Chapter 232 My Heart Belongs to Another. I Don't Harbor Feelings for You
Mr. Cooper’s shoulders heaved with his breaths. "Foolish!" he exclaimed.
Subsequently, he departed, abruptly closing the door behind him.
His mother looked at her husband, then back at her son. "Son, that Turner family girl is lying to make you fight with Sebastian for a girl. How are you not realizing this? Even I can see it."
Marcus gripped his hands, his head jerking quietly and his face downcast, leaving one to wonder whether he was genuinely in disbelief, or if he was acting.
Mr. Cooper's footsteps faded away. Mrs. Cooper looked at Heather, sighing. She couldn't stay long as well, "Could you please take care of Marcus for me, Heather? I'm really grateful for that, honey."
Heather’s smile was as sunny as ever, seemingly untouched by the surrounding concerns. "Don't worry about it," she reassured her.
Sliding the bracelet from her own wrist onto Heather's, Mrs. Cooper wiped away a tear.
"Heather, I must've accumulated some good luck in my past life to get such a good daughter-in-law. Accept this present, please."
She insisted as she placed the bracelet on Heather's wrist, worried that the previous events could jeopardize her son's future marriage. "Don't refuse me and come for dinner tonight. I need to see how your uncle is doing."
Heather gave a nod. "I'll take this valuable gift. We're going to be family after all."
Despite her kind words, she hardly looked at the bracelet on her wrist. Rather, she gave Marcus another glance and said, "Thank you so much."
Relieved, Mrs. Cooper complimented Heather before rushing off.
After she left, Marcus and Heather were left in the room. Since it was their first time meeting, they didn't say anything. Always under Heather's curious eyes, Marcus was uncomfortable.
He felt compelled to break the silence as it seemed like she was evaluating him, almost as if she wanted to eat him.
"Miss Perez." He was no longer as paranoid, and he was beginning to regain the poise of a sophisticated gentleman.
Heather was sitting on the couch, her demure elegance gone as her legs were crossed in a rebellious manner. She folded her arms and gave a fierce nod, "That's my name. What is it, Mr. Marcus?"
Marcus felt the heat rising on his cheeks from her intense gaze. "You can clearly see, Miss Perez, that my heart belongs to someone else," he said, clearing his throat. "I'm not in love with you, and I'm going to win back the person I love."
He looked guiltily at Heather and went on, "It would be unfair to you to get engaged and married to me. Therefore, I believe it'd be better if you were the one who ended things. It'll be preferable for your reputation."
Growing up abroad, Heather had seen her share of carefree locals with different colored eyes, but she rarely saw men like Marcus; flushing simply by getting stared at, but very affectionate and loyal, not to mention being attractive.
How intriguing.
"Mr. Marcus, annulling this engagement is impossible. We're fated to be married."
"There's no such thing as fate," he answered. "As you can see, I don't make all of the decisions for the Cooper family. In fact, I'm helpless."
Sighing and shaking her head, Heather replied, "By that logic, marriage would be better for you, Mr. Marcus."
Marcus scowled. This Miss Perez was different from everyone else.
"By marrying me, I can be your cover while securing my family's support," Heather grinned. "Uncle Cooper will also provide you with significant wealth and power to help you get your lover back. As for me... Well."
“Mr. Marcus, annulling this engagement is impossible. We’re fated to be married.”
Marcus's guilt grew at her words. "Miss Perez, I'm sorry..."
He clasped his blanket tightly, hating his own helplessness. It not only prevented him from defending his sweetheart but also made him continue harming an innocent woman.
"I'll do whatever I can to make it up to you."
Heather got up and leaned over him on both sides of his legs, her hands resting on his hospital bed's edges. "What I want is quite simple."
She licked her lips.
The words "I desire your body" almost slipped out, but Heather held back.
It wouldn't do to frighten her fiancé at their first meeting.
Had Marcus ever been teased like this? He said while leaning back in discomfort, "Miss Perez, I don't quite understand."
Her phone buzzed with barely concealed suggestiveness. Miss Perez smirked meaningfully.
"You don't understand?" she questioned, turning to go and take one last look at the door. "I don't think so. You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Marcus awkwardly looked elsewhere.
Were those who grow up abroad all this bold?
The call on Heather's phone came from her brother overseas, wanting to know how things were going for the Cooper family. She picked out just the most encouraging information to share with him.
"My future brother-in-law seems to be quite the catch, with his looks and all. It seems like you're hungry for him," her brother made fun of her.
Shrugging, Heather said, "Don't bother me unless it's really important."
She gave a few sharp remarks, hung up, and turned back to the hospital room while whistling.
After the final character left the stage, there weren't any footsteps anymore in the corridors.
The performance had concluded in its entirety.
Isabella's waist felt like it'd break any second from Sebastian's grip.
In a desperate attempt to prove herself, she couldn't resist when the same accusations were made against her repeatedly, "Grace did it on purpose! She planned on saying those things."
Sebastian, still with his head down, his long fingers flipping through the documents.
"Grace recently told you that I was the one who begged you to manage the Turner family and deal with her. That aspect is completely false; the you were the one who started the investigation. This shows she's lying."
Isabella lost it when she realized this whole drama happened with Sebastian watching her the entire time. How was she related to it?
In the end, Grace sullied her name, and Sebastian tightened his grip around her waist. Thinking about it, her anger surged.
Isabella turned to him, her head bowed, trying to twist his hand away.
But as Sebastian pulled her into his embrace, Isabella didn’t push him away; instead, she fell deeper into his arms.
"Don't stop; keep going," Sebastian commanded.
She had a lot to say either way. "Grace is obviously spreading rumors to make you doubt my relationship with Marcus. They've been setting up this big spectacle, saying it was to expose an affair, but it was actually a setup. They intended to dirty me and Marcus's names in hopes that you'd pursue me."
Isabella said quietly, "After all, you're possessive, and Marcus and I were engaged once before. Without any action, the mere fact that I met him may start a fight."
"You're powerful, intelligent, and now that you've listened to Grace's nonsense, you've surely understood the big picture. I'm the innocent party in this situation; I've done nothing wrong."
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