Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3397

Right on cue, under her grandfather's pressure, her father started urging her. "Marina, even if you keep the villa, you're not going to live there right now anyway. You'll still live here at home. Just let Phoebe have it. You're the older sister; you need to yield to her."

Seeing the conflicted, pained look on her father's face, Marina felt a mix of anger and heartbreak. "Who says I'm not going to live there?" she fired back stubbornly. "I bought it because I love it. Properties in that area are incredibly hard to get. I had someone keeping an eye on that listing for a long time, and you know that better than anyone, Dad!"

Jude tried to reason with her patiently. "No matter how nice a house is, it's just an object. It can't compare to family bonds. Marina, you've always been generous and understanding. You know what's best for the big picture."

Marina bit her lip and looked at her mother, silently pleading for her to say something in her defense. Instead, Rhiannon just gave her a pointed look and nodded, signaling her to give in.

Standing there facing the judgmental stares of her elders, Marina felt like a rebellious, unruly child.

"Mr. Foster!"

The maid at the entryway called out in polite surprise. Marina whipped her head around, stunned to see Carson striding into the house.

Hadn't he already left?

"Grandpa Evert, Grandma. Mr. and Mrs. Evert," Carson greeted smoothly.

Dressed in a casual beige outfit, he looked effortlessly handsome and refined. His tall, striking presence swept through the tense, suffocating atmosphere of the room like a breath of fresh air.

The family immediately scrambled to their feet, not daring to slight him. Even Jude forced a warm, affectionate smile. "Carson, what brings you by so late?"

Carson walked over and handed a small item to Marina. "We drove back from J City together. She was in such a rush to get inside that she left the gift I got her in the car."

A faint, mocking smile played on Carson's lips. "Forgive my ignorance, but this is the first time I've ever heard of a house curing an illness. What," he turned to look at Marina, "did the developer throw in a resident physician when you signed the papers?"

His deadpan sarcasm nearly made Marina break character and laugh.

Could he at least pretend to be serious during such a tense standoff?

"Mr. Foster!"

A soft, fragile voice echoed from the staircase. Everyone turned to see Phoebe standing there, despite supposedly being asleep.

She walked down the stairs with agonizing slowness. Dressed in a pure white silk nightgown, her long black hair cascaded gently down her back. Her chronic illness gave her a pale, delicate complexion, making her look incredibly ethereal and tragically beautiful.