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."

Corrine's eyes were swollen and red as she looked at Marissa, her long-lost child finally standing before her. Her voice trembled, breaking between sobs. "I missed you so much... so, so much, Marissa."

Unable to hold it in any longer, she reached forward and pulled Marissa tightly into her arms.

From the moment Marissa had stepped into the Curtis family's villa, the warmth and affection surrounding her had felt almost foreign. She wasn't used to this kind of welcome. It made her uneasy, yet at the same time, she couldn't help but feel drawn to it.

Within seconds, Corrine's tears had soaked through Marissa's shoulder. Marissa lowered her gaze, feeling a hot sting in her own eyes. She hesitated, then slowly raised her hand and placed it on her mother's back.

That simple gesture made Corrine's heart leap. She cupped Marissa's face and asked softly, "Did the Fletcher family treat you well all these years?"

"They were... strict. But I managed," Marissa replied.

She wasn't good at pretending, and honestly, she saw no reason to lie. There was no point in defending people who had never truly cared for her.

Corrine instantly understood the truth behind those few words, but she was too overwhelmed to respond. Overcome with emotion, she clung to Marissa so tightly that Marissa had to brace herself to stay upright.

"Be careful!"

One of the Curtis brothers called out, ready to help. But before they could move, they saw Marissa easily lift their frail mother and set her gently into the wheelchair.

All five brothers stared in surprise. Who would've guessed their sister was that strong?

Had the Fletcher family really made her do all the heavy lifting and rough chores all these years?

"You're amazing, Marissa," Corrine exclaimed, her voice overflowing with pride and tenderness.

But then, her smile faltered. Her gaze dropped to Marissa's skirt that was torn at the edge, and her expression instantly changed. Tears fell from her eyes, landing on her pale, trembling hand as she gripped the fabric. "Did the Fletcher family do this to you?"

Marissa shook her head. "No."

Though her reply was quiet, Corrine didn't believe it for a second.

A mother's heart knew the truth. There was no warmth in Marissa's tone, no fondness when she spoke of them. The absence of any emotion was proof enough of the coldness she must have endured all these years.

"Marissa, are you upset with me?" Corrine's usually steady voice wavered as she spoke. The woman who had always carried herself with confidence couldn't even lift her eyes to meet her daughter's. "I never meant to leave you back then. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I never wanted to lose you."

Her words came out broken, carried by the weight of years of regret.

Marissa lowered her head slightly, her gaze meeting Corrine's tearful eyes. After a brief pause, she answered softly, "I know."

Because who in their right mind would ever choose to lose their own child?

"How did you find out I am your daughter?" Marissa asked.

The Fletcher family had described her real family as lowly and despicable, a far cry from the dignity of the powerful Curtis family.

Corrine's eyes shimmered with guilt as she gently took her daughter's hand. "We have Theodore to thank for that," she said tenderly.

"Theodore?" Marissa blinked, surprise flickering in her eyes.

Corrine nodded. "You might not remember, but you and Theodore met once before. He said he saw you at a business event and thought you looked a lot like our family."

"Oh, I see." Marissa's voice carried no particular interest, just mild politeness.

Sensing her disinterest, Corrine quickly shifted the conversation and guided her towards the walk-in closet. "I've had so many clothes and pieces of jewelry prepared for you. After all these years, you finally get to have them."

She had originally planned to give Marissa time to adjust, to let her ease into this new life slowly. But seeing her daughter's torn skirt earlier had made her realize she might have underestimated how much hardship Marissa had endured.

Still, Marissa wasn't one to talk much. Most of Corrine's attempts to engage her had been met with short, almost emotionless replies. It made her hesitate, afraid of pushing too hard.

"Would you like me to stay with you a little while longer?" Corrine asked tentatively. She longed to be near her daughter, but she also didn't want to make her uncomfortable. Marissa was an adult now, and Corrine didn't want to intrude.

Marissa understood what Corrine was thinking. She offered her mother a reassuring smile. "You should rest for a bit. I'll be fine."

Corrine's heart sank for a moment, but when she saw the small gesture of concern behind those words, her disappointment softened into warmth. "Alright. If you need anything at all, just call me."

"Okay." Marissa nodded and helped push her mother's wheelchair out of the walk-in closet.

Once outside, Corrine's expression changed. She turned to Marc, her tone calm but edged with concern. "Marc, why didn't Theodore come back with Marissa?"