Chapter 7: An Iron-hearted CEO
1045 Words
Isabella Fairfax could never forget that nightmarish evening.
The news reached the Fairfax family, causing her already ill father to spit blood from anger and pass away on the spot.
Her mother, after crying through the night, cried herself blind.
The once cherished and pampered daughter had to suddenly shoulder the entire family's burden with her frail shoulders.
"After I uncovered the mastermind behind all these schemes was my father's old friend, Alex Foster, I took my father's ashes directly to him.”
Isabella Fairfax recounted, her expression emotionless, but her words chilling.
"I gave the Foster family two choices."
"Either they let me off, taking everything from the Fairfax family and leaving me with a shell company. I would pay them two hundred million within two years. If I failed, I, Isabella Fairfax, would serve the Foster family for life."
"Or, I would kill my mother and then take my own life, leaving all three of us dead at the Foster family's doorstep."
Even Darius was taken aback by Isabella Fairfax's ruthlessness.
"It seems the Fosters chose the former?"
Isabella Fairfax scoffed, "That old coward who only dares to scheme in the shadows wouldn't want to stain their hands with such blood debt. After much consideration, they chose to take the money and let us go."
"After clearing the debt in two years, I handed over the entire company as ransom to the Fosters."
"Then I returned to Silverpine City and started from scratch, eventually building BlueOcean Enterprises into an entertainment giant."
Thus, the moniker "The Iron-hearted CEO" Isabella Fairfax began to circulate in Silverpine City.
As she spoke, Isabella Fairfax's eyes, unbeknownst to her, had already reddened.
Holding the urn, she seemed to relive that nightmarish night all over again, her body trembling.
"Ethan Fairfax, you bastard!"
"You weren't supposed to enter this house alive, and in death, you don't deserve to return!"
As she once again attempted to smash the urn, Darius still firmly held her arm.
"Ethan said he couldn't repay his debts to you in this life. So, I promised him, I would repay them."
Hearing Darius's unequivocal words, a complex emotion flickered in Isabella Fairfax's eyes, but she remained silent.
Her gaze turned cold again as she challenged, "You're here to repay?"
"And what makes you think you're worthy?"
Without saying another word, Darius pulled out his medical kit.
"Your mother's blindness, I will cure it."
Isabella Fairfax narrowed her eyes, skeptical. "Why should I risk my mother's health on you?"
"On this basis," Darius produced a dagger and stabbed it into the table before them.
"If I fail to cure her, my hands are yours. But if I succeed, you must properly keep Ethan's urn and bury it in the family grave."
Isabella Fairfax looked up, meeting Darius's unwavering gaze.
After a moment, she revealed a slight smile, "Interesting, I'll take that bet."
With a wave of her hand, a group of bodyguards escorted an older woman inside.
Her face was worn, her eyes lifeless, almost completely dependent on the bodyguards to guide her forward.
This must be Isabella Fairfax's blind mother.
Isabella Fairfax carefully led her mother to Darius, her gaze as icy as ever.
"If you fail to cure her, it won't just be your hands at stake. I assure you, your life will be too."
"I, Darius Blackwood, have said I can cure her, and there won't be a second outcome," Darius firmly replied.
He pulled out a dark, unassuming pill from his bag and handed it to the elderly lady.
"Eat this, and you should be mostly fine."
Isabella Fairfax eyed the pill with suspicion. "Are you sure this thing is medicine?”
"Don't call it 'this thing.' This medicine is my unique secret formula," Darius responded calmly.
Just as Isabella was about to retort, a voice filled with surprise called out from her side.
"Isabella, is that you? I—I think I can really see now!"
The elderly lady had swallowed the pill Darius gave her without hesitation.
The pill dissolved upon ingestion, spreading a cool sensation throughout her body, immensely comforting.
And under this cooling effect, her eyesight was restored!
Hearing her mother truly regain her sight, Isabella stood frozen in disbelief.
"Is it true, Mom? Can you really see me?"
At that moment, Isabella lost her cold demeanor, appearing cautious as if fearing she was in a dream that might end at any moment.
"It's true!"
The elderly lady, looking at her daughter's face up close, trembled with emotion.
"Isabella, you've suffered these last two years!"
"Mom, I'm fine, really," Isabella said, shaking her head, fighting back tears.
However, their joy was short-lived as the elderly lady inadvertently noticed Ethan Fairfax's urn on the table.
The familiar face she had longed to see again broke the last bit of hope in the heart of this grieving mother.
"Ethan!"
With a heart-wrenching cry, she collapsed into tears, clutching Ethan's urn, overwhelmed by grief.
For two years without sight, she had constantly longed for news of her only son, never imagining their next meeting would be forever parted.
"I beg you, tell me how he died!"
Darius took a deep breath, unwilling to hide any truths from this grieving mother.
"During a mission where I was ordered to infiltrate enemy lines alone, I unexpectedly walked into an ambush. At the critical moment, it was Ethan Fairfax who suddenly appeared and took a fatal bullet for me!"
"It's... it's my fault he's gone!"
The elderly lady's grief turned to fury upon learning the truth, blaming Darius for her son's death.
She lunged at him, grasping his collar as if to exact vengeance.
"Mom, please calm down! It's not his fault!" Isabella quickly intervened.
Then, she looked at Darius with a complicated expression.
"Leave for now. This isn't over; I'll find you later."
Darius nodded, his expression grave, and left the private dining room.
...
Meanwhile, Gregory Hartwell and Emma Hartwell also arrived on the third floor, just in time to see Darius leaving Velvet Twilight.
Emma was stunned, recognizing the familiar figure in disbelief.
"Gregory, look at that back. Isn't that the loser our daughter brought home?"
Could it be... everything Darius said was true?
Could he really be dining with Isabella Fairfax?
- Writer
