Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3545

Summer: [It has to be serious. She's literally bringing him to dinner.]

Trixie: [Marina definitely owes the two of us. A single dare practically sealed her fate.]

Marina watched their messages roll in, smiling but keeping quiet.

Out of nowhere, Colby sent a message: [Doesn't Marina have a fiancé? We probably shouldn't be joking about this stuff!]

After a beat of awkward silence, Trixie fired back: [Do you ever think before you type? If you don't know what to say, just shut up!]

Colby quickly unsent his last message. [I'm heading into a meeting. Talk later.]

Marina: [Then it's settled. See you all tonight!]

Setting her phone aside, Marina went back to work.

*

After work, Carson came to pick Marina up. During the drive, she told him about the chaotic group chat, finding the whole thing highly amusing.

Carson glanced at her with a smirk as he drove. "I'm giving you the perfect opportunity to make our relationship official tonight."

Marina shook her head. "I'm terrified they'll beat me up."

Carson chuckled smoothly. "I'll protect you."

After a brief pause, he asked, "You guys have a group chat? Who's in it?"

"Just the three of us, plus Trixie's boyfriend, Colby," Marina explained.

Carson immediately frowned. "Why aren't I in it?"

Marina tilted her head, grinning. "Because you're not my official boyfriend."

Carson narrowed his eyes, a cold, dangerous smirk pulling at the corners of his lips. "Invite me right now. Otherwise—"

Unfazed, Marina challenged him. "Otherwise what?"

Carson kept his eyes on the road, slowly easing off the gas as he delivered his threat with absolute calm. "Otherwise, I'm fully prepared to run that red light."

Carson smiled. "Her boyfriend is paying for dinner tonight. It's the least I can do to show my appreciation."

Suddenly, Marina received a private message from Trixie: [Marina, is this guy only with you for your money? I have a cousin who comes from money. She met this 'elite' guy at a bar, and it turned out he was a complete kept man who specifically targeted rich women.]

Marina stared at her screen in stunned silence before completely bursting into laughter.

Carson glanced over. "What's so funny?"

Marina looked at Carson's striking, perfect face. He honestly did have the potential to be a sugar baby. The longer she looked at him, the harder she wanted to laugh.

Seeing her so amused, Carson couldn't help but smile himself. "Are you talking about me? What did they say to you privately?"

Marina ignored his question, typing her reply to Trixie: [He's not.]

Trixie: [This guy clearly knows exactly how to sweet-talk women. You really need to be careful, Marina.]

Holding back a smirk, Marina typed back: [I know.]

She definitely needed to be careful around this man—just not when it came to her bank account.