?Chapter 1155:
After a long, weighted silence, Kim finally spoke, his words deliberate. “Dr. Finley, have we met before?”
Marissa let out a soft chuckle. “Now, that’s an interesting question, Mr. Kim. You’re so well-disguised, I wouldn’t know who you truly are. How could I possibly say if we’ve crossed paths?”
Kim, realizing the slip in his own words, narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening as hepsed into silence once more.
Another quiet chuckle escaped Marissa as she raised a hand, pulling off her wig. With meticulous precision, she peeled away her fake face, revealing her true features beneath.
The moment Kimid eyes on the real her, he shot to his feet, his voice sharp with shock. “Marissa!”
A knowing smile yed on Marissa’s lips. “That’s right. It’s me.”
Kim’s expression tightened. “You… you’re Dr. Finley?”
Marissa’s smile deepened. “That’s right. The Dr. Finley you’ve been searching for is none other than me—the one you’ve been trying to avoid. Quite the twist, wouldn’t you say, Everett?”
At the mention of his real name, Kim went rigid. His breathing turned heavy, his chest rising and falling. He had never imagined that Marissa would see through him so effortlessly.
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Marissa remained unfazed, her voice smooth. “Drop the act, Everett. I already know who you are.”
A tense silence settled between them before Everett exhaled sharply. With measured movements, he reached up, pulling back the hood of his cloak before removing his mask.
Now, face-to-face with no more disguises, they sat in the charged silence of the grand hall. Their minds, sharp as des, had sliced through each other’s deceptions, leading them to this unnned reunion.
Everett’s nerves were unmistakable—he hadn’t been prepared for this confrontation.
Marissa, on the other hand, almost looked relieved. After years of being under the shady organization’s watchful eye, she was finally sitting before its elusive leader.
Marissa scoffed, locking eyes with Everett. “It’s hard to believe the guy my dad owes his life to is the same one who tore my family apart.”
Everett’s brows knitted together. “Marissa, whatever happened to your family twenty-two years ago—it wasn’t on me.”
“Of course, it wasn’t your fault. You were just a kid back then.” Marissa crossed her arms. “But your grandfather was involved. You inherited everything from him—his business, his connections. That makes you our enemy too, doesn’t it?”
Everett remained calm, his voice steady. “That’s not true. My grandfather had nothing to do with the shady organization back then, and he wasn’t involved in what happened to your family. Neither he nor I am your enemy, Marissa.”
Marissa pressed her lips together, unconvinced. “Then how do you exin being the head of the shady organization? Can you really say my dad’s ‘rescue’ and transformation into Paul wasn’t part of some bigger n?”
For the first time, Everett faltered. Something flickered in his expression before he spoke.
“Since you’ve figured out who I am, I won’t lie to you. My grandfather had no ties to the shady organization when your father was first taken. My grandfather didn’t get involved with the shady organization until your father was imprisoned. And when he set out to rescue him, it wasn’t out of the kindness of his heart—it was a strategic move, carefully nned from the start. I won’t deny that. He had his own agenda—he wanted to exploit your father’s genius and bring back his memories for his own gain.”
Marissa chose to believe Everett’s words. “Then why didn’t you try to wake up my father’s memories all these years?”
Everett’s gaze softened, something unspoken lingering in his eyes. “Becauseter, I became Kim. I didn’t want you to hate me.”
A realization hit Marissa like a freight train. Everett had killed the real Kim and assumed leadership of the organization. He hadn’t abandoned his grandfather’s original n because of some grand moral awakening—no, it was because of her. He had fallen for her. And in his twisted way, he wanted to protect her from the consequences of his choices.
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