Psycho villain I Raised Wants to Marry Me-Chapter294 – Thank God…

Psycho villain I Raised Wants to Marry Me-Chapter294 – Thank God…

She lifted her gaze cautiously. His expression remained calm, composed, eyes fixed ahead. His posture was upright and elegant—flawless on the surface.
But Clarissa quickly noticed the subtle rise and fall of his chest.
And the slight, involuntary movement of his Adam’s apple.
Is he… nervous too?
A faint smile finally curved Clarissa’s lips. She pressed even closer to him and whispered softly,
“Is this okay? There are so many people—I’m afraid I’ll get lost…”
Atticus was suffering and indulging at the same time.
Her softness, her warmth—every inch of her pressed against him was driving him half-mad, while he fought with everything he had not to drag her into his arms and take what he desperately wanted. It was a sweet, exquisite torture.
He inhaled slowly, then let out a quiet breath through his nose.
“…Mm.”
Only then did Clarissa finally relax, her heart settling back into her chest.
She’d heard long ago that Dr. Atticus despised anyone who invaded his personal space. Last time, a woman had tried to approach him—before she could even brush his sleeve, he’d reflexively kicked her away.
And now… she was wrapped around his arm.
The realization sent a quiet thrill through her. Her mood lifted instantly, joy written plainly across her face.
At first, Atticus was still lost in the sensation of her body against his. But the stares around them grew more and more blatant.
He lifted his eyes slowly.
Cold. Sharp. Merciless.
The people nearby felt a chill go through them and scattered at once, instinctively clearing a wide path as if fleeing a predator.
Without a word, Atticus guided Clarissa straight toward the top floor.
Not far away, Mark stood frozen, staring at their intertwined figures in disbelief.
That man was… Atticus?
How could this be? When did Clarissa and he—
“Hey. How long are you planning to keep staring?”
Someone tapped his shoulder from behind. Mark spun around to see Oriana standing there in an orange tuxedo, smiling brightly.
He frowned and blurted out, “What are you doing here?”
“Who do you think you are? Why shouldn’t I be?” She waved an invitation in her hand. “Even a bronze medalist gets entry. Ninety-nine percent of the world’s problems can be solved with money.”
Her words hit him harder than he expected.
He used to believe that too.
Now… he wasn’t so sure. He turned his head away, a heavy pressure weighing on his chest.
“I’ve shown you mine. Let me see yours.” Oriana leaned in to glance at the invitation pinned to his lapel. Her eyes glittered.
“Black and gold? No wonder you’re a big shot.”
Feeling her calculating gaze, Mark stiffened. “What are you plotting?”
She moved closer, lowering her voice. “You don’t have a female companion, right? Perfect. I don’t have a male companion either. Let’s go in together.”
Mark’s mouth twitched as he took a large step back.
“Don’t even think about it!”
Did she think he couldn’t tell? She just wanted front-row luxury at bargain pricing.
Oriana didn’t look the least bit flustered. A sly smile played at her lips.
“Don’t you want to know how they got back together?”
Mark’s expression instantly froze.
Her smile deepened. “Firsthand information. No lies. Interested?”
After a long, tense pause, he ground out,
“Fine. Talk.”
“I’m hungry first.” She turned casually. “Let’s eat. I’ll tell you slowly.”
Watching her retreating figure and the swelling crowd around them, Mark had no choice but to follow, his face dark.
At the dining table, Oriana ate with great enthusiasm.
Mark watched impatiently. “Are you done yet?”
“What’s the rush?” she said lazily. “A beautiful woman should eat slowly. Otherwise, she gets fat.”
“You—”
“Don’t interrupt.” She cut him off sharply and wiped her lips with a napkin. “What you saw earlier is the answer.”
“The answer?” Mark scoffed bitterly. “Has Clarissa remembered Atticus?”
“As far as I know—probably not.”
“Then she—” His body swayed slightly.
“Atticus has always been by Miss Clarissa’s side,” Oriana said quietly. “All these years, her career has soared. Do you really think it was just luck? Besides her own talent?”
She looked into the distance.
“Miss Clarissa is gentle and easygoing… yet she always feels untouchable. But with Atticus, she’s different.”
Even Clarissa herself likely hadn’t noticed it—every time she mentioned Atticus, she seemed to come alive.
Clarissa was like a clear, quiet spring—gentle and cold. And Atticus… was fire.
A blazing, ruthless fire that had forced its way into her life, lighting up everything around her, melting her frostbitten heart and setting her world ablaze.
Oriana sighed softly.
“Some people…” she murmured, “even if they forget… still fall in love again the moment they meet.”
She looked at Mark, the smile gone from her eyes.
“Mark. Let her go.”
Mark’s lips moved for a long time, but no words came.
He stared at the wine glass before him, the golden liquid shimmering under the lights. At last, he spoke slowly,
“Maybe Atticus truly loved Clarissa. But what about me…”
He had loved her for thirty-five years. How could he just accept that?
Oriana paused, then said calmly,
“This may sound cruel, but love isn’t something you earn just by giving more. Sometimes, letting go… is also a form of love.”
When he didn’t respond, she added softly,
“Then let’s make a bet, alright? One last bet.”
Mark lifted his eyes to meet hers.
“Fine. What are we betting on?”
