Chapter 19 There was really no point in going on like this . Curtis suddenly let out a short laugh . He then flicked the ash off his cigarette and said , " Sorry , I'm busy . " Marceline choked back her words , her cheeks flushing red in an instant . She bit down on her lip , eyes brimming with tears that refused . to fall as she stared at him in silence . Curtis held a cigarette between his thin lips . When he saw her expression , he slowly removed it and tossed it into the trash . Then , he reached out and wiped away her tears with his uninjured hand . There were faint calluses on his fingertips . He was a skilled fighter , after all . Before the Wolfe family brought him back , he could take on 20 people by himself . up from the bottom , stepping on too many toes along the way . Countless ambushes had honed his reflexes into He had clawed his way up razor sharpness . He had also taught himself to fight with kuves , staffs , crossbows , and even firearms . As a result , the calluses on his fingertips were slightly rough , and when he wiped her face , it stung . Marceline tried to pull away , but her chin was suddenly seized . Forced to lift her face , she heard him say , " Enough . Let's stop fighting , okay ? " She almost laughed . His tone made it sound like she was the one being unreasonable , and he was generously letting it go . She tried to turn her head to free her chin , but Curtis wouldn't let her . He suddenly lowered his head and captured her lips in a rough , probing kiss . Marceline couldn't even remember the last time they kissed . She momentarily froze before biting down hard on the tip of his tongue . Curtis flinched in pain but didn't release her . Soon , the metallic tang of blood filled both their mouths . Tears began streaming down Marceline's face again as she stomped on Curtis's foot with all her might .. Finally , he stilled and glanced down at her . " You've got some strength in you , " he flatly remarked . " Curtis , am I a joke to you ? Do you think I'll never be able to leave you ? You think me asking for a divorce is just a game to make you come back , don't you ? " " Isn't it ? " A wave of disgust surged inside Marceline . She harshly wiped her lips and said , " I'll see you at the courthouse on Monday . " Instead of responding , Curtis simply looked at her . But Marceline couldn't be bothered to argue anymore , so she ran upstairs . Meanwhile , Curtis remained standing there . His throat was a little dry , yet he was still itching to light another cigarette . Just then , his phone rang again with that same designated ringtone . He answered the call and immediately walked out the door . " Yeah , I'm coming now . " Marceline entered the master bedroom and saw the flash of car lights outside . She stood by the balcony , feeling as if her soul had left her body . The next morning , she received a call from Selene Lovell just after she woke up . Selene was her close friend , but Marceline hadn't seen her since her marriage three years ago and her self - imposed seclusion in Cloudcrest Bay , During the engagement party when everything had gone wrong , Selene had been the only friend Marceline invited . Selene had publicly defended her , but it was only for Marceline to admit to drugging Curtis and claiming she did it because she wanted to marry him . Selene had been so angry that she ended their friendship on the spot . From then on , they hadn't seen or even messaged each other for the past three years . Upon seeing Selene's name flashing on the phone screen , Marceline's throat ached . Everyone in their circle knew exactly how badly things had soured between her and Curtis now . Thus , Selene - though an illegitimate daughter of the Lovell family who hadn't quite breached the Innermost circle of power - must have heard bits and pieces about them over the years . Marceline tell a burning humiliation , as if she had been slapped across the face multiple times . She didn't answer the call , and the ringtone finally stopped . But a few minutes later , her plione buzzed with a new message . It was a photo from Selene , taken outside Pinebrook Villa . Just one photo and no words . Yet , Marceline had a feeling that Selene must have found something out .