Chapter 54 Chapter 54

Chapter 54 Chapter 54
Darian arrived at the driver’s door and he paused, staring at the still image in the video. Despite his strong refusal to push negative thoughts and assumptions away, he couldn’t help the tightness in his chest. It came with an unfamiliar emotion; Jealousy… rage and Fear.

But when he looked up and saw Averie sitting in the car, smiling lightly as she waited for him, he swallowed all of it down like poison.

He forced a smile, not because he was okay but because if he exploded now, he might break something he wasn’t ready to lose.

He entered the car, fastened his seat belt, and drove off in complete silence. Eceb though, every few seconds, he stole a glance at her. His eyes, red with contained fury.
Averie was humming softly, checking her notes, completely unaware of the storm growing inside him.

And when he couldn’t hold it anymore, he decided to approach it wisely.

“Averie,” he said calmly, “Are you… sick?” he asked.

She blinked. “Sick? No.”

“Or are you by chance having any medical issues?” he pressed. “Something that would take you to the hospital?”

She turned to him confused, thinking hard about his sudden questions. At the tiniest thought of being found out by Darian, her heart skipped a beat.
“No… nothing. Why are you asking?”

Darian clenched his jaw. He wanted to spit out because I saw you there but he stayed quiet.

“No reason,” he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Deep down, Averie felt something was off but she brushed it aside.
After all, there was no way Darian could know about her mother.
She had been too careful.

AT THE SHORE>>
When they arrived at the shipping yard, Darian’s cold aura melted away as he stepped into businessman mode.

“Good morning. I’m Darian Graham,” he said firmly. “Her husband.”

The staff straightened immediately, respectful, and nervous.

His influence sped up the entire inspection. Documents were processed instantly, containers cleared, and Averie’s delayed shipments officially rerouted.

She watched him with quiet admiration—The way he handled people, the way his presence alone solved problems. It was hard not to be grateful.

On the way back, she kept glancing at him and she noticed that he looked rather tense but she didn’t know why.

After a while, Darian pulled up in front of her fashion store and she turned to him with a soft smile.

“Thank you for everything you did today,” she said gently, her eyes filled with gratitude.

Before he could react, she leaned forward and placed a small kiss on his cheek, it was warm, light, and sincere.

Darian’s heart stopped. Because it should have comforted him, made him the happiest man on earth at that moment. Instead, pain flashed through him again.

In his head, he couldn’t stop thinking about the short video that had many possibilities untold and unshared. That same cheek, the doctor touched it once, didn’t he? 

He didn’t say a word as he turned back to his car to leave, not even a goodbye.

He got into his car, closing the door harder than needed.

Averie stood frozen on the spot, her mouth slightly parted in disbelief.
“What did I do wrong?” she muttered, watching him drive away, “Did I offend him somehow?”

She couldn’t tell and that scared her a lot. Darian had never been that cold to her, not even when they just had a strict boss and ordinary employee relationship. It’s like he’s with her but so very distant at the same time.


At the office, Darian straightened himself, burying his emotions deep as he entered the boardroom.

Three Arabian businessmen greeted him with warm handshakes and a thick file of documents.

“Mr. Graham,” one said, “Your reputation precedes you. We have a multi-billion-dollar opportunity and we want you.”

Darian’s eyes widened slightly as he skimmed the documents. International expansion, new branches, modern tech distribution…
It was everything a businessman like him could dream of.

He raised his face and nodded with a satisfied smile “Thank you for the offer. I’m in” he said.

The men chuckled as they further exchanged words. One of them decided to inform Darian about how they were able to find him.

“It was Miss Carmine who recommended you,” the man said.

Darian’s brows twitched, but he nodded politely.

“And there is one condition,” another continued. “You must win over a brilliant foreigner. A business prodigy. Convince him to join your company before we sign anything.”

Darian thought for a brief moment before he shook their hands confidently.
“I’ll make it happen.”

The meeting ended well and he walked them back to their cars. After escorting them outside, he waved until their cars pulled away.

He had barely lifted a leg when Carmine arrived in a taxi.

“Darian!” she called out, rushing forward.

Before he could react, she grabbed his arm excitedly.

“Oh my God, congratulations!” she squealed. “I heard the news already”

Darian faced her, slightly puzzled “They just left Carmine” he said.

“Didn’t they tell you?” She giggled “We go a long way in business” she said.

Several staff members walking by paused, whispering amongst themselves:

“They look perfect together…”

“Miss Carmine and the CEO must still have a thing for each other”

“Such a beautiful pair unfortunately, he’s married” 

Darian’s jaw tensed. He hated the whispers but he also was in no mood to fire anyone at the moment so he walked back inside, and Carmine followed like a shadow.

Inside His Office>>

Darian sat down, loosening his tie.

“How did you get connected with Arabian investors?” he asked.

Carmine smirked and tossed her hair.
“I have my ways. Besides… I wanted to help you.” She leaned on his desk, “You deserve this global opportunity, Darian. Honestly.”

He nodded awkwardly. “Thank you.”

Carmine softened her voice.
“I also want to apologize,” she said. “For everything I did to you in the past.”

He sighed. “It’s fine. The past is the past.”

“And Averie,” Carmine added quickly. “I know I caused the two of you trouble. I want to make peace with her too.”

Darian raised a brow.
“Then apologize to her directly.”

Carmine smiled sweetly “I will, but… help me get a pass to her fashion launch tomorrow.”

Darian hesitated.

But Carmine’s presence still annoyed him and refusing her would only make things worse for his convenience. Also, Averie always valued fairness and he didn’t want to stand in the way.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll arrange it.”

Her face lit up “Oh! And about the foreigner…” She leaned in conspiratorially.

“He’s not easy to convince. But if you travel with me, I might be able to help you win him over.”

Fred thought it over because traveling was necessary anyway and Carmine offered to smooth the process for him. He might be an influential person in the country but foreign water tastes different.

“I’ll inform my wife first,” he said.

Carmine beamed.
“Of course. You two are married after all.”

But the way she said married didn’t sound well in her mouth, somehow.