CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE – A PERSONAL VENDETTA

Darius stood slowly, coming around the desk to face Clarissa directly. "Why?" he repeated, his voice taking on a harder edge. "You really have to ask?" "Yes, I do," Clarissa shot back. "Because this isn't just business, is it? This is personal." For a moment, Darius's carefully constructed mask slipped, revealing a flash of raw emotion. "Of course it's personal," he spat. "It's always been personal with us, hasn't it?" Clarissa took a step back, caught off guard by the intensity in his voice. "What are you talking about?" Darius laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "Oh, come on, Clarissa. Don't tell me you've forgotten. You, me, the plans we made. The future we were supposed to have together." Realization dawned on Clarissa's face. "Darius... that was years ago. We were different people then." "Were we?" Darius challenged, taking a step closer. "Or did you just decide that your precious family legacy was more important than what we had?" Clarissa felt a pang of guilt, quickly followe