Michael’s voice broke the heavy quietude. Both Christoph and Marianne turned their heads simultaneously. Michael, his hands in his pockets, walked slowly towards them.
“Another line to your illustrious career. The epithet of a lawyer with a 100% success rate is now more secure.”
It was a barbed compliment.
Michael curled one side of his lips. Defeat was always bitter, but losing to Christoph was even more so.
Slowly, he shifted his gaze. His eyes met Marianne’s. An unintelligible groan escaped his lips.
It seemed like a groan of shame for his defeat, yet also resentment for Marianne, who had provided conclusive evidence.
From Michael’s lips oozed a cold sneer.
“Never knew you two were a team.”
“I’m not on anyone’s side. My job is to reveal the truth. If the truth is buried, innocent people suffer. That’s… too sad.”
Suddenly, Christoph’s gaze turned towards her. At that moment, he felt he knew whom Marianne was thinking of.
Veronica.
Her younger sister, and his sister-in-law.
Marianne still couldn’t accept Veronica’s death. Christoph recalled the case report he reviewed recently. Nothing suspicious stood out. But still…
“……”
Christoph silently stared at her. Yes, perhaps Marianne’s speculation might be right. She was sharper and more capable than he’d anticipated.
“Let’s go.”
Christoph said to Marianne. Then he took the first step. Hesitant, Marianne soon began to follow him.
At some point, Christoph’s pace slowed, and soon he was walking side by side with Marianne.
“Didn’t forget our plans for this weekend, did you?”
“You may not know, but I have a pretty good memory.”
“No, I know.”
Michael stood motionless, watching the two figures recede until they vanished from his sight. His fist clenched.
“Don’t think this is over, Christoph.”
A chilling voice tainted the air around him.
Marianne stared intently at her reflection in the mirror. The modest navy dress seemed especially drab today. No amount of adjustment could make the cheap dress look luxurious.
She counted the days on her fingers. Payday was still a long way off. A sigh escaped her lips.
“I’ll need to buy some clothes when I get paid.”
Then, realizing it was all because of Christoph, her gaze fell.
“What’s the point of clothes…”
Marianne mumbled an excuse to no one in particular, straightened her shoulders, and lifted her chin. Standing tall, she appeared somewhat presentable.
As she was descending the stairs, she ran into Mrs. List who had just come out of the kitchen. The woman greeted her with a kind face.
“Will you be home for dinner?”
“No, ma’am. I’m afraid you’ll have to dine alone tonight.”
“Ah, you’re so considerate. Don’t worry about me, have a good date.”
“It’s not a date!”
Marianne’s hands flailed in surprise. Mrs. List smirked knowingly and pointed out the window.
“Well, Christoph is already here waiting.”
“Ah…”
Upon hearing that, Marianne’s eyes turned toward the entrance. Mrs. List stepped aside and poked Marianne’s side.
“Go on now, he’s been waiting a while.”
“…I’ll be back.”
“It’s fine if you’re late. You don’t even have to come home.”
“I won’t be late.”
Marianne replied sternly to Mrs. List’s teasing words and opened the front door to leave. Suddenly, a bouquet of yellow flowers filled her vision. A sweet scent invaded her nostrils.
Pansies.
“Please think of me.”
A voice of resignation escaped Marianne’s lips. She lifted her head slowly. Beyond the bouquet, Christoph’s figure appeared.
A grim man who strangely did not match the lovely yellow flowers.
Christoph subtly lifted his eyebrows.
“I guess I’ll have to live up to Mrs. List’s expectations. I can’t disappoint her, can I, Marianne?”
“Are you going to bring me flowers every time we meet?”
Ignoring his words, Marianne took the pansies and shot back a quip. Christoph responded only with a penetrating stare.
Maybe it was his version of an apology. Or a clumsy declaration of love. Or perhaps a passionate love letter.
Whichever it was, it was clear that it was too late.
“I’ll leave the flowers here.”
Marianne disappeared into the entrance and soon reappeared. Christoph was still waiting by the front door, obedient like a dog waiting for its owner.
Suddenly, Marianne was overwhelmed with a feeling of unease. The fear that someday, not too far from now, she might forgive Christoph.
Tightening her lips, she fortified her emotions like locking a gate. Her lips remained sealed.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
