8
The helicopter finally landed. Leslie and Darius hurriedly got out of the helicopter and stood respectfully in the middle of the yard. However, there was no movement in the convoy.
Lord Marcel looked at Leslie and Darius angrily. He slapped Leslie hard on the face, and her face quickly became red and swollen. However, Leslie, who knew that she was in big trouble, did not dare to speak out at all. She could only bow to Lord Marcel with tears in her eyes and admit her mistake.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa. Aunt Rana didn't inform me that there was an important ceremony today, so I..."
When Rana heard Leslie's words, she immediately screamed, "You liar, I have already informed everyone in the family, how dare you slander me? You have done something wrong and you still blame others?"
Lord Marcel roared, "That's enough! Don't embarrass our Werner family here. Do you want Mr. Sanchez to watch how we quarrel? The most important thing now is how to calm Mr. Sanchez's anger!"
Leslie mustered up the courage and said, "I'm going to admit my mistake to Mr. Sanchez, kneel down and beg him to get off the bus!"
Rana sneered and said, "You? Who can you represent? Do you know how many people are willing to kneel down and talk to Mr. Sanchez? They don't even have this chance!"
Leslie's face turned pale and she didn't know how to fix it. At this time, Darius spoke.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Werner. This all happened because of me. Please let me go and sincerely apologize to Mr. Sanchez. I am willing to accept any punishment."
"Who do you think you are! You are dressed in rags and must be Leslie's poor friend! Are you worthy of apologizing to Mr. Sanchez?" Rana said sarcastically.
"That's enough! You two, come with me and apologize to Mr. Sanchez. Even if he wants your two lives, you have to give it to him!" Lord Marcel said sternly.
Darius nodded. He is a very responsible person and never shirks his responsibilities.
Lord Marcel led the two of them towards the convoy and came to the front of the car. However, the door did not open. Instead, an old man stepped out of the passenger seat.
"Lord Marcel is really awesome. You knew Mr. Sanchez was coming and invited other distinguished guests? Why don't you introduce him to us?"
The old man's words were full of sarcasm. Lord Marcel blushed, bowed deeply and said, "I'm very sorry for my negligence. I'm sorry for offending Mr. Sanchez. There are only two juniors in the helicopter. They are ignorant. I hope Mr. Sanchez can forgive me." ”
Then, he turned to glare at Leslie and Darius, who hurriedly knelt on the ground, bowed their heads and apologized.
"Don't be like this. Those who don't know better would think that Mr. Sanchez is bullying others." The old man sneered.
At this moment, the car window slowly opened, and a middle-aged man with a cold face sat in the car, without even looking at anyone.
He is Sanchez, and he owns the largest company in Strawberry City: Sanchez Industries. He controlled almost all the important industries in the city, and every big family wanted to please him.
Mr. Sanchez slowly spoke, "Lord Marcel, since you invited me here, you must show your sincerity. Do you know how many families in the city want to see me every day?"
Marcel bowed again and said, "I will let you see my sincerity."
With that said, Marcel waved his hand and several strong guards came up. He said indifferently, "Leslie offended Mr. Sanchez and made a big mistake. She will be expelled from the Werner family from today. That kid next to him... find a good place and bury him.”
"No, don't!" Leslie shouted, "Darius did nothing wrong, he is innocent! I was the one who used the helicopter, and I was the one who offended Mr. Sanchez. If you want to punish someone, just me!"
Darius was frightened. He didn't expect that the big family could be so lawless and decide a person's life or death casually. He said angrily, "Even if we are wrong, you can't just kill people! Don't you abide by the law?"
"Childish!" Lord Marcel sneered. The law can only restrain ordinary people. For powerful people like them, it is not worth mentioning at all.
Sanchez frowned. He originally just wanted to express his dissatisfaction, but he didn't expect Lord Marcel to order the killing casually. He turned to look at the two of them and said, "There is no need to kill people, just a small punishment. I am not..."
Suddenly, Sanchez stopped talking. He stared at the amulet around Darius' neck, unable to continue.
"You...you..." Sanchez pointed at Darius with a strange look on his face.
"Boy, have you offended Mr. Sanchez again? You are dead now!" Marcelo roared.
But Mr. Sanchez quietly lifted a hand, staying Lord Marcel's tirade. "I wish to speak with the boy privately," was all he said.
Lord Marcel Werner, already flushed with embarrassment and anger, now faced an unimaginable dilemma. The sight of Sanchez's interest in someone he considered a nonentity was both baffling and terrifying.
"Of course, Mr. Sanchez," Lord Werner said, his voice strained, hardly masking his panic. "Please, follow Mr. Sanchez. And remember," he added sternly, addressing Darius but with a warning glance toward Leslie and Fiona, "if you cause offense, it's not just you who will answer for it. Both of you," he gestured towards Leslie and Fiona, "will bear the blame."
Aunt Rana, seizing the moment to add her own venom, sneered audibly enough for those nearby to hear, "Just remember, dear Leslie, some stains never wash out, especially those of low birth masquerading above their station."
Darius, bewildered by the sudden turn of events, could only nod. His mind raced with questions and fears. What could Mr. Sanchez possibly want with him? A nobody in the grandeur of the Werner estate?
Sanchez grabbed Darius’s hand and as they walked away from the crowd, Darius felt every eye on him.
He glanced at Leslie, who looked equally perplexed and worried, her hands clasped tightly together.
Entering a lavish room, Mr. Sanchez gently closed the door behind them. The room was silent, the only sound being their breathing and the distant murmur of the party.
Darius stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Mr. Sanchez, meanwhile, paced slowly before him, his eyes thoughtful.
Finally, Mr. Sanchez stopped pacing and turned to face Darius. His expression was serious, yet there was a softness in his eyes that Darius hadn't expected.
"Darius, isn't it?" Mr. Sanchez began, his voice gentle. "I must apologize for the... theatrics outside. But there's something very important I need to discuss with you."
Darius's confusion deepened. "Me? But I'm nobody special. Why would you need to talk to me?" His voice cracked slightly, betraying his nervousness.
Mr. Sanchez smiled. "If it turns out to be true, you're more special than you know, Darius. More than anyone here knows."
Before Darius could digest his words, Mr. Sanchez's next move took him by surprise. He fixed his gaze on Darius's chest, more specifically on the amulet that hung there.
"That amulet you're wearing," Mr. Sanchez began, his curiosity evident, "where did you get it from?"
Darius instinctively touched the amulet, his expression turning reflective. "I... I've always had it. It was with me when I was left at the orphanage's gate. There's a name on it," he paused, drawing the amulet closer to read, "Darius West."
"And West," Mr. Sanchez pressed on, his voice laced with a growing intensity, "is that your surname?"
Darius nodded, still perplexed. "Yes, Darius West. But why does that—"
Before he could finish, Mr. Sanchez did something utterly unexpected. He knelt before Darius, his head bowed slightly in a gesture of deep reverence.
Darius gasped, taking a step back in sheer astonishment. "Wh-What are you doing? Please, stand up!"
Mr. Sanchez looked up, his eyes shimmering with tears yet to fall. "At last, I've found you. My young master Darius West."
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