Chapter 76

"Yes, Mr. Fletcher." Phil's assistant, Marcel Truman,appeared,peeking around the corner with a polite smile.

"Take Evelina to get her makeup done," Phil instructed, assuming she might feel timid and need someone to accompany her.

Marcel stepped closer, holding a small jewelry box,and offered a gentle smile. "Miss Fletcher."

From a distance, a voice called out, "Miss Fletcher, is everything alright?"

Evelina's eyes stayed glued to the jewelry box. When she heard the voice, she snapped instinctively,"Which Miss Fletcher are you talking to?"

After all, there were two Miss Fletchers present-herself and Marissa. Phil's gaze shifted just in time to see Lottie, striding confidently toward them in towering stilettos.

He raised a brow, inwardly questioning if all modern makeup artists had to adopt such a flamboyant appearance.

A wave of distaste washed over him, and he felt a strong urge to whisk his wife and daughters out of this private studio immediately.

Stepping forward, he positioned himself in front of his family, meeting Lottie's inquisitive gaze head-on.

"Do you know her?" Phil asked Marissa.

Evelina, feeling overlooked, flushed with annoyance.She pouted, giving Phil a pointed look, silently asking for reassurance.

Lottie's eyes landed on Marissa, partly hidden behind Phil, and her stern expression softened into a welcoming smile.

"Do you know these people, Miss Fletcher?" Lottie asked, slowing her steps, her eyes moving over Evelina and the woman Phil held close before resting on him.

Lottie recognized them as the mother-daughter duo who always insisted on her services, according to an assistant.

And Phil of the Fletcher Group? She had heard of him before.

It seemed Marissa was part of this family.

Could it be that the Curtis family was quietly negotiating a marriage alliance with them?

The thought made sense, though it was a matter they had kept tightly under wraps.

Lottie patiently waited for Marissa's reply, her face radiating a warmth and softness that Susanna had never witnessed in all her prior encounters.

What on earth was happening?

Susanna scrutinized Lottie's polite, almost deferential behavior, and was utterly shocked. Evelina was just as stunned.

She had recognized Lottie, the same artist who had once turned her and her mother away, claiming she was overbooked.

She wondered why Lottie was being so warm to Marissa.

"Oh, Lottie, you're here." Lisette hurried forward.She had just been told by an assistant that someone was causing trouble for Marissa in the corridor, and the thought of Marissa being cornered made her palms sweat. If anything happened to Marissa here, Marc would hold them accountable.

Taking a deep breath, Lisette pushed past the unfamiliar faces and greeted Marissa directly.

Phil, observing the scene with a skeptical squint,couldn't help but question the attitudes of those around them. He stepped forward, extending his hand to Lottie. "Hello, I'm Phil Fletcher," he introduced himself formally. "A pleasure, Mr. Fletcher," Lottie replied politely,shaking his hand with a courteous smile. "It's quite busy today. Please forgive us."

She spoke with grace, subtly studying Marissa's expression and letting out a small sigh of relief when she saw no hint of displeasure.

Phil returned her gesture with a nod. "It's alright," he said calmly.

"Miss Fletcher's session isn't finished yet. You might have to wait a little longer. I can have an assistant show you to the lounge if that's okay," Lottie suggested, waiting attentively for both Phil and Marissa to respond.

Marissa, however, stayed quietly to the side, showing no inclination to blend into the conversation.

Unable to discern her thoughts, Lottie turned to Lisette. "Lisette, please take Mr. Fletcher to the lounge."

Lisette, trained to follow instructions and maintain her professional composure, offered a smile. "Right this way, Mr. Fletcher."

Phil's frown deepened. He hesitated.

Turning her attention to Evelina and her mother,Lottie asked politely, though her tone seemed directed more toward Marissa's comfort than theirs,"Do you two still need your makeup done?"

Evelina's eyes brightened immediately. Lottie was rumored to work wonders with makeup, exactly why Evelina had come.

"Yes, I've been waiting for you," Evelina said happily,temporarily ignoring the soreness in her hands and face.

Lottie's eyes flickered to the prominent handprint on Evelina's face for a moment.Before she could reply,Marissa's voice cut in.

"| know them, but we're not close," she said,stepping away from Phil's protective presence.

At that, Lottie's eyes roamed over the group again,taking in the scene and sizing up the situation. When they landed on Evelina, a recent viral news story popped into her mind. The one about the Fletcher sisters fighting over a man, where the adopted daughter lost and was forced out of the family.

Could it have been Marissa who was cast aside?

Lottie's gaze flicked back and forth between Marissa and Evelina, and she shook her head quietly to herself. What a foolish man, she thought, to have made a decision so clearly wrong.

Between the Curtis and the Fletcher families, Lottie also understood which held more influence, but with Phil here and Marissa once being his daughter, she felt uncertain about her next move.

She was stuck having offered to arrange their makeup, but she had carefully avoided promising to do it herself.

"Lisette!" Lottie called, shooting her a meaningful glance. "Yes, Lottie," Lisette replied, turning to her, her face tight with tension.

"Hurry and assign someone to take these two ladies for their styling," Lottie instructed, leaving no room for hesitation.

"Right away." Lisette swiftly summoned a few assistants who had been standing by. "Over here!"

The assistants quickly moved in, gently escorting Evelina and her mother to the styling room upstairs.

Marcel, noticing the movement, hurried after them with the jewelry box, pausing to ask Phil, "Mr.Fletcher, may | accompany Mrs. Fletcher and Miss Fletcher?"