The Mistress Is Reborn As The Fiancée
Chapter 29: Brother-in-law

Chapter 29: Brother-in-law

Flynn, armed with Noelle’s vague directions, left the room and embarked on his quest to find the home gym. He turned down a hallway, then another, then another, each one leading him further into the labyrinthine depths of the mansion. The opulence of the surroundings, the endless corridors, the identical doors, began to blur into a disorienting haze, still he could not find an exit.

He found himself wandering in circles, retracing his steps, encountering the same ornate vases and imposing portraits. The gym and door to the garden, it seemed, was determined to remain elusive. He sighed, a hint of frustration creeping into his usually calm demeanor. He wondered how it was possible to get so thoroughly lost in a house and not meet a single person. For such a big house, it lacked enough humans.

"What I wouldn’t give to encounter a maid right now," he muttered to himself, his voice echoing softly in the empty hallway. "Or anyone, really."

As if summoned by his thoughts, a figure appeared at the far end of the corridor. Ma-Ri, her smile radiant, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous delight, approached him with a graceful stride.

"Hi brother in-law!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with a playful surprise. "What are you doing wandering around? You look lost."

Flynn offered a polite smile. "I actually am," he admitted, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "Noelle directed me to the gym, but I seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere and now I can’t find my way."

Ma-Ri chuckled, a light, melodious sound. "Noelle’s directions are... notoriously vague and undependable," she said, her eyes twinkling. "She has always been terrible with directions. Allow me to escort you."

Flynn accepted her offer with a grateful nod. "Thank you very much," he said, his voice sincere. "I appreciate the help."

As they walked, Ma-Ri, her eyes fixed on Flynn, began to probe him with a series of seemingly casual questions. "So, Flynn," she began, her voice laced with a subtle curiosity, "tell me, how did you and my cousin meet? How long have you been together? And why was she hiding you?"

Flynn, sensing her subtle interrogation, offered vague, non-committal answers. He was not about to reveal the true nature of their arrangement, not to Ma-Ri.

"It is actually quite surprising to us all that Areum got married in secret, she never told us about you." Ma-Ri broke the silence.

Flynn glanced at her momentarily, "I guess you are not very close then." He said.

Ma-Ri, sensing his reticence, shifted her approach. "You know," she said, her voice laced with a hint of sympathy, "Noelle is still quite upset about Evan. I think she rushed into this marriage as a... rebound."

Flynn chuckled, a low, amused sound. "Then I am grateful for Evan’s... shortcomings," he said, his eyes twinkling. "It is my fortune and intend to use this opportunity to ensure that she falls deeply in love with me, and what is to say she isn’t already in love with me?"

Ma-Ri’s eyes widened slightly, startled by his unexpected candor. She chuckled awkwardly, her smile faltering slightly. "Well, I can’t blame you," she said, her voice laced with a forced lightness. "Marrying Noelle comes with... benefits that are quite irresistible."

Flynn nodded heartily. "Indeed it does," he said, his eyes gleaming.

"And," Ma-Ri continued, her voice laced with a seductive purr, "I am also a Ryu daughter. I also have... irresistible benefits."

Flynn angled his head, looking at her with amusement. "Is that so?" he asked, his voice laced with playful skepticism.

They reached the gym before Ma-Ri could answer, and when they opened the spacious room filled with state-of-the-art equipment, they found Noelle standing impatiently by the door, her arms crossed, her expression a mixture of annoyance and suspicion.

Ma-Ri, noticing Noelle’s presence, moved closer to Flynn, her hand lightly brushing against his arm while she looked up adoringly into his eyes. She let out a loud, theatrical laugh, her voice echoing through the gym.

"Oh, Flynn," she gushed, her voice laced with a playful flirtation. "You are so positively charming! Noelle, you are so lucky to have such a wonderful husband. Not only is he handsome but he is funny too."

She turned to Flynn, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous delight. "We should take another walk soon, brother in-law." she said, her voice laced with a suggestive purr.

Flynn, his eyes fixed on Noelle’s increasingly angry expression, ignored Ma-Ri’s advances. He was not interested in Ma-Ri and he was not going to give her any kind of opening.

Noelle watched the interaction, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. She did not at all trust Ma-Ri, she did not trust her intentions. She knew that Ma-Ri was trying to manipulate Flynn, to turn him against her.

And to be honest, she did not trust Flynn either. What did she even know about the man? The private investigator she had gotten had given her nothing.

She stepped forward, her expression cool and composed. "Thank you, Ma-Ri," she said, her voice laced with a subtle edge. "I think we can find our way from here."

Ma-Ri, sensing Noelle’s displeasure, offered a saccharine smile. "Of course cousin," she said, her voice laced with a false sweetness. "Enjoy your workout."

She turned and left the gym, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. As she walked away, she glanced back at Flynn, her eyes filled with a promise.

Flynn turned to Noelle, his expression calm and composed. "Shall we begin then?" he asked, his voice laced with a professional detachment.

Noelle stared at him, her eyes still narrowed with suspicion. She knew that Ma-Ri was up to something, and she was determined to find out what it was. She also knew that she needed to keep a very close eye on Flynn. She did not trust him as much as she wanted to.

"And what was the meaning of that?" She demanded when she could no longer hear Ma-Ri’s heels clicking.