Marc calmly explained to Corrine that Theodore had left early because of other obligations. After a pause, he added carefully, "Mom, to be honest, I don't think the Brooks family is that invested in this marriage. There are plenty of respectable young men here in Ozreka who'd be a better match for Rissa. Maybe we should consider someone else?"

Corrine's expression shifted, caught between surprise and confusion. "Theodore isn't happy about the marriage?" she asked. "But didn't the Brooks family say he agreed to it himself?"

The Curtis and Brooks families were bound by a marriage alliance.

When Marissa went missing all those years ago, her stepgrandmother had even tried to replace her with another girl, though Corrine and her husband had fiercely opposed the idea. The Brooks family refused the replacement outright, insisting they would wait until the Curtis family head's daughter was found. Only then could the marriage arrangement be resumed.

Before Corrine could continue, a loud commotion erupted downstairs.

"Where is she? I've never seen someone so shameless! She's barely back home and already causing trouble! I don't recognize her as a Curtis. Who does she think she is? Bring her down here right now!"

Upstairs, inside the cloakroom, Marissa's tone was calm but firm as she spoke into the phone. "I'll treat him on one condition: I choose the venue. Make sure they understand that. That's all. I have something to deal with now, so we'll talk later."

As soon as she hung up, a sharp knock sounded at the door.

"Miss Marissa Curtis! Are you inside? Mrs. Rita Curtis and Miss Holley Curtis have arrived! They're waiting to see you downstairs. Please come at once."

The butler's voice rang out, slightly too loud and almost eager.

Marissa didn't rush. She picked up a silver-gray suit jacket, slipped it on, and opened the door.

The butler, who had been smirking to himself a moment ago, froze when she appeared. His confident look faltered into awkwardness as he quickly lowered his head and stepped aside to clear her path.

Marissa didn't bother acknowledging him. Her heels clicked lightly against the floor as she descended the grand staircase.

Just before she could reach the bottom, a disdainful voice rose from below. "So, you're Marissa?"

Marissa's gaze dropped, landing on the older woman lounging confidently on the couch below.

Dressed in lavish jewelry that gleamed under the light, she exuded an air of arrogance and self-importance. It was none other than Rita Curtis.

"Are you deaf?" she sneered. "You see me and can't even say hello?"

Despite all the glittering jewels she was wearing, there wasn't a hint of grace about her, but just pure arrogance.

The warmth Marissa had felt from her mother and brothers only moments ago had started to ease her guard, but Rita's words quickly built those walls back up again.

She remembered the file Theodore had once shown her, the report listing every living member of the Curtis family. She hadn't had time to study it thoroughly, but one name had caught her eye—Rita Curtis, her grandfather Hank Curtis's second wife.

"Raised in such humble surroundings, no wonder you lack proper manners," Rita remarked, her eyes narrowing as Marissa came closer. The faint resemblance Marissa shared with Corrine seemed to fuel her dislike even more.

Next to Rita sat a young woman leaning affectionately against her shoulder—Holley, Marissa's cousin. She tilted her head and, with an innocence that was more mocking than sweet, asked, "Does she really not speak? That's kind of sad."

The scene brought an unpleasant sense of déjà vu to Marissa. The dynamic between Rita and Holley reminded her far too much of Susanna and Evelina.

"Sad? What's sad about her?" Rita scoffed. "Don't waste your pity on her. She's here to take what rightfully belongs to you."

Holley's eyes swept over Marissa's flawless features, and jealousy twisted in her chest. That calm and beautiful face made her feel small in comparison. "Rita, don't be so harsh with Marissa. She's our family," she said sweetly, throwing Marissa a quick, teasing wink.

Rita's expression hardened instantly. "I refuse to accept someone who behaves so rudely as family," she snapped, clutching Holley's hand protectively. "Holley is the one I care about! Mark my words—everything in this family belongs to her as well. If you dare try to take it all for yourself, I'll see you kicked out of the Curtis family before you can blink!"

Holley tilted her chin proudly, flashing Marissa a smug grin. With Rita's backing, everything that mattered would eventually belong to her anyway. Marissa was powerless to prevent it.

Just then, a rough voice cut in from nearby. "If Holley wasn't too weak to have children, do you really think the Brooks family would've chosen you, Marissa?"

The words came from Barry Curtis, Holley's older brother.

He continued, "They only agreed to your marriage to Theodore because they needed someone to carry on their bloodline. You should be thanking Holley! If she hadn't insisted they bring you back, you'd still be living who-knows-where!"

Marissa was lost in thought. So that was it? Theodore had married her because Holley couldn't bear children.

And the Curtis family hadn't brought her home out of love or guilt, but because they needed her for the same purpose.

The absurdity almost made Marissa laugh.

