Darren Crosier was seething with rage.
Never in his life had he been humiliated like this—especially by women.
Defiance surged through him.
Today, he would avenge Chloe Evans no matter what.
"Just you wait!"
He glared venomously at Isabella Robinson.
"Vicious women like you will regret crossing me!"
Isabella idly twirled a lock of hair between her fingers.
A mocking smile curled her lips.
"So eager to play the white knight, Darren?"
Her voice dripped with lethal sweetness.
"Why don't you pay off her husband's debts instead?"
Chloe's face paled instantly.
She hadn't expected the conversation to take this turn.
Her plan was simply to use Darren to annoy Sophia Sullivan.
The astronomical debt was never something she expected anyone to cover.
But Darren misinterpreted her reaction.
He assumed she was frightened.
"Don't worry, Miss Evans!"
He thumped his chest with false bravado.
"It's just money! I'll handle it!"
In that moment, he felt invincible.
Too bad this woman was already married.
He had been quite taken with her pretty face.
But if he cleared her debts...
Wouldn't that give him certain... privileges?
"Th-thank you."
Chloe forced a sickly sweet smile, bile rising in her throat.
The way Darren leered at her made her skin crawl.
But for now, she had to play along.
"You're so kind."
Nearby, Mrs. Winston's face darkened with fury.
She bit her tongue—this fool was still useful.
Pitying glances surrounded them.
"Darren actually fell for that green tea act?"
"Did he leave his brain at home? He didn't even ask how much she owes!"
"Rich kid privilege—his uncle's got connections."
"Keep your voice down. That playboy has a nasty temper."
"This is going to be good."
Chloe's eyes welled up at the whispers.
"Mr. Crosier, maybe we should forget it..."
Her feigned vulnerability only fueled Darren's savior complex.
"Shut your mouths!"
He roared, edging closer to Chloe.
"Bullying a woman? Pathetic!"
With inflated confidence, he jabbed a finger at Sophia.
"Show me the IOU! I'll pay it right now!"
Isabella collapsed against Sophia's shoulder in laughter.
"Did you hear that, Sophia? Someone's volunteering to be the sucker!"
She clapped sarcastically.
"Bravo for the sheer audacity!"
The crowd shook their heads.
"Darren, we're trying to save you—that woman's trouble!"
Darren's face darkened.
"You think I can't handle this?"
He flashed his gold ring arrogantly.
"In Deercrest Mountain, my word is law!"
Sophia's icy voice cut through.
"Since when does this mountain belong to you?"
Apparently, her absence had emboldened every stray dog to claim territory.
Darren waved dismissively.
"Country bumpkins wouldn't know! My uncle runs this place!"
He snapped impatiently.
"Enough talk! Bring out the bill!"
He assumed it would be a few hundred thousand at most.
Then Sophia's next words struck like lightning.
"Perfect. The Underground City's been chasing this debt."
She typed a contact number into her phone.
"Her husband owes several hundred million. Feel free to repay it now."
Darren's jaw nearly hit the floor.
"H-how much?"
Hundreds of millions?
He wasn't worth that much if sold ten times over!
"Y-you're lying!" He stammered. "No one owes that much!"
Sophia looked at him like he was an idiot.
"Verify with The Underground City yourself. They'll provide proof."
Cold sweat drenched Darren's back.
The Underground City...
That place devoured men whole and spat out bones.
Only gambling addicts lost that kind of money there.
The scales fell from his eyes.
He'd been played!
Now Chloe's simpering smile made his scalp prickle.