147As he pocketed his phone, Darwin couldn't help but roll his eyes at the absurdity of their situation. He was about to embark on a charade that seemed more suited to a sitcom than real life. He shook his head, a chuckle escaping him despite the gravity of their predicament. The things we do for f

149While Edgar was fuming, he was unaware of the crowd that had gathered and were watching the exchange with interest.A few people had begun to exchange glances between themselves, perusing and assessing Darien with their eyes,“Who's this fellow that dares to exchange words with a Marivaldi?! Doe

151As Darwin stood by Fiona, speaking with a humility that belied his achievements, the crowd's reaction shifted from surprise to respect, their applause growing louder and more genuine with each passing moment.Edgar, unable to contain his boiling fury, hissed to a nearby confidant, "This is all a

153Two days later, on Monday, Darwin was standing in front of the mirror in his room, adjusting his light blue striped shirt collar. It was the day he was meeting Lana's parents and he was feeling nervous. He had chosen to wear a simple yet well-tailored light blue shirt along with khaki pants and

155Lana's fury broke through her shock. "Stop it, Edgar!" she snapped, her hands balling into fists. "You're the one who's out of line here!"Mrs. Roberts tutted, shooting Lana a disapproving look. "Lana, dear, calm yourself. We're all adults here. Let's act like it."Lana's breath hitched, and Dar