Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 3611

Everyone in the room wore a grim expression, except for Aunt Charlotte.

Marina had a maid bring her a chair. She sat across from them, her voice flat. "Say whatever you want, but I'm calling off the engagement with the Foster family. My decision is final."

"Absurd!" Grandpa Evert slammed his hand on the coffee table, his face dark. "Do you think an alliance between our families is a child's game? You can't just cancel it on a whim. I forbid it!"

Marina lowered her gaze. "I apologize for not discussing it with you first, but the engagement is off."

Grandma Evert asked, "Did you and Carson have a fight?"

"No," Marina replied.

Rhiannon chimed in anxiously. "If you didn't fight, why the sudden breakup?"

Marina pressed her lips together and remained silent.

Aunt Charlotte let out a dry laugh. "I always said Carson Foster was unreliable. Marina must have been putting up with a lot, right?"

Rhiannon's tone turned frosty. "I know exactly what kind of man Carson is, Charlotte. He has been nothing but wonderful to her."

Grandpa Evert scowled. "Even an ordinary couple doesn't just split up out of nowhere. Let alone the fact that your relationship is tied to our business interests. You cannot be this selfish, Marina."

"Marina, if there's something you're unhappy about, just tell us. The family will help you fix it," Jude added.

"Exactly. What on earth happened between you two?" Rhiannon pressed.

But no matter what they said, Marina offered no further explanation. Her attitude remained resolute, her stubbornness fueling their frustration.

Finally, Grandpa Evert reached his boiling point. He stood up and stormed off, throwing a cold parting shot over his shoulder. "Without my permission, this engagement stands!"

Aunt Charlotte grabbed her husband and left as well, leaving only Marina and her parents in the living room.

Rhiannon was fuming and opened her mouth to argue further, but Jude stopped her. "Leave it alone. Let her cool off. Give her some time."

Carson was wearing only a black dress shirt. His tie lay discarded on the floor, and his top buttons were undone. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and the overflowing ashtray beside him made it obvious he hadn't slept a wink.

Crushing the cigarette into the mountain of ash, Carson spoke in a flat voice. "What is it?"

"The head of the H City branch called me. He said you left before the issues there were resolved. When you didn't answer his calls, he had no choice but to reach out to me." Barton glared at him. "What is going on here? Why did you come back so suddenly?"

Carson's half-lidded eyes gleamed with a predatory chill. His voice was hoarse. "If he can't handle things without me holding his hand, what the hell am I paying him for?"

With that, he grabbed his jacket and strode toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Barton demanded.

"To fire him," came the cold, raspy reply.

Barton was left speechless.