?Chapter 1154:


    A hush fell over the cabin, broken only by the rhythmic hum of the engines as the aircraft carved through the sky. rissa and herpanions remained silent, their presence subdued, as if waiting for something unspoken.


    Two hourster, the ne descended gracefully,nding on the sprawling deck of an opulent private yacht.


    The moment the aircraft rolled to a halt, the door swung open, revealing the endless stretch of ocean beyond. rissa turned to Marissa, her voice smooth yet firm. “Dr. Finley, this way, please.”


    Marissa cast another look at her driver before rising. Without a word, she followed rissa down into the yacht’s grand hall, her every step deliberate.


    A towering figure draped in a dark cloak loomed in the grand hall, his presence bothmanding and enigmatic.


    The man, with a mask on his face, kept his features concealed—yet his eyes remained uncovered, allowing Marissa to glimpse the emotions lurking beneath his guarded exterior.


    His gaze held a deceptive softness, but beneath it lurked a quiet menace.


    Though he carried himself with an air of politeness and refinement, beneath the surfacey a ruthless nature, sharp as a de hidden in silk.


    Marissa, too, was a mystery. A fake face concealed her true features, while oversized tinted sunsses veiled her gaze.


    Stay tuned for updates at g?lnσν???s?c?m


    Her emotions were a puzzle, revealed only through the cadence of her voice, keeping her intentions an enigma to those around her. The hall was steeped in an eerie stillness, the weight of the man’s presence pressing down like an invisible force.


    rissa stepped forward, her tone deferential. “Boss, Dr. Finley has arrived.”


    The man in the dark cloak acknowledged her with a subtle nod.


    Without hesitation, rissa dipped her head respectfully before slipping away, leaving Marissa and the masked man alone in the vast, dimly lit hall.


    Since rissa called this man “Boss,” he must be Kim, the enigmatic head of the shady organization she had been expecting to deal with, though she hadn’t anticipated meeting him so easily.


    Kim hesitated, his gaze sweeping over her, assessing, calcting.


    Marissa met his stare head-on, equally patient, equally watchful.


    After a beat of silence, Kim finally spoke, his voice measured. “Dr. Finley, it’s a pleasure.”


    A flicker of tension rippled through Marissa’s body. Something about his voice and his demeanor felt oddly familiar, like she had met him before.


    A slow, practiced smile curved her lips. “Likewise, Mr. Kim.”


    At the sound of her voice, Kim’s body stiffened ever so slightly, suggesting her voice was also familiar to him.


    Marissa tilted her head, her voiceced with amusement. “Mr. Kim, wouldn’t it be more civilized to offer your guest a seat?”


    Kim’s lips twitched, a ghost of a smirk threatening to form. “Of course.” He gestured smoothly. “Dr. Finley, this way.”


    With poised confidence, Marissa took her ce at a grand, square table. Kim settled into the seat opposite her.


    With unhurried precision, Marissa reached up and removed her sunsses, setting them on the table with a soft click. Her unveiled eyes met Kim’s with an easy, knowing smile. “So, tell me, Mr. Kim—what do you want to discuss with me?”


    For a long moment, Kim didn’t speak. His body visibly tensed, his gaze locked onto Marissa’s eyes with an intensity that spoke louder than words. He scrutinized her, searching, as though he had just unearthed a ghost he wasn’t prepared to face.


    Marissa quickly pieced it together—he must have found her eyes just as familiar as she found his.


    How ironic, she mused. The elusive mastermind behind the shady organization was someone she knew. A flicker of curiosity stirred within her—an urge to tear away his cloak and mask, toy bare the truth hidden beneath.


    .


    .


    .