Chapter 154:
Seeing this, Sylvia’s confidence wavered and she hesitantly murmured, “Darren…”
Darren snapped out of his thoughts and finally voiced the question that had been nagging at him. “Why did your mom say Elena’s family is wealthy? I remember you told me her biological parents were from a modest background.”
Sylvia froze. For a moment, she was speechless, completely thrown off. How could she have overlooked this? She had been so focused on getting the money that she’d forgotten—Darren still didn’t know that Elena was actually the lost daughter of the prestigious Harper family in Klathe.
A sudden wave of panic surged through Sylvia.
In a rushed effort to cover her deception, Sylvia blurted out, “Elena works at Hillside Manor. To avoid difficulties, she…”
Sylvia intentionally hesitated, pressing a hand over her mouth as if she had spoken out of turn.
This mock attempt to obscure the truth made Darren piece things together on his own. Elena worked at Hillside Manor? The Johnsons’ estate was located there. That explained why he had spotted Elena near the Johnson Group’s entrance last time. Given her background, she wouldn’t even have the chance to meet Malcolm’s assistant, let alone Malcolm himself. She must have used her body to lure Malcolm in!
A wave of fury surged through Darren, and his eyes filled with growing contempt as he looked at Elena. He commented, “Now I see. A woman of her caliber isn’t fit to be in your circle.”
Just earlier, Darren had thought Cecily’s behavior was excessive, but now he felt Elena had brought this upon herself. Elena used to act aloof and virtuous in front of him, yet the moment she was cast out of the Reed family, she wasted no time clinging to a wealthy man. With her status, no affluent guys would want to marry her. She was nothing more than a fleeting amusement for the rich.
Darren’s gaze darkened as he studied Elena, first taking in her face. Her beauty was undeniable. Today, she wore a simple white blouse and jeans, her long black hair twisted into a bun, with a few loose strands framing her forehead. She had no makeup on, yet her flawless complexion and delicate features were stunning.
No matter how much Darren despised Elena, he couldn’t deny she had always been striking. His eyes traced from her face down the bridge of her nose, over her chin, along her jawline to her collarbone, her well-defined figure, and those endless, graceful legs… His breath grew heavier.
Sylvia noticed the shift and immediately straightened up, pulling Darren’s focus back. “Darren, you’re not upset, are you?” she asked softly.
Ⓜⓞⓡⓔ ⓤⓟⓓⓐⓣⓔⓢ ⓘⓝ ⓖⓐⓛⓝⓞⓥⓔⓛⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ
Darren swallowed hard. Elena might be breathtaking, but she was unattainable at the moment. The scent of Sylvia’s perfume pulled his attention back. He placed a firm hand on her shoulder. “Of course not. She’s getting exactly what she deserves.”
Darren’s sickening gaze had shifted away from Elena, but the frost in her eyes remained. She lifted her eyes and locked onto Cecily’s greedy stare. “If I decide to leave, no one can stop me,” she said icily. “What you just did is extortion. Fifty…
“Million is no small amount. If I call the authorities now, you’re looking at a minimum of ten years in prison. Money isn’t an issue for me—I could hire the best lawyer and ensure you never walk free again.”
With each passing word, Cecily’s expression hardened. “What nonsense are you spouting? I raised you. It’s only right for you to give me financial support.” She scoffed, refusing to believe Elena’s threat. “Family matters are beyond police intervention, so don’t try to scare me.”
