At her lowest point, Marco appeared.
Once again, he had cto her rescue. A debt of gratitude she felt incapable of repaying.
Mixed emotions swirled within Loraine. She didn’t want to be in Marco’s debt any longer. She feared that as
Rowan predicted, she might eventually Lose herself.
“Marco, | appreciate your help. But, | will investigate this matter myself. If someone did conspire against me, |
won't let it pass.”
Marco's face turned stone cold. He was aware Loraine hadn't fully accepted him, but hearing her reject his help
was a sucker punch to his heart.
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Left with no choice, Marco awkwardly shifted the conversation. “How was the event?”
Simultaneously, Loraine too questioned him, “You... How long were you waiting out here?”
At that moment, they found themselves staring at each other, taken aback.
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At last, Loraine could no longer bear his gaze, and her eyes darted away first.
A heavy quiet hung between them. After a beat, Marco breathed out deeply and muttered, “The night air carries
a chill. That dress isn’t quite warm enough. We should get in the car.”
Without uttering a response, Loraine simply trailed him towards the parking area.
Midway, out of the blue, she voiced out, “The exhibition was impressive.”
Caught off guard, Marco took a second before understanding that Loraine was responding to his previous
question. He spun to face her.
Quickly, Loraine averted her gaze, her eyes dodging his.
“lam glad that you have a good time,” Marco responded, his voice trailing off into a cough. Then he added, “I
just arrived. Heard a commotion and decided to check it out.”
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As they exchanged words, they arrived at his vehicle.
The black Lincoln car blended with the night's darkness. By contrast, the metallic surface of the adjacent trash
can was littered with cigarette stubs.
The lingering scent of smoke revealed the truth. He had been lying all along. Clearly, he had been waiting for
Loraine outside the Cruz family’s residence all along.
Loraine stood in silence, her gaze fixed upon the discarded cigarette stubs, rendered speechless.
“Only just arrived?”
In response, Marco fell silent, looking somewhat flustered.
An inexplicable atmosphere hung between them, tinged with a hint of awkwardness and subtle tension.
Loraine dropped her gaze and maintained her silence.