Chapter 656:
The sharp sound reverberated through the room as Marina’s hand connected with Aliza’s cheek.
Aliza stumbled slightly, her hand flying to her face as she stared at Marina, wide-eyed and disbelieving. “Marina,
what did | do?” she asked, her voice trembling with an edge of wounded innocence.
But Marina was seething, her fury unchecked. “You're as cunning as your mother! | looked into it and found out
Carrie's ex-husband is Kristopher. You've been getting cozy with him recently—don’t tellyou're trying to use
Aliza blinked, then composed herself, her expression morphing into one of hurt. “Marina, how could you think
that of me? Did Carrie put these ideas in your head?”
Her voice softened, as if appealing to their years of friendship. “We’ve known each other since we were kids. The
Herrera family may not have the Webster family’s influence, but we've always had better manners than these
small-town nobodies. How could you doubtlike this?”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAliza’s expression turned earnest. “It’s true I'm getting close to Kristopher. But Carrie is his ex-wife, not his
current one. They were already divorced before we met. If Kristopher truly loved her, why would they have
gotten divorced in the first place?”
Marina crossed her arms tightly, her stance defensive but her expression still uncertain. “You're lying! Reece told
Hearing this, Aliza’s panic eased slightly. She quickly masked it with a soft sigh of relief, her mind spinning. She
had already looked into Carrie's background. Carrie had grown up in Orkset, and her parents had no connection
to the Morrison family. How could she possibly be a Morrison child?
goZnov[]Jsis your gateway to fiction
Feigning pity, she fixed Marina with a sympathetic gaze. “Oh Marina, you're so gullible. Do you believe
everything they tell you?” As she spoke, she reached out to pull Marina closer.
Marina took a step back, suspicion flashing in her eyes. “What are you implying?”
Aliza’s tone beceven more measured, her expression serious. “Think about it. Reece's father only has one
sibling, Jenesis, who had no children. So tell me, Marina, how could Reece suddenly have a cousin?”
Marina hesitated, her initial certainty starting to waver. “Maybe she’s a cousin from his mother’s side?”
Aliza let out a faint laugh, rolling her eyes in exaggerated disbelief. “A cousin you've never heard of, from a
family as prominent as the Morrisons? Really?”
Marina tried to piece things together. “But Arion is here too,” she countered. “If Carrie was involved in anything
improper with either of them, there's no way they'd all show up together. That would make the Morrison family a
laughingstock!”
“Marina, you still don’t get it, do you?” Aliza said with a meaningful tone.
Marina furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
Aliza sighed, her expression almost regretful. “There was news circulating a few days ago—rumors, gossip. The
Morrison family worked hard to suppress it, but people who needed to know still saw it. The Morrisons have
always maintained a spotless reputation, Marina. They wouldn't tolerate even the smallest hint of impropriety.”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmShe straightened, her voice turning pointed. “Think about it. Why would they go out of their way to bring a so-
called cousin to your brother's birthday party? Have you ever seen a Morrison cousin treated with such fanfare
before?”
Aliza continued, “Having both brothers bring her here is the perfect way to squash any rumors. It makes
everything seem clean and proper, doesn’t it? Even you believed it enough to confrontabout it. Cousin?
Don’t believe a word of it.” With that, she gave Marina a knowing look, her lips curling into a faint smile.
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