28 Morphy collapsed to the floor in defeat, his entire world crashing down around him. As the reality of the situation sank in, angry tears welled up in his eyes. But he dared not let them fall - not in front of these people, not in front of Darwin. The crowd watched on in stunned silence, no one
29 Darwin stood in the center of the silent room, the tension palpable as all eyes were on him. He cleared his throat, his voice steady and filled with a cold determination that chilled everyone. "As my first executive action as CEO," he began, locking eyes with each person around him to ensure h
30 As Darwin stepped into Chez Michel, the warm greeting from the maître d' eased his tension momentarily. "Good evening, sir. May I have the name for your reservation?" "Darwin Wettin. I'm here for Miss Hernandez's party," he replied, his voice steady despite the fluttering in his stomach. "Righ
31 Darwin sneered as Trevor spoke, knowing full well that Jessica had likely fed Trevor the story about the rented car and his supposedly flimsy finances. His hands clenched into fists at his sides as Trevor mocked him, barely containing his anger. Trevor, with a triumphant smirk, couldn't resi
32 Everyone turned to see a beautiful woman standing at the end of their table. She was dressed elegantly yet carried herself with an air of poise and sophistication. A hush fell over the crowd as they realized it was none other than Fiona Hernandez, the host of the party. The sudden appearance o
33 The tension in the room surged, as everyone jostled to be in Fiona's good graces, after her revelation. Suddenly, the CEO of the hour, Fiona had transformed from a mere classmate to the pinnacle of success, her achievements casting a long shadow over past judgments. The group's fleeting focus
34 Fiona's eyes sparkled with an unexpected joy at Trevor's intended jab. She turned to Darwin with a sincerity that filled the air with warmth. "Is that true, Darwin? You're divorced?" she asked, her voice tinged with a blend of concern and an odd sense of hopefulness. Darwin, slightly taken abac
35 "How dare you?" Fiona hissed, her eyes blazing. "How dare any of you question Darwin's integrity or success?" Elise and Jessica exchanged nervous glances, suddenly aware they had pushed Fiona too far. Their smiles faltered, their confidence wavering under Fiona's intense gaze. Trevor, however,