?Chapter 1164:


    Connor arched an eyebrow. “Like what?”


    Marissa shot him an exasperated look, her tone half teasing, half serious. “Everett is dead, sure. But that shady organization is still very much alive. Who’s to say another power-hungry lunatic like Everett won’t step up to take control ande after us again? We can’t rest easy until we wipe them outpletely.”


    Connor had no argument against that. She had a point—there was still unfinished business. And beyond that, there was another pressing mystery. ording to Cartwright, Neil and his eldest brother had been swapped at birth. So where exactly was his real brother now? Connor needed to track him down and bring him home.


    A brief silence settled between them until Paul, who had been walking ahead, suddenly turned back. Clearly, he had caught part of their conversation.


    “You don’t need to stress about cleaning up the mess,” Paul assured them. “Since we confirmed Everett was Kim, we’ve uncovered a ton of leads. Kevin is already taking care of the aftermath. You two should just focus on sorting out your family affairs.”


    Kevin, the formidable leader of the Rasetsu Group, was more than capable of handling the fallout. Marissa trusted himpletely.


    At the mention of Kevin’s name, Tiffany’s eyes sparkled for the briefest moment, a flicker of something unspoken passing through them. But just as quickly, she masked it, lowering her gaze to hide the fleeting glint that had betrayed her thoughts.


    But Marissa caught the subtle shift in Tiffany’s expression. With a knowing look, she asked casually, “Do you remember Kevin, Tiffany?”


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    Tiffany nodded, her cheeks dusted with pink.


    Marissa wasn’t blind—she could see right through her. She remembered how Kevin had once mistaken Tiffany for her and, in doing so, had revealed his true identity. Had Tiffany developed feelings for him back then?


    If so, that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all. If Tiffany and Kevin ended up together, it would only strengthen their bond.


    But the real question was—did Kevin feel the same way?


    That was something Marissa intended to find out. The next time she saw Kevin, she would find a way to subtly gauge his thoughts on the matter.


    With that thought in mind, Marissa gave Tiffany a knowing smile. “Kevin is a good man.”


    Tiffany didn’t reply, but her blush deepened. Even Paul and Connor noticed it. Instead of calling her out, they wisely pretended they hadn’t seen a thing, letting her keep her secret—at least for now.


    Eager to shift the attention away from herself, Tiffany quickly changed the subject. “Marissa, you’ve been living in Blebert under my name this whole time. Now that I’m back, how are you going to exin that?”


    Marissa shrugged, utterly unconcerned. “Why should I exin anything? I’ve always used your name in Blebert—might as well let everyone keep thinking that. Dad just needs to announce that his other daughter, Marissa, has been found. Simple.”


    Tiffany furrowed her brows, concern flickering across her face. “But if we do that, all your achievements and identities will be mine.”


    Marissa waved a hand dismissively. “That doesn’t matter. We’re sisters—there’s no need to split hairs over things like that. Titles, honors… they mean nothing to me.”


    Tiffany let out a small sigh, still uneasy. “Even so, it feels a little unfair. You’ve worked so hard for everything you have, and yet I get to reap the benefits without lifting a finger. It’s a little embarrassing.”


    Marissa chuckled, shaking her head. “Alright, enough of that. You’re not giving yourself enough credit. I know you—there’s so much more to you than you let on. You’ve just been holding back. Now is your chance to step into the light. I have no doubt you’ll shine even brighter than me.”


    Paul, who had been quietly observing the exchange, felt a deep sense of warmth. Despite growing up apart, his daughters had forged an unbreakable bond. Time and distance hadn’t weakened their connection—it had only made their reunion all the more precious.


    Still, he couldn’t ignore theplications thaty ahead. He sighed, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Marissa, you might not care about status and recognition, but there’s still one tricky issue. To the public, Tiffany was once Connor’s wife, and as far as they know, Lawrence and Lindsay are her children. How do we handle that? We can’t keep the truth from the children forever.”


    Tiffany nodded in agreement. “Exactly. As far as the world is concerned, I was Mrs. Daniels. And now, suddenly, Marissa is stepping into that role? People might say she stole my husband.”


    Connor’s expression darkened instantly. The very idea of Marissa being subjected to such baseless gossip made his jaw clench. He would never allow her to be humiliated like that.


    But Marissa remained unshaken. “Let them talk,” she said with a serene smile. “As long as our family and close friends know the truth, that’s all that matters to me. What’s important is that we’re together and happy. The rest? Just noise.”


    She had spent her entire life surrounded by whispers and judgment, enduring the weight of others’ opinions. Over time, she had learned to rise above it.


    “As for Lawrence and Lindsay,” she continued, “we can simply announce that they were always mine and Connor’s children, and that Tiffany was helping raise them in my absence. No one ever knew who their father was, so it won’t be difficult to set the record straight.”


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