Chapter 328

Misty smirked. “If Marvin cared about you, he would help you set up your own bar.” She spoke.

“Have you ever thought about that?”

Panther snorted. “And if you weren’t such a whore, Marvin would still be with you.” He shrugged.

“It’s not your place to worry about their relationship.”

Misty’s eyes widened as she opened her mouth, but no words came out. I had no idea what had happened between Marvin and Misty, but that did still not give Panther a reason to embarrass her like that. It almost seemed as if her comment hurt him more than it hurt me.

Was it indeed because he needed me for the crazy game he was playing?

Was he so desperate to see the two of us together because he knew Marvin could willingly leave the family business to be with me?

Many thoughts were going through my head, but no matter how much I cracked my brain-I just couldn’t seem to find the reason.

“There’s just something about you.” Misty squinted her eyes. “And I will get to the bottom of it. Mark my words.”

“W-what?”

Misty shot me an unimpressed look. “You might be fooling everyone else with this act of yours, but I’m not buying any of it—“

“Shut up!” Panther slammed his fist on the table. Shocked, I turned to look at him while he took a breath and cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.” He breathed. “I’m just trying to keep this day peaceful.”

Seeing him behave like that after knowing what kind of monster he was, scared me to death.

After seeing my dad’s investigation reports of the people he had supposedly hurt, I remember being scared to death and now I know I should’ve trusted my gut instincts.

“Elena, my daughter!” A cheerful Mario saved the day, walking through the door. Behind him stood Victor and Linda.

I stood up from my chair to show my respects while Mario made his way over and gave me several kisses on my cheek. “You’re just getting prettier by the day!” He commented, completely ignoring Misty’s presence.

It took him some time, but he could finally remember my name correctly.

I knew they all pitied me because they saw me as this weak and fragile girl, but that was only because I kept my opinion to myself. It was only because I didn’t want to end up with a bullet in my head.

“It seems like my dad has found you again.” Marvin returned to his seat. He pulled me down to the chair and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, almost as if no one other than him was allowed to touch me.

“Are you okay?” He whispered. “Did she bother you?”

I shook my head, looking at Misty who was staring at us. “Good.” Marvin leaned forward, meeting Misty’s eyes.

“I’ll allow you to stay here out of respect for my sister.

Misty chuckled. “That’s very generous of you, Marvin. She spoke sarcastically.

Marvin’s ex, who did not trust me, could end up being an issue in the future. She couldn’t really have all the resources to dig further into my life, could she?

“Oh, this looks so good!” Karina clapped, admiring the table. “Okay, let’s eat-I’m starving!”

“No, we can’t,” Mario said.

“Daddy!” Karina pouted. “What do you mean, we can’t?”

“We have to wait for Lucas.”

Karina wasn’t the only one with an appetite. I felt a weird feeling in my tummy and closed my eyes, hoping it would go away-but before I knew it, my stomach had produced a loud growl.

I opened my eyes, shocked, and looked around me until I felt a tight grip around my shoulder. “I heard that,” Marvin whispered in my car. I rolled my eyes and hit his chest.

“Well, we cannot stop the universe because of one person,” Marvin said out loud. He grabbed a piece of bread and shoved it into my mouth. “Eat.” He demanded.

Marvin always looked out for me, but I couldn’t do the same in return. I didn’t grow up in a loving household, and I didn’t want to get tChapter 328 Elena “So, I was thinking.” Marvin reached for my hand across the table. “How about I’ll talk to your dad and your brother for you?”

Not again.

“Why?” I asked, worried.

“So you can fix whatever happened between you.”

I pulled back my hand. “No, thanks.” I smiled. “I’m good.”

While I was still waiting for Victoria’s judgment on the Panther situation, Marvin took a day off to spend some time with me. He had invited the entire family over for lunch, which unfortunately meant that Panther, who I had been trying to avoid, would also be there.

Yes, I know-it didn’t make any sense. How could you even avoid someone you lived with?

I was still determined to get to the bottom of it all, and not even work, or Rona’s endless rants could distract me.

Marvin had a disappointed look on his face. “I just feel guilty for inviting my family.” He spoke. “I really wanted it to be just the two of us, but then my mom invited herself-and you know how that went.”

“Yes.” I chuckled. “Don’t worry about it. I’m good.”

In the past, I would’ve been afraid of Mario and perhaps Victor, but at the moment, those two were the least of my concerns. Victor was irrelevant to me, and Mario was not half as bad as people made him out to be.

“I feel like you’re not telling me something.” Marvin looked at me strangely. “You know, I thought we’d be honest with each other.”

Marvin was someone who didn’t want to hurt my feelings, so he behaved like a gentle puppy and often did not speak his mind. For him to address my strange behavior must’ve meant I had been acting too suspiciously lately.

I had often wondered whether he would still have that same kind aura after he’d find out the truth about my family. Seeing Marvin angry wouldn’t be something new to me, but his anger was never directed at 1.

“Am I not allowed to have a bad day?” I stared into his eyes. I felt bad for treating him this way, but this was the only way to get him off my back.

There was a moment of silence before Marvin released a deep breath. “Of course you are.” He faked a -smile. “I’m sorry-

“Hey, guys!” A high-pitched voice called out from a distance, It was Karina, and as if things couldn’t get any worse, she had not only brought along Cisco but also Marvin’s ex, who I wasn’t fond of, Misty.

“H-hey?” Marvin greeted his sister. “I didn’t know you invited her?”

Misty rolled her eyes at me and sat down at the table. “It’s not like you’re inviting me, so someone has to do it”

“Do you want me to drag her out?” Panther entered the room. Drag her out, how? The same way he had most likely dragged out Anya?

Even worse was him manipulating Tiago, who had yet to succeed to see the full picture. Had he suspected Panther of Anya’s death, he would’ve attacked him without a single thought.

I felt chills throughout my body and turned away so I didn’t have to face him. How could someone be that dangerous?

Marvin looked at me, but I shook my head. “Leave her Misty was the least of my concerns.

“Karina, a word, please.” Marvin grabbed his sister’s arm and pulled her out of the room, leaving me alone with Panther, Misty, and Cisco.

“Aunt Elena!” Cisco leaned his head against my waist and gave me a side hug. “I’m already at level 550!” He showed me the gaming device in his hand.

We had bonded quickly as we were both gaming nerds, as Marvin liked to call us. “Good job!” I patted the boy over his head.

I never had much with Karina, but Cisco was an absolute angel. I adored him and could not believe how someone like that could have two backstabbing parents.

One had sent Marvin to prison, and the other one invited his ex without discussing it first.

“How about you let Elena breath.” Panther chuckled. He placed his hand on his son’s shoulder and pushed him aside so he could sit next to me while I completely froze.

“So.” He sank into the chair. “How have you been?” He asked. “You’ve been avoiding me all week.”

I squeezed the table cloth, trying to calm myself down, I’ve not been avoiding you.” I giggled. “I’ve just been so busy with work, that’s all.”

“Work?” He grinned. “Sure.”

“Are you still working at that bar?” Misty joined the conversation. I knew she was only saying it to make fun of me, but I didn’t care. If she had to be the one to save me, so be it.

“Yes, still at that bar.”

oo attached to him without knowing the possible outcome of our story.

What I did know was that I would be looking out for him from a distance.

I would wipe the mould from his life.