Chapter 47

Chapter47 | Don't Lend My Things To Strangers

Theodore's features carried a kind of perfection that drew attention effortlessly.

Each time he put on those rimless glasses, he looked even more charming.

Marissa stayed silent, which led Marc to assume she still held some reservations about Theodore.Choosing not to press further, he stopped himself from saying anything more in praise of him.

"You're still young. There's no need to rush things.If you don't feel right about Theodore, we can always call off the engagement."

Marissa's eyes softened as a genuine smile formed on her lips.

She didn't miss the concern in Marc's eyes.

Theodore was everything people claimed he was,and the match appeared ideal.

"Thank you, Marc. I understand," she said quietly,touched by his concern.

She had already compiled a dossier on Theodore,a comprehensive record from his childhood to every woman who had dated him.

Holley's deliberate hint made Marissa curious enough to focus on a certain woman named Betty,prompting her to request a more thorough investigation.

Betty Ellis had grown up alongside Theodore as a childhood companion. Back in their junior high years,she had quietly admired him from afar.

Now that Betty had someone special in her life, her trip home was to introduce himn to her family. That was far from Holley's twisted version, which claimed Betty returned because of Theodore.

Although Marissa didn't believe Holley's words,curiosity still nudged her to look further into the matter.

Her brows knitted as she caught herself falling into her old ways again.

At some point, she had started treating Theodore as someone within her inner circle. Otherwise,there was no reason for her to pry into Betty's history.

Marc was pleasantly surprised by Marissa's composure. With a light smile, he said, "You truly are a good girl." A faint sigh escaped Marissa as helplessness crept in. Was Marc really treating her like some child who needed gentle coaxing?

Marissa suddenly recalled the little girl she and Theodore had encountered in the hospital. She wondered if the child had already reunited with her family.

The girl somehow looked familiar. Marissa pulled up Theodore's number and send him a quick message.

Before long, their car rolled smoothly to a stop at their destination.

"Rissa, we've arrived," Marc said as he stepped out. He moved to her side and opened the door with a light grin. "It'll take some time to get your hair styled, so let's eat first."

Marissa lifted her gaze and noticed the familiar sign of a restaurant she had visited on many occasions.It was one of Evelina's favorites.

As her thoughts drifted to Evelina, Marissa's brows furrowed.

"Don't like this place? Want to head somewhere else instead?" Marc asked with a hint of concern.

Marissa gave a simple shake of her head. "This place will do."

Shortly after the pair crossed the restaurant's entrance, the internet erupted with their photos with various headlines.

"Marc and his mystery girlfriend spotted together for the first time!"

"Wedding bells soon for Marc?"

"Looks like Marc isn't single anymore!"

"Marc was dining with a woman!"

Across countless platforms, rumors began to snowball.

A few even suggested that the woman's outfit looked like a maternity dress, spinning tales that she was using a supposed pregnancy to solidify her place beside him.

The speculation only fueled more curiosity, sending netizens into a frenzy over the woman's identity.

After all, Marc stood among the most admired young elites in Ozreka, a man many women secretly longed for.

A Curtis reveled in the unfolding drama, jumping to the conclusion that Marissa would soon be his wife and immediately broadcasting the news online. "She's joined the Curtis family group chat! Any guesses on her identity? First one to get it right wins ten thousand dollars!"

The post quickly went viral, snowballing in traction and sparking fierce debate among netizens.

Some articles directly painted the woman as Marc's soon-to-be wife.

The frenzy dragged both the Curtis Group and Marc himself into an unwanted spotlight, forcing their PR team to act fast.

Acting without Marc's approval, the team removed all sensational headlines-a quiet, strategic approach. They would issue an official statement at the right time.

Meanwhile, Marissa's schedule had become relentess. Despite her efforts to care for herself,her body began to rebel.

After only a few bites of ice cream, a sharp pain twisted in her stomach. She quickly told Marc she needed a moment and excused herself to the restroom.

Once she stepped out of the stall, Marissa made her way to the sink and turned on the faucet.

Out of nowhere, a voice came from the next sink. "Hi, can I borrow your phone? I think I misplaced mine."

Marissa's eyes shifted briefly toward the speaker.

The woman beside her had a sweet, dolI-like face framed by short bobbed hair, yet Marissa didn't recognize her.

Without saying a word, she turned back to the mirror and continued washing her hands.

"Can I please borrow your phone?" the stranger asked again. Though her lips were curved in a smile, her tone carried a cold sharpness that made her words feel more like a demand.

Marissa immediately picked up on the act. She'd dealt with similar schemes before.

She responded in a flat voice, "No. I don't lend my things to strangers."