141As the tension in the room continued to escalate, Camila couldn't contain her frustration any longer. She turned to Amelia with a scowl, her voice laced with disbelief. "Amelia, how could you support him after what he's done?" Her fists clenched at her sides, and her eyes bore into Amelia's with accusation.Amelia met Camila's gaze with a mixture of sadness and determination. "Camila, you know I don't condone violence," she began, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. "But I also know Darien. He's not a cold-blooded killer. There must have been extenuating circumstances."Camila shook her head in frustration, her brow furrowing in disbelief. "But Amelia, he took a life," she countered, her voice rising with indignation. "How can you defend him?"Amelia's heart ached at Camila's words, knowing the pain and confusion that tore at her friend's soul. "I'm not defending his actions, Camila," she explained, her voice soft but resolute. "I'm trying to understand them. And perhaps, i

143With lightning speed, Darien intercepted one of the black objects hurtling towards them, revealing it to be a venomous snake. "Look out!" he shouted, his heart pounding with adrenaline as he deflected the serpent away from Amelia.But before anyone could react, the second snake sank its fangs into Amelia's leg, injecting its deadly venom. She screamed in pain, her body convulsing as the poison coursed through her veins."Miss Fairchild!" Darien's voice cracked with anguish as he rushed to her side, his hands trembling as he tried to pry the snake off her.Amelia's screams echoed through the room, her face contorted in agony. "Get it off me!" she pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks as she writhed in pain.With swift action, Amelia crushed the snake beneath her boot, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she fought to regain her composure. "I'm okay," she gasped, her voice strained with pain. "Just get that traitorous bastard!"Her men sprang into action, surrounding the traito

145The guard's screams were cut short as his body went limp, his lifeless eyes staring up at Darien in silent accusation. Darien stood there for a moment, his chest heaving with adrenaline, before turning away from the gruesome scene.Camila's horrified gasp broke the tense silence, her hands flying to her mouth in shock."Sir French, what have you done?" she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.The other guards watched in stunned silence, their expressions ranging from shock to horror. "He... he killed him," one of them muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.But Darien paid them no mind, his thoughts consumed by the weight of his actions. As they tended to Amelia's wound, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling of doubt that gnawed at the edges of his mind.Had he gone too far? Had he sacrificed his integrity for the sake of revenge? But as he looked down at Amelia's pale face, her life hanging in the balance, he knew that he would do whatever it took to save her, even

147“Here, take this. It’s a secret medicine I got you. Take it with some water, and you’ll be fine in no time.”Amelia pushed a small white bottle into his hand and poured him a glass of warm water.“Secret medicine? What is it?” Darien asked curiously.“Don’t underestimate it. It’s the result of three years of dedicated research and experiments by Dr. Esmond Starag. It can treat all kinds of venom,” she urged.“Esmond Starag?” Dustin was surprised.“You know him?” asked Natasha, with a raised eyebrow.As the conversation continued, Darien couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping over him. The mention of Dr. Esmond Starag's name by Amelia caught his attention, stirring up memories of a past encounter with the renowned doctor. Flashback:Several years ago, Esmond had found himself in a precarious situation, facing off against a deadly adversary who had left him gravely wounded. As he lay on the brink of death, it was Darien who had come to his rescue, using his expertise in

149Amelia stood her ground, her heart pounding in her chest as she faced her mother's wrath. Felicia's gaze was like daggers, her frustration boiling over as she clenched her fists at her sides."You are being selfish, Amelia!" Felicia's voice echoed through the room, laced with anger. "Do you not understand the gravity of this situation? Marrying Nestor Hughes is not just about your happiness—it's about securing our family's future!"Amelia met her mother's glare head-on, her own eyes flashing with defiance. "I refuse to sacrifice my happiness for the sake of tradition, Mother. I won't be forced into a loveless marriage just to appease you."Felicia's frustration only intensified, her voice trembling with anger. "You are jeopardizing everything we've worked for, Amelia! Can't you see that?"Amelia shook her head, her voice unwavering. "I won't let fear dictate my life, Mother. I deserve a chance at love, not just a life of convenience."Felicia's hand trembled with rage as she took