21 Darius arrived at The Velvet Spoon, Strawberry City's most opulent dining establishment. The grandeur of the place took him by surprise, with its crystal chandeliers casting a soft glow over the plush velvet seats and marble floors that seemed to sparkle underfoot. He was here to meet Mr. Sanche
22 The waiter, under the weight of Lydia and Howard's influence, gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry, but if you don't leave voluntarily..." "What? You'll make me?" Darius's eyes narrowed, his stance firm. He could feel the eyes of the other diners on him, the air thick with tension. At that moment, Ly
23 Inside the diamond box, the ambiance shifted dramatically. It was as though Darius had stepped into another world. The room glimmered softly under the muted light, casting an ethereal glow on the faces of the four individuals seated there. As they took their seats, Mr. Sanchez, with a composed
24 Trevor 'Tiger' Jackson, the embodiment of strength and resilience, was the first to break the silence. Clearing his throat, he leaned forward, his eyes locking with Darius's. "Young master," he began, his voice steady but betraying a hint of emotion, "I've seen many things in my time, but toda
25 Darius barely gave Howard and Lydia a second glance, their insults feeling like nothing more than an annoying buzz in his ears. He had heard it all before, and today, their words seemed especially hollow. Turning to leave, he heard Howard's voice cut through the air, a note of forced superiority
26 He stepped out of the car, his movements calm but deliberate. The gang turned to him, sneers forming on their faces, sizing him up as an easy mark. The leader, a bulky man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the Eclipse. "Well, well, what do
27 Micheal burst into laughter, the sound harsh and mocking. He fixed his gaze on Darius, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You think you're some sort of hero, kid?" Micheal sneered, stepping closer until he was only a few feet away from Darius. "I'm here on behalf of the Werner family. They're in
28 Every head turned in shock and confusion towards the source of the command. Micheal's expression twisted from one of annoyance to shock, and then quickly to fear. "Why are these nobodies interrupting? Can't they see I'm working?" he muttered under his breath, turning towards the newcomer with
Olivia only had eyes for Darius. She greeted him with a radiant smile and pulled him into a warm hug. "Darius, it's wonderful to see you again! I'm so glad you could make it."Her kindness toward Darius, when others had once scorned her, was not lost on those present.Darius warmly returned Olivia’s
Darius said calmly to Jason, "I have nothing to prove to small minds like yours. My keys, if you please."Sensing that Darius wasn't getting riled up, Jason gripped the keys tighter, sneering. "Admit what we all know deep down—you’re not living the high life, poor boy." Laughter echoed around them.
285But before Darius could respond, he noticed Jason approach with Brianna on his arm. Jason’s face was twisted in a sneer as he eyed Darius, clearly irritated by the attention he was receiving."Pretending to be rich now, are we, Darius?" Jason said in a mocking tone. Darius could see the jealousy
284As Darius West stepped into Chez Michel, the warm greeting from the maître d' momentarily eased his tension. "Good evening, sir. May I have the name for your reservation?""Darius West. I'm here for Miss Olivia Donna's party," he replied, keeping his voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in
283Few hours after Sanchez left, Darius' phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was his old friend Eric calling. He answered with a calm tone, despite the whirlwind of thoughts still brewing in his mind."Hello, Eric. What's up?" Darius said, leaning back in his chair."Darius, mate! Great n
282The next day, Darius woke up feeling the weight of last night's conversation with Max still lingering in his mind. His body ached slightly from the tension, but there was no time to dwell on it. After a quick, cold shower to shake off the fatigue, he dressed in his usual sleek, understated suit, his mind already racing through the tasks ahead.Stepping into his Eclipse, he gripped the steering wheel tightly, the engine purring beneath him as he drove toward the office. The city blurred by, but his thoughts were sharp. Jason’s plan, Max’s betrayal—it all simmered under the surface, waiting for the right moment to strike back.Once inside his office, the cool, modern interior did little to settle his nerves. He tossed his briefcase on the desk and immediately reached for the phone, dialing Mr. Sanchez’s number. The line rang only once before it was answered."Good morning, young master," Mr. Sanchez’s voice greeted, calm and professional as always.Darius didn’t waste time with pleas
"I don’t want any part of this," Max’s voice cracked through the phone, clearly strained. "That’s why I’m calling you. I’m out. Whatever Jason’s planning, I want no involvement. I just thought you should know."Darius stopped pacing, his brows furrowing as suspicion bubbled inside him. "You’re sudde
280Darius stormed into the villa, his mind racing as he dialed Eric's number. The phone rang twice before Eric's voice answered, sounding strained."Darius? What's up?""What’s up?" Darius repeated, his voice hard. "Why didn’t you tell me you fought Jason tonight? Are you okay?"Eric exhaled sharpl
279Just as Darius was pulling into his driveway, his phone rang again, cutting through the silence. Without glancing at the caller ID, he picked up, already anticipating Brianna's voice on the other end. His frustration boiled over immediately."What now, Brianna?" he barked into the phone, his gri