All Chapters of DARLA FIN:THE HEIRESS'S WICKED REBIRTH: Chapter 211 - Chapter 220

232 Chapters

Guilt

Melanie's POVThe silence after was worse than the act itself.It clung to me as I sat on the edge of Sam’s bed, the sheet pulled tight around my body like it could shield me from what I’d done. My chest felt heavy, my throat tight, my heart pounding with a panic that refused to settle.I came here to end things.That thought kept looping in my head, cruel and unforgiving.I hadn’t come to fall back into this. I hadn’t come to make everything messier, uglier, more dangerous. And yet, here I was, surrounded by the evidence of my weakness, my failure.Sam stretched lazily behind me, completely at ease. Too at ease.“You’re overthinking it,” he said, his voice calm, almost bored. “It’s not a big deal, Melanie. We had fun, people have fun all the time. Stop punishing yourself with guilt."I turned to him slowly, disbelief burning through my guilt. “It is a big deal,” I snapped, my voice shaking. “This is my marriage on the line here."He shrugged, reaching for his phone like we’d just f

Not Yet Time

Richard’s POVThe drive to Vincent’s place felt longer than usual.The city lights blurred past my windshield, red and white streaks cutting through the darkness, but my mind wasn’t on the road. It was on Melanie. On the way she looked at me. On the way she spoke like everything was normal when nothing was.Pretending was exhausting.Keeping my face calm, my voice steady, my reactions controlled, it felt like I was carrying a weight on my chest that grew heavier with every mile.By the time I pulled into Vincent’s driveway, my jaw ached from how tightly I’d been clenching it.Vincent opened the door almost immediately, like he’d been expecting me. One look at my face and his expression shifted.“Bad night?” he asked, stepping aside to let me in.“You could say that,” I muttered, walking straight past him into the living room.I dropped onto the couch and leaned forward, elbows on my knees, rubbing my hands together slowly. Vincent didn’t rush me. He poured a drink, handed it to me,

Hold On

Richard's POVVincent sighed and leaned back in his chair, lifting his hands slightly like he was calling a truce. “Enough of the questions, Richard. You’re spiraling. Just hold on for a while.”I let out a slow breath through my nose. “Easy for you to say.”“I’m saying it because I’ve been where you are,” he replied calmly. “When you push too hard for clarity, you end up destroying the little control you still have.”I looked away, jaw tight.Then Vincent shifted, his tone changing. “Have you spoken to Mandy?”I turned to him sharply. “Why would I talk to Mandy?”His eyes stayed steady on mine, unbothered by my reaction.“And before you say anything,” I added, irritation creeping into my voice, “don’t even think of suggesting I replace Melanie with Mandy. That will never happen.”Vincent snorted. “Replace Melanie with Mandy?” He shook his head. “If you even consider that, I’ll personally call you a fool.”That gave me pause.“Then why bring her up?” I asked. “What’s with this have-y

Prey or Predator

Richard’s POV“No,” I said after a beat. “You’re not.”That was true. I had already been disturbed long before she called.“I was actually thinking of calling you tomorrow morning,” I added carefully.She chuckled softly. “Then I guess I beat you to it.”“Seems like it.”There was a brief pause, just long enough to make me wonder if she was choosing her next words carefully.“Are you free?” she asked. “I have something new I want to show you. Only if you don’t mind.”Something new.My fingers tightened slightly around the phone. Every instinct told me to slow this down, to push it to morning, to keep control of the situation. But another part of me, the tired part, the part that wanted answers, knew I wouldn’t sleep anyway.“I don’t mind,” I said finally.Her tone shifted, satisfied but restrained. “Alright then. I’m at home this time. I’ll send you my address.”“Okay,” I replied. “That’s fine.”She didn’t linger on the call. Just a soft, “See you soon,” before hanging up.The line

Coping Mechanism

Richard’s POV Mandy’s fingers curled into my shirt as if she was afraid I’d disappear if she let go, and maybe she was right. Maybe part of me already had.I don’t remember who pulled away first or who suggested the bedroom. I only know that at some point we were moving down the hallway, the world narrowing to the sound of our breathing and the weight of everything unspoken between us. Her room was dim, quiet, far removed from the chaos in my head, and when the door closed behind us, something final settled in my chest.What followed wasn’t tender or meaningful. It was desperate. It was two people trying to escape different kinds of pain, colliding in the same moment. I let myself be pulled under, not because I believed in it, but because I didn’t want to think anymore.At some point, my phone started ringing.I heard it distantly, like a sound from another life. I knew who it was without checking. Melanie. Of course it was her. The universe had a cruel sense of timing.I ignor

