Chapter 127:
Her voice carried across the room, and Darren caught every word. Frustrated by her lack of deference, Darren quickly assessed Lydia’s appearance, careful not to insult someone important. Seeing her simple hoodie and jeans, Darren assumed she wasn’t wealthy. Convinced she might be another maid, he addressed Elena with disdain. “You’ve really stooped low, associating with such riffraff. Even if the Reeds disowned you, you shouldn’t have sunk this far. Maybe it’s time you went back to whatever provincial place your family comes from.”
Darren dismissed Lydia, focusing his scorn on Elena instead.
Initially, Elena wasn’t angry. She knew the world was full of ignorance. However, Darren’s insult to her friend was unacceptable.
A faint sneer appeared on Elena’s lips, her eyes glinting coldly. “And just who do you think you are? A mere blight on humanity. What authority do you have to insult my friend?”
Lydia was not just a top assassin; she commanded the Pantheon. In her presence, Darren was insignificant.
Elena’s features hardened, her presence emanating an unnerving chill. Darren instinctively retreated several steps, his expression one of confusion.
Embarrassment and anger flushed Darren’s face as he realized he was backing down in front of Elena. Why should he feel intimidated by her? The area was crowded—surely, she wouldn’t dare cause a scene here. Still, he couldn’t help but step away.
Darren remembered all too well their days of martial arts training. He had often ended up defeated, painfully aware that beneath Elena’s graceful appearance was a formidable strength. She was never afraid to fight back.
While Darren lingered in hesitation, the wealthy heirs around him resumed their taunts.
“Darren, can’t even handle a woman, huh?”
“Need us to step in? We’ll handle her for you—she won’t talk back after that.”
“Come on, Darren, show her who’s boss.”
“What, do you let your mom tell you what to do at home too? Never thought you were such a mama’s boy.”
Their jibes only darkened Darren’s expression. In his mind, this was all Elena’s fault—she was making him look weak in front of people whose favor he had painstakingly cultivated. Now, with just her presence and a few words, she had managed to turn them all against him.
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Feeling pushed to the edge, Darren snapped, “Remember when you used to hang around like a desperate puppy, begging for scraps? Those leftovers were meant for dogs, Elena. I gave them to you because you seemed to enjoy them. Let’s not pretend—I’d never take a woman like you seriously. You’ll probably end up with some nobody. If you know what’s good for you, get down and apologize. Maybe I’ll give you a job as a gatekeeper. Otherwise, just accept you’re destined to be a maid forever.”
He gloated, savoring the thought of Elena doomed to a life of servitude, oblivious to the change in her expression. Elena’s lashes lowered, veiling her true emotions. After a moment, her lips curved with a trace of sarcasm.
She remembered those days when Darren had brought her meals, and, out of gratitude, she had spent years helping the Griffiths family. It was Elena who had persuaded Darren’s grandfather to invest in real estate—a decision that proved remarkably prescient. Not long after, the country’s focus had shifted toward real estate, multiplying the Griffiths’ wealth.
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