254 "Well, Darwin, I must say, you certainly don't disappoint," Lauren remarked with a wry smile. "You've managed to pique my curiosity once again." Darwin grinned, a sense of satisfaction coursing through him. "I aim to please. So, what do you think? Are you convinced?" Lauren's smile widened, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "Let's just say, you've definitely given me something to think about. But I'll reserve judgment until I've had a chance to review the evidence myself." With a nod of understanding, Darwin leaned back in his chair, content in the knowledge that he had at least planted the seed of doubt in Lauren's mind. As their drinks arrived, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, the tension of their earlier discussion melting away in the warmth of their camaraderie. After a few minutes of discussing intricate plans and unraveling mysteries with Lauren, Darwin finally excused himself to use the bathroom. "I'll be right back," he said with a smile, leaving Lauren
255 Darwin's heart raced as he exchanged uneasy glances with the man across the table. The tension between them was palpable, like a storm brewing on the horizon, ready to unleash its fury at any moment. Lauren's phone buzzed with an incoming call, interrupting the awkward silence. She excused he
256 Darwin bade Lauren farewell as she made her way to her car, casting one final curious glance over her shoulder before driving off into the night. He turned to face the man, his expression stony. "Well, shall we continue our little discussion?" Darwin asked coolly, though his underlying hostili
257 Darwin got into his sleek black Audi and drove away from the tense confrontation. As he sped through the quiet suburban streets, his mind raced with thoughts of the man's sinister threats and mysterious intentions. After about 20 minutes, he arrived at the stately wrought iron gates of his family's estate. Pulling up the long driveway, the mansion soon came into view in all its glory against the moonlit sky. As Darwin parked and made his way inside, he was greeted by the warmth and glow of the foyer. "Mother, I'm home," he called out. "Darwin, is that you?" replied his mother's voice from the sitting room. He walked in to find her reclining on the plush velvet couch, a look of concern on her face. "You're home later than expected. Is everything alright?" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's a long story. I had a rather unpleasant run-in with that man again." His mother tutted disapprovingly. "That Edward Blackwell. I never did trust him. What did he want th
258 The next morning, Darwin and Lady Margaret arrived at the sleek, modern headquarters of Silicon Solutions, ready to finalize their partnership with Nicholas Swift. As they stepped into the lobby, they were greeted by the cool, efficient atmosphere of the tech company. Nicholas met them in the
259 Their father, Mr. Oakbar stormed into the room, his face contorted with fury. He held a stack of papers tightly clenched in his hand, his eyes ablaze with anger. With a forceful motion, he threw the papers onto the nearest table, causing them to scatter across its surface. The siblings, taken
260 The doctor's solemn expression sent a shiver down Zoe's spine as he approached the siblings. "I'm sorry," he began, his voice heavy with regret, "your father's condition is critical. We're doing everything we can to stabilize him, but it's going to be a tough battle." Zoe's heart sank at the d
261 As Zoe poured out her heartache and frustration, Darwin struggled with conflicting emotions. He knew he had to be there for his friend, but the weight of his own guilt weighed heavily on him. Despite his internal turmoil, he remained a supportive listener, offering whatever comfort he could mus