Chapter 78
"Who did you just say?" Susanna's heart lurched at the name, her pulse stuttering as the necklace in her grasp slipped.
Susanna's eyes locked onto Marissa, whose features mirrored Corrine's, stirring a whirlwind of emotions within her.
The staff, fixated on Susanna's every move, gaped in stunned silence.
This set of jewelry was worth a city-center penthouse!
"Ah!"
Who let out that shriek?
Several employees clapped their hands over their mouths,exchanging bewildered glances. The young assistant yelped, diving forward.
Too far from Marissa, her desperate lunge couldn't save the ruby necklace from hitting the floor.
She crumpled to the floor, arm outstretched, eyes vacant with dread.
Hopelessness consumed her-how could she ever affordto cover the compensation?
A minute ticked by.
Marissa stayed silent, but Susanna couldn't hold back.
"What did you say? Corrine Curtis?" Her earlier joy morphed into doubt, then shock, and finally a frozen panic. Ignoring the ruby necklace at her feet, she stepped forward, accidentally nudging it aside.
Marissa knew Corrine? Who told her?
Could it be Phil?
"Say it again!" Susanna demanded through clenched teeth, questioning her own ears, needing confirmation.
How could Marissa know Corrine? Impossible!
She pinched herself, the sharp sting proving this wasn't a dream.
She really did hear Marissa mention Corrine's name.
What was her connection to Corrine?
Could Marissa be Phil and Corrine's daughter?
No way!
After securing her place, Susanna ensured they never crossed paths.
"Speak!" Her voice cracked with strain, her chest tight with unease.
"Corrine Curtis," Marissa answered abruptly, her eyes fixed on Susanna, anticipating a reaction.
As expected, Susanna's gaze sharpened with sudden clarity, her hands balling into fists, fingers digging into her palms. Thirty seconds ticked by. Then another minute.
"You know her? Where did you meet her? When?Why hide it from me?" Susanna's voice trembled with disbelief, a wave of insecurity eroding her composure.
If Marissa knew Corrine, had Phil met her too?
Were they hiding it from her?
Fury surged, her breath growing shallow and strained.
"And if I do, what then?" Marissa's gaze lifted,meeting Susanna's with a calm, steady clarity,her voice soft but unmistakable.
It seemed Susanna truly knew Corrine.
Susanna fell into a stunned silence.
"Ma'am, could you handle others' belongings with more care?" the young assistant murmured, hurrying to scoop the ruby necklace from the floor,inspecting it closely for damage. Thankfully, the dressing room's padded floor,designed to prevent such mishaps, offered some safeguard.
The young assistant, unable to detect any obvious damage with a quick glance, exhaled in relief and looked up to find Lottie standing nearby, quiet but with a stern edge. She hurriedly brought the necklace to Marissa, drawn inexplicably to her commanding presence.
Despite the room's emotional chaos, Marissa exuded a calm authority, her serene demeanor easing the tension and making the atmosphere feel less heavy.
Lottie could sense the simmering conflict,clearly orchestrated by someone to bring these three women together.
A headache brewed-she would need to hold a meeting soon to reinforce team cohesion and weed out schemers, as manipulative staff were the last thing she needed.
With this in mind, she beckoned an assistant near Evelina, murmuring, "Are there no other dressing rooms available?"
Her real question was why Evelina and Susanna were brought here when they had been initially assigned to a room on the third floor.
Noticing Lottie's composed facade, the assistant tightened her lips and replied carefully, "All other rooms are full; this was the only one open, so we had no choice but to bring them here."
Her lowered gaze concealed a flicker of spite.Even as Marc's girlfriend, Marissa still had to share a dressing room with others.
Lottie's stare lingered, her frustration barely contained. "Figure out a solution when there isn't one. Is your brain just for decoration? Find another room!"
Her earlier softness evaporated, revealed as a facade.
"But no one wants to..." the assistant began. "Now!" Lottie's tone turned sharp.
"Okay," the assistant muttered.
Marissa's ties to the Curtis famnily demanded Lottie's respect. Turning to Evelina and Susanna, she said courteously, "Ladies, we've arranged another dressing room next door.Please follow me."