Lahat ng Kabanata ng DARLA FIN:THE HEIRESS'S WICKED REBIRTH: Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

Darla's POVTen minutes later, my secretary announced over the intercom."Ma'am, Mr. Xavier is here to see you."My chest constricted. For an instant, I considered ordering her to make him leave, that I wasn't prepared for anyone to see me in such a state, but then I let out a breath. "Let him up."A couple of minutes later, Xavier showed up in my office with his usual air of confidence. Seeing him almost undid me. Without saying anything, he strode right over to me and wrapped me in his arms. His grip was warm, firm, earthy.I pressed into it for a moment, then stepped back, shouldering myself away and attempting to catch his eyes. He stared at me with determination, worry furrowing his brow."Tell me, Darla," he told me. "What's happening?"The burden I'd been lugging came crashing down again. I swallowed hard, and then I told it all, the board, the so-called new policy, the forged signature, their demand that I resign.The words spewed out of me in anger and shock. My hands were tr

Darla's POVThere was something final in his tone, something sharp that made me wonder what “deal with” meant in Xavier’s world. But I didn’t press. Not now.The sound of footsteps interrupted the tension. A maid appeared, carrying a tray with a bottle of wine and two glass cups.She set them out before us on the table with a gentle bow before vanishing again.Xavier poured it out himself, filling both my glass and his with the dark red liquid. He handed me one of them, his gaze drifting a fraction of a moment too long on my features before I accepted it from him."Thanks," I said, encircling the stem of the glass with my hand. The initial sip was rich and warm, just what I required to calm the raw edge of my nerves.I set the glass aside and regarded him. "Incidentally… Sam came into my office today."Xavier's glass hesitated in flight, halfway to his lips. His eyes narrowed by a fraction, but I saw it. "Sam?" he asked.Yes. I leaned forward in my seat, too late realizing the momen

Darla's POV Xavier’s phone buzzed on the table, its screen flashing once before he picked it up. He spoke a few words into it, his voice low and clipped, then looked at me.“That was my lawyer,” he said, setting the phone down. “He’s here.”For a moment, I felt my pulse quicken. I’d already spoken to my own lawyer earlier, and part of me wondered if bringing another into this mess was even necessary. But Xavier’s confidence carried a weight I couldn’t ignore.“Let him in,” I said softly.Minutes later, the sound of the door opening reached us. A man in his late forties stepped inside, sharp suit, sharper gaze. He carried a leather briefcase, and the way he moved told me he was the kind of man who already knew the battlefield before stepping onto it.“Ms. Darla,” he greeted me politely, giving a slight bow of his head before glancing toward Xavier. “I came as quickly as I could.”Xavier gestured to the empty chair across from me. “Sit. She’ll explain.”I cleared my throat and did jus

Darla's POVI rose slowly from the couch, smoothing the crease in my skirt as if doing so would have a soothing effect on the thunderstorm building inside me. "I should go," I muttered, ducking Xavier's piercing gaze."But you just got here," he grumbled, his voice dead but filling, as if going out was not an option. "Wait until tonight. I'll take you home myself."My gaze met his, unsure. Part of me wanted to leave, to escape the tension building between us, but the other part of me… didn't want to. My dry throat forced me to whisper, "I don't want to intrude on you."His lips twisted into his sarcastic, self-assured smile. "You won't. Unless you find my presence intruding."I swallowed, my brain unable to produce an appropriate reply. Stalemate developed, and then, in defiance of my own better sense, I nodded. "Fine. I'll remain."A spark of triumph flashed in his eyes. He glanced at the maid standing motionless at the corner. "Serve lunch for us," he commanded easily, before turnin

Darla's POV"Please," he cut me off, his voice edged with impatience. "Five minutes. That's all I'm asking. I have something for you."That made me freeze, hand halted mid-air. My brow puckered. "Information?""Yes," he spoke softly, as though someone was going to be eavesdropping on his end. "Something you need to hear."My throat tightened, but I sounded relaxed. "Jace…" I cautioned."I'm serious," he said to me in a hurry. "I'm not playing games. Give me five minutes, Darla, and if what I have to say to you means nothing to you, I'll never call you again."The car turned onto a less traveled street, the city noises dissipating.I stood there, my gaze on the phone screen, torn. I wanted to flip the phone onto the seat beside me and let the silence wash out his words.But another half of me, cautious, suspicious, wondered if I could afford not to listen to him. "Five minutes," I said to myself.His voice was soft now, but still with that unshakeable resolve. "Where shall we meet?"I