Ella - POV I enjoyed three days of working in peace, without seeing Darcus's face. I made Sofia work extra hours to compensate for my indulgence, and I noticed the dark circles under her eyes from the excessive workload. But I knew Sofia wouldn't stop bullying me, so I had to remain on guard. Today is the day I have to face Darcus. I consider asking him about what he said to James, hoping for a genuine response, but I can't trust his words. So, I decided to abandon the idea of questioning Darcus. As I reach the office and head to the rooftop venue where Avery's farewell function will take place this evening, I realize much work is needed. I need to oversee the preparations, ensure the decorations are up to par, and arrange for all the employees from different branches to attend. Furthermore, I have received word from Darcus that his father will also be at the function today. I have never met Darcus's parents since our relationship never progressed to that point. "Sofia, we need an

Darcus - POV My thoughts were a tumultuous storm, all centered on Ella. Even though I knew there was a high chance she'd reject me, the idea of confessing my feelings consumed me. Dargo, my dragon, added to the pressure, insisting we confess our feelings to her. Yet, the connection between Ella's dragon and her was disrupted by her Warlock blood. I would only be able to officially mate once they connected. Ella's human body would reject any forceful mate bond, leading to potential harm. Nevertheless, the emotional pull we felt for each other was undeniable. "Darcus," Ella's voice cut through my thoughts like a silver blade through the night. I found us standing on a balcony, her hair flowing like an auburn river in the wind. Her intoxicating scent accelerated my heartbeat, and when she looked at me with those mesmerizing blue eyes, I couldn't resist the urge to touch her, to caress her soft cheeks. The pull of the mate bond was mirrored in her eyes. My gaze instinctively drifted to h

Ella - POV Waking up to the familiar sight of my bedroom ceiling, I found myself in my bed, a dull ache pulsating in my head. I had reached out to Darcus, planning to go to the hospital. So why was I here, not in a sterile hospital room? The unsettling discomfort of last night had felt like the brink of death, and desperate for clarity, I checked the time on my phone. It was just 7:00 a.m. Perplexed, I scrolled through my call logs, wondering if my interaction with Darcus had been a figment of my imagination. To my surprise, there were no calls to Darcus recorded. Perhaps everything that had transpired last night was just a sinister dream, an imagination fuelled by my unwell state. But it had felt so real. After freshening up with a quick shower, I joined my dad and Hana at the breakfast table, where a spread was already laid out. "Ella, how are you feeling today?" Hana inquired, reminding me of the text I'd sent her last night about my ill health. Dad's gaze echoed her concern, awa

Darcus - POV "Ms. Hart, it seems you put much effort into this strategy." Archer smiled at her, and she smiled back. Ella's smile caught my attention, and a pang of jealousy surged through me. She rarely smiled at me, but here she was, smiling at Archer. "So, Mr. Taylor, what do you think? Should we proceed with this strategy or not?" My words directed their attention to Archer's secretary, who looked at me with evident desire. "Hmmm... I think I'd like to proceed with this strategy. Ms. Hart, could you resend the agreement? I'll consult with the team to explore options for increasing the profit margins. Brenton had a great idea," Archer replied, his gaze lingering on Ella with an amused expression. Ella nodded and averted her eyes, focusing on her work behind the laptop. "If we're done, we should take our leave." Ella looked up from her laptop and nodded in agreement. "Mr. Miller and Ms. Hart, why don't you join me in celebrating our company's 50th anniversary? It would be an off

Ella - POV Darcus was writhing in pain, his condition worsening by the minute. Worried, I immediately called the doctors, who arrived promptly to assess his situation. However, despite their expertise, they couldn't pinpoint the cause of his suffering. They administered medication and an injection to alleviate his symptoms and advised me to take him to the hospital for further tests, suspecting an underlying issue. Sitting by Darcus's bedside, I watched him sleep peacefully in the dimly lit room. The weight of uncertainty pressed upon me as I contemplated the following action. Should I leave him alone and attend the party that awaited me, or should I stay by his side, offering comfort and support during this challenging time? It was still early in the afternoon, and a part of me yearned for a temporary escape from the worry that consumed me. With a sigh, I decided to seize a momentary respite from the situation. The tailoring team provided me with comfortable attire for the party, a