Even Celeste was taken aback. How could Marcus be in such a hurry to coerce Rhea into marriage?


    He had never evinced interest in such matters before.


    “Marcus, has Rhea wronged you in some manner?”


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    Marcus retorted disdainfully, “She aspires to be my wife. She doesn’t merit such a station!”


    Today, Marcus exuded a particrly frigid demeanor; his utterances were exceedingly ruthless,


    oblivious to the presence of servants in their vicinity.


    The moment Millie drove him away, he got panicked. He swore he couldn’t put Millie in the harm’s way


    any longer.


    Flushed with embarrassment, Rhea felt akin to a clown whose carefully crafted facade had been


    ruthlessly shredded by Marcus.


    In this instant, she experienced the sensation of plummeting into the abyss. Was her affection


    unwarranted? Was it improper to harbor feelings for someone?


    If she admired him, she would employ every conceivable measure to win him over!


    Celeste’s countenance assumed aplex intery of emotions. Her goodwill towards Rhea stemmed


    from the car ident that transpired years ago. Shera Evans, Rhea’s elder sister, had been in the car


    with Marcus and tragically perished in the ident.


    Both Celeste and Marcus harbored guilt over Shera’s demise. After all, Shera had lost her life in the car


    crash, while Marcus had survived.


    Rhea, having been reared by Shera, was cared by Celeste after Shera’s untimely demise.


    Previously, rumors had circted about a purported connection between Shera and Marcus. In the


    aftermath of Shera’s demise, Celeste resolved that Rhea wouldn’t engage with Marcus in any manner.


    Such a rtionship would only be fodder for malicious gossip.


    “I’ve endeavored to rectify any debts owed to the Evans family throughout these years. Mother, you


    needn’t persist in carrying guilt.”


    Before Marcus assumed control of Thomas Group, Rhea’s father Bolton had been marginalized within


    thepany, sidelined by a contingent of senior executives who denied him true authority. It was


    through his subsequent assistance to Bolton that thetter was propelled to prominence.


    Yet under Celeste’s guardianship, Rhea had evolved into an unassable princess, a figure whom no


    one dared provoke.


    Millie’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. What did Marcus owe the Evans family? Why did Celeste shower


    Rhea with such indulgence?


    Noting Millie’s frigid hand, Marcus enclosed it within his own, offering a reassuring grip.


    “Let’s depart.”


    “Now that you’re back, you could remain here,” Celeste implored, wishing to retain Marcus’ presence.


    “I’ll return after Rhea’s marriage.”


    A metaphorical boulder plummeted onto Rhea’s psyche. She surreptitiously pinched her thigh, noting


    its swelling beneath the fabric.


    Each utterance from Marcus today seemed designed topel her into matrimony.