Addicted To The Genius Lady With A Thousand Faces

Chapter 1042:

Marissa, for her part, allowed him a moment of reprieve, her lips curling into a knowing half-smile. Their shared past had given her insight into the depths of Derek’s character, enabling her to decipher his thoughts with ease.

The previous day, Xander had relayed to her that Derek had ventured alone to the Blebert branch of the Doomsday Base, intent on a rendezvous with the chief instructor, Black Mallow. Discovering Black Mallow’s absence had visibly deflated him.

Derek had hovered outside the fortress-like doors of the Doomsday Base for ages before finally walking away. Before he left, he had the staff relay a message to Black Mallow, a declaration of his admiration and his eagerness to swear fealty.

After Xander reported this, he said to Marissa, confused, “I’m at a loss with Derek’s antics. He’s poised to join Aelfric’s family, yet Aelfric himself was cast out from Doomsday Base. How can Derek still expect a warm welcome here? And yet, he brazenly seeks favor with you. Has his judgment deserted him? With Aelfric now a sworn enemy of the base, plotting his vengeance, Derek’s maneuvers could only be seen as a stark betrayal. How can he not fear Aelfric’s wrath?”

offered a knowing smile and advised Xander

deep; his

that Derek, chafing under Aelfric’s heavy hand, yearned to break free from the chains of subservience. Tired of being a mere

Derek’s timidity, his reluctance to voice his thoughts, her patience wore thin. Her concern that he might waver

voice faltered, and he

her wrath toward Marissa. “Given Derek’s hesitation, you must really be an imposter. What have you done with the real Tiffany? Why pose as her?”

she grasped Marissa’s collar, her voice tinged with desperation and accusation. “Did you

cement Betty’s previous assertions, effectively painting Marissa as a deceitful