The auction was still an hour away from beginning. Atticus led Clarissa slowly through the venue. Clarissa was internationally renowned, and wherever they passed, people stopped to greet her.
After finally shaking off the last group of well-wishers, Atticus pulled her into a quiet corner and took a glass of water from a waiter.
“Are you tired?”
“A little.” Clarissa took a sip. She’d been mentally prepared, but walking such a long distance in high heels was still exhausting.
Just as Atticus was about to take her to rest, a familiar voice sounded behind him.
“Mr. Atticus. It’s been a long time.”
He turned and saw David standing there. Two years had barely changed him—same glasses, same composed, unreadable gaze.
“David. Long time no see.”
David’s eyes flicked briefly to Clarissa. A trace of surprise crossed his face before he masked it.
“My master would like to see you. He says he misses you very much.”
Atticus was about to refuse—but something crossed his mind. After a brief pause, he nodded.
“Alright. Give me a moment.”
He turned to Clarissa.
“I’m going to meet an old acquaintance. Do you want to come with me?”
The man before her looked vaguely familiar in a way she couldn’t explain. The moment he appeared, her thoughts had turned chaotic, a dull ache blooming at her temples. She shook her head.
“No. I don’t know him. You go ahead.”
“Then I’ll take you somewhere to rest.”
“No need.” She forced a small smile. “It’s stuffy in here. I want to go outside and feel the sea breeze.”
She nodded politely to David and turned to leave.
Atticus quietly instructed a nearby staff member to watch her. As Clarissa’s figure faded from sight, David spoke softly,
“Is Miss Clarissa alright? She doesn’t look well.”
Atticus was still staring after her. A sudden realization struck him—Callum didn’t know Clarissa had ever been to that castle. If her memory hadn’t faded naturally but had been forcibly erased… inconsistencies were inevitable.
“Mr. Atticus? Mr. Atticus?”
He snapped back to himself at David’s second call.
“I’m worried about her. Could Mr. Gabriel wait a moment longer?”
“Of course.”
.....
Clarissa reached another deck. The sea breeze cooled her flushed skin and cleared her head a little. She dismissed the staff and walked alone along the empty walkway.
It was eerily quiet.
Then she felt it—a gaze.
She turned and saw a girl standing not far away.
The girl was beautiful, strikingly so—especially her eyes. But now those eyes were blazing with hatred.
Clarissa frowned slightly.
“Do we know each other?”
“You don’t know me?” Helena sneered coldly. “Of course you don’t. How could you? You’re living so well now…”
The sight of her and Atticus together at the banquet had burned into Helena’s eyes like acid. Together—sister and brother. Ridiculous. So this was why Atticus had rejected her. Because of his precious “sister.”
Clarissa felt a chill crawl up her spine and instinctively took a step back.
Before she could turn and leave, Helena’s voice ripped through the air again from behind her.
“Sleeping with the little brother you raised since childhood must be exciting! You’ve been plotting to seduce him for years, haven’t you?!”
“What are you talking about?” Clarissa couldn’t understand a word of it. A splitting pain suddenly exploded in her head. She grabbed blindly for the railing—but didn’t realize that a section of the deck behind her was missing.
Helena’s furious scream echoed beside her:
“Clarissa, you shameless slut who seduced her own brother—go to hell!”
She lunged forward and shoved her with all her strength.
Pain detonated behind Clarissa’s eyes. Her vision shattered into blinding fragments as her body pitched backward. The next instant, she fell straight into the black sea below.
Splash.
Icy water slammed over her. Clarissa held her breath instinctively, but the crushing pressure made her chest feel like it was caving in. A tearing pain sliced through her body—as if her soul were being ripped apart.
For the first time in her life, Clarissa felt truly close to death.
Another splash broke the surface.
Through blurred vision, she saw a familiar face diving toward her.
Atticus.
She called his name silently in her heart—and then her eyes slipped shut.
Atticus swam with desperate speed, seizing her lifeless hand. Her face was deathly pale, eyes closed.
Without a second of hesitation, he pressed his mouth to hers beneath the water and forced air into her lungs again and again.
Then, with her held tightly against his chest, he surged upward.
They reached the shore at last.
Clarissa lay limp in his arms, her eyes closed, her face deathly pale, her breathing faint and uneven.
Atticus laid her flat on the deck without hesitation and immediately began CPR. He pressed down hard on her chest, then bent to seal his lips over hers, forcing air into her lungs again and again.
Moments later, she coughed violently, seawater spilling from her mouth. Her lashes fluttered open, her gaze unfocused.
Before she could even process what was happening, Atticus pulled her violently into his arms.
“Clarissa… thank God… thank God you’re alright…”
His muscles were locked tight, his voice shaking, his arms trembling as they held her as if she might vanish at any second.
Clarissa was stunned for a heartbeat. Then, by instinct, she whispered,
“Dr… Dr. Atticus?”
“Yes. It’s me. I’m here.” His breath was ragged. “You scared me to death…”
He lifted her up at once and carried her swiftly toward the upper deck.
David hurried over, his eyes widening at the sight of the two of them soaked through. “Mr. Atticus, you—”

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Chapter294 – Thank God…