The Wealthiest Heir's Vendetta

Chapter 0003

3

Darius's decision to tear the check into pieces seemed to plunge Lydia into a silent shock. Her frown was more pronounced, her eyebrows coming together as she observed the torn pieces settling on the floor. "Darius, really?" she started, her voice tinged with a cold incredulity, as if she believed he was merely staging a display of defiance.

"Don't tell me you think it's too little. You would never earn this amount, not even in a hundred lifetimes. Take the money and stay out of my life."

Her words, devoid of warmth and laced with a detached arrogance, filled the room. Coming from a wealthy family like the Smiths, Lydia had never truly grasped the value of money in the way Darius had. To her, a million dollars was merely a transaction, an attempt to erase the unpleasant end of their relationship.

Darius, however, viewed Lydia's actions with a stark detachment. The woman standing before him, her expression cold and her stance rigid, seemed like a stranger. "I don't want your money, Lydia," he said, his tone calm yet carrying an unmistakable firmness. "It's not what I ever wanted."

Lydia's response was swift, her voice icy. "Fine, then!" she declared, her eyes void of the warmth once there. "If that's how you want it, Darius, you can pack your bags and leave. Now."

In the background, Howard, who had been quietly observing the exchange, couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction.

'The fool', he thought smugly, 'refusing such a sum. He's just digging his own grave, making it easier for me.'

Yet, part of him wondered if Darius's refusal was an attempt to rise in Lydia's esteem, a misguided effort to win back her heart by rejecting the wealth that Howard so coveted.

Darius turned away, a mixture of hurt and resolve tightening his chest as he made his way to the bedroom. His belongings were few, a stark reminder of his simple life before Lydia.

The space felt foreign now, stripped of warmth and familiarity. He found himself standing before the sparse shelf that held his few personal belongings, his gaze fixated on a small, intricately designed amulet. It was a simple piece, silver with faint engravings that time had worn down, the only legacy left to him by parents he barely remembered, since he was an orphan.

As Darius reached out, his fingers trembling slightly as they brushed against the cool metal, a voice, laced with arrogance and mockery, sliced through the silence. "Planning on stealing something on your way out, are you?"

Startled, Darius whipped around to see Howard standing in the doorway, a smug grin plastered across his face. The man's hand was outstretched, reaching for the amulet with a sense of entitlement that made Darius's blood boil.

"Touch it, and you'll regret it," Darius warned, his voice low, a clear threat hanging in the air between them.

Howard, undeterred, sneered. "What's this? The poor, heartbroken husband going to stop me?"

Without a second's hesitation, as Howard's fingers grazed the amulet, Darius acted. Years of MMA training had honed his reflexes to near perfection. In one swift motion, he grabbed Howard's wrist, twisting it back just enough to cause discomfort, and landed a solid punch to Howard's jaw. The impact sent Howard stumbling backward, a sharp cry of pain escaping his lips.

"You bastard!" Howard shrieked, clutching his jaw, eyes watering from the sudden burst of pain. "You'll pay for that!"

Darius stood his ground, fists clenched at his sides, his chest heaving with each breath. "I warned you," he said through gritted teeth, the anger and betrayal he felt towards Lydia now redirected at the man before him.

The turmoil had scarcely calmed when Lydia burst into the room, her eyes brimming with alarm. "What on earth is happening here?" she implored, hurrying to Howard's side, her movements radiating concern for him.

Howard, gently touching his jaw, managed a pained smile at Lydia. "It's nothing, Lydia, I...it must be some misunderstanding," he stammered, casting a wary glance at Darius. "Darius didn't mean it, I'm sure."

Lydia's eyes narrowed as she turned to Darius, her posture stiffening with disapproval. "Darius, why? What's led to this? To violence?" she questioned, the disappointment in her voice clear.