?Chapter 221:


    “You naughty girl!” Paul eximed, a bit frustrated. “You’re such a lovely youngdy, so talented—why do you have to be so rude?”


    The room erupted inughter when everyone heard this. It was clear that Paul was quite taken with the bold young woman before him. His reprimand carried a warmth that contradicted his words


    After a brief pause, Paul spoke again, his voice tinged with yful suspicion. “You’re too clever by half. How do I know you won’t harm me during treatment? Perhaps you’ll use it as a chance to escape, or worse, to end my life?”


    Marissa tightened her lips, her response sharp yetposed. “And what would I gain from killing you?”


    Paul nodded in agreement. “True enough. If you manage to heal me, I’ll handle the situation with Amiri myself. No matter where you go, I’ll ensure you’re protected and showered with benefits!”


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    Marissa’s response came with a defiant tilt of her chin. “I don’t need your protection. You’re the one who needs my skills to stay alive. Remember, a good doctor deserves the reverence of a deity. Treat me with the respect I deserve!”


    “Hahaha…” Laughter filled the air once again as Paul chuckled heartily at her words


    Silence fell abruptly when Elvis’s authoritative and calm voice cut through from behind the screen. “Put down your weapons.”


    Immediately, the men in ckplied. Following this, Elvis stepped out from behind the screen and approached to unlock the electronic handcuffs binding Marissa and Connor. He bowed deeply, offering his apologies. “Mr. Daniels, Mrs. Daniels, I’m sorry.”


    Connor arched an eyebrow, clearly surprised by this peaceful resolution. He had braced himself for a violent confrontation. Marissa addressed Paul, saying, “Old man, can you find me a pair offortable shoes?” It was only then that they noticed Marissa was without shoes


    She had previously concealed her ring-shaped des within the tall heels of her footwear. Later, to save Landen, she had removed her high heels and extracted all the des hidden inside. Once she had discarded her shoes, concerned they might impede her during the ensuing conflict, she chose to stay barefoot


    Connor quickly lifted her and gently set her down on the sofa, closely inspecting her feet. He asked with concern, “Any cuts or punctures?”


    “No, just a chilly floor,” Marissa responded. Upon hearing her reply, Connor took her feet in his hands, warming them gently


    Paul chuckled from behind the screen, remarking, “They say Mr. Daniels is quite the stoic, but who would have thought he’d be so tender with his wife behind closed doors? Quite the revtion.”


    At that moment, Elvis appeared with a pair offortable ts, announcing, “Mrs. Daniels, I noticed you wear a size 6.5. I fetched these from the cloakroom. Are they to your liking?” Marissa looked at the shoes, epted them without hesitation, and slipped them on. “I’m not picky.”


    After she was shod, Paul called out from behind the screen, “Youngdy,e over here.” Marissa approached, moving behind the screen where she saw Paul reclining on the sofa. She paused, slightly surprised when Paul, equally taken aback,plimented her warmly, “You are even more beautiful than in photographs.”


    Marissa pressed her lips together, struggling to find the right words. A strange sense of familiarity washed over her as she looked at Paul, despite it being their first encounter


    The stories painted Paul as a figure as fearsome as the god of death, yet in reality, he was a middle-aged man, frail and debilitated by sickness. Though only in his fifties, he seemed even more fatigued than Arabe


    “Old man, don’t covet me just because I’m beautiful,” she teased, her tone yful


    “Ha ha…” Paul chuckled softly, his voice low. “What are you talking about? I never chased after women in my youth. Why would I start thinking about such things now, at this age?”


    “So, you’re saying you’re a nerd. That’s reassuring,” Marissa remarked, then sat down to check Paul’s pulse


    Paul raised his hand and lightly tapped her forehead. “You bad girl, can’t you ever speak nicely?”


    “Shut up.” She cut him off, her tone half-serious, half-joking. “You should really start showing some respect for your god. I might be able to help you reach a hundred years, but if you irritate me, I might just cut it down to eighty.”


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