Chapter 84

"My last name is Brooks," Celestia quickly added, picking up where the other left off. At her words, a flicker of something cold passed through Marlow's eyes. His already serious expression slightly darkened, as if her name triggered some unpleasant memory. "Brooks, huh?" Celestia was caught off-guard by his oddly chilly reaction. Did her last name really strike such a nerve? For a second, she was clueless about what to say. Thankfully, Marlow didn't dwell on it and instead brought up something unexpected. "You seem a bit familiar, Ms. Brooks. Have we met before?" he asked, peering more closely at her. The longer he stared, the more her refined facial features stirred a nagging déjà vu in him, though he couldn't quite place it. The question made her pause. She studied the man's intense gaze, noticing how seriously he was trying to place her. After a beat, she gave him a polite smile and shook her head. "I don't think so." As far as she could recall, they'd never crossed paths. Even as