Chapter 66

Under Marissa's gaze,Lottie kept a pleasant smile, her demeanor warm and polite.

Marissa reached out her hand."Nice to meet you. I'm Marissa Fletcher,"she said simply.

As Lottie racked her brain,she realized she couldn't recall any prominent Fletcher family in Ozreka.

In her profession,knowing the backgrounds of influential families was more than useful—it was necessary.

After a moment's thought,she remembered:the Fletcher family had been featured in a news article she'd seen earlier.

With a thoughtful press of her red lips,Lottie couldn't help but wonder how a family as unremarkable as the Fletchers crossed paths with the powerful Curtis family.

This woman was anything but ordinary.

Marc,a man whose schedule was packed to the brim,had personally taken the time to escort her to the makeup studio.

Since midday,the place had turned into a whirlwind of activity,overflowing with opulent gowns and glittering jewelry worth more than a hundred million.

All those extravagant items had been sent at the request of Corrine from the Curtis family.

Although Lottie knew the Curtises possessed immense wealth—and such a gesture might be trivial for them—her team still treated the day like a royal visit,preparing meticulously for their guest.

Leaning slightly toward Marc,she said playfully, "So,it's her?"

On the way here,Marc's attention had remained on his phone,juggling work even as he escorted Marissa,completely unaware of the storm of gossip brewing online.

Matters like that never reached him anyway;the Curtis family had professionals to take care of their public image long before anything became a problem.

Marc guessed that Lottie must have learned from Corrine that Marissa was the Curtis family's long- lost daughter.

At her question,he gave a small nod and said, "That's right."

Before either of them could say more,Marc's phone began to buzz again.

Seeing his attention shift,Lottie waved her hand with a grin."Go handle your business.Don't worry about us.I guarantee you'l be impressed when you see the result later!"

The moment she laid eyes on Marissa,her mind had already begun shaping an image of how to enhance that striking beauty-and now,the vision was complete,just waiting to be brought to life.

Ignoring his phone for a moment,Marc turned to his sister."I'll leave my assistant here with you.If you need anything,don't hesitate to ask him."

Marissa opened her mouth to decline,but his look of genuine concern made her pause.Instead,she gave a gentle nod."Alright.Thank you."

"There's no need for thanks."Marc chuckled faintly,his tone gentle as he brushed a strand of her hair aside."Call me right away if anything comes up,understood?"

Marc couldn't shake off the memory of what had happened that afternoon.Even though Marissa had come out unscathed,the incident unsettled him.As her brother,he wanted her to strike back immediately when someone offended her—not

pause to analyze every possible outcome first.

All he truly wanted was for her to live freely,without the weight of such worries pressing on her heart.

When Marissa met his gaze,she could tell how much Marc cherished her.

Taking a small step back to create a little space, she nodded toward his buzzing phone."Marc,you should take that.It sounds important."

Marc motioned to his assistant,his tone clipped but firm."Look after her."

Having served Marc for years,the assistant straightened immediately and said,"Of course,Mr.

Curtis.You can count on me."

Noticing they still had more to discuss,Lottie quietly guided her team to one side,allowing them a moment of privacy.

Lisette couldn't help exchanging wide-eyed glances with her colleagues at the scene.Watching the tenderness between Marc and Marissa,she felt an irresistible urge to snap a photo;the atmosphere was soft and almost cinematic.

Once he finished giving directions to his assistant, Marc turned toward Lottie and said,"I'm counting on you for the rest."

"Got it,Mr.Curtis,"Lottie replied with a warm smile as she and the others watched him step into his Rolls Royce and drive away.

Leading Marissa deeper into the studio,Lottie asked,"Do you already have something in mind,or should I go ahead with what I planned for today?"

She wanted to hear Marissa's preferences before starting,aware that she couldn't treat her like a blank canvas and do whatever she pleased,as she did with her usual clients.

Earlier that day,a makeup artist hired by Bryson had handled Marissa's bridal look—an expert who specialized in bridal styles but leaned toward a heavier touch.

Evelina had slipped the artist a bribe,ensuring the makeup dulled Marissa's natural beauty by several degrees.Yet even buried under layers of foundation and shadow,Marissa still outshone Holley,who had spent hours perfecting her own appearance.Her natural charm simply eclipsed it.

To Lottie,that kind of makeup looked excessive, though she worried Marissa might actually favor the style.

"I'll trust your judgment,"Marissa said calmly. Makeup wasn't something she cared much about.

Most days,she didn't wear any at all,relying on her clear skin,full brows,and expressive eyes to carry her look-and they always did,no matter the style.

Lottie's face lit up with excitement as she snapped her fingers,her voice brimming with energy. "Alright,team,let's get moving!"

"On it!"

In an instant,the assistants gathered around Marissa,fluttering about so quickly that she almost felt like a celebrity surrounded by flashing cameras.

Meanwhile,Marc's assistant found himself edged out of the circle,standing off to the side with nothing to do but wait and keep a watchful eye.

"Why don't you take a seat for a while?"Lisette suggested kindly,handing him a glass of water and nodding toward the sofa at the back.

He gave a polite shake of his head."Thanks,but I'm fine standing."

Seeing that he meant it,Lisette let the matter drop, flashing him a friendly smile before turning her attention back to her work.