Chapter 94

The one assigned to welcome Marissa happened to be the Curtis family's butler, Brenden.

He had not yet looked at his phone, which meant he remained unaware of the messages piling up in the group chat. The rest of the staff assumed he already knew, so none of them bothered to inform him.

When Marissa arrived, Brenden didn't step aside right away. Instead, his eyes shifted past her toward the end of the corridor.

The place buzzed with movement as staff hurried about, yet none of the Curtis brothers were anywhere in sight.

Even Theodore's absence stood out.

A flicker of surprise crossed Brenden's face, though he quickly tried to hide it.

He recalled how, during her earlier visit, the entire household had gone to great lengths to greet her. Back then, he thought she held a special place in their hearts. Now, he wasn't so sure anymore.

"What's the matter?" MMarissa asked, her calm tone carrying a weight that made Brenden tense.

He lowered his gaze, masking the uncertainty in his eyes as he stepped politely to the side. "Your mother and brothers haven't been informed of your arrival yet. Allow me to notify them. Please rest here for the moment."

Brenden kept his composure, his tone measured despite the subtle hints behind his words. Experience had taught him restraint; after being reprimanded by Marc once before, he knew better than to speak too freely.

He reminded himself quietly of where he stood in the household hierarchy.

"It's fine," Marissa said, her voice .calm and indifferent. For a moment, her gaze lingered on Brenden's expression before she sank gracefully into the sofa.

Her phone rested in her hand as she continued tracking the online uproar, thinking of ways to deal with those trolls later.

"Ellen," Brenden called, motioning for a nearby servant to step forward. "This is Ellen Natt. Miss Curtis,should you require anything, she'll attend to you."

Marissa gave him a glance, her silence serving as acknowledgment.

With a polite smile, Brenden turned and exited the lounge.

Not long after, the servant who had helped settle Theodore approached Brenden."|-"

"Handle it on your own! Stop running to me for every little thing!" Brenden said, his patience thinning as he hurried to make a call before the servant could utter another word.

Left standing in silence, the young servant blinked in confusion, watching him stride quickly into the neighboring lounge.

Brenden planned to reach Holley. Since Marissa had shown up without Theodore, he figured Holley could wait for Theodore's arrival and walk in beside him when the moment came.

Brenden's loyalty naturally leaned toward Holley. After all, he had watched her grow from a child into the woman she was now.

Seeking privacy, he stepped onto the balcony to place the call, never noticing that Marissa was just next door, reclining on a deck chair and scrolling through the latest headlines.

Meanwhile, in a grand villa, Holley was trying to persuade Rita to attend the banquet with her. The thought of Marissa stealing all the attention stirred something sharp in her chest.

They shared the Curtis name, and in her mind, there was no reason Marissa should shine brighter than she did.

Holley pleaded, "Rita, come with me,please!"

Rita pressed a hand against her chest, still feeling the dull ache that refused to fade. Her brows knitted together as she muttered, "Why should I even bother going? Showing up will only give her more attention.I won't go! And you shouldn't either. Let her see that we're not fond of her." The image of Marissa's face surfaced in her mind, reigniting an irritation that made her jaw tighten.

"But Theodore's going to be there," Holley said, her voice gentle and coaxing as she clung to Rita's sleeve."Please, come with me. What if she tries to humiliate me again? Would you really want to see me treated that way?"

Marissa's sharp words still lingered in Rita's memory, and the thought of another public confrontation unsettled her.

A crowded banquet meant plenty of onlookers. If Marissa said something tactless, Rita would be the one embarrassed-and her husband wouldn't take it kindly.

"Rita," Holley said again, her eyes wide and pleading like a child's.

Caught between pride and concern, Rita studied Holley's sweet face. The thought of sending her alone felt wrong, yet the idea of attending the party hosted for Marissa left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Skipping the banquet, Rita thought, would serve as the perfect way to put Marissa in an awkward spot.

What better way to make a statement than through absence?

"Rita, please, just come with me..." Holley urged, her tone turning sweeter as she caught the faint hesitation flickering across Rita's face. She knew how to push just enough to sway her.

A sigh escaped Rita before a gentle smile curved her lips. She lifted her hand and lightly tapped Holley's forehead. "You really do know how to wear me down, don't you?"

A bright laugh burst from Holley as she bounced excitedly. "Then let's go! We're wasting time!"

Before Rita could respond, Holley's phone began to ring.

Her excitement faltered the moment she saw the caller ID-it was Brenden. The sight alone made her lips twist in irritation; he always called for the most insignificant things.

Rita caught the change in Holley's expression and reached out, concern softening her tone."What's the matter? Did something happen? Are you not in the mood to go anymore?" That worked out perfectly for Rita, since she had little desire to attend the banquet in the first place. Maxton had reminded her just that afternoon to take things easy and avoid anything that might stir her emotions.

"If you're not up for it, then we'll stay home," Rita said firmly, already convinced that rest was the wiser choice. "And tell your brother not to go either."

Panicking at the thought that Rita might truly change her mind, Holley quickly thrust her phone forward,her lips curving into a small pout. "It's Marc's butler calling again. I have no idea what he wants this time!"

Rita's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of curiosity brightening them as she took the phone from Holley's hand.

"Let me handle it," she said, pressing the answer button."Yes? What is it?"

Brenden's breath hitched when he heard her voice. Glancing down at the caller ID, he frowned in confusion before answering, "M-Mrs. Rita Curtis?"

That couldn't be right. He was certain he had dialed Holley's number.

A strange unease crept over him as he pressed his lips together, his pulse thudding faster while a flicker of confusion clouded his face.