The Wealthiest Heir's Vendetta

Chapter 0006

6

Lydia's gaze swept over the certificate, her voice cold, devoid of any warmth. "How generous of you, Darius. Donating 'my' money to the orphanage," she stated, her posture rigid, her eyebrow slightly raised. "What a saint you are."

Yet, Darius hadn't used Lydia's money at all. Lydia had instructed her mother to give Darius money every month, but her mother never complied, looking down on Darius. Over the years, Darius had juggled house chores and part-time jobs.

He didn’t tell Lydia because he was just trying to be nice and didn’t want her to argue with her mother.

Seeing the disbelief and coldness in Lydia's eyes, Darius felt a sharp pang of disappointment. The girl he had grown to love, the one who had once shown kindness and warmth during her visits to the orphanage where he grew up, had transformed. How had she become so cold and unfeeling?

Without a word, he turned away from them, his heart heavy. He no longer cared to defend himself against their accusations and doubts. The betrayal stung deep, not because of the money, but because of the lost connection he thought he had with Lydia.

As Darius reached for the door, intending to leave the villa and its bitter memories behind, a loud noise interrupted his thoughts. He paused, hand on the doorknob, as the unexpected sound of a helicopter filled the air.

Everyone inside the house froze, their quarrels momentarily forgotten. Darius turned back, his curiosity piqued, and opened the door just in time to see a helicopter landing on the property. The scene was so surreal that for a moment, all animosity and tension were suspended.

From the helicopter emerged a young and beautiful girl, her steps confident and quick as she made her way towards the villa. The moment her eyes landed on Darius, a wide smile spread across her face, and she rushed towards him with an excitement that was palpable.

It was then that Darius realized who this girl was - Leslie, from the orphanage he grew up in. They had been very close as children, finding comfort in each other's company. But one day, Leslie was adopted by a wealthy family and Darius never thought he'd see her again.

Darius, taken aback by the sudden embrace, stood frozen, his hands awkwardly by his side. The warmth of her hug, so genuine and full of affection, contrasted sharply with the cold atmosphere he had just left behind. Memories of their time together as children came flooding back to him.

Lydia and Howard, had stepped out to witness this unexpected arrival. They both watched, their expressions a mix of surprise and confusion, as the girl pulled back from Darius, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"Leslie?" Darius asked, disbelief lacing his tone, his eyes searching hers for confirmation.

Her response was a joyous laugh, "Yes, Darius! I'm Leslie Werner now. Can you believe it?"

Lydia stepped forward, her brows knitting together in confusion and a hint of suspicion. "Werner? As in the Tier 2 Werner family?" Her voice held an edge, disbelief and envy mingling together.

Howard, standing a step behind Lydia, couldn't hide his astonishment. His jaw clenched tightly, muscles twitching in disbelief. "That's impossible," he spat out, his voice laced with jealousy. "You must be an actress he hired. And a helicopter? Really, Darius? This is your idea of saving face?"

In the silence that followed Howard's accusation, Leslie's smile faltered, she took a step closer to Darius, her voice soft but clear, "Yes, I am Leslie Werner now. And no, I'm not an actress. These past years, I've been looking for Darius. I had to come as soon as I found him."

Howard's face flushed a deep red, his fists clenching at his sides as he struggled to maintain composure.

Leslie glanced at Lydia and then back at Darius, her expression turning serious. "I knew you got married, Darius. I'm here to give you some presents, that's all."

Darius managed a wry smile, the weight of the day's events etching lines deeper into his face. "Well, about that marriage," he started, hesitating for just a fraction of a second, "I'm actually getting divorced now."

Leslie's eyes widened in surprise, her gaze flickering to Lydia, who was visibly struggling to maintain her composure. Lydia's hands were clasped tightly together, her knuckles white from the pressure.

The mention of divorce seemed to have struck a nerve, her pride warring with the sudden fear of the Werner family's influence. Despite their wealth, Lydia knew her family stood no chance against the Werners if they decided to take action.

"Why?" Leslie's question was directed at Lydia, loaded with curiosity and a hint of accusation. Lydia's lips parted, but no sound came out. She was acutely aware of the precarious position her family was in. Her mind raced, trying to concoct a response that would not provoke Leslie or demean Darius further.

Before Lydia could form a coherent reply, Darius intervened. "It's a long story, Leslie. One that's not worth your time." His tone was dismissive, an attempt to shield both Leslie and himself from further conflict. "Let's just say, I'm looking forward to starting anew."

Leslie's expression softened, and she turned to Darius. "If you're really leaving and have nowhere to go," she started, her voice filled with excitement, "you could come with me to the Werner estate."