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
150Darwin's mind raced as he processed Lavinia's words. "Kidnapped? By whom? When did this happen?" he asked, his voice strained with concern.Lavinia wiped her tears, trying to steady her voice. "It happened earlier this afternoon. Some masked men broke into the house while Emma was alone. They took her and left a note demanding a ransom," she explained, her voice quivering with fear.Darwin's fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tightening with determination. "We need to find her, now," he declared, his tone resolute.Lavinia nodded, her eyes pleading for action. "But how, Sir French? We don't even know where to start looking," she said, her voice filled with despair."We'll start by contacting the authorities and gathering whatever information we can," Darwin replied, his mind already racing with plans. "And then we'll do whatever it takes to bring her back safely."As Darwin reached for his phone to make the necessary calls, Lavinia's hand grasped his arm, her eyes wide with fear
151 "I have to go, Lavinia," he said, his voice heavy with regret. "But I promise, I'll bring Emma back safely." Lavinia nodded, her eyes filled with tears of gratitude and fear. "Be careful, Sir French," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper. Darien gave her a reassuring smile before striding out of the room, his thoughts consumed by the looming confrontation ahead. As he drove towards the meeting point, Darien's mind raced with a thousand possibilities. He couldn't afford to let fear or doubt cloud his judgment now. Emma's life depended on his ability to outsmart the masked man and bring her home. Arriving at the designated location, Darien surveyed his surroundings with caution. The area was deserted, save for a lone figure standing in the shadows. Steeling himself, Darien approached, his senses on high alert. The masked man stepped forward, his features obscured by darkness. "You came," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. Darien's jaw clenched with ange
152 "Speak plainly," Darien demanded, his patience wearing thin. "What is it that you want?" The figure's grin widened, their eyes glinting with amusement. "I want you to join me, Darien French. Together, we could be unstoppable." Darien's eyes narrowed in suspicion, his heart pounding in his chest. He had no intention of joining forces with this villain, no matter what they offered him. "I'll never join you," Darien spat, his voice filled with defiance. The figure's grin faltered, replaced by a look of cold fury. "Very well, Darien French. But know this: if you refuse me, Emma will suffer the consequences." Darien's blood ran cold at the mention of Emma's name, his heart pounding with fear and rage. He couldn't let anything happen to her, no matter what it took. "Where is she?" Darien demanded, his voice shaking with emotion. The figure chuckled darkly, their eyes gleaming with malice. "She's safe, for now. But whether she stays that way depends entirely on you, Darien French
153Darien stood his ground as the mysterious figure disappeared into the shadows, leaving him alone in the dimly lit room. His mind raced with possibilities, but his resolve remained unshaken. He would find a way to rescue Emma, no matter what obstacles stood in his way.Suddenly, the heavy steel door swung open, and a group of men, around twenty, entered the room, their expressions hardened with determination. Darien eyed them with mild amusement, his lips curling into a faint smirk."Well, well, well," one of the men sneered, stepping forward with a menacing glare. "Look what we have here. A little lost puppy."Darien arched an eyebrow, unimpressed by the man's attempt at intimidation. "Is this the welcoming committee?" he quipped, his tone laced with sarcasm.The men exchanged glances, their expressions turning from hostility to disbelief. "You think this is a joke?" another man growled, stepping closer to Darien with clenched fists.Darien shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes gleaming