The car window slid down with a quiet hum, revealing a man whose features were so perfectly defined they almost seemed unreal.

Marissa froze—it was Theodore Brooks, the current head of the Brooks family.

The Brooks family was not just influential—it was one of the most powerful families in the region, their reach extending across industries and politics. For someone of his stature, who was constantly buried in high-level affairs, to appear here in person was almost unimaginable.

"Get in."

His voice was smooth and pleasant, yet completely devoid of warmth—a tone that carried authority rather than invitation.

The car door clicked open from the inside.

Marissa blinked, thinking she must have misheard him. She instinctively pushed the door shut again and forced a polite smile. "Thank you, but I'm waiting for someone."

A brief flash of surprise crossed Theodore's otherwise expressionless face. His eyes lingered on her composed expression before he replied flatly, "I'm the one you're waiting for."

When Marissa still didn't move, he reached into the seat beside him, picked up a document, and extended it toward her. His brows knit slightly, his tone remaining detached. "Take a look."

Her gaze lingered on his face for a moment before she finally accepted the document.

She had always disliked the artificial scent of cologne on men, yet the faint cedarwood fragrance he wore was unexpectedly calming—clean, understated, and oddly magnetic.

Almost without realizing it, Marissa opened the door and slid into the seat beside him.

The interior was refined and luxurious, its quiet elegance matching its owner perfectly. As the car moved, Marissa stared down at the report in her hands—her eyes scanning the pages again and again. A DNA test.

Her throat tightened. It turned out she was the real daughter of the Curtis family!

The Curtis family was renowned across Ariolens for their vast fortune and humanitarian work. They owned Corelight Pharma, the nation's largest pharmaceutical company, and had built countless charitable foundations. They were also always the first to offer help in any crisis. They were a name synonymous with power and generosity.

In comparison, the Fletcher family, who had raised her, was insignificant.

And yet, they had sneered at her, insisting her biological parents were from the slums.

The irony almost made Marissa laugh aloud.

Her lashes trembled slightly as she lowered her head, her slim fingers tapping lightly against the document. After a long pause, she finally asked, her voice calm but edged with amusement, "So… are you the husband my real parents arranged for me?" A hint of mischief played in her tone, as though she found the entire situation absurd.

If the Fletchers ever discovered that the supposedly "lowly" parents they mocked had arranged for her to marry the powerful Theodore, they would probably lose their minds.

Her casual, almost teasing attitude rubbed Theodore the wrong way.

He turned his head, studying her closely. She sat there with her chin resting on her hand, the sunlight filtering through the window and dancing in her eyes, turning them into pools of quiet defiance. Something about her didn't match the calm, docile image he had been led to expect from her file.

After a moment, his voice dropped a few degrees colder. "Are you dissatisfied with me?"

Theodore didn't look away for even a second. His gaze stayed locked on Marissa's face, as though he were trying to read something hidden beneath her calm expression.

"My parents arranged our marriage, so my opinions don't matter," Marissa answered plainly. She held his gaze with quiet confidence, her lips curving into a faint, composed smile.

Theodore's eyes were dark and hard to read, giving nothing away. He lifted an eyebrow, but his tone stayed cool and detached.

"You seem to have accepted your arranged marriage without much resistance. Quite the obedient daughter, aren't you?" he remarked.

Obedient daughter?

Marissa's fingers stilled, and her brows drew together slightly. A sharp glimmer flickered in her clear eyes as she replied softly, "You're one to talk, Mr. Brooks."

Both of them kept their faces neutral as they locked eyes, neither one ready to back down. The silence between them was thick with tension.

The car was spacious but still too confined for comfort. When Theodore shifted slightly, the scent of cedar around him intensified, filling the air and surrounding her. She tried breathing through her mouth but then caught another faint scent beneath the cedar... something faintly metallic.

It took her a moment to realize it was the scent of blood. Was he hurt?

Her eyes moved to his face, stopping briefly at his tightly pressed lips before she realized she'd been staring.

"You..." she began, unsure how to ask.

The moment she spoke, his expression turned cold and severe.

The sudden change made her hesitate, but just as quickly, his features softened again.

Completely unpredictable!

That was the only conclusion Marissa could come to about his ever-changing moods.

"Never mind. It's nothing," she said lightly, leaning back as if the conversation no longer mattered.

She appeared relaxed, but every muscle in her body was on alert. From the corner of her eye, she watched Theodore, who seemed disinterested in continuing the talk. After a moment, she closed her eyes, pretending to rest, though her mind stayed sharp and wary.

"Forget it. He probably just used perfume to mask the scent of his injury. There's no point in calling him out on it," she mused.

Theodore looked at her for a moment, his eyes tracing the calmness on her face. Then, with a crease in his brow, he turned away and closed his eyes as well.

"Mr. Brooks?"

