Chapter 67 Chapter 67

Chapter 67 Chapter 67
Darian had just finished brushing his teeth and was heading toward the bed when he heard the alarm on his hotel door ringing. As he drew closer, he saw the light flashing and frowned. It was past midnight, and he hadn’t ordered room service. 

He opened the door halfway and saw Carmine standing there in a tight, shimmering dress. Her flawless makeup and a bottle of wine in her hand. Her smile was too bright and blinding.

“Hi Darian… can we talk? Just for a minute” she asked softly.

He raised an eyebrow. “Carmine, it’s late and we drank enough at the meeting this afternoon. You should rest.”

She lowered her gaze, voice trembling slightly.
“I know but this might be my only chance.”

This made Darian hesitate, curious to know what she meant by that statement.
Carmine continued quickly” I won’t be returning home with you. My new contract starts soon and I’ll be resuming filming back-to-back. I won’t see you for a long while.” She looked genuinely sad as she spoke.

Darian sighed, rubbing his forehead in hesitation, trying to convince himself that she had behaved better recently and wouldn’t try anything shady again. She had even apologized to him and Averie. Maybe she truly wanted closure before she left.

“Okay.” He opened the door wider “But just a short talk.”

Carmine smiled sweetly and stepped inside. She moved straight toward the table, placing the wine down and intentionally shaking it again. Meanwhile, Darian didn’t notice because he was already picking up two glasses.

Carmine took over before he could pour “No. let me,” she said lightly. Her hands moved with the confidence of someone who had rehearsed this many times.

She poured out the wine gracefully, raised and twirled before handing Darian a glass. Then she picked hers.

“To friendship,” she said.

Darian nodded and took a sip then they clinked glasses.

Carmine watched him drink, her anticipation gleaming like a predator waiting for its prey to drop.

Five minutes later, Darian started feeling the edges of his vision softening. His body grew strangely heavy too.

“Carmine,” he murmured. “I think you should go, I’m feeling tired.”

Carmine nodded innocently. “Of course. You should rest.”

And Darian stood up, sluggish, and dizzy. They walked to the door together, and he closed it behind her but she didn’t leave.
Her smile widened as she looked at the keycard Darian had mistakenly left on the table. A keycard she slipped into her palm before stepping outside.

“Perfect,” she whispered.

Carmine waited ten full minutes before she quietly slid the keycard into the door and it beeped open.

When she entered, Darian was passed out on the couch with his tie loosened, shirt slightly undone from the heat rushing through him.

She shut the door silently behind her and let out a triumphant squeal. “He’s mine now,” she whispered.

She rushed to him, kneeling between his legs. Her hands shook with excitement as she unbuttoned his shirt, then his belt. Her fingers tugged at his pants when Darian suddenly groaned and blinked awake. His pupils were dilated. Even his breaths are uneven as his mind barely registers the scene.

“Carmine?” he mumbled and she froze.

Darian tried to sit up, but she threw herself against him.
“I know you want me,” she whispered feverishly. “Don’t pretend anymore. You always…”

“Stop.” His voice was low but filled with warning.

She ignored him, tugging at his clothes again.
“It’s okay, Darian. It’s okay. You don’t have to pretend. I can make you feel….”

“STOP!”

His voice boomed and Adrenaline snapped through him.
He shoved her HARD off the couch and Carmine stumbled, falling backward and shocked.

Darian struggled to his feet, still dizzy, and sweating, the drug making him burn from the inside out.

He buckled his belt with trembling hands.

Without a word, he grabbed her arm, opened the door, and pushed her out firmly. The door slammed in her face.

She stared at the door, trembling with fury and humiliation.

And inside, Darian staggered back toward the couch, gripping his head.
With all the symptoms he’s been experiencing, it hit him.

He knew EXACTLY what Ciara had added to the wine and he blamed himself for trusting her.

In desperation, he dialed Averie’s number.

She picked up on the fourth ring, her voice thick with sleep.

“Mmm… Darian?”

God.

Her sleepy voice nearly made him lose all sense of reasoning.

Just hearing her calmed his frantic pulse, easing the fire in his blood.

“I’m okay,” he whispered. “I just… wanted to hear you.”

“Are you alright?” she asked drowsily.

“I am now,” he said sincerely, his hand working against his abs and lower part of himself.

Her soft breathing through the phone was the only thing grounding him.

“Sleep, Darian… I love you,” she murmured unconsciously..

“I love you too,” he whispered

Darian found Carmine waiting in the lobby the next morning, with her sunglasses on, shoulders tense. She couldn’t even look his way but he walked straight up to her.

“We’ll address everything after the meeting. Don’t let guilt ruin today’s deal.” They all swallowed hard and nodded.

The meeting went smoothly. The Spanish programmer accepted Darian’s offer luckily. He shook his hand firmly. “Welcome aboard.”

As they packed their things, Carmine suddenly slipped away, quietly without informing Darian. By the time Darian left the meeting room, she was gone.

He called her but her phone was switched off.

Darian returned to the hotel with a relaxed mind because he thought maybe Carmine was being dramatic again but when he checked her hotel room and it was empty, he got worried and decided to visit the nearest police station.

He finally went to the local police station to file a missing persons report and on the way, his phone rang. It was an unknown number at that.

He picked up sharply. “Hello?”

A man’s voice chuckled darkly “Is this Darian Graham?” The voice was deep and scary. And in the background, Carmine could be heard screaming.

“Darian! Darian, help me…please…!” It wasn’t long before the man cut in sharply.
“Come alone. Write down the address.” A text came after.

Darian memorized it instantly.
“And if you bring cops… her blood is on your hands.”

The call ended and Darian’s jaw tightened

He immediately called emergency services and told them to be on MILLIMETER-STANDBY outside the location but not to move until he confirmed.


When Darian arrived at the dark abandoned highway stretch, he heard the roar of an engine, and an open-top car sped past him.

Carmine was inside, tied up and terrified as she tried to call for help while the bad guys were laughing and scaring her.

Darian jumped into his car and launched into a high-speed chase.

They both darted toward a dark tunnel and Darian followed without hesitation. 

A few minutes later, it was only the kidnapper’s car that emerged from the other side and Carmine was no longer in the car.