81Without waiting for another word, Eveline turned on her heel to the nearest security guard. "Remove this man, this... fake doctor, from the premises," she commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument.As the guards approached, Dr. Tully's posture stiffened, an attempt to retain some semblance of dignity in his defeat."Don't you dare touch me with your filthy hands!" he spat, his voice laced with disgust. The guards, unfazed by his outburst, simply nodded to each other, a silent agreement passing between them."Sir, we must ask you to leave. Please follow us," one guard said, his tone firm yet devoid of emotion.Dr. Tully, however, stood his ground, a mix of pride and disbelief anchoring him in place."I will not be manhandled like some common criminal," he declared, his voice rising in volume, hoping to gather some support from the onlookers.Yet, when no such support came, his defiance crumbled into desperation. The guards, recognizing his refusal as the final straw, moved i
82As Darien reached out to Lady Elizabeth, she snapped her eyes open and recoiled. "Don't you dare touch me!" she spat, her voice laced with contempt."Ooh, My God! She's awake!"The crowd gasped, whispers erupting instantly. "Did she just refuse help from the man who's been saving lives tonight?" one guest muttered in disbelief."Yeah, after everything, she won't let him help?" another echoed, confusion and shock painting their features.Eveline, frustration evident in her posture, turned to her mother, "Mom, please, just shut up and let Darien help you. This is for your own good!"Lady Elizabeth turned her glare to Eveline, "I said no! I do not need help from him or anyone. Especially not from someone as filthy as him!"Darien, attempting to maintain peace, gently interjected, "Lady Elizabeth, please, I'm just trying to help. Let me ensure you're alright."With a swift movement, Lady Elizabeth slapped Darien's hands away. "I said don't touch me! Your hands are unclean!"The crowd's
83After Darien's departure, the party slowly regained its rhythm. The grand hall, once filled with tension and drama, buzzed again with laughter and conversation. The guests, although still whispering about the night's events, gradually returned to their celebrations, the allure of the evening's entertainment too tempting to resist.As the night wore on and the last notes of music faded away, the guests began to depart.Eveline, lost in thought and barely noticing the dwindling crowd, was suddenly approached by Charles. His presence was like a dark cloud looming over her already troubled mood. Without waiting for him to speak, she snapped, her voice tinged with anger, "What do you want, Charles?"He, looking both offended and indignant, retorted, "I should be the one asking you that, Eveline. How dare you invite that... that pauper, Darien, knowing full well I'd be here?"Eveline couldn't help but laugh, a bitter sound that echoed slightly in the nearly empty hall. "It's my party, Ch
84 The heavy doors slammed shut behind Eveline, marking her entrance in the living room. Her mother, Lady Elizabeth, was quick on her heels, her anger palpable, as she stormed into the room. Eveline's father, sat with his newspaper, an unreadable expression on his face. Ethan, Ethan looked up from his phone, his eyebrows knitting together in concern at the sight of his mother distress."Why did you invite that... that nobody, that lowlife, Darien? Do you wish to kill your own reputation and ours?" Lady Elizabeth's voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet of the room like a knife. Her fists were clenched at her sides, her knuckles white from the strain.Ethan, lounging on a nearby sofa, looked up, his interest piqued. "Yeah, Eveline, what's with you and that Darien guy? He's nothing but trouble."Eveline's heart raced, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "You don't know anything," she shot back, her voice quivering with emotion. "Darien saved Emily's life, and he would've s
85After two grueling weeks spent observing Marco Gentile's movements, Darien had gathered enough intel to formulate a plan. Gentile held court at his underground casino every Saturday night, and this Saturday would be no different. But this time, Darien was ready. He had scouted the casino's layout, identifying security blindspots as well as alternate escape routes. To avoid detection, he would rely on stealth over force. His objective was to incapacitate Gentile with a tranquilizer and spirit him away before his men realized what was happening. A direct confrontation was a last resort - Darien needed Gentile alive, as was his deal with Viktor. That evening, dressed all in black, Darien stationed himself in a shadowy alley across from the casino entrance. At 11pm sharp, the first customers began trickling in - low level criminals looking to blow off steam and make deals in equal measure. They laughed boisterously amongst themselves, oblivious to the drama unfolding around them.It
86Darien kept his cool, assessing his options. "I'm not looking for trouble," he said, aiming for a calm demeanor. "Just passing through.""Passing through? In my private lounge?" Gentile laughed, a sound that grated on Darien's nerves. "Boys, looks like we caught ourselves a spy."The guards moved closer, forming a tight circle around Darien. Darien just smiled a bit amused."Who sent you? Was it the Feds? Or one of my many envious competitors?" Gentile prodded, his curiosity now piqued.Darien remained silent, watching him with an unreadable expression.Seeing Darien's reluctance to speak, one of the guards, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. "Maybe he needs a little persuasion," he suggested, cracking his knuckles menacingly.Gentile waved him off. "No, let's not be hasty. Our friend here is going to tell us everything we want to know, won't you?" he said, his tone smooth but with an underlying threat.Darien met Gentile's gaze, his own expression unr
87Gentile's expression was unreadable. Then, slowly, he began to clap, the sound sarcastic yet genuine. "Impressive," he admitted, though it clearly pained him to do so. "But this changes nothing."Darien straightened, meeting Gentile's gaze squarely. "Maybe not," he conceded. "But I hope it makes you think twice before underestimating me again."The aftermath of Darien's swift and precise takedown of the guards left the air in the VIP lounge of the casino thick with astonishment. Whispers and murmurs fluttered through the crowd like a disturbed flock of birds."Did you see that? He's like some sort of... alien!" one shocked bystander whispered to another, their eyes wide with disbelief."Alien? More like a super-spy or something. No one moves like that," another retorted, shaking their head in amazement as they kept their gaze fixed on Darien.The murmurs grew, a mix of fear, awe, and sheer incredulity weaving through the conversations. The room was alive with speculation and wonder
88Darien's gaze met Marco's, a silent challenge in his eyes. The murmurs around them grew louder, a mix of awe and speculation. "He's not human," someone whispered."An alien, for sure," another agreed, their voice a mixture of fear and fascination.The crowd was stunned into silence as Darien stood victorious over the unconscious Iron Fist members. Marco clenched his fists tightly, sweat beading on his brow as his mind raced to think of a way out of this situation. "How...how is this possible?" Marco growled through gritted teeth. His eyes scanned the room frantically, looking for any opportunity. Darien watched Marco calmly, unwavering under the man's heated glare. "It's over, Gentile. Come quietly and this ends peacefully."Marco let out a harsh laugh. "It will never be over. You think you've won just because you took out my men? You don't know who you're dealing with." In a flash, Marco pulled a hidden knife from his suit and lunged at Darien with a guttural yell. Darien sides