Chapter 93

Marissa blinked,stunned by the question. Her mind spun for a second.

Wait...was Theodore injured down there?

Before she could stop herself, her eyes darted down for a split second, catching a glimpse of his groin.

Theodore, ever perceptive, immediately caught her look. He sighed quietly and was just about to explain when Marissa turned to Farris with a sharp tone. "Have you no manners? Why are you asking him about something so private?"

The bluntness of it stunned her-who openly questioned someone's sexual function in public?

She tilted her head slightly, eyes drifting toward Farris's lower half, unable to hide the confusion and naive interest written all over her face.

For Farris, that kind of unintentional innocence hit all his weak spots. His throat moved as he swallowed hard, and,well...his body had an uninvited reaction to it.

"I wouldn't normally ask something like this!" he blurted out.

Marissa raised a brow, clearly not convinced. "Really?" she said slowly.

Feeling oddly challenged, Farris began,"YOU-"

"Let's go." Theodore's calm but cutting voice sliced through Farris's words. His cold stare alone was enough to make Farris freeze.

He wasn't even talking to Farris-his attention was on Marissa.

She took the cue and turned away, walking off with Theodore. But before disappearing into the crowd, she tossed a casual remark over her shoulder. "You should hit the gym more often."

Her words stung like a punch. Farris stood there, completely thrown off, her words replaying in his head. Hit the gym more often?

He was young, fit, and in perfect shape.

What exactly did she mean by that?

As Marissa and Theodore walked deeper inside, the crowd grew denser. The women glittered in their designer gowns, each one seemingly competing for attention, while the men carried themselves with effortless confidence.

"Who was that guy?" Marissa asked.

"Don't bother with him," Theodore replied casually, giving her arm a light pat. "He's not worth your attention."

He figured she probably wasn't interested in knowing Farris anyway, considering how she'd just roasted him.

But the moment his hand brushed hers, Marissa suddenly pulled her arm back.

"What's wrong?" Theodore's expression faltered, just slightly. The warmth that had flickered in his eyes earlier vanished, replaced by the cool indifference he usually wore.

His gaze dropped to her arm, lingering long enough that Marissa began to feel uneasy.

Wait... wasn't he signaling her to let go?

But seeing that he was still holding his arm out, waiting, Marissa hesitated for a second, then slowly looped her arm through his again.

Theodore's gaze softened almost immediately.

Marissa nearly laughed but held it in.

"I thought when you patted my hand, you wanted me to let go," she explained lightly.

She wasn't the kind of person to let things stay awkward or misunderstood for long. If something felt off,she'd rather clear it up right away. "I just wanted to pat you hand," Theodore said with a faint smile, trying to explain himself.

He had never understood why couples were so clingling once they got together, but now it began to make sense.

When feelings ran deep, the pull to be close, to reach out, to hold the other person, became almost impossible to resist. Theodore pushed the thought aside, forcing himself to stay composed and not cross any lines.

Yet as her earlier words replayed in his mind, the smile slowly disappeared from his face.

Was this kind of casual closeness something she'd picked up from that man before him?

The thought irritated him more than he expected.

At his explanation, Marissa smiled knowingly and leaned a little closer.

The banquet was set to start at eight sharp.

Marissa and Theodore showed up a bit early, choosing to head directly to the lounge.

The Curtis family, hosting the event, had gone all out-bringing an entire team of servants and security to keep everything running perfectly.

One of the staff members had already spread the word among their coworkers that Marissa and Theodore had just arrived.

The pair drew attention effortlessly. Theodore with his tall, composed frame and sharp looks, and Marissa glowing with confidence beside him.

For most guests, nightslike this were less about celebration and more about making connections. Polished smiles and empty compliments filled the air as people floated from one conversation to another, champagne flutes in hand.

When a wave of surprised "wows" rippled through the room, people naturally turned toward the entrance.

Murmurs of admiration began to ripple through the crowd. "Who's that man? He's gorgeous. Look at those shoulders and that jawline!"

"He looks kind of familiar. Has anyone seen the woman with him before?" another asked curiously.

"I might just go say hi. Anyone coming with me?"

Before long, a confident young woman decided to make her move. With a flick of her hair, she took two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter and began walking toward Theodore and Marissa with deliberate grace, her hips swaying subtly with each step.

In these high-society circles, confidence was practically bred into the sons and daughters of the elite.

As soon as she made her move, several well-dressed young men followed, each pretending to look casual while straightening their ties and walking toward them.

However, before anyone could say a word, Theodore and Marissa stepped into the elevator, completely unfazed by the attention.

They rode the elevator directly to the lounge without looking back.

The lounge had been carefully arranged by the Curtis family, complete with attendants, stylists, and an array of gowns and jewelry because one outfit was never enough for such events.

Of course, the men's and women's lounges were separate, each styled to suit its guests.

Without exchanging a word, Theodore and Marissa split up, heading to their own lounges to get ready.

Just as Marissa entered her lounge, a friendly voice called out to her, "Are you here by yourself, Miss Curtis?"