?Chapter 399:


    Marissa acted like a model of good behavior. After Bu’s reprimand, she bowed her head, pretending to feel hurt.


    Xander countered, “Bu, Tiffany and Connor are only pretending to be married to please Mrs. Arabe Daniels. They n to divorce soon. You shouldn’t scold Tiffany like that.”


    Bu shot Xander a fierce look and warned, “I didn’t think you’d be eager to step in as another man’s children’s stepfather.”


    Usually, Bu’s intense stare would have intimidated Xander. Today, however, he felt unusually courageous.


    Instead of backing down, Xander looked up and said, “Bu, it’s time to be more open-minded. I love Tiffany, and I’m ready to embrace everything about her. True love is powerful and isn’t limited by circumstances.”


    Despite noticing Bu’s increasing irritation, Xander continued, “Moreover, Tiffany is a celebrated figure in the art world. She’s so remarkable that men would still line up to marry her even if she had ten children!”


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    Bu scoffed and clenched his teeth. “Xander, you’ve be braver. How dare you defy me like this?”


    Xander was a bit scared, but he stood tall and met Bu’s re without flinching.


    “Bu, I’ve put up with your dominance for too long without ever resisting. But today, I need to stand up for my love. Nobody can keep me from Tiffany. I will marry her, and she will join our Hoffman family!”


    Suddenly, Bu tensed, gripping the table tightly, stunned by Xander’s bold resistance.


    Just as Bu was about to strike Xander, rissa intervened again. “Bu, don’t be upset. Xander is right. Love can’t be stopped. Although it is rude of him to contradict you for Miss Nash, it proves hismitment to her. We should respect love itself.”


    With a charming smile, Xander added, “rissa, you are such an intelligent, capable, and reasonable woman. The hostess of the Hoffman family should indeed be someone like you.”


    rissa’s mood improved further when she heard that. She continued to defend Xander, saying, “Bu, I’m not finished with eating yet. Let’splete our meal, shall we?”


    Since Bu couldn’t disregard rissa, he was forced to suppress his anger.


    Seizing the moment, Xander immediately requested that the waiters serve steaks for him and Marissa.


    During the meal, rissa started a conversation with Marissa. “Miss Nash, I’m intrigued. When did you start painting?”


    “It was quitete,” Marissa responded as she ate. “My family didn’t treat me well back then. I had to leave school before finishing high school. One day, I came across an old man living away from everyone.


    He offered to teach me drawing, and I learned from him. Later, I discovered that my teacher was Ritchie Morales, the ink painting master who had dominated the art world for nearly a century!”


    With a feigned innocent smile, Marissa continued, “I was so fortunate to stumble upon Mr. Morales, which led me to be the legendary Only in the art world.”


    rissa looked at Marissa and smiled. “I heard that your paintings were all presented to the world by King of the Doomsday Base. What is your rtionship with him?”


    Marissa could see that rissa appeared to be making small talk, yet she was actually investigating her ties to the Doomsday Base.


    Of course, Marissa was ready for such questions.


    Right after rissa finished her question, Marissa responded calmly, “I’ve never met King of the Doomsday Base personally, but my teacher is familiar with him. Mr. Morales introduced my paintings to Zyair.”


    “Oh, I see,” rissa responded, nodding with a smile.


    However, right after nodding, rissa unexpectedly hurled the knife from her hand straight at Marissa’s face


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