Chapter 18
The car door flew open in an instant. Axell stood at attention beside the car.
“Ms. Estrada, please step out of the car.”
Bertha was anxious.
‘I’m telling you the truth, but you just won’t believe me! What do you want to hear? What do you want me to say? I had no intention of getting close to you, and no one sent me! If I could, I’d stay a million miles away, ɔreferably never see you again for the rest of my life!”
Marcus’s expression turned sullen.
You claimed you didn’t know me. But you want to spend your life never seeing me again? What grudge could ve possibly have?”
Bertha realized she had a slip of the tongue. Her long lashes fluttered wildly as she backtracked.
No grudge!”
Then what did you mean by that?”
Because you’re ugly! I don’t like dealing with ugly people!”
Marcus was rendered speechless.
The car door hung open, and several bodyguards stood by, their expressions growing more amused by the econd.
she actually said their master is ugly, that woman has a death wish!
Throw her in jail. Starve her for three days. No food until I say so. Let her out when she’s ready to talk.”
Marcus finished speaking and closed his eyes, unwilling to spare her a single second of his gaze.
Two bodyguards promptly hauled Bertha out of the car.
‘anic seized Bertha. What if she was really arrested? What about her child?
A desperate idea struck, and she blurted out, “You bastard! You can’t arrest me, I’m Marcus’s wife!”
Marcus’s eyes flew open in shock.
Bertha sucked in a breath, forcing a smile.
I am Marcus’s wife. Go check it out. You know the Gonzalez family, don’t you?
“It’s the first noble family in Los Angeles, with immense influence. Even though Marcus is disabled and not favored in the family, he’s still a Gonzalez. As his wife, I’m part of the family.
“If you bully me, it’s like bullying Marcus. Bullying Marcus is like provoking the entire Gonzalez family. Powerful families care about honor. The Gonzalez family won’t let this slide!”
Marcus regarded her with icy eyes.
Bertha held his gaze, then added in a rush,“Listen, Marcus loves me, really, really loves me!
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“He’s obsessed with me! If you dare lay a hand on me, he’ll destroy you!”
Marcus fell silent.
The bodyguards also fell silent.
The silence was deafening.
Menu
Marcus stood right before her, yet she didn’t recognize him. She’d dared to claim Marcus loved her and was obsessed with her.
Anyone hearing this would see it as a lie, a ridiculous one at that.
If she’d just stuck to calling herself his wife, Marcus might have entertained a sliver of doubt. Now, he didn’t believe any word she uttered.
His lips pursed, disgust so palpable a blind man could have sensed it.
Too irritated to debunk her lies, he didn’t even spare her a glance.“Take her away,” he said icily.
Hey! You!”
A bodyguard clamped a hand over Bertha’s mouth, hauled her from the car, and marched her toward the police
tation.
ust then, Axell ran over quickly, holding a flash drive that had surveillance video on it.
He motioned to the guards, “Hold on!”
Getting into the car, Axell whispered urgently, “Marcus, I found the woman Dr. Sherman mentioned.
It’s Ms. Estrada, the one we’ve been searching for! Look, she just calmed Galen down!”
Marcus was dumbfounded.
Grabbing the iPad, he stared through the window at Bertha, his expression turning complicated.
He’d never expected the woman Kason had begged him to find would be her.
Galen was the nephew of his best friend, Fletcher.
Two years ago, Galen had been kidnapped, leaving him with psychological trauma and bipolar disorder. During episodes, his condition mirrored Casper’s.
The Wallace family, like Marcus, had consulted countless pediatric specialists, but none could help. And yet Bertha had managed it.
If not for the earlier debacle, Marcus would have brought her home immediately to care for Casper.
But now, doubt gnawed at him.
Was this all a ploy? Had she orchestrated Galen’s “calm” to ingratiate herself with him and Casper, performing for his benefit?
Too much had happened since her arrival, and she definitely wasn’t as innocent as she seemed.
Marcus was silent for a beat, then ordered icily, “Release her.”
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He needed to observe her more.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
