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The Return of the Hades 117
117Gangatsu chuckled coldly. "I highly doubt that. But by all means, amuse me with your brave last stand."At a nod from Gangatsu, the room erupted into chaos. Men surged forward, weapons drawn. Darien moved with a fluid grace that belied the danger, drawing his gun and firing in swift, precise shots. One by one, Gangatsu's men fell, their attacks futile against Darien's superior speed and skill.As the gunfire echoed off the walls, Gangatsu's face twisted into a mask of fury and disbelief. "Impossible!" he hissed, stepping back as his men continued to drop.Darien's smirk widened. "You should've brought more men," he quipped, dodging a desperate punch and countering with a brutal strike to his attacker's neck.From the shadows, Kaida emerged, her eyes narrowing as she watched Darien dismantle their carefully laid plans. Stepping forward with a cold smile, she called out, "You're quite the performer, French. But this dance isn't over yet."Darien turned to face her, his back to Ganga
The Return of the Hades 118
118Darien kept his gun trained on gangatsu, his sense sharp, ready for any move the crime Lord might make.Gangatsu, though visibly frustrated maintened a veneer of calm arrogance."You've made your point, Mr. French," Gangatsu said, his voice laced with disdain. "But you underestimate the lengths I'm willing to go to protect what's mine."Darien's grip tightened on his weapon. "I'm not underestimating anything, Gangatsu. I know exactly what you're capable of. That's why I'm here."Gangatsu smirked, his eyes glinting with a dangerous edge. "Oh, you think you do, do you? You are not the first to come seeking what I possess, and you won't be the last. But mark my words, you'll regret crossing me."Darien scoffed, his tone dripping with defiance. "I don't regret anything. I came to do what's right, to reclaim what's been misused. And I won't let anything–or anyone–stand in my way."Gangatsu smile turned sinister. "Bold words for a man staring down the barrel of my gun."Darien jaw clenc
The Return of the Hades 119
119 Darien crumpled the mocking note in his fist, his anger boiling over. How dare Gangatsu toy with him like this? He was seething as he pulled out his phone with trembling hands and called Lavinia. She picked up after the first ring. "Darien? What happened? Are you okay?" "I'm fine," he growled through gritted teeth. "But Gangatsu got the slip on me. He gassed me and left me here as some sort of twisted game." Lavinia sighed in exasperation. "I tried to warn you it could be a trap. What did that note say?" Darien recounted Gangatsu's taunting words, his jaw clenching tighter with each mocking sentence. Lavinia made a sound of disgust. "Ugh, what an arrogant fool. He really thinks he's got you beaten, doesn't he?" "Not for long," Darien seethed, balling his free hand into a fist. "I won't let him get away with this." "Calm down, we'll figure something out," Lavinia soothed. "Where are you now?" Darien took a deep breath to steady his frazzled nerves. "Still at the mill. Mee
The Return of the Hades 120
120Darien's mind reeled as the pieces came crashing together. A daughter? All this time and she was only just now telling him? His hands trembled with a torrent of emotions—shock, anger, confusion—as he stared into the eyes of the little girl smiling back from the photos. "Why are you telling me this now?" he demanded through gritted teeth. Cynthia wiped tears from her eyes. "I was young and scared back then. Didn't think I could raise a baby on my own." She reached for his hand again but he yanked it away. "So you kept my child from me for five years? How could you do that?" His voice shook with barely contained rage. "I know I have no right to ask anything of you anymore," she sobbed. "But Sophia deserves to know her father. Please, just meet her. That's all I'm asking."Darien's mind was reeling, trying to process this bombshell. A daughter. All this time he had a daughter and didn't even know. Did he dare open his heart to the possibility of parental love after being betrayed
The Return of the Hades 121
121The weekend arrived with a weight of anticipation and uncertainty for Darien. As he prepared himself for Cynthia's party at the Leveling Fiesta Bar, his mind was consumed by conflicting emotions and unanswered questions.Arriving at the bar, Darien couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu as he stepped through the familiar entrance. The pulsing beat of music and chatter of the crowd surrounded him. His heart pounded in his chest, nerves and anticipation intertwining within him. As Darien scanned the room, his eyes darted nervously, searching for Cynthia amidst the crowd. He spotted her in a corner, surrounded by friends, but his attention was abruptly diverted when he felt a gaze burning into him. He turned slowly, dread pooling in the pit of his stomach, to find Ryan's eyes locked onto his.Ryan's presence was like a dark cloud overshadowing the room, his disdain for Darien palpable even from across the bar. Darien clenched his fists, trying to quell the surge of anger that threat
The Return of the Hades 122
122As Darien and Ryan faced off, a ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd. People turned their heads, drawn by the brewing confrontation like moths to a flame. Some whispered in hushed tones, others exchanged knowing glances, eager for the drama unfolding before them."I knew something was going to go down tonight," whispered one bystander to another, eyes glued to the scene unfolding before them."Whoa, looks like both of them are about to throw down," remarked a nearby patron, excitement evident in their voice."I can't believe they're doing this here," muttered a concerned onlooker, glancing around nervously."I bet Cynthia is regretting inviting both of them," speculated another, shaking their head in disbelief."Should we intervene?" asked one person, casting a worried glance at the bouncers stationed nearby."Nah, let them sort it out themselves," replied their companion, leaning in closer to catch every word of the exchange."I wonder what started all this," pondered a cur
The Return of the Hades 123
123"Yes, I’m positive. I personally witnessed it!” the manager affirmed, his tone grave with concern.“Who would have expected that he revealed his true colors so quickly?” Nat, his right-hand men in The Usatti Army, narrowed his eyes, scanning the room suspiciously.Darien spoke up, his brows furrowing in contemplation. “Ron, are you sure about this? He spiked her drink?”The manager nodded solemnly, his expression mirroring Darien's concern. "Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."Nat leaned in, his voice low and assertive. “Hades, you should not let this slide. Do you need me to teach him a lesson?”“No, I will handle this myself.” Darien's jaw tightened as he made up his mind, his resolve unwavering.With a determined nod, Darien got up and left the booth immediately, his steps purposeful as he headed towards Ryan.Meanwhile, across the table, Ryan passed a glass of wine to Cynthia. “Cynthia, this is a token of my apology. Cheers!” He lifted his glass with a charming smile.“Alright. A
The Return of the Hades 124
124Darien was stunned by Cynthia’s hurtful words and furious outburst. Drops of wine rolled down his cheeks and to the ground. He was in a miserable state. Apparently, it was wishful thinking that their relationship had improved. In actual fact, there was nothing left between them.“What? So you thought that I was falsely accusing him?” Darien’s brows were deeply furrowed as he stared at Cynthia. “Am I that despicable of a person in your eyes?”“Yes!” Cynthia blurted out. She felt a tinge of regret immediately. Yet, she could not take her words back now. She had too much pride for that.“Finally! You have spoken what you truly thought of me.” Darien had a disappointed look on his face as he put on a wry smile.“I have overstepped my boundaries. Who knew that after so many years, you still have feelings for Ryan. And after begging me to take you back?”“What nonsense are you spouting?” Cynthia frowned as well.“Am I wrong? You said that you would not contact him anymore. Having said t