Clarissa thought to herself, her smile stiff and artificial. "Who does she think she is, looking at me with such disdain?"
Clarissa's expression turned sugary sweet. "Elder sister, I know you've been through a traumatic experience, but you're safe now. Don't worry about the marriage between you and Denzel; Father will sort everything out."
Marion observed Clarissa's facade, her thoughts sarcastic. "No wonder I fell for her fake smiles. Anyone would."
Marion put aside her disdain and forced a smile. "I'm sorry I spoke to you that way, Lil sis. You won't hold it against me, right?"
Clarissa's smile was heartfelt, or so it seemed. "Of course not, big sis. As long as you're okay."
Clarissa's inner monologue revealed her true intentions. "I've manipulated her enough. She's a fool; I don't know why she deserves Father's love."
"Clarissa, please tell Father the truth," Marion said, her voice trembling. "I didn't refuse to marry Denzel. You told me to reject the proposal, but I really like him. And I wasn't trying to commit suicide; I was saving that kitten in our garden."
Clarissa shrugged. "Why are you saying this now? Your wish was granted, wasn't it?"
Marion's voice remained meek. "You know I didn't want to commit suicide. You told me to pretend to do it to scare Father, but I refused. You were with me when I saved the kitten, and you didn't warn me about the car."
Clarissa's expression turned dismissive, but Marion continued, her words laced with accusation. "You urged me to go through with it, even when I refused. And now, you're pretending like you had nothing to do with it?"
Clarissa rolled her eyes. "I wasn't there when the car hit you, Marion. I was looking for you."
But Marion persisted. "I saw you, Clarissa. You were wearing my white Chanel skirt and pink sneakers."
Clarissa's expression remained indifferent, but her thoughts betrayed her. "I wished she had died right there."
Marion's eyes narrowed. "You were there, Clarissa. You were watching when the car hit me. Why won't you admit it?"
Clarissa's composure cracked, her irritation evident. "I said I wasn't there, why do you keep insisting you saw me?"
Marion cowered, fear etched on her face. "I'm so sorry, Clarissa."
But inwardly, Marion smirked, relieved to see her father enter the room. My plan worked perfectly
Dexter's expression was stern. "Clarissa, you told me you followed Marion outside and persuaded her not to commit suicide."
Clarissa's eyes darted nervously. "I...I must have misspoken, Father."
Dexter's gaze narrowed. "First, you said Marion tried to kill herself because of the marriage, and now this. What's going on, Clarissa?"
Clarissa stammered, her face flushed. "No, Father, I was there with her, but I wasn't beside her...I wasn't close."
Dexter's eyes narrowed. "You were there, but not close to her, huh?" He handed Marion a cup, his gaze still fixed on Clarissa.
Clarissa's eyes darted wildly, her thoughts racing. She was lost for words.
Suddenly, she exclaimed, "I think Mom's calling me!" and hastily exited the room.
Marion smiled inwardly as she sipped her water. "I thought she feared nothing," she mused.
••••••••
Meanwhile, Clarissa rushed to her mother, tears streaming down her face. "Mother, it's not fair! Dexter and Marion are ganging up on me, bullying me!" she sobbed.
Clarissa's voice trembled with rage. "Mom, I know they both hate me! Just because Marion tried to kill herself, Father was running around like a madman. Why does Marion deserve all the good things? Why can't Father arrange a marriage for me too?"
Clarissa's anger boiled over. "I hate her, Mom! I want Denzel for myself! I want him to marry me, not Marion! I want Father to be disappointed in his precious Marion!"
Clarissa's face reddened with anger. "That bastard called me her step-sister! She said I have no right to call Father 'Daddy'!" Clarissa stomped her feet on the marble floor.
Julia's expression turned soothing. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll do anything for you. You want to marry Denzel? You'll marry Denzel. That stupid girl doesn't deserve anything good."
Julia pecked Clarissa's cheek, her voice dripping with sweetness. Clarissa's smile returned, her eyes gleaming with malice.
"I'm the only one who deserves Young Master Willard," Clarissa thought, a smirk spreading across her face. "Marion, you can only be happy for a while. Denzel is mine."
Julia's smirk deepened. "Remember, Clarissa, we need to keep fooling Dexter and Marion until we get what we want."
Clarissa's smile gleamed with confidence. "Don't worry, Mom. I've got Marion right where I want her. She's completely under my control."
Meanwhile, Dexter's expression darkened as he questioned Marion. "Does Clarissa normally treat you this way? Was she bullying you? Did she encourage you to commit suicide?" His anger simmered just below the surface.
Dexter's thoughts swirled with unease. "I married Julia because she's a mother, and I thought she'd understand Marion's needs. But I never loved her."
His expression darkened as he pondered the recent events. "Have they been bullying Marion all along? First, Clarissa's lies about Marion trying to kill herself... This can't continue."
Dexter's scowl deepened. "I need to investigate. I must know the truth."
Marion's eyes sparkled with innocence. "No, Father, Clarissa and Stepmom love me. They're not bullying me at all."
Dexter's skepticism deepened, but Marion continued, her voice laced with uncertainty. "Clarissa just told me to scare you a little. She has my best interests at heart. If you're angry with them, they'll ignore me."
Marion's words were carefully chosen, designed to further arouse her father's suspicions about Clarissa and Julia.
"Who do they think they are, disregarding my beloved daughter?" Dexter thundered, his voice trembling with rage and his eyes blazing with a fierce protectiveness.
Marion's eyes locked onto her father's, filled with a deep understanding of the emotions that drove him. She knew that her father's anger was rooted in the trauma of almost losing her, and she exploited that vulnerability with calculated precision.
"Dad, don't be angry," Marion pleaded, her voice dripping with sweetness and concern. "I'm sure Stepmom is just trying to help me become a better person. Please, don't be angry with her and Clarissa, okay?" She reached out and gently placed a hand on her father's arm, her touch igniting a spark of paternal love and devotion.
Dexter's expression softened, his anger slowly giving way to a deep sadness. "I'm sorry, darling," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion. "I just can't promise you that. The thought of almost losing you still haunts me." He closed his eyes, and for a moment, he was transported back to the day of the accident. The memory of the frantic call to the doctor, the rush to get Marion the help she needed, and the agonizing wait for her to recover still had the power to leave him breathless.
If the doctor hadn't arrived in time, would he have lost his precious daughter? The mere thought sent shivers down Dexter's spine and filled his heart with a sense of dread.
Marion's eyes gleamed with a hint of mischief, and for a moment, she felt a thrill of excitement. "That's exactly what I want, Father," she thought to herself, a sly smile spreading across her face.
But her thoughts were quickly interrupted by the memory of her husband, Denzel. "Father, is Denzel and his family still downstairs?" Marion asked, a sudden pang of guilt and responsibility washing over her.
She almost forgot about her precious hubby because she was busy scheming. "Haa, the life of a schemer," Marion thought with a shake of her head, a wry smile twisting her lips. But deep down, she knew that her life was about to become a whole lot more complicated.