My Fears or Assumption

Melanie's POVI stood by the window long after the sound of the gate closing echoed through the compound. Richard’s car rolled in smoothly, headlights cutting through the evening gloom, familiar and yet suddenly foreign. Relief fluttered briefly in my chest, he was home, but it didn’t last.He didn’t come out.The engine went off, but the door stayed shut. Minutes passed. One. Two. Three. My fingers tightened around the curtain as unease crept in. Richard had never done this before. Never sat in the car like he was gathering courage to enter his own house.What’s wrong?My mind raced, tumbling over every conversation we’d had, every sharp word, every silence. Maybe he was on a call. Maybe he was just exhausted. But the longer he stayed there, the louder my heart beat.I turned away from the window, decision already made, and headed downstairs.I was halfway down when I heard the car door open. I paused, listening. Footsteps followed. By the time I reached the living room, the fro

Outburst

Melanie's POV Richard laughed. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t amused. It was hollow, sharp at the edges, like something cracking from the inside. “You slapped me,” he said, slowly, as if he needed to hear the words out loud to believe them. My heart dropped straight into my stomach. “I’m sorry,” I said immediately, my voice breaking. “Richard, I didn’t mean to. I just—” He held up a hand, stopping me. His eyes were dark now, unreadable. “Don’t.” I stepped closer anyway. “Please. I lost control. I was angry, I was scared, and you wouldn’t listen to me. I didn’t mean it.” He shook his head in disbelief. “You didn’t mean to hit me?” “I swear,” I said quickly. “I would never hurt you on purpose.” He let out another humorless laugh and turned away, pacing a few steps like he needed space from me, or from himself. Something inside me panicked. Before I could think better of it, I dropped to my knees. The marble floor was cold, biting through the thin fabric of my dress, but I didn’t

Secret Affair

Richard’s POVI waited, tense and alert, until midnight. The house was silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioner. Melanie’s breathing was even, I assumed she was asleep. I shifted carefully, planning to get up, to give myself some space from the mess of emotions tangled around her.But then, she moved. Her thigh pressed against mine, a quiet but firm barrier, as if she knew I was about to leave. I froze for a moment, my hand brushing over her leg in a gentle, almost instinctive caress. The warmth and weight of her presence were magnetic, pulling me back into the chaos I had been trying to escape.After a long moment, I gently shifted her leg aside and carefully stood. I moved to the living room, my mind racing. Mandy. Why was she here? After everything that had happened at her place, why was she in my house tonight?I poured a cup of coffee in the kitchen, needing the bitter taste to ground me. Then I made my way toward the guest room, where I assumed Mandy was sleep

Pretence

Richard’s POVMelanie’s voice, soft but curious, pulled me out of my fog. “Where are you coming from?” she asked, eyes narrowing slightly.“Just… the bathroom,” I replied, keeping my tone casual. I wasn’t going to tell her the truth. Not now. Not ever.She tilted her head, studying me. “But there’s no heat on. Why are you in the bathroom this early in the morning?”I hesitated, forcing a shrug. “I… just wanted to freshen up,” I said, letting the lie roll off my tongue with practiced ease. I could see the skepticism in her eyes, but she didn’t push further.“Alright,” she said finally, with a small nod, as if satisfied for the moment.Then she did something unexpected. “Come to bed,” she invited, patting the space beside her. Her voice was soft, almost coaxing, but there was a warmth to it that made my chest tighten.I hesitated for a split second, thinking about Mandy, the night before, the tangled mess of guilt, anger, and desire that still clung to me. But Melanie was right there,

Relief

Melanie’s POVI lay on the bed for a long moment, staring at the ceiling, a small smile curving my lips despite everything. For the first time in days, maybe weeks, Richard had finally softened. He hadn’t pushed me away this morning. He hadn’t snapped. He hadn’t looked at me like I was a stranger.It felt like progress.I knew I had made mistakes, terrible ones. Some he knew about. Some I prayed he never would. But this morning felt like proof that my marriage wasn’t beyond saving. I was fixing it. Slowly, painfully, but surely.With that thought giving me strength, I pushed myself off the bed. I didn’t want to be late for today’s event. The Sinclair project resuming was important, and I needed to be there looking composed, confident, like a woman whose life was perfectly in order.I took a quick shower, letting the warm water calm my racing thoughts. I chose a fitted dress, elegant but not loud, and applied just enough makeup to hide the exhaustion beneath my eyes. When I looked

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