39Inside, the air seemed to thicken with anticipation. Amelia and Camila held their breaths, their eyes locked on their grandfather, watching for any sign of improvement. Amelia's faith in Darien never wavered, but the weight of the medical staff's skepticism was a heavy shadow in the back of her mind.Camila, despite her initial reluctance, now found herself hoping beyond hope that Darien's unconventional methods would prove successful. She glanced at the medical staff gathered outside, their faces a mix of curiosity and disdain, and felt a surge of defiance. She wanted Darien to succeed, not just for her grandfather's sake, but to prove them all wrong.Darien's body was starting to show signs of strain from the poison and the effort of the treatment. Sweat trickled down his forehead, his hands trembled slightly, yet he pressed on with unwavering focus. His face was pale, but his eyes burned with determination."Please," Amelia whispered, more to herself than to Darien, "let this wo
40"Grandpa!" Amelia and Camilla exclaimed in chorus, then ran to their grandfather's bedside. They couldn't believe their eyes, it seemed so unreal.As the grandfather's eyes fluttered open, a collective gasp filled the room. Even Darien, accustomed to the extraordinary, allowed a small, satisfied smile to grace his lips. The medical staff, pressed against the glass and peering in from the doorway, were a tableau of disbelief and awe.Dr. Peregrine, the chief physician, stood frozen, his eyes wide, his medical arrogance dissolving into thin air. His colleague, Dr. Reynolds, was beside him, both of them pressed close to the window, the frost of their breath fogging up the glass as they witnessed the unthinkable."Did... did that just happen?" Dr. Peregrine muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, his skepticism crumbling.Dr. Reynolds, still clutching the window frame, nodded, his eyebrows knitted together in astonishment. "It... it appears so," he replied, his voice laced with dis
41Miranda, a young nurse who had been quietly observing from the back, stepped forward, her laughter joining the chorus. "I never thought I'd see the day when Dr. Peregrine would run from a jar of spiders!" she exclaimed between fits of giggles.Darien, leaning against a wall for support, shook his head in amusement. "It seems there are more ways to heal than just medicine. Sometimes, a good laugh is the best cure."Amelia, her heart lighter than it had been in days, nodded in agreement. "You've given us so much more than just healing, sir French. You've brought us together, shown us the power of keeping an open mind, and yes, given us a good laugh."It was nothing, really, miss Fairchild." He said.Amelia, still basking in the glow of her grandfather's miraculous recovery, turned her attention to ensuring Darien's comfort. "I'll have my driver ready to take you home," she said, already moving towards her phone. A few swift touches later, she confirmed, "The car will be ready shortly
42"The Crimson Shadows," Amelia echoed, her voice laced with distaste. "Why am I not surprised?"The gang leader, now nursing his pride as much as his physical wounds, smirked through the pain. "You've stepped on the wrong toes, lady. The Crimson Shadows don't forgive, and they don't forget."Darien, standing beside Amelia, his demeanor calm but alert, addressed the gang leader. "What does Vallentini want with us?""He doesn't share his reasons with the likes of us," the leader spat, attempting to regain some semblance of defiance. "You've got something he wants, or you've done something he doesn't like. Either way, you're in his sights now."In the tense silence that followed the gang leader's revelation, Darien's patience wore thin. Without warning, he delivered another swift blow to the man, who crumbled with a grunt of pain. "Enough of your games," Darien hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "Shut up and listen."The man, now trembling and holding his side, looked up at Darien wi
43Two days later Darien received a call from Amelia asking for him to come over to their house. Over the phone, Amelia had sounded a little hesitant and apologetic and Darien couldn't decipher why, the only way to find out was to seek Amelia Fairchild out, and so wasting no time, Darien headed over to her house, On getting to the Fairchild's residence, Darien met the imposing figures of various securities at the gate, and dismissed their appearance.“S-sir French…It's so good to see you again.” Camilla exclaimed as soon as she saw Darien, a little smile lighting her face up, Darien smiled in response and gave her a small nod.A knowing smile etched on Camilla's face as she nodded and informed Darien of Amelia's whereabouts. Camilla led Darien into an office den, where he had to wait a few minutes before Amelia's arrival, standing behind her was a man who had uncanny resemblance to Camilla, beside the man stood a woman with a slight scowl on her face.Darien got to his feet to welco
44What!?“Is this some sort of a joke?!”Darien demanded through gritted teeth, he could scarcely believe what he was hearing, beside him his hands clenched and unclenched of their accord.“It's not a joke! You either take the money and leave or you don't take it at all! Either way, you're not getting the Lumina Root!”Felicia Fairchild's screeching voice reverberated through the room as she glared at Darien.Her outburst did nothing to faze Darien, as he glared intently at her husband, his expression was a mix of shock, confusion as well as pain. A surge of anger courses through Darien, but he tried to suppress it.With his unflinching gaze, he arched a brow at Theodore,“Mr Theodore Fairchild, just like your surname, I want to believe that you'd be fair in your dealings. Your family name is one that exudes influence and honour. The deal was for me to heal your father and get the Lumina Root in exchange, so how then is it honourable to go back on your family's promise? How does that
45Darien's expression was stone cold, his anger simmered beneath the surface, his eyes bore into Theodore's with unyielding resolve. "Being outnumbered has never determined the outcome of a true battle. It's not about the number of men standing with you, but the strength within the one who stands."Amelia, watching the confrontation unfold, felt a mixture of fear and awe. This was the second time she saw him like this—so formidable and unafraid. It made her reconsider the simplicity she had attributed to his character.Darien turned his gaze towards the assembled guards, assessing them with a calmness that belied the tension in the air. "You might want to reconsider your approach, Mr. Fairchild. I came here in peace, seeking only what was promised. Yet, you meet me with threats and force."Theodore's smirk wavered, sensing the conviction in Darien's voice. For a moment, doubt flickered in his eyes, but his pride and the need to maintain control in front of his family and the guards s
46In the midst of the standoff, a guard hurriedly approached Theodore, whispering urgently into his ear. Felicia, standing close by, overheard the exchange and couldn't suppress a smug smirk that quickly spread across her face. Theodore's initial fear melted away, replaced by a gleeful anticipation. He whispered back, nodding, then turned to face Darien with a newfound arrogance, a stark contrast to the apprehension that had clouded his demeanor moments earlier."Why so confident all of a sudden?" Darien questioned, noting the shift in Theodore's expression. He scanned the room, trying to decipher the cause of their sudden smugness but found no clues.Theodore didn't answer directly. Instead, he shared a look with Felicia, their smirks broadening as if they held a winning hand in a game. "You'll see," Theodore taunted, his voice dripping with disdain.Darien shook his head, sighing. "Last chance to do the right thing," he said, his tone even, but Theodore and Felicia merely laughed