Chapter 6 I Never Wanted To Lose You

Corrine's eyes were swollen and red as she looked at Marissa, her long-lost child finally standing before her. Her voice trembled, breaking between sobs. "I missed you so much... so, so much, Marissa."

Unable to hold it in any longer, she reached forward and pulled Marissa tightly into her arms.

From the moment Marissa had stepped into the Curtis family's villa, the warmth and affection surrounding her had felt almost foreign. She wasn't used to this kind of welcome. It made her uneasy, yet at the same time, she couldn't help but feel drawn to it.

Within seconds, Corrine's tears had soaked through Marissa's shoulder. Marissa lowered her gaze, feeling a hot sting in her own eyes. She hesitated, then slowly raised her hand and placed it on her mother's back.

That simple gesture made Corrine's heart leap. She cupped Marissa's face and asked softly, "Did the Fletcher family treat you well all these years?"

"They were... strict. But I managed," Marissa replied.

She wasn't good at pretending, and honestly, she saw no reason to lie. There was no point in defending people who had never truly cared for her.

Corrine instantly understood the truth behind those few words, but she was too overwhelmed to respond. Overcome with emotion, she clung to Marissa so tightly that Marissa had to brace herself to stay upright.

"Be careful!"

One of the Curtis brothers called out, ready to help. But before they could move, they saw Marissa easily lift their frail mother and set her gently into the wheelchair.

All five brothers stared in surprise. Who would've guessed their sister was that strong?

Had the Fletcher family really made her do all the heavy lifting and rough chores all these years?

"You're amazing, Marissa," Corrine exclaimed, her voice overflowing with pride and tenderness.

But then, her smile faltered. Her gaze dropped to Marissa's skirt that was torn at the edge, and her expression instantly changed. Tears fell from her eyes, landing on her pale, trembling hand as she gripped the fabric. "Did the Fletcher family do this to you?"

Marissa shook her head. "No."

Though her reply was quiet, Corrine didn't believe it for a second.

A mother's heart knew the truth. There was no warmth in Marissa's tone, no fondness when she spoke of them. The absence of any emotion was proof enough of the coldness she must have endured all these years.

"Marissa, are you upset with me?" Corrine's usually steady voice wavered as she spoke. The woman who had always carried herself with confidence couldn't even lift her eyes to meet her daughter's. "I never meant to leave you back then. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I never wanted to lose you."

Her words came out broken, carried by the weight of years of regret.

Marissa lowered her head slightly, her gaze meeting Corrine's tearful eyes. After a brief pause, she answered softly, "I know."

Because who in their right mind would ever choose to lose their own child?

"How did you find out I am your daughter?" Marissa asked.

The Fletcher family had described her real family as lowly and despicable, a far cry from the dignity of the powerful Curtis family.

Corrine's eyes shimmered with guilt as she gently took her daughter's hand. "We have Theodore to thank for that," she said tenderly.

"Theodore?" Marissa blinked, surprise flickering in her eyes.

Corrine nodded. "You might not remember, but you and Theodore met once before. He said he saw you at a business event and thought you looked a lot like our family."

"Oh, I see." Marissa's voice carried no particular interest, just mild politeness.

Sensing her disinterest, Corrine quickly shifted the conversation and guided her towards the walk-in closet. "I've had so many clothes and pieces of jewelry prepared for you. After all these years, you finally get to have them."

She had originally planned to give Marissa time to adjust, to let her ease into this new life slowly. But seeing her daughter's torn skirt earlier had made her realize she might have underestimated how much hardship Marissa had endured.

Still, Marissa wasn't one to talk much. Most of Corrine's attempts to engage her had been met with short, almost emotionless replies. It made her hesitate, afraid of pushing too hard.

"Would you like me to stay with you a little while longer?" Corrine asked tentatively. She longed to be near her daughter, but she also didn't want to make her uncomfortable. Marissa was an adult now, and Corrine didn't want to intrude.

Marissa understood what Corrine was thinking. She offered her mother a reassuring smile. "You should rest for a bit. I'll be fine."

Corrine's heart sank for a moment, but when she saw the small gesture of concern behind those words, her disappointment softened into warmth. "Alright. If you need anything at all, just call me."

"Okay." Marissa nodded and helped push her mother's wheelchair out of the walk-in closet.

Once outside, Corrine's expression changed. She turned to Marc, her tone calm but edged with concern. "Marc, why didn't Theodore come back with Marissa?"