Chapter 80


    Marie, as if influenced by the aroma of alcohol on his lips, felt her mind go nk, while tears


    continued to flow.


    Sobbing, Marie struggled to find the words, “Dennis… I…”


    Dennis gently brushed his cheek against hers and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.”


    He then lowered his head, falling asleep in Marie’s embrace.


    With considerable effort, Marie managed to push him away, cover him with a nket, and quietly leave


    with her bag.


    Exhausted, Marie leaned against the corridor outside the door, sitting on the ground, trying to collect


    her thoughts.


    Dennis was like a poison. She almost… almost wanted to tell him that she was the resurrected


    assassin.


    It was his words, “I will protect you,” that stirred these emotions within her.


    Throughout her life, she had been conditioned not to trust anyone, not to rely on anyone. The only thing


    she could rely on was the weapons in her hands.


    So over the years, she had transformed into a perfect assassin. She liked Seth, but it was purely liking


    him; she had never expected him to protect her.


    It was her role to protect Seth.


    For the first time, someone had offered to protect her.


    The idea of being an ordinary woman, hiding behind someone like what Carly did, and pretending to be


    weak suddenly seemed appealing.


    She yearned to be protected, to have the confidence to cause trouble because she had someone by


    her side.


    On this night, Dennis’ words, “I will protect you” and “Don’t be afraid, I’m here,” unleashed all the


    grievances she had endured in the past, manifesting as tears streaming down her face.


    Marie hailed a taxi downstairs, and just as Cullen arrived and parked his car, he called Dennis, “Sir, I


    saw Ms. Spenceing out of Glorious Estate. She seemed to be crying.”


    “Follow her, make sure she gets home safely,” Dennis instructed.


    Cullen trailed the taxi all the way to Cloudy Vi, watching as Marie entered. Once she was inside,


    Cullen drove away.


    Inside the house, Dennis sat up and opened hisputer, but his gaze was distant, lost in thought.


    He hadn’t been truly drunk earlier; he had only wanted Marie to apany him back and spend


    some intimate time together.


    However, something had changed in Marie when she heard the mention of the Terry Group. Dennis


    could sense her emotions shifting, as he always did whenever her emotions were in turmoil.


    So he quietlyy there, watching Marie use his finger to unlock hisputer and ess the emails.


    At first, he thought Marie might be an industrial spy.


    But then he realized that Marie only looked at one email before closing theptop.


    He couldn’t fathom what one email could reveal.


    He was increasingly unable to understand Marie. No matter how good he was to her, she guarded


    her secrets fiercely, never letting go, like a dragon protecting its treasure.


    Intoxicated by alcohol, he had kissed her, sensing her feelings for him and her unspoken


    grievances. But he couldn’tprehend why she refused to speak up.


    Now, looking at the opened email, Dennis grew even more perplexed.


    Marie had only looked at the invitation to the Terry Group’s Christmas banquet.


    He rubbed his forehead, trying to connect the dots.


    The first time, the Terry Group intercepted his belongings, and Rose helped him retrieve them. But


    at the time, the only ones who knew about the interception were him, Cullen, yton who was


    So how did Rose find out?


    The second time, when cooperating with the Terry Group, they leaked confidential information. during


    the meeting. But again, the only ones who knew about it were him, Cullen, and Marie. The


    president of the Terry Group repeatedly assured them that their security measures were excellent


    and that he was not the one leaking the information.


    So who leaked the secrets and ruined the coboration?


    And now, it was the third time. Marie opened hisputer and only looked at the email from the


    Terry Group.


    Every time there was something rted to the Terry Group, problems arose whenever Marie was


    present. The evidence was right in front of him, forcing him to believe it.


    When Cullen entered the room, Dennis was still going through the exchanged emails with the Terry


    Group and the information Cullen had gathered.


    “Ms. Spence has safely arrived home,” Cullen reported.


    Dennis nodded and asked, “What’s the situation with the Terry Group?”


    “Mr. Terry insists that you attend the banquet. Mr. Philemon also mentioned a possible connection


    between the Terry family and external forces. It might be wise to go,” Cullen replied.


    Dennis remained silent, continuing to peruse the documents. Unable to resist his curiosity, Cullen


    asked, “What are you looking for, sir?”


    In frustration, Dennis threw the files aside, leaned back on the sofa, and rubbed his forehead. The


    alcohol from earlier weighed heavily on his head.


    He didn’t know what he was searching for because he didn’t know what documents or evidence could


    prove Marie’s identity and link her to the Terry Group. Why did Marie repeatedly target the Terry


    Group?


    She was gradually bing stronger, and Dennis initially thought it was because of the abuse she


    suffered in her original family, which made her feel insecure. But now it seemed more like she was


    desperately trying to target the Terry Group.


    “How did Rose’s investigation go?” Dennis inquired.


    Cullen shook his head helplessly. “We couldn’t find any substantial leads. There are numerous women


    named Rose in France, but their backgrounds are clean and straightforward. None of them match the


    profile of the notorious assassin. I’ve provided Mr. Philemon with all the information we gathered. He


    said he would take over the investigation.”


