117Back at the center of the confrontation, Darius continued to hold his ground against Nathan's barrage of threats. His calm demeanor seemed to infuriate Nathan even more, fueling his desire to assert dominance over his perceived rival.Darius took a deep breath to calm himself, though his hands s
118As Howard's voice pierced through the murmurs of the crowd, Darius felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had hoped to slip away unnoticed, but it seemed fate had other plans.He turned to face Howard and Lydia, his expression a mask of indifference, though inside, he braced himsel
119Lydia and Howard exchanged a knowing glance, their smiles turning into smirks. "Of course, Nathan. We wouldn't dream of interfering," Howard replied smoothly, though the gleam in his eyes betrayed his true intentions.Nathan's expression hardened as he watched them, his suspicions growing with e
120Nathan's sneer faltered for a moment, taken aback by the sudden change in Darius's demeanor. His eyes narrowed, trying to decipher this unexpected defiance. "Oh? And what will you do about it?" he challenged, stepping closer, his own hands balling into fists, as if preparing for a confrontation.
121Lydia, unable to contain her simmering rage, stepped forward with a venomous glare. "You have some nerve, Darius, thinking you can waltz in here and challenge us," she spat, her words laced with venom. "But mark my words, you'll regret ever crossing paths with us."Howard, sensing an opportunity
122Some people pulled out their own phones to verify the claim. The laughter died down, replaced by a collective sense of incredulity."Are you saying we've been mocking him all this time without knowing?" a guest whispered to their companion, their eyes wide with realization. "I can't believe thi
123Darius, taken aback by Mr. Rossi's approach and the respect he was being shown, managed to nod. "Yes, I'm Darius Wettin. Mr. Sanchez sent me in his stead," he replied, his voice steady but filled with cautious curiosity.Mr. Rossi's smile widened even further, if that was possible. "Splendid! I'
124Howard, still trying to process what had just unfolded, stammered, "I... I didn't see that coming."Nathan, his pride wounded and face burning with humiliation, clenched his fists, his voice trembling with anger. "You— you can't do that! I demand an apology!"But Mr. Rossi remained unflinching,