"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