    “Tell yton to expedite the investigation. Regardless of what he finds, he must inform me


    immediately!”


    Cullen nodded but couldn’t resist asking, “Rose helped us once. Why do we have to investigate her


    true identity?”


    Dennis stared at the emails on hisputer and suddenly said, “Continue investigating Terry Group,


    along with Rose! Have yton assign someone to handle it.”


    “Are you suspecting a connection between Rose and Terry Group?”


    Dennis sighed, realizing he had no choice but to entertain suspicions. There seemed to be a conflict


    between Rose and the Terry Group, and he couldn’t ignore the possibility that Marie might be


    involved.


    Once the seed of doubt is sown, it will quickly sprout.


    Behind him stood the Whitney Group, Gavin, yton, and Andres. They won’t tolerate any potential


    threats to his safety.


    Get Bort:*****


    Thest thing he wanted was for all the doubts to point towards Marie,pelling him to investigate


    her. However, he had to be prepared for any oue.


    Dennis stood up and said firmly, “Carry on with the investigation, Cullen. I need the truth.”


    Cullen nodded and left Glorious Estate.


    The next day, Dennis woke up early with a severe headache.


    The effects ofst night’s excessive drinking lingered, and he had stayed upte dealing with the


    Terry Group matter.


    He took a shower and walked out of the bedroom, towel-drying his hair as he strolled into the


    dining room.


    However, he froze in his tracks when he saw Marie wandering around with a cup in her hand.


    Startled, Marie turned to look at him. “You’re awake? I made some honey water for you. Drink it; it


    will help with the headache.”


    Dennis walked over and took the cup from her hand, tasting the slight sweetness of honey on his


    tongue. “Why are you here?”


    Marie smiled. “You drank too much yesterday, and I was afraid you’d feel ufortable in the morning,


    so I brought you breakfast.”


    Dennis nced at the various dishes on the table and smiled. “When did you be so


    domesticated? And you even know about honey water?”


    Marie stuck out her tongue yfully. “Jolie taught me. I learned on the spot.”


    Dennis sat down to have breakfast, and Marie joined him, stealing nces at him from time to time.


    “What’s wrong?” Dennis asked, noticing her hesitation.


    Marie hesitated and finally asked, “Did you drink too muchst night?”


    “I did. You brought me back, didn’t you? I can’t remember clearly.”


    Marie let out a sigh of relief. “Yes, I brought you back.”


    They continued eating their breakfast in silence. Dennis sensed that Marie hade to ask him if


    he was aware that she had gone through hisputer the previous day.


    She sought reassurance, and he was willing to provide it.


    “I’ll be going on a business trip to France next week,” Dennis suddenly said.


    “Huh?” Marie was taken aback.


    Cet Bor


    “I’m going to France for about three or four days. Do you have any ns?”


    “What? Next week? I haven’t checked…” Marie’s voice trailed off as she became flustered.


    “Take a look at your schedule. If you don’t have anything, we can go together.”


    “What?” Marie was stunned.


    “You mentioned that you’ve never been anywhere before, right? This trip won’t be too work-intensive,


    and I can show you around.”


    “Why are you going on this business trip?” Marie asked.


    Dennis continued eating his breakfast, then lowered his head and said, “To attend the Terry Group’s


    banquet.”


    The spoon in Marie’s hand slipped from her grasp, crashing to the bowl with a ng. She stared at


    Dennis in disbelief. Wasn’t he drunk yesterday? Why did he specifically mention the Terry Group


    today?


    Dennis looked up at her, meeting her gaze directly, and asked, “What’s wrong?”


    Marie shook her head, avoiding his eyes. “It’s nothing, really.”


    “If you decide toe, let me know, and I’ll have Cullen book the tickets for both of us.”


    Maric nodded, finished her meal, quickly cleaned up the kitchen, and left.


    Dennis remained in the dining room, contemting Marie’s reaction and feeling a mix of


    emotions.


    Their rtionship had beplicated. From their initially beautiful encounter to now, they seemed


    to be testing each other, keeping secrets from one another.


    It felt as if an unfathomable chasm had formed between them, and as they cautiously approached each


    other, they risked causing irreparable damage.


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    Back at her ce, Marie retrieved her long-unused phone and messaged Emory, inquiring if he had


    found any information about the Terry Group.


    Emory didn’t reply. Luca, noticing her return in a hurry, knocked on her door and asked, “Marie, are you


    okay?”


    Marie stared nkly at Luca. “I’m going to France.”


    Luca was stunned. “For what?”


    To the Terry Group’s banquet.”


    4


    Fear shed across Luca’s face, and he reached out to shake Marie’s shoulders. “Don’t be foolish!


    With your face identical to Rose’s, going to the Terry Group would be like walking into death’s arms. If


    Wren sees you, she’ll have a hundred ways to kill you!”


    Marie covered her head, not knowing what to do. She wanted to stand in front of Wren and tell her that


    she was not dead, but once she was exposed, her death would be imminent.