The voice of Wilbur Howe, Theodore's assistant, came from the front seat as he tapped lightly on the partition.

Theodore opened his eyes and pressed a button, lowering the divider between them.

"Miss Fletcher," Wilbur greeted politely before turning to Theodore. His usual calm demeanor shifted to something more serious. "We've just received information that Dr. Moore vanished after arriving in Ozreka."

Marissa had planned to tune out the conversation completely. But the moment she heard the name Dr. Moore, her composure cracked, and her eyes widened briefly in surprise.

She quickly recovered, turning her head toward the window, wearing a look so composed it was almost cold, as if none of it mattered to her.

Still, while the two men spoke, she quietly listened, every word of Wilbur's report to Theodore reaching her attentive ears.

She believed her small reaction had gone unnoticed, but Theodore had seen it. The quick flash in her eyes when Dr. Moore's name came up hadn't escaped him.

Why did she react like that? Had she heard of Dr. Moore?

According to rumors, Dr. Moore was a man with miraculous medical skills, but he was elusive. It was highly unlikely she knew him.

Theodore didn't let his thoughts show, keeping his gaze steady ahead. But deep down, his interest in Marissa grew stronger.

Marissa rolled the window down a little, letting the cool breeze brush against her face. Just then, a blue Bugatti sped past—a car so rare and expensive it made heads turn even in this upscale area.

Their black sedan continued through the elegant villa district, where luxurious homes lined the lakeside, each one more impressive than the last.

When the car stopped in front of two neighboring villas, Marissa noticed five men waiting outside. All of them were good-looking, their eyes lighting up the moment they saw her.

"Marissa, welcome home."

The greeting came in perfect unison, warm and full of excitement.

One of the men stepped forward with a welcoming smile and began introducing them one by one. "This is your eldest brother, Marc Curtis. Next is Zachary, your second brother. Then there's Danny, your third brother, and Timothy, your fourth. And as for me," he added with a light grin, "I'm your fifth brother, Andrew."

"Marissa, welcome back home." Marc spread his arms wide, his expression gentle and affectionate.

Before she could respond, Andrew jumped in, wrapping her in a hug. "Hey! I saw her first! The first hug should be mine!"

Marc laughed and shook his head, lowering his arms good-naturedly. Then, his eyes moved past Andrew and landed on Theodore, who had just stepped out of the car. "It's been a while, Theodore," Marc greeted, walking over.

The scene was filled with cheerful energy and warmth, the Curtis brothers happily crowding around their sister. In contrast, Theodore stood quietly to the side, calm and detached, as if the lively atmosphere had nothing to do with him.

"Must've been about half a year since we last met, huh?" Marc said, noticing Theodore's reserved expression. Could it be that Theodore had not said a single word to Marissa during their drive here?

"Marc! Enough small talk!" Andrew interrupted. "The most important thing today is that our sister's finally home! Come on, let's go inside."

Theodore didn't follow them. "I have some matters to take care of," he said simply. "Now that she's here safely, I'll be heading out."

Marc frowned but didn't push further. "Alright then. We'll catch up next time."

Theodore gave a short nod, his eyes flicking briefly toward Marissa. "I'll take my leave now."

Caught off guard, Marissa hesitated, then waved awkwardly. "Oh, okay. Goodbye."

"Come on, Marissa! Mom and Dad are already waiting inside," Andrew said, taking her hand and leading her into the villa.

Just then, a soft, frail voice echoed from inside. "Is... is my daughter back?"

That gentle tone carried both warmth and weakness, followed by a harsh, painful cough that filled the silent hall.

"Quick! Get some water and her medicine!"

The maids, dressed neatly in light brown uniforms, rushed to help, moving quickly and quietly.

Andrew and Marc guided Marissa further into the main hall.

Marc frowned, his tone sharp. "Didn't we agree to wait until we got inside before telling her?"

His words made the butler nearby break into a nervous sweat.

Their mother, Corrine Curtis, took the glass of water from a maid and waved off Marc's concern. Tears glistened in her eyes as she turned her gaze toward Marissa.

The resemblance between her and her sons was unmistakable. The Curtis brothers were undeniably handsome, and their mother's beauty had once been just as breathtaking. In her youth, Corrine had been radiant, like a flower at its peak, and even with the passing years, her charm hadn't faded. There was still a natural grace about her, soft yet dignified, the kind that drew people in effortlessly.

"Marissa!" Corrine's voice trembled, her tears finally spilling over. They rolled down her pale, delicate cheeks as she tried to move the wheelchair herself, too impatient to wait for help.

Marissa stood frozen as the chair slowly came to a stop in front of her.

The air around them seemed to still. Finally, she crouched down, lowering herself to meet the woman's eyes.

Corrine whispered, her voice breaking with emotion, "It's been nineteen years. I've finally found you."