Chapter 13
Lisette turned her head and met Tobias's serious gaze, then chuckled. "He's just joking around, no need to take everything so literally."
"It's my duty to take care of you," Tobias replied.
With his family being so small - parents gone too soon, just his grandma and a half-brother around - Tobias had grown up on duty and responsibility. Nobody ever taught him how to love a woman or keep a marriage going.
Watching how his in-laws treated each other gave him a clue. It became his blueprint.
Now, he looked at Lisette like this was his most important job: "Whatever you want, just tell me. I'll make it happen."
That line came out of nowhere and hit Lisette like a sneak attack.
Wait... was this seriously the same cold, no-nonsense Tobias she remembered?
Marshall was clearly impressed. It surprised him - enough to drop his usual guard. "People kept telling me you were always off on business trips, basically leaving my daughter to fend for herself. I kept wondering if marrying her off to you was a huge mistake.
"But today, I finally feel at ease. Tobias, take care of my daughter like your life depends on it. If you don't, I swear I'll bring the whole Cavendish family down on you."
Daphne chimed in too, firm and warm. "I agree with Marshall. Lise is our little treasure. You'd better not take her for granted."
Tobias stood up and gave them a respectful bow. "Please don't worry. I won't let you down."
Just a simple line, but the weight behind them was heavy.
Lisette's eyes stung. Ever since learning she was adopted, words like this from her parents hit differently. They went straight to the heart in a way they never had before.
A tear fell without warning, and Marshall and Daphne panicked.
"Why're you crying out of the blue, Lise?"
Bryce was about to say something to comfort her, but Tobias beat him to it.
He looked caught off guard, voice a little unsteady. "Did I say something wrong?"
Now he was second-guessing himself. He replayed his words in his head like a math equation - straight, logical. Still couldn't find the problem. His brows tightened just a bit. Wow, this was a tougher one than he thought.
Awkwardly, Tobias grabbed a tissue and tried to wipe her tears. "Don't cry. If I messed up just tell me, I'll fix it. I won't let it happen again."
"Lise, say something."
All the heaviness in her chest kind of disappeared, just from that one clumsy act.
Tobias stood there holding the tissue like it was a serious task, his whole body slightly stiff, lips pressed in a tight line, eyes kinda panicky.
Lisette blinked, then broke into a smile, eyes still teary but now shining with laughter like crescent moons. She sniffled and shook her head. "It's not you. I'm just... hungry."
His whole body relaxed, the tension melting away, back to his poker face self. He deadpanned, "If crying every time you're hungry becomes a thing, you'll run out of water and end up looking like a raisin."
Then added, "Next time just tell me. I'll get you what you want. No crying over food, okay?"
Was that... scolding? Like she was a kid?
Lisette pouted. "Mr. Hastings, you seriously lose all cuteness the second you start lecturing someone."
Tobias replied with a straight face, "Men aren't supposed to be cute."
"...Right," Lisette muttered, looking annoyed. "But seriously? I said I cried because I was hungry and you actually bought that? Aren't you supposed to be some kind of genius? What happened to your judgment?"
His face twitched a little. "You were lying?" Not angry - just visibly doubting his own instincts.
She's always been the type to speak her mind and give anyone an earful if she didn't like them. Someone like Lisette, so tough and fiercely independent, would never cry just because she skipped a meal.
And yet, that ridiculous lie - he bought it without the slightest hesitation. A weird feeling settled in Tobias's chest. His eyes on Lisette grew quiet and unreadable.
Being stared at like that gave Lisette the chills. He looked like he was waiting for her to say something. But whether she said it was true or fake, it'd just make things more awkward. So she turned her face away and ignored him altogether.
Meanwhile, Marshall was busy giving out orders to the staff:
"Colin, get the car ready. We're heading to Harvest Fields."
"Wyatt, grab a few boxes of snacks Lise likes. She can munch on 'em on the way."
"Zach, bring that jar of honey lemon tea Lise made. Daphne only drinks that kind."
The whole family jumped into action, leaving Maverick in the dust as they drove off toward the little restaurant thirty miles away.
The second Clyde saw her, he came barreling out with a kitchen knife: "You're already mooching dinner, and now you're invading my lunch break too?"
Lisette was ready. She dialed Scarlett on the spot.
"Scarlett, Clyde's trying to murder me!"
Clyde nearly popped a vein, glaring as he slammed the knife down and accepted his fate - turning into automated chef duty for Miss Lisette.
Once everyone was fed and happy, and Clyde still looked like someone kicked his puppy, they headed straight to Phoenix Crest Estate.
Thirty years ago, Marshall had gone all in and bought up three major natural hot springs in Veridia. Since then, he steadily expanded the place into the city's biggest, fanciest private club.
Thanks to the springs, the estate had perfect year-round weather and body-friendly temps. There were ten public hot springs and a bunch of private ones - exclusive hideaways only millionaires could afford.
In Veridia's upper crust, they had a saying: "Owning a private spring at Phoenix Crest means you've officially made it."
And the man holding that golden key? Marshall. On Lisette's eighteenth birthday, he handed it over to her like it was nothing. That single move sealed her reputation as Veridia's top debutante.
Their car stopped at the private pools.
The estate's general manager and deputy manager were already waiting to greet them at the entrance.
Lisette stepped onto the mossy stones, bamboo rustling around her.
The last time she was here was in her previous life. After the fall of the Cavendishes, she'd hit rock bottom emotionally, and Maverick brought her here to rest.
He cleared his schedule and stayed a whole week with her, helping her pull herself back together.
A month later, she took full control of the family business.
Back then, Maverick was her only true relative left. She lived for him, terrified of losing what little she had. Her whole world revolved around him, and her one dream was to see him win that Best Actor trophy, to give him the future he always wanted.
Too bad...
She looked up, eyes cast far off into the distance.
The sky was stupidly blue, the clouds fluffier than usual, sunshine spilling everywhere - this time around, she knew exactly what she needed to do.
Take down the scumbags. Protect her family.
Looping her arms through Marshall and Daphne's, she said in her signature sweet tone, "Daddy, I had a few new swimsuits picked out for you and Mom. Go try them on together, okay?"
Marshall burst out laughing. "That's my girl! Always knows what her old man's thinking."
Daphne gently slapped his arm, cheeks pink. "She totally picked up your bad habits."
"Sweetheart, I'm not taking credit for that."
Marshall held his wife close and shot a glance toward Tobias. "You wanna blame someone for her sass, look right over there. And hey, I don't call it bad. It's just... couple energy, you know?"
And with that, he proudly took his wife by the hand and made a beeline for the hot springs - leaving the kids behind without a second thought.
