Chapter 9: As Close As Father and Son
1113 Words
"No matter if it's Aurora Hartwell or Ethan Fairfax, they both have shown me kindness," Darius Blackwood stated firmly, his gaze locked on the bald.
"Such grace is worth dedicating my life to repay!"
The bald man was momentarily stunned, his mouth agape as if he wanted to say something more.
Yet, in the end, all his words were replaced by a resigned smile.
"I understand," he finally said.
The unwavering loyalty of the 'IronVeil' towards Darius was not without reason; it was his deep sense of honor and gratitude that won them over.
If this was the General's decision, then it naturally became their choice as well!
Just then, Darius's phone erupted with a ring.
Upon answering, he was immediately greeted with a barrage of unreserved scolding.
"You dare to answer the phone? I'm so furious I wish I could fly over and throttle you!" came the enraged voice.
"This month alone, I've led men into three brawls! And you? Off abandoning 'IronVeil', gallivanting who knows where!"
"Do you have any idea? Those stubborn fools in 'IronVeil' only listen to you. When I talk, it's like speaking to the wind. Dammit, this battle is impossible to fight!"
The voice, loud and irate, startled both the bald man and a skinny one nearby.
This was none other than Darius's mentor, General Sterling of Dravonia, a revered five-star general.
His best and most satisfying accomplishment in his life was nurturing the famed war hero—Darius Blackwood!
Hearing the familiar scolding, a mix of difficulty and struggle flickered across Darius's face.
"I'm truly sorry. The border conflicts will have to rely on you for now," he said, his voice heavy with emotion.
"There are things I must do."
A long silence followed his apology, eventually broken by a resigned sigh from the other end.
"Ah, you've always been this stubborn. Fine, go ahead and do what you must. I'll handle everything here."
Hearing these words, Darius felt a lump form in his throat, his grip on the phone tightening.
He knew his actions added unnecessary burden to the old man's shoulders.
Yet, the elder, without hesitation, chose to bear that weight with his increasingly frail shoulders, just as he had done ten years ago.
Before Darius could respond, Maximus Sterling seemed to remember something.
"Oh, right! I'll send a number to your phone later. It's for my youngest son in Westerlyn. In that place, he can keep you safe.”
"If you encounter something you can't handle, seek him out, okay? Don't let yourself be wronged. My disciple can only be scolded by me, not bullied by others!"
These words overwhelmed Darius, his eyes welling up with tears.
Despite often being on the receiving end of harsh words, this man was the one who cared for him the most in the world.
Their relationship, though officially mentor and disciple, had long evolved into one as close as father and son.
"I... I understand," Darius replied, taking a deep breath to steady his shaking voice.
"You need to be careful too. You're not young anymore, so stop charging ahead like you used to."
General Sterling responded with a laugh and a playful scold, echoing their deep bond and mutual respect.
"Pfft! I'm still as strong as ever! Besides, Dravonia doesn't pay us just to sit around and do nothing," General Sterling retorted with vigor.
"Enough of this, I need to go train those green recruits. Remember everything I've told you!"
With that, without giving Darius Blackwood a chance to respond, the old man ended the call abruptly.
"That stubborn old man!" Darius muttered, putting away his phone.
Seeing the worried looks from the two men in front of him, he simply shook his hand, signaling that he was alright.
"Skinny, you'll be following Isabella Fairfax. Baldy, you're with Aurora Hartwell. Even though it's to be done in secrecy, you must ensure their safety at all costs!"
The two men nodded firmly in response.
"Understood!"
…
After leaving the bar, Darius didn't rush home but instead made his way to Echo Ridge General Hospital.
Despite the Hartwell couple crediting Christopher White for the Patriarch of the Hartwell Family's improved health and belittling Darius's significant contribution, he couldn't stand by and watch someone suffer because of Aurora.
He decided to secretly ensure the old man's complete recovery.
The next morning, Darius received a call from Aurora Hartwell.
"Darius? Where are you?"
Despite her attempts to sound indifferent, her concern for Darius was unmistakable.
Deciding to tease her a bit, he replied, "The Golden Galleon, in yesterday's room. You know what I mean."
Sure enough, there was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, followed by a voice tinged with embarrassment.
"I got it. Wait for me there."
Soon after, Aurora appeared in front of Darius driving her somewhat aged BMW.
As she stepped out of the car, her captivating eyes immediately sought him out.
"Where did you go after leaving the hotel yesterday? I looked for you all night and couldn't find you anywhere!"
Darius touched his nose, "I had a relative in Silverpine City to meet."
Aurora looked skeptical but didn't press further.
Instead, she began to complain about the argument she had with Evelyn Hartwell the day before.
"Darius, do you know? My parents have decided that if Christopher White can cure my grandfather, they will actually hand over Hartwell Global Enterprises to him!"
"How can they be so foolish?"
Darius hadn't expected the matter to be settled so quickly.
After a moment of thought, he reassured her, "Don't worry, I'll find a way to deal with this."
Noticing the black veil Aurora wore, he couldn't help but ask, "Do you plan to keep wearing that veil?"
About the veil, Aurora's voice carried a hint of apology after hesitating for a while, she decided to open up to Darius.
After all, he was the man she intended to spend her life with.
"Darius, I was actually engaged to someone from the Foster Family in the capital, arranged by our families."
"But after my disfigurement, they looked down on me, and the engagement was called off.”
"I'm worried that once my parents find out my appearance has been restored, they might force me to marry Lucas Foster, that scumbag! So, please, don't let it slip!"
"Lucas Foster?"
Hearing this name, Darius's eyes narrowed slightly, surprised by the coincidence.
Seeing Aurora's worried gaze, he nodded to assure her he wouldn't reveal anything.
He then took out a jar of ointment from his pocket.
"Take this. You can apply it during the day to pretend it's a scar, so your secret stays safe."
- Writer
