Chapter 99

Theodore's grip was like iron.

Caught flat-footed, Farris stumbled, nearly losing his footing, and had to slap his hand against the wall to keep himself upright.

He hadn't expected to get busted red-handed.

Out in public, Farris had the guts to mouth off at Theodore, banking on the fact that Theodore, who cared about keeping up appearances, wouldn't come down on him too hard.

But now, with not a soul around, Farris felt his stomach drop. When push came to shove, he was still pretty spooked by this stone-faced, intimidating figure.

Wincing visibly, Farris steadied himself, clutching his right shoulder with his left hand and resting his right hand on his hip, grumbling under his breath,"You're about to snap my collarbone like a twig! Couldn't you just tell me to back off instead of manhandling me?"

His voice dropped so low it was barely a whisper.

Marissa watched his shifting expressions with detached patience, noting how his muttering got quieter and quieter. She lowered her gaze and looked away.

"Do you like her?" Theodore's finger pointed toward Marissa, but his words were aimed squarely at Farris."Look at me!"

Farris snapped his eyes to Theodore, taking in that blank expression. His heart hammered in his chest, and he forced out a smile that couldn't have looked less genuine if he tried, shaking his head like his life depended on it. "No way! I was just testing her for you, to see if she really gives a damn about you. I am not interested in her. Theodore, you've got to believe me! I'm being straight with you!"

Worried Theodore might not buy it, he added, "I was running the test from the second you walked through that door." He even dragged Theodore's mother into it, convinced that Marissa was just some girl from humble beginnings. "Your mother even said you could marry whoever you want. It doesn't have to be someone from the Curtis family!"

Marissa let out a quiet scoff.

He actually called that a test?

"Theodore, he said you'd give me the cold shoulder." Marissa spoke softly, her tone landing somewhere between a complaint and a tease, a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips. "He said you were swimming in beautiful women."

She looked up, catching his gaze dead-on, her eyes still glinting with amusement.

Theodore didn't break eye contact, staring right back at her, his eyes gradually warming with a real smile.

"I didn't say that! You're making stuff up!" Farris burst out, his eyes going wide with disbelief as he gaped at Marissa, his mouth twitching as he fought to keep his expression in check-smiling with his lips, but his eyes burning with resentment. "Miss, you can't just throw accusations around like that. We're complete strangers -why on earth would I say anything like that to you?"

Farris was hell-bent on not admitting a thing.

As long as he denied it, Theodore would take his word over hers.

Still, Farris felt his confidence waver, his brow furrowing, not daring to meet anyone's eyes head-on, his shoulder still throbbing.

Theodore's brutal grip on his shoulder just now brought back memories of when Theodore had beaten him senseless as a kid-no mercy whatsoever.

Just thinking about it sent a cold chill down his spine.

Left wvith no other choice, Farris played his trump card: he brought up Theodore's mother again. "Theodore,this is all one big misunderstanding. Your mother just wanted me to find out where you got hurt."

He wasn't lying through his teeth-it really was his aunt who'd told him about Theodore's injury. She'd even suspected his injury was somewhere... delicate, given how he'd dragged his feet on agreeing to the marriage alliance with the Curtis family before, and now suddenly gave it the green light.

Anyone would jump to that conclusion!

Besides, he was getting paid to do this job, and he had to deliver,right?

He just hadn't counted on Theodore bringing a woman to the party-especially to a Curtis family banquet.

Feeling a bit bolder now, Farris pressed on, "Theodore, if you've got a problem with it, take it up with your mother, not me. I'm just the messenger here-I don't know anything!"

With that, he took off like a shot, vanishing around the corner.

He didn't go far though, stopping just out of sight to catch his breath before carefully peeking back down the hallway.

There they were-Marissa and Theodore locked in a silent staring match.

Marissa leaned casually against the wall, arms folded, looking deceptively harmless despite that icy exterior,but the truth was anything but.

Theodore radiated coldness, the kind that kept people at arm's length.

The two stood there facing each other.

Farris noted that neither one was budging an inch.

Just from looks alone, they seemed like a perfect match.

The air hung heavy with silence.

After a few beats, Farris pulled up a chat with his aunt and fired off a short video clip.

Marissa glanced toward the corner, raising an eyebrow at Theodore. "Your cousin is quite the character."

Theodore didn't rush to Farris's defense, instead pulling Marissa closer with an arm draped around her shoulder, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "He's not worth taking seriously. If you run into him again, don't bother being polite. Don't feel like you need to spare his feelings on my account."

Theodore went on calmly, "Lashing out at him wouldn't be crossing any lines. Did he get under your skin earlier? He didn't get very far."

He dropped his gaze, his eyes fixed entirely on her.

To Theodore, Farris was small fry.

Marissa's voice stayed even, as if she was above it all. "Something that petty doesn't get to me."

Theodore's lips quirked up slightly, not pushing the conversation any further.