142Tegan's gaze hardened as he met Darien's eyes, a sense of grim determination settling over him. "We stay vigilant," he declared, his voice firm with resolve. "We can't afford to let our guard down again."Darien nodded in agreement, his jaw set with determination. "We'll root out any trace of betrayal," he vowed, his voice steely with conviction. "And we'll make sure justice is served.""We need to tell Father," Amelia said to camila, her voice steady despite the turmoil churning within her. "He needs to know what's happened and help us find any other potential threats."Camila echoed her sister's determination, her jaw clenched with resolve. "We can't let this betrayal go unpunished," she declared, her eyes flashing with determination. "We have to make sure this never happens again."Darien, with his sharp instincts, suspected more traitors lurking in their midst. He scanned the room, his gaze flickering over each guard, searching for any sign of deception."There may be others,"
143With lightning speed, Darien intercepted one of the black objects hurtling towards them, revealing it to be a venomous snake. "Look out!" he shouted, his heart pounding with adrenaline as he deflected the serpent away from Amelia.But before anyone could react, the second snake sank its fangs into Amelia's leg, injecting its deadly venom. She screamed in pain, her body convulsing as the poison coursed through her veins."Miss Fairchild!" Darien's voice cracked with anguish as he rushed to her side, his hands trembling as he tried to pry the snake off her.Amelia's screams echoed through the room, her face contorted in agony. "Get it off me!" she pleaded, tears streaming down her cheeks as she writhed in pain.With swift action, Amelia crushed the snake beneath her boot, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as she fought to regain her composure. "I'm okay," she gasped, her voice strained with pain. "Just get that traitorous bastard!"Her men sprang into action, surrounding the traito
144The site where the snake had bitten her was a gruesome sight. The skin around the wound was swollen and discolored, with dark veins snaking out from the puncture marks like sinister tendrils. The flesh was hot to the touch, radiating with the feverish heat of the venom coursing through her veins.As Darien looked closer, he could see tiny droplets of blood oozing from the bite marks, mingling with the sweat on Amelia's skin. The area was mottled with bruising, a grim reminder of the deadly potency of the snake's venom.Gosh! The snake had such a strong venom!Fear gripped Darien's heart as he realized the severity of Amelia's condition. He could feel panic rising within him, threatening to overwhelm his senses. But he forced himself to push past the fear, focusing instead on the task at hand.Darien gently laid Amelia down on the ground, his hands shaking with urgency and fear. He turned to the bald guard, his eyes blazing with fury. "Give us the antidote now!" he demanded, his vo
145The guard's screams were cut short as his body went limp, his lifeless eyes staring up at Darien in silent accusation. Darien stood there for a moment, his chest heaving with adrenaline, before turning away from the gruesome scene.Camila's horrified gasp broke the tense silence, her hands flying to her mouth in shock."Sir French, what have you done?" she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.The other guards watched in stunned silence, their expressions ranging from shock to horror. "He... he killed him," one of them muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.But Darien paid them no mind, his thoughts consumed by the weight of his actions. As they tended to Amelia's wound, he couldn't shake the nagging feeling of doubt that gnawed at the edges of his mind.Had he gone too far? Had he sacrificed his integrity for the sake of revenge? But as he looked down at Amelia's pale face, her life hanging in the balance, he knew that he would do whatever it took to save her, even
146After departing the scene, a fleet of vehicles descended upon the mountain, converging on the area recently vacated by a convoy. Among them was Marco DeSilva, whose shock was palpable upon discovering the lifeless bodies of Titania and her men. His disbelief was evident as he struggled to comprehend the situation before him.Marco's heart raced as he took in the grim scene before him. The lifeless bodies of Titania and her men lay scattered on the ground, a stark reminder of the brutality of their demise. His mind raced, trying to make sense of the chaos that had unfolded in his absence."What... what happened here?" Marco's voice trembled as he addressed his men, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.One of his subordinates stepped forward, his expression grave. "It looks like they were ambushed, sir. There's no sign of who could have done this."Marco's brow furrowed in frustration as he surveyed the scene. Titania, planted within the Fairchild family to serve as a crucial
147“Here, take this. It’s a secret medicine I got you. Take it with some water, and you’ll be fine in no time.”Amelia pushed a small white bottle into his hand and poured him a glass of warm water.“Secret medicine? What is it?” Darien asked curiously.“Don’t underestimate it. It’s the result of three years of dedicated research and experiments by Dr. Esmond Starag. It can treat all kinds of venom,” she urged.“Esmond Starag?” Dustin was surprised.“You know him?” asked Natasha, with a raised eyebrow.As the conversation continued, Darien couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping over him. The mention of Dr. Esmond Starag's name by Amelia caught his attention, stirring up memories of a past encounter with the renowned doctor. Flashback:Several years ago, Esmond had found himself in a precarious situation, facing off against a deadly adversary who had left him gravely wounded. As he lay on the brink of death, it was Darien who had come to his rescue, using his expertise in
148Felicia's gaze hardened, her voice taking on a steely edge. "Amelia, you must understand the consequences of your actions. Marrying Nestor Hughes is not just about your happiness—it's about securing the future of our family. Think of all that we stand to lose if you defy tradition and reject this opportunity."Amelia shook her head, her eyes blazing with determination. "I refuse to sacrifice my happiness for the sake of tradition, Mother. I will not be shackled to a marriage of convenience for the sake of preserving our family's legacy."Felicia's frustration boiled over, her hands trembling with anger. "You are being selfish, Amelia! You are jeopardizing everything we have worked so hard to build. Do you not care about the future of our family?"Amelia's heart pounded in her chest as she met her mother's gaze head-on. "Of course, I care, Mother. But I refuse to let fear dictate my choices. I will not marry someone I do not love, regardless of the consequences."Felicia's gaze sof
149Amelia stood her ground, her heart pounding in her chest as she faced her mother's wrath. Felicia's gaze was like daggers, her frustration boiling over as she clenched her fists at her sides."You are being selfish, Amelia!" Felicia's voice echoed through the room, laced with anger. "Do you not understand the gravity of this situation? Marrying Nestor Hughes is not just about your happiness—it's about securing our family's future!"Amelia met her mother's glare head-on, her own eyes flashing with defiance. "I refuse to sacrifice my happiness for the sake of tradition, Mother. I won't be forced into a loveless marriage just to appease you."Felicia's frustration only intensified, her voice trembling with anger. "You are jeopardizing everything we've worked for, Amelia! Can't you see that?"Amelia shook her head, her voice unwavering. "I won't let fear dictate my life, Mother. I deserve a chance at love, not just a life of convenience."Felicia's hand trembled with rage as she took