134But Darien remained unfazed, his gaze steady and unwavering. "Go ahead, Marco," he said, a hint of challenge in his voice. "Try me."At his words, Marco DeSilva refrained and seethed with anger.Amelia found herself pleasantly surprised by the extent of Darien's power during a confrontation. Despite her initial underestimation, she quickly realized she had hit the jackpot with Darien on her side. Darien effortlessly defeating his opponents, including the formidable Cobra, left everyone, especially Tegan, in awe and disbelief at his strength."I think I won!" Darien exclaimed looking at a battered, sounded and bruised cobra.As Darien stood panting, hands resting on his knees, Amelia watched him with a mix of astonishment and pride. She had always known Darien was strong, but this was on a whole new level. She couldn't help but grin as she realized the potential he possessed."Sir French, that was amazing!" she exclaimed, stepping closer to him. "I never knew you had it in you!"Da
135Sometime later, the sun began setting behind the mountains. Amelia and her convoy were traveling through a fork in the road when a large bus came barreling toward them.The bus driver hit the brake and drifted to a horizontal stop, blocking the entire road.A bunch of assassins covered in black immediately swarmed out from both sides of the woods, quicklyencircling the convoy of cars.In the midst of a chaotic ambush orchestrated by Marco DeSilva, the bodyguards of the Fairchild family swiftly rallied to protect Amelia and Camila. "Protect the ladies! Keep them safe at all costs!" one of the guards shouted, his voice filled with urgency as he ushered the women behind the cover of their vehicles.Amelia's heart raced as she assessed the situation, her mind racing with thoughts of strategy and survival. "Stay low, stay together," she instructed, her voice calm but authoritative. "We need to hold our ground until help arrives."Camila's anger flared at the audacity of their attacker
136Around fifteen hooded men emerged from the convoy, causing a mix of fear and fury to ripple through the group. Camila and Amelia exchanged worried glances, their hearts pounding with adrenaline as they realized the gravity of the situation."Freaking Marco DeSilva!" Camila cursed under her breath, her fists clenched at her sides. "He'll pay for this!"Amelia's jaw tightened with anger, her eyes flashing with determination. "We need to stay calm and think this through," she urged, her voice firm despite the chaos unfolding around them.Just as they braced themselves for another confrontation, a figure emerged from the shadows, elegant and poised. A beautiful and elegant woman in her earlier 30, dressed in perfect white tailor. It was Titania Kincade, a beacon of authority and strength in the midst of turmoil.Camila's eyes widened in relief and she hurried forward to greet her mentor. "Titania!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with gratitude. "Thank goodness you're here."Titania'
137Three subordinates pulled out their knifes, ready to finish with Darien. Amelia, her voice quivering with anger, stepped forward, her eyes ablaze with defiance. "You have no right to accuse him like this," she protested vehemently, her fists clenched at her sides. "Who are you to pass judgment without any proof?"Titania, her expression stern and unwavering, met Amelia's gaze head-on. "I am the head of security for your family," she declared firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "It is my responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone here."Amelia's jaw tightened with frustration as she struggled to find the words to refute Titania's authority. "But Darien is my loyal and honest friend," she insisted, her voice tinged with desperation. "He would never betray us."Camila, her heart heavy with concern, stepped forward to join Amelia. "It's true," she interjected, her voice filled with conviction. "Darien just saved our lives from that despicable Marco DeSilva. You don't
138Darien's actions defied expectations, his swift retaliation left everyone stunned, including Titania, whose authority had just been challenged in the most unexpected way.Amelia, her heart pounding in her chest, watched in awe as Darien effortlessly dispatched his assailant. "Darien, how did you...?" she began, her voice trailing off in disbelief.But Darien had no time to answer. With his adrenaline still pumping, he turned to face Titania, his eyes burning with righteous fury. "I told you," he said, his voice cold and menacing. "I am not the enemy here. And I won't let anyone else suffer for your paranoia."Titania, her composure shaken by Darien's display of strength, struggled to regain control of the situation. "Enough," she said, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "We need to regroup and reassess the situation."But Darien had had enough of Titania's tyranny. "No more games," he declared, his voice echoing with authority. "Either you trust me, or you don't. But I won't st
139With a swift move, Darien retaliated against Titania's attack, delivering a powerful blow to her abdomen, sending her crashing onto a nearby vehicle. Camila, her heart pounding with fear, rushed to Titania's side, her eyes wide with concern. "Titania, are you alright?" she gasped, her voice trembling with worry.Titania groaned in pain, clutching her stomach as she struggled to catch her breath. "I'm fine," she spat, her voice strained with defiance. "Just get him!"But Darien, his expression hardened with determination, ignored Titania's orders as he turned his attention to Camila. "Miss Fairchild, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.Camila shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. "I couldn't stand by and watch you two fight," she confessed, her voice choked with emotion. "She's family, sir French."Darien's eyes softened as he reached out to comfort Camila, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. "I know," he murmured, his voice filled with u
140Darien's eyes narrowed as he faced Tegan, his jaw set in determination. "We'll find someone else to fill her role," he retorted, his voice tinged with arrogance. "We don't need her."Tegan shook his head in disbelief, his fists clenched at his sides. "You're blind to the consequences of your actions, Darien," he warned, his voice tinged with desperation. "This will only lead to more bloodshed and chaos."Amelia, her heart heavy with sorrow, stepped forward, her eyes pleading with Darien. "Sir French, please," she implored, her voice trembling with emotion. "Think about what you've done. Think about the lives you've destroyed."Darien's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Amelia, a flicker of doubt crossing his features. But it was quickly replaced by steely resolve as he shook his head. "There's no turning back now," he declared, his voice firm and unwavering. "We must move forward, no matter the cost."Camila, her grief turning to anger, glared at Darien with contempt. "You're
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