As soon as Darcy finished speaking, dozens of men in ck suddenly surrounded Emerald and her people, cutting off any escape.


    Emerald''s expression darkened, her eyes burning with anger and frustration as she red at Darcy. "Darcy, do you have to go against me at every turn?"


    Darcy sneered. "Emerald, you and I have always been on opposite sides. If you want to take Edward, fine—just as long as the people you brought can defeat mine."


    His tone dripped with contempt, his confidence unmistakable—he had no doubt that Emerald''s men were no match for his own.


    The standoff stretched on until Emerald clenched her teeth and said coldly, "Darcy, you''re going to regret this."


    Darcy smirked. "Instead of wasting time threatening me, you should focus on keeping your position as the head of the Nixons. Once Edward recovers, you won''t have a say in the family''s affairs anymore."


    With that, he turned and left with Mary and Edward.


    As their car merged into traffic, the men in ck swiftly dispersed.


    On the drive back, Emerald''s expression remained grim. If she had her way, she would get rid of Darcy and Mary this instant.


    Mary nced at Darcy, her face clouded with worry. "Edward''s condition is getting worse. We have to move up our n. If he dies, Emerald wille after my son and me first."


    When Edward was in good health, Mary had relied on his favor to disregard Emerald and her children.


    But she knew all too well-her power came solely from Edward''s presence. Once he was gone, she would have nothing.


    She had to ensure her son became the next head of the Nixons before Edward died. That was the only way she and her child would survive.


    Seeing the fear in her eyes, Darcy reassured her, "Don''t worry, Mary I''ve already made arrangements. I''m not just doing this because I''ver served Edward for years. There''s another reason. I—" ''


    Mary cut him off immediately, "Darcy, don''t say it. Right now, all I care about is staying by Edward''s side for whatever time he has left."


    Darcy nodded. "I understand. I just hope that... if one day you decide to be with someone else, you''ll give me a chance."


    Mary turned to look out the window without responding.


    She didn''t like Darcy. If not for Edward''s illness, she wouldn''t have had anything to do with him.


    Yet right now, he was the only person she could rely on.


    Back at Emerald''s estate, N strolled through the garden for a while before feeling tired. She found a pavilion and sat down to rest.


    Not long after, a man with blond hair and deep-set blue eyes, dressed in a tailcoat, entered the pavilion.


    He seemed slightly surprised to find someone there, but then recognition shed in his eyes.


    Smiling, he stepped forward and greeted N in her nativenguage, "Hello, Ms. Kinsey."


    N was caught off guard. If not for


    the man''s foreign features, she would wasn''t


    have never guessed


    a native speaker. She greeted him back. "Hello. And you are?"


    "My name is Andre Quit. It''s a pleasure to meet you," he replied.


    His friendly demeanor put N slightly on edge, but she responded politely. "I''m


    N Kinsey. Nice to meet you too."


    After exchanging names, Andre


    studied her curiously. "Ms. Kinsey, you''re the guest of honor at tonight''s


    banquet. Why are you sitting here alone content belongs to