?Chapter 293:


    “Enough!” The word cut through Darren’s assurances, sharp and final.


    Elena couldn’t stomach another word, her patience snapping under the weight of his unwavering confidence. He was utterly average, yet filled with an unfathomable self-assurance.


    Had it not been for Aldin’s persuasion, she would never have agreed to the engagement. He was totally beneath her, a mere blip unworthy of her concern. How he derived such confidence was beyond her.


    She raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with incredulity. “Do you really think you’re charming when you say such things?”


    Darren responded with a silent, knowing smile as his Adam’s apple bobbed. Yes, he truly believed his charm was undeniable. That many women found him appealing was no mystery, though if the Harper family hadn’t been the wealthiest in the, he wouldn’t have stooped to pursue Elena.


    Oblivious to the sarcasmcing her tone, Darren mistook her scorn for admiration and turned slightly, offering her a view of what he considered his best angle.


    Darren’s smile softened as he gazed at Elena, his eyes sparkling with tender affection that seemed to light up the dim space between them. “I don’t care what others think. Your feelings are what matter to me,” he murmured gently.


    Elena watched, amused, as Darren theatrically twisted his body, his neck craning in an exaggerated gesture bordering onical. To an onlooker, he might have seemed lost in some strange, impromptu dance.


    From his post, the security guard noticed Darren’s peculiar antics and, concerned, hurried toward him clutching a first aid kit.


    “What happened…” he panted, voice heavy with worry.


    As he drew closer, the reality of Darren’s pose dawned on him, and he stopped, dumbstruck by the misunderstanding.


    “Sorry, my mistake. I thought you were having a seizure,” he stammered, his face flushed with embarrassment.


    Darren’s affable smile stiffened into a thin line, his eyes narrowing into a re that sent a chill through the air.


    With the first aid kit in hand, the guard wasted no time and quickly left.


    The interruption soured Darren’s mood, casting a shadow over his previously lighthearted demeanor.


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    Elena’s lips curled into a sardonic smirk. “Stop being ridiculous. Why would I like you?” she teased scornfully.


    Darren’s brow furrowed in frustration, his face contorted in disbelief at her harsh words.


    “I know you’re still mad at me, but it’s okay. I can handle your little tantrums,” he said, trying to brush off the sting of her words, though irritation showed through.


    Elena, too drained to continue the discussion, turned to leave.


    Darren’s expression tightened, frustration boiling over as he reached out and grasped her arm. “I’ve already swallowed my pride and tried to fix this! How much more do you expect from me? I don’t have endless patience! If you keep up this—”


    “Attitude, I will leave!”


    “Let go,” Elena demanded sharply, her voice cutting through the tension as she stopped dead in her tracks.


    Seeing that she wasn’t leaving, Darren let out a slow, steady exhale. He convinced himself she couldn’t possibly harbor genuine disdain for him. She was merely ying hard to get. Perhaps she was waiting for him to say all the right words and win her over.


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