Was Marcus always insecure like that?
I spaced out for a moment before making introductions. “This is Mr. Zimmerman–You’ve met him at the restaurant. This is Emery Moore.”
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Moore,” Marcus said, his arm outstretched. “I am Marcus White.” They shook hands gently.
When Emery took his hand, she tightened her grip deliberately. “Mr. White, it’s only been a few years. Don’t you don’t recognize me already?”
“Do you know each other?” I asked.
Marcus looked pale and glanced at Alexander. It was subtle but I noticed it.
Alexander received the signal. He separated them both, coming up with an excuse as he did so. “All of you grew up in K City together. What’s more, you’re Scarlett’s friend. It’s not unusual for you to have crossed paths before. You could also have crossed paths before; who knows? This is fate. Come, let’s talk about it over lunch.”
Emery glared at Alexander for yanking her arm away. She turned and stared at Marcus. I was surprised to see hostility in her beautiful eyes. She looked as though she had wanted to say something but thought the better of it.
Anyone with brains could have seen that there was something fishy between those two, but it was ambiguous enough to keep me guessing.
Thus, the meal was passed in strained silence.
Marcus did not go upstairs immediately after dinner. He accompanied me and the maid to put away the dishes. Our actions were like a seasoned married couple.
I noticed that Emery was extremely unhappy.
These three must be hiding something from me.
After some chatter, I acted drowsy as an excuse to go upstairs. “Marcus, please entertain Ms. Moore and Mr. Zimmerman for the moment. I’m feeling sleepy after the medication. I’ll just be upstairs resting for a bit.”
“Go on,” Marcus said unsuspectingly as he got up to help me to the stairs. I went up and disappeared around the bend.
After ensuring that I was out of sight of everybody downstairs, I pressed my back against the wall to eavesdrop on the conversation taking place below. Hearing Marcus turn back to the living room, I hurriedly tiptoed back and snuck behind the pillar of the veranda. When I was well hidden enough, I peered over to inspect the situation downstairs.
Emery’s cold voice rang out before Marcus sat down. “We have exhausted large amounts of resources to search for Scarlett all over the world. And here you are hiding her from under the noses of the Stovall and Moore family. Marcus, should I call you smart or brazen?”
Marcus smiled pleasantly. “I’d take that as a compliment. Thank you.”
After interacting with him for such a long time, this was the first time I was witnessing his arrogance.
“When are you planning on telling Scarlett the truth?” Emery demanded.
“The truth?” Marcus retorted. “What truth? The truth was that I have been caring for her for six years, as everyone can see. Scarlett had died that year as you know it. The Scarlett you’ve met is just a lookalike.”
Marcus paused to draw breath. His hands were interlocked at the fingers on his knees with an expression of sternness on his face. “I think I’ve made myself very clear with Mr. Zimmerman. My fiancée has a good life now. I do not wish for anyone to bother her again, including you and other irrelevant people.”
“Hah!” Emery shouted. “You’re insane. What right do you have to make decisions for Scarlett? She has a family and her own happiness. What’s more, she had rejected you a long time ago. Don’t you think that this opportunistic behavior of yours is depraved?”
“I don’t care,” Marcus stated nonchalantly as he leaned back.
“I just want her to have a good life. I don’t care about anything other than that.”
“But Scarlett cares. Doesn’t that…”
“Enough.” Marcus did not give Emery a chance to rebut. With a look of impatience, he continued, “I’m not in the mood to listen to your lecture. You just need to know that if it weren’t for me, Scarlett wouldn’t have been able to rid herself of Armond. Now that Armond is dead, she has no more threats. I can’t possibly let her go through that suffering again! Only I am capable of caring for her. You don’t have to come and visit anymore.”
