The Wealthiest Heir's Vendetta

Chapter 0005

5

Darius recoiled as if physically struck, the color draining from his face. His eyes, wide with shock and hurt, searched Lydia's face for a sign, any sign, that she didn't mean what she said.

After all, it was she who had offered herself to him last night, without even giving him a choice. How could she say that now?

"Lydia, you can't mean that," he stammered, disbelief and fear mingling in his voice. "You know that's not true."

But Lydia's expression was icy, her resolve firm as she met his gaze without flinching. "Watch me, Darius. Apologize, now."

The room seemed to spin as Darius grappled with the gravity of Lydia's threat. The injustice of it all made his stomach churn, but the risk of her following through was too great.

His fists clenched at his sides, the urge to lash out, to defend his integrity, was overwhelming. Yet, the potential consequences of Lydia's lie held him in place, a prisoner of circumstance.

Howard, the smugness evident even through his feigned pain, watched the exchange with barely concealed glee. This was going better than he had dared hope.

Darius's mind raced. He knew the power of Lydia's words and wealth in this City, the irreversible damage they could do. The thought of bending to their manipulation, to apologize for something he wasn't sorry for, was degrading. Yet, the alternative was potentially life-destroying.

"Lydia, please," Darius finally said, his voice strained with emotion, "you know that's not who I am. That's not what happened."

Lydia's expression didn't soften. "Your actions today say otherwise, Darius. You've become a stranger to me."

The weight of the moment settled heavily on Darius's shoulders. The realization that Lydia would go to such lengths, that she could so coldly manipulate the truth, was a bitter pill to swallow.

In the end, the words that left Darius's lips were hollow, forced out by necessity rather than sincerity. "I'm sorry, Howard," he muttered, unable to meet anyone's gaze.

Howard was secretly delighted but didn’t let it show. He pretended to be magnanimous, saying, “I'll forgive you for Lydia’s sake.”

Lydia, though still visibly angry, seemed satisfied with the outcome. "See? Was that so hard?" she said, her tone mocking.

Howard rose to his feet, a mocking sneer playing at the edges of his lips. He leaned in close to Darius, his voice barely above a whisper, dripping with venom. "You see, Darius, Lydia loves me, not you. It's best you leave, and fast." His eyes gleamed with satisfaction at his own perceived victory.

Darius felt a rush of anger but quelled it swiftly. Without a word, he grabbed his bag from the floor, its contents meager, just a few articles of clothing.

Lydia, seeing his small bag, couldn't hide her surprise. Her brows furrowed as she asked, "Is that all you're taking? Just that bag?"

Darius responded with a cool indifference, his voice steady, "Yes." His lack of concern seemed to throw her off balance.

Lydia's mind raced, her thoughts a tumultuous storm. She had always harbored a suspicion, a niggling doubt that perhaps Darius was with her for her wealth. But seeing him now, prepared to walk away with nothing but a small bag, challenged every preconceived notion she held. Her heart pounded, a mixture of confusion and an unexpected pang of guilt washing over her.

'It can't be,' she whispered to herself, a desperate attempt to cling to her original belief. 'He must be pretending, trying to win my sympathy so I won't ask for a divorce.'

Her thoughts were a whirlwind, trying to rationalize, to find some footing in the chaos of her emotions.

Just then, Howard, ever the opportunist, pointed dramatically towards a photo frame on a nearby table. "What's this?" he asked, feigning surprise, though his eyes were alight with curiosity and a hint of malice.

Lydia's gaze followed his finger to land on the frame. It wasn't a photograph, as she first thought, but a certificate. The words on it seemed to jump out at her: "In recognition of Darius West's generous donation of $10,000 and numerous clothing items to the local orphanage."