In that moment, everything clicked. She finally saw through Rita's real intentions. Her expression stayed composed, almost amused, as if she were watching a group of clowns perform. Then, hearing quick footsteps approaching from behind, she finally broke her silence. "So, if I'm understanding this correctly... everything I have now isn't because I'm a Curtis, but because Holley was kind enough to grant me her leftovers?"

Holley's lips curled into a condescending smile, but the moment she saw Marc at the doorway, her expression softened instantly. Pulling away from Rita, she fluttered her lashes and said sweetly, "Marissa, you've got it wrong. I didn't mean—"

"Rissa?" Marc's voice cut through the tension as he appeared unexpectedly.

The study upstairs was soundproof—if his assistant hadn't called him about a sudden work matter, he would've never realized Rita, Holley, and Barry had shown up uninvited.

"Marc," Marissa greeted softly, turning just enough to meet his eyes.

"Marc, perfect timing!" Rita exclaimed, relief flashing in her eyes. She'd been struggling to rein Marissa in, and Marc's arrival felt like the perfect chance to tip the scales. She stepped forward, her voice rising as she jabbed a finger in Marissa's direction.

Marissa's eyes flicked toward the staircase. None of her other brothers had come down, nor had Corrine. It was just Marc.

Holley, sensing the tension, decided to play innocent. She stepped away from Rita and hurried toward Marissa, grabbing her arm with exaggerated affection.

"Marissa, don't be upset. Rita's just straightforward; she doesn't mean any harm," she said in a sugary tone that didn't match the malice hiding in her eyes. "You can talk, so why didn't you say something sooner? Or could it be that you just don't want to acknowledge her? Anyway, let's not make things awkward between family, okay?"

Marissa let out a faint sigh, her lips curling into a polite smile.

With graceful ease, she slipped her arm free from Holley's grasp and gave her a light shove back toward Rita. "I'm afraid I'm not the type who puts up with people so easily."

"Marissa, you!" Holley gasped as she lost her balance, wobbling for a moment before Rita and Barry rushed forward, catching her just before she hit the floor.

"Marissa! You have the audacity to push Holley?!" Rita's shrill voice cracked with rage. Her calm facade vanished as she rolled up her sleeves, ready to lash out.

Marc, on the other hand, actually admired how calmly Marissa handled herself, but seeing Rita and the others ganging up on her made his patience snap. He strode forward and caught Rita's wrist firmly, his voice turning icy. "Rita, if you keep this up, I will take back the winery that was under Uncle's name."

Rita's face froze, her bravado faltering as a flicker of unease crossed her eyes. "I just wanted her to show some respect. What's wrong with that?"

"Respect? For a mistress who clawed her way to status with a fake pregnancy?" Marissa's tone dripped with venom.

She reached over calmly and gestured for Marc to let go. She had never been one to start a fight, but if someone pushed her, she always made sure they regretted it.

"Utter nonsense!" Rita barked, her face blanching. Of all things, her affair and shameless climb to power were the last topics she wanted brought up.

Marissa's voice turned cool and cutting. "If you've got so much free time to meddle in my life, why not focus on your own? That old man you're keeping company with seems quite taken with another woman lately. And that younger lover of yours? He's been planning to use a few intimate videos to find himself a new girlfriend. Maybe you should spend less time scolding me and more time keeping him... satisfied."

"Enough!" Rita roared, her face flaming red.

Fury twisted her expression as she struggled to hold her composure in front of her family. How could Marissa possibly know all that?

"Rita, is that true?" Holley's voice trembled as she looked between Rita and Marissa in confusion.

"Don't believe a word she says!" Rita snapped, forcing herself to steady her voice for Holley's sake. Then she turned back to Marissa, her eyes blazing. "Say another word, and I'll teach you a lesson myself!"

Marissa adjusted her cuff with a faint, unbothered smile. "Don't try to test me."

With that, her gaze shifted to Holley, her tone calm but edged with quiet warning. "Holley, you should understand something. Just because you want something doesn't mean everyone else does. So next time, skip the games. I like things straightforward."

She gave Holley's cheek a light pat, which was enough to make the cosmetic fillers under her skin shift slightly.

Barry's stomach twisted. He had a bad feeling that he was next. Swallowing hard, he clasped his hands together and shot Marc a desperate look. "Marc..."

Marc noticed Barry's silent plea out of the corner of his eye but ignored it. His sister clearly had things under control, and he wasn't about to ruin her fun.

"Holley can't have children, but you can help her with that, Barry."

Marissa's words landed like an explosion.

Barry's face went blank with shock, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly before he finally stammered, "I... I'm a man! This is... this is a mother's role, a woman's work!"

Marissa's cold gaze locked onto him. "You're a Curtis," she said flatly. "Put your fortune into research. I'm sure you can buy yourself a miracle and figure out how a man can conceive."

Her tone was almost conversational, but the chill beneath it was unmistakable.