Chapter 721 Reckoning

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    “You’re still talking about marriage? At this rate, I don’t even know if Marie can make it back for oursb./bb” /b

    Even though Ste hadn’t been following outside affairs closely, she still knew Ashen Pact was in total chaos.

    Abraham said simply, “She’ll be there.”

    Yet in truth, with Ste carrying triplets, even he worried the scale of a wedding might be too much for her. Postponing the ceremony had already been discussed.

    Meanwhile, Marie had just ended the call with Abraham and now paced the floor in front of Derrick.

    She walked back and forth so much that his eyes nearly crossed.

    Finally, as she passed him again, he grabbed her and hauled her into his arms. “What did your brother say? Hm?”

    Marie, still bristling from the conversation, blurted, “He thinks we haven’t been ruthless enough with Ashen Pact. We need to push harder.”

    “Push harder until they hand over Tessa.”

    Derrick’s lips curved. Ruthless? That he could respect.

    When it came to making decisions, he bowed to no one–except Abraham. And if Abraham wanted Ashen Pact pushed, then pushed it would be.

    “So,” Derrick said with a gleam in his eye, “you want me to be harsher on Dan?”

    Marie narrowed her eyes. “What are you implying?”

    “I’m warning you now,” he said with a low chuckle. “If I go hard, I don’t stop. Don’te cryingter.”

    Her mouth twitched. She pped at his chest. “Who are you calling a crybaby?”

    He caught her hand easily and pressed a kiss into her palm.

    The warmth tickled, prickling up her arm until she shivered.

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    Chapter 721 Reckoning

    “You-” Marie’s voice faltered.

    +8 Pearls

    but I recall a certain girl who once cried herself blind,” Derrick teased.

    “You say you

    don’t cry,

    “Shut up.”

    the

    She hated when anyone brought up past.

    Yes, back then Dan had died before her eyes–died in her arms. How could she not copse?

    She had loved him. Truly loved him.

    For a long time after his death, she couldn’t stop crying.

    A woman who was normally bold, carefree, and fearless had broken down into endless tears.

    The whole Dawson family had worried for her. Doctors, therapists–none of it had spared her from the grief.

    Now, when Derrick mentioned those tears, all she felt was mockery.

    “You bastard,” she snapped, furious.

    It burned her up inside. A love so deep, turned into nothing but a cruel joke by that dog Dan.

    Derrick tugged her closer by the wrist.

    “Let me go,” she hissed.

    “Listen to me, Marie.” His voice cut through her fury, suddenly serious, his gaze sharp and unwavering.

    Even she, who had weathered storm after storm, felt her heart jolt.

    One hand mped around her wrist, the other wrapped firm around her waist.

    So close, their breaths tangled.

    “You’re my wife now. Everything I do to Dan—it’s just settling the debts of the past. Understand?”

    His voice dropped. “It’s over, Come home with me and live as mine.”

    The word minended heavy between them, thick with possessiveness.

    Marie swallowed hard. “You… you forget our marriage is a deal?”

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    Chapter 721 Reckoning

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    This wasn’t the time to remind him–but she couldn’t shake the fear. Was he breaking their agreement? No, worse–was he refusing to honor it altogether?

    Derrick’s mouth twisted into a smirk. “A deal?b” /b

    “Y–yes. I help you with-”

    “If this is just a deal,” he cut in, “then go find Tessa yourself and hand her over to Victor.”

    Marie froze. What was he saying?

    Before she could react, his grip tightened, pulling her down against him.

    His lips crashed into hers, warm and unyielding, breath mingling until her mind went nk.

    She struggled, but her strength was nothing against his.

    The more she resisted, the more relentless he became.

    Until she was dizzy, gasping, the fight draining out of her–only then did he let go.

    Marie sucked in desperate breaths, raising her hand to strike him—

    –but he caught it, pressing her palm against his lips. Heat seared her skin, leaving her trembling.

    His eyes danced with mockery now, gleaming in amusement.

    “You… you-” Marie stammered.

    “Legal and binding,” Derrick said with a wicked smile.

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    b8:55 /bbMon/bb, /bbSep /bb15 /b

    The Returned Heiress Who Never Fit In

    Chapter