All Chapters of DARLA FIN:THE HEIRESS'S WICKED REBIRTH: Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

Darla's POVHe leaned back slightly, regarding me as if he could open my brain. He laughed low, shaking his head. "Relax. I was joking. That's not what Sam said."My jaw fell, eyebrows shooting up. Joking? My heart was still racing from the way he'd asked me that question, like I'd done something I didn't even know.I huffed sharply and crossed my arms. "Oh, is that so? So what did he say?" My voice turned deeper, slower, because I wasn't sure if I could trust him at this point."Sam," Xavier said, pausing like savoring the words, "brought you a new business partner. Named Victor."I winced. That was it? Only my shoulders relaxed somewhat. "That's not a secret. I already told you about Victor.""I know." His voice dropped, even but colder. "Except you didn't specify which Victor."I was taken aback. My head tilted. "What do you mean which Victor? I don't know him." I searched his face for some indication, but his was blank. "Do you. know him?"Xavier's jaw clenched, his eyes scrunched

Darla's POVI saw him before I heard him. Xavier came down the stairs, as together as ever in a good shirt and black pants.It just made me so mad the way he came down the stairs, like whatever had been between us upstairs had never changed, like his lips hadn't just been on mine.He stopped in front of me, his hand merely tweaking the cuff of his sleeve. He turned his head to look at me and continued to do so, his eyes unblinking and unfocusing. "You're quiet," he breathed.I shrugged, faking to tug my strap of bag. "Nothing to say."He regarded me for one more second and gave a curt nod. "Okay. Let's take you home."We walked out together, and I climbed into his jeep once more.The urgency this time wasn't forced, though, but instead some thick, unspoken words neither of us did appear to want to utter. Streetlights lit up the windshield, breaking the silence in short moments.At one point, Xavier's hand brushed across the steering wheel, as though he'd wanted to touch me. He didn't.

Darla's POVHe cocked his head to the side, observing me with that wicked grin. "You're a tough one to read, you know. Most individuals, I can see right through. But you? You keep your cards too well concealed. Makes me want to lean in a little closer."He did lean in, resting his elbows on the table, his voice lowering as if the walls had ears. "Tell me, Darla… is Xavier a card you're playing, or is he the whole deck?"My breath hesitated for a second, though I didn't let it show. Instead, I let a teasing smile curve my lips. "Maybe you should worry more about how you measure up and less about Xavier.".Sam's grin expanded, happy to spar. "Oh, I don't give that a second thought. Xavier can have history, but I… I have possibility. And women like you?" His eyes remained on me in a way that was both compliment and threat. "You never overlook possibility.I recrossed my legs under the table, tilting my head to the side as if considering him. "Be careful, Sam. You're starting to sound lik

Darla's POVSam's smirk stayed with him as he filled my glass, the actions heavy, deliberate. "You know, Darla, most women would have asked me questions about business, about money, about what I could give. But you? You went right to Xavier."I looked at him, not blinking. "That's because you put it about him first. You've been dancing around his name all night."His laugh was low, warm, too smooth. "Maybe because Xavier is the only thing standing between me and what I want."I raised an eyebrow. "And what do you want, Sam?"He inched closer, his voice lowering, replete with innuendo. "Opportunity… and maybe a woman who knows how to spot it."The ferocity in his eyes caused me to stop breathing for an instant, but I forced a weak laughter, swirled wine to mask. "Be careful. You sound like you're recruiting me.""Tempting you?" His grin increased. "No, Darla. I'm tempting you. There's a difference."The air between us thickened with tension and threat. He wanted me to bite, to pretend,

Darla's POVI settled back in my chair, letting the seriousness of Xavier's word settle on me. "Always," he said again. The one word hung heavier than it actually was, with an unspoken promise.My heart pounded, but I forced myself to stay serene. I couldn't let him see how much he unsettled me.He moved back also, folding his arms over the couch, but the ferocity of his glare didn't abate. "Darla. whatever it is Sam's doing, whatever he's attempting to observe or to get from you, don't let it get in the way of your own judgment. You already know whose side your duty must be on."I looked down at my hands briefly, tracing the rim of my coffee cup around and around. Loyalty. Trust. Heart. All those words that now weighed so heavily, twisted in the standoff of last night's dinner and today's revelations."I know," I finally whispered, my voice low, all but buried in the soft whir of the room. "But he's not dumb. He doesn't just speak. he taunts, hints. And now I'm wondering what else he