Edna tried to reassure Marina with gentle words, but beneath her calm exterior, her anxiety only grew.
Earlier that day, CelestiMed had opened a new branch in Aldenville and appointed Jarrett as the local director.
At the ribbon–cutting ceremony, Jonathan stood beside Jarrett, the two of them looking every bit the picture of charm and success.
Marina had only learned that the “joker” was back in Aldenville–this time under the guise of Jarrett–while absentmindedly scrolling through her phone in her studio.
He’d been using that fake identity for quite a while now.
No sooner had she closed the news app than a WhatsApp message popped up from the joker himself, inviting her to meet at his hotel that evening.
Marina arrived on time, not expecting to find not only the joker but also two other men waiting in the room.
She recognized both of them instantly.
The moment she saw their faces, she spun around, ready to bolt, but the joker had already blocked the door, cutting off her escape.
“Marina…” His baby–faced smile radiated innocence, though she knew better than to trust that facade.
“Looks like your little plan to climb the ladder isn’t going so well, is it?”
With the joker blocking the exit and the two burly men closing in behind her, Marina found herself trapped, trembling from head to toe.
“Remember why I let you go free? You promised me you were Jonathan’s first love–that you’d become Mrs. Thomas and could hand me twenty percent of The Thomas Group’s shares…”
The joker remained still, but the two men behind Marina advanced slowly, closing the gap.
“But from where I’m standing, you’re just a con artist.”
“I didn’t lie! I really am Jonathan’s first love. He’s going to marry me, I swear!” Marina cried out, her voice cracking, but the joker just snorted derisively.
“Shows how much you know. Jonathan’s father has been trying to set him up with
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the Quinn family heiress for ages. Tell me, last Valentine’s Day–did Jonathan spend it with you?”
The question drained the color from Marina’s face.
“To be honest, he was out on a date with the Quinn girl that day,” the joker added.
Marina stared at him, stunned, as if struck by lightning.
The joker just shrugged, feigning indifference. “I’m practically a local here now. These two gentlemen happened to be in town on business, so I thought I’d show some hospitality–by letting you keep them company for the night…”
As his words sank in, Marina clapped a hand over her mouth, tears streaming down her face in terror.
“And let this be a reminder–don’t slack off. If you fail to deliver what you promised… I’ll have no choice but to take you back to Blackspire. Believe me, there are plenty of people there who’d be delighted to see you.”
With that, the joker turned and walked out, shutting the door behind him.
Instantly, Marina’s pleas for mercy echoed from inside.
A moment later, the joker opened the door again and looked back at her. “Oh, and don’t forget to get yourself patched up afterwards.”
He slammed the door shut.
As Marina’s screams rang out from within, the joker muttered dryly, “Terrible soundproofing in this hotel.”
***
Solmaris Museum.
Niamh arrived at the designated hall, escorted by Elmer.
The room was already filling up.
Her eyes went immediately to Jonathan, seated front and center in the first row.
On his left sat Samuel, the museum’s director; on his right was Liam Ct, president of the Gemstone Collectors‘ Guild.
Peter and Karin, the head of FYDesign Division’s headquarters, were here as well.
Even with just a quick scan of the crowd, it was obvious that nearly everyone present hailed from the jewelry industry. They weren’t just guests–they looked
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more like judges.
Jonathan, in fact, was the odd one out–he had no professional ties to the field.
Niamh had assumed that Jonathan was there to support Marina, but Marina herself showed up scandalously late, barely making it in time.
“So what happened to Niamh’s hand? Why is it all bandaged up? Is she really going to compete with Marina while injured?” Karin’s skeptical question floated through
the room.
