Chapter 63
Evelina was shameless;she had taken credit for other people's work on multiple occasions.
Her striking resemblance to both Phil and Susanna fueled whispers of a deeper connection,making colleagues wary of crossing her.The mystery deepened when she audaciously claimed Marissa's efforts as her own,intensifying speculation about her true origins.
Some coworkers theorized she might be Phil's secret child from an affair.
Others argued she could be the Fletchers'real daughter.
It was common knowledge at Fletcher Group that Phil and Susanna had a single daughter,fiercely sheltered from the public eye,unlike the daughters of other affluent families who were flaunted at galas.
In all their years at the company,no employee had ever met this elusive daughter.
Phil and Susanna's public displays of devotion, coupled with his scandal-free reputation,stood in stark contrast to other CEOs who kept mistresses
behind their wives'backs after striking it rich.
Yet,beyond her looks,Evelina didn't match the staff's vision of the Fletcher daughter—expected to
be polished,dignified,and well-informed,not
someone lacking fundamental skills.
Questions swirled among colleagues,but answers remained elusive.
A coworker bombarded Marissa's phone with texts, venting about Evelina's habitual lateness and poor work ethic in a group chat created solely to dissect her identity,from which Evelina was excluded.
Marissa paused,reflecting.
Her ties to the Fletcher family were broken,leaving nothing she wished to cling to.
"I will be back soon,"she texted,then closed the chat.
Meanwhile,Bryson,wrapping up his tasks, received a report from his assistant,who began with a brief summary.
"When Marissa left the chapel.."The assistant faltered,visibly confused.
Bryson looked up.
The assistant continued,"The security personnel
claimed she was picked up by a garbage truck."
"A garbage truck?"Bryson's brow furrowed, stunned that the Fletcher family,after raising her for over two decades,hadn't arranged an escort, even if she wasn't their blood.
The assistant confirmed,"Witnesses said the truck sped off right after,and there has been no trace of her since."
Handing Bryson the report,the assistant faced his next question.
"Did you find out how she ended up at Harmony Hospital?"Bryson inquired,intrigued by Marissa's unexpected appearance there and her behavior at the time.
The assistant shared Bryson's curiosity about Marissa's sudden presence at the hospital.
"The hospital staff were tight-lipped about what happened between 3:00 and 4:30 p m.that afternoon.Rumors point to a major surgery for an important figure,but details are scarce."
When the assistant questioned a nurse for more information,a man in an upscale suit—identical to Bryson's preferred brand-appeared.He shot her a silencing glance that made her shudder.
Sensing the nurse's palpable discomfort,the assistant refrained from probing further.
He was struck that even a bodyguard for such an important figure wore suits as expensive as Bryson's.It was a clear indication they were not people he could trifle with.
Bryson fixed his gaze on the assistant,who,feeling the weight of his stare,wondered if Bryson was displeased with the investigation's progress.
Having spent over a thousand dollars of his own money,the assistant had uncovered only minimal details.
"I overheard that several specialists were there, including two globally recognized doctors,"the assistant added cautiously,relaying what he had overheard.
He hadn't intended to share this,as it was unverified gossip from a girl,making its accuracy uncertain.
Bryson's face remained stern,his brows slightly knit,betraying no emotion as he took the tablet from the assistant,glanced at it,and swiped the screen casually."Nothing on Marissa's fiancé?"he
asked.
The assistant,unable to trace how Marissa even
reached the hospital,had no hope of investigating an unknown stranger.
He shook his head and said,"This is all we've got so far."
New to Bryson's team,with Bryson himself a company novice lacking the senior executives' resources,the assistant found the investigation daunting.
He had also learned that Bryson's newlywed wife, Evelina,was Marissa's sister.
How could he delve deeper?He wouldn't dare.
the tablet,directing,
"Keep monitoring The assistant
Hardy."
He was inwardly confused.Why was Bryson so fixated on his sister-in-law?
Bryson felt that something was amiss,but he couldn't put his finger on it.With a surge of irritation,he loosened his tie and unbuttoned his jacket.
He planned to discuss Marissa with Evelina at home.
Thinking of Evelina,Bryson's expression softened.
Her simplicity,which he adored,meant he should avoid direct confrontation and approach the topic delicately.
Knowing Marissa harbored feelings for him,he felt he should help if she ever struggled.