnora looked in the study earlier made her let the idea go.
If Elnora wanted to keep it to herself, Marina figured she’d just leave it be.
Marina went back to her room and flopped onto her bed, unable to shake off a strange sadness.
She’d been betrayed by Lavern and hurt in love–maybe she had it coming.
But Elnora was so incredible; in Marina’s eyes, nobody could ever measure up to Elnora. She couldn’t understand why Elnora would be hurt by a guy, too.
That question haunted her, keeping her up all night.
Kara: [Marina, are you asleep yet? Sorry I couldn’t make it to your welcome party today. My parents basically dragged me over to the Clark family’s place.]
Marina had been glued to Daron’s side all night, putting on an act and dealing with guests. Even if Kara had shown up, she probably wouldn’t have had a second to spare for her.
Marina: [Not yet. Just finished getting ready for bed, but I’m too restless to sleep.]
Kara: [My brother told me your sister already helped the Finley family out of that crisis. That’s awesome, so stop worrying! Staying up late and losing sleep is bad for you–don’t let it ruin that beautiful face of yours.]
Marina stared at Kara’s message, hesitated for a moment, then finally typed out a reply.
Marina: [Kara, after I moved to Sicester, did my sister ever date anyone?]
Kara really admired Elnora and had followed her around everywhere for years. She even interned for Elnora after graduating.
She should know a thing or two.
It took Kara a while to reply to Marina’s message.
Kara: [Is Elnora really feeling down today? That’s so not like her.]
‘So Kara really does know, Marina thought, and quickly messaged her back.
Marina: [Who is that guy?]
Kara went silent and didn’t reply to Marina’s message.
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Chapter 97
After waiting a few minutes with no answer, Marina decided to just call Kara herself.
Kara answered, sounding a bit hesitant.
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“I promised Elnora I’d never tell anyone, Marina. So please, don’t ask me. Whoever he is, it won’t change a thing. It doesn’t matter anymore,” Kara echoed Elnora’s words.
‘Yeah, that’s true. Who he was didn’t matter anymore. My sister already said it–he’s about to get married! Marina took a deep breath, feeling totally suffocated inside.
She was Elnora’s little sister, but all these years, she’d never bothered to check in on her–not even once. She didn’t even know anything about her sister’s love life.
Kara probably didn’t want her to keep digging, so she ended the call in a hurry.
Marina clutched her phone, trying to pull herself together, but her eyes were already getting teary.
She wished she’d come back to Vrufield and the Finley family way earlier.
She wished she’d been there for Elnora when she was at her lowest.
Early the next morning. Marina came downstairs with puffy, red–rimmed eyes.
Elnora was sitting at the dining table having breakfast. When she saw how puffy Marina’s eyes were–so swollen that even makeup couldn’t cover it–she asked, “What happened?”
Marina pulled out her compact mirror, checked her lashes, and said breezily, as if nothing was wrong. ‘Had a late–night meltdown. Couldn’t help it.’
Elnora raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. She just slid Marina’s breakfast over to her.
Marina sat down, grabbed her glass of milk, and downed it in one go. Then she said, “I’m heading out to Sicester on a business trip with Mr. Zamora today.”
Elnora nodded. “You mentioned that last night.”
Marina looked up at her sister’s calm face. Elnora’s eyes were perfectly normal–no puffiness, no redness, not even the slightest sign she’d been upset.
Meanwhile, Marina was the only one with tear–stained, swollen eyes—she looked a bit silly.
“Let me handle the Farnbay land in Sicester, okay, sis?” Marina asked.
Elnora replied coolly, “That land’s already got plenty of people watching it. Everyone knows Zamora Group’s branch is gearing up to expand in Sicester, and they’re all hoping to get a slice of the pie.”
Marina chimed in, not holding back her thoughts. “It’s not that easy to get a piece of Zamora Group’s pie. Sure, we can sell that land for a good price right now, but we can’t just let the rest of the Finley Group’s properties sit idle.
“Why not use this land to reel in even bigger fish?”
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Elnora listened closely, a look of approval and recognition flashing in her eyes.
“Fine, you want it? It’s yours,” Elnora said.
Marina pushed her bank card across the table to Elnora.
“I don’t want any handouts–I want to pay for it,” Marina said.
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Elnora reached out to slide the card back, but Marina slammed her hand down, keeping it in place.
“Elnora, family or not, business is business. I’m buying this land, and whatever I make from it is mine. Draw up the contract and send it over,” Marina insisted.
With that, Marina grabbed her briefcase and got up to leave.
She made a quick exit, afraid Elnora would refuse the money if she stuck around.
Elnora glanced at the bank card on the table and couldn’t help but smile wryly. She totally got what Marina was up to.
‘I’ll just hang onto this card for now, like I’m keeping it safe for Marina, Elnora thought to herself.
Elnora still didn’t want Marina’s personal money mixed up with the Finley Group. That way, even if the company ever went under, Marina would still be set.
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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.
