~Darius's POV~
It was funny when I tasted her mouth and it tasted like poison.
And I mean that literally.
Because I've been in the hospital for six hours now. The hives on my face are finally gone, and according to Valentin and Leo, I almost looked like myself again. Almost.
They've been hovering around me like watchdogs, making sure no one else finds out the truth that the great Darius Rassais ended up in the emergency room because of an allergic reaction.
From kissing his wife.
Not that anyone knows that part.
Valentin pushes open the door, a cigarette hanging from his lips as smoke trails behind him. He eyes me with a huff.
"You still look disgusting."
I roll my eyes. "I'm surprised you haven't left already."
"I'm trying to figure out how you even got an allergic reaction," he says, his tone heavy with that same annoying curiosity he always has. "You said you didn't eat any walnuts, so how?"
"I'm not sure you're supposed to smoke in a hospital."
"This is your hospital," he replies dryly, taking a long drag and exhaling lazily. "And you're not in good enough shape to chase me out, so…"
He flicks some ash and adds, "I heard you're having problems with your sub-families. Judging by their fake smiles today, I'd say they're trying to kill you and doing a lousy job at it."
I narrow my eyes at him. "You know you have your own family to deal with, right? Go away."
He arches a brow, smirking faintly. "You're not acting like yourself, Darius. No rage, no threats, no broken glass. You're awfully calm for a man who almost died."
I clamp my lips shut, pushing myself into a sitting position. He just stands there, staring at me, clearly waiting for me to speak and honestly, I just want him to leave.
He's the only one among the ruling families I actually tolerate, the only one I invited… and right now, he's making me regret that decision.
"So?"
"She ate some walnuts and kissed me," I say with a defeated sigh.
Valentin's dark eyes widen before he bursts out laughing. "No way! I told you it was a bad idea to marry her. She clearly doesn't want to pay off her father's debt."
I roll my eyes. "Give me one of those."
Still chuckling, he pulls out another cigarette, lights it, and walks over to hand it to me. "Here you go, petty man."
I scoff, placing it between my lips. "Taro abuses her. The records we got from one of his men we captured, the number of times he's almost killed her... it's baffling."
Valentin snorts, clearly impressed. "I'm surprised she didn't kill him with his own allergy if she's that unhinged."
"Well, she's a damn good lawyer," I reply, exhaling smoke. "She wouldn't want a stain like that ruining her hard-earned image."
He eyes me for a moment. "You're planning to get back at her, aren't you?"
I give him a cold look. "I'm not."
I am.
"You are," he says with a short laugh.
"Go back to your city, Val." I pull the IV drip from my wrist, stand, and stretch lazily.
I have to get back home. I feel completely fine now.
"You know," Valentin starts, exhaling a stream of smoke, "you could've married anyone else to seal your position as head of the family. I get that she caught your eye with the whole court case thing, and that her father conveniently owed you millions, but still—" he pauses, giving me a pointed look. "You need to make this marriage look real to those mongrels from the sub-families."
I drag my fingers through my hair, pulling the cigarette from my lips and feeling the burn in my chest.
How's it supposed to last when she already tried to kill me on day one?
"I'll handle it," I tell him flatly.
Valentin studies me for a moment before sighing. "Fine. Take care and call me if you need anything."
I nod once. "You too."
He smirks, flicks the cigarette away into the bin. "Always." Then he turns and walks out, the door closing softly behind him.
I reach for my phone on the desk and call Leo. He picks up immediately.
"Update?" I ask.
"Yeah," he says quickly. "For some reason, Mom found out you're in the hospital. I told her you're not, but she's already on her way to the mansion so you'd better get there before she does."
A dull throb starts behind my eyes. Perfect.
Just then, Andreas walks in with a shopping bag and places it neatly on the bed.
"Get the car ready," I tell him. He bows and leaves immediately.
I keep the phone to my ear as I grab the bag and head toward the bathroom. "Tell Dimitris to stall her. I need to be at the mansion before she arrives."
Before Leo can respond, I hang up and let out a long sigh. "Ten for the wildcat, Zero for me."