Chapter 5 The Runaway And The Chase

Darnell sauntered out of the kitchen, munching from a bag of chips, when a knock on the door reverberated through the silence.

She was somewhat curious about who that could be. Marina went to work, and so did Joan, running errands.

Cautious, Darnell neared the door and peered through the peephole.

Her heart is racing.

Elvis.

Standing in the hallway, clad in a fitted suit, his eyes fixed on the door.

Darnell's instincts were screaming to hide, but it was as if her legs had grown roots.

The knock came again, louder this time.

Taking a deep breath, Darnell opened the door and tried to seem nonchalant.

Elvis's gaze swept down her, lingering on the packet of chips in her hand.

""

"Darnell," he said, his voice all low and velvety. "Long time."

The hold on the chips tightened as Darnell said, "What do you want, Elvis?"

Elvis smiled, and his eyes were glinting with amusement. "May I come in?"

Darnell hesitated, wondering if she should let him in.

But Elvis did not wait for permission. He took one stride forward, sending his frame filling the doorway.

Darnell moved back with a racing heart.

"What do you want?" she stammered again, trying to make sure her voice was firm.

His eyes nailed hers, simply piercing.

"I have come for you," he said in that low, husky, possessive tone.

Darnell's eyes flashed with disgust.

"Collect?" she spat, venom dripping from her voice. "I'm not some sort of prized possession, Elvis." You've already ruined my marriage, my life. Can't you just leave me alone?"

Elvis's smile faltered and his eyes narrowed.

"You are mine, Darnell," he growled. "You'll always be mine."

Darnell straightened up, there was a firmness in her voice.

"You claim you own me, but to disappear for weeks without a word, and now I am supposed to hurry into your embrace? Your business was with my mother, not with me."

Darkness clouded Elvis's face. "Your mother?" he spat venomously. "You still refer to Estrella as your mother? After, what did she do to you?"

"You manipulated her.

"I manipulated her?" Elvis repeated, a sly smile overworking his face. "I see. She signed your sale to me, and guess who's getting married today?"

Darnell's eyes narrowed, and her mind was already racing.

"Who?" she asked despite herself.

Elvis's smile grew wider. "Your beloved sister, Marina." And you might be guessing who?"

Darnell's heart skipped a beat. "No," she whispered, her trembling voice low.

Elvis's eyes shone bright with triumph.

"To Daren. Your ex-fiancé."

Darnell's eyes had widened in shock. She shook her head, "No, that's a lie. Marina would never marry Daren."

Elvis chuckled. "Ah, but she would." And she did. You see, Daren was quite persuaded by the prospect of marrying into your family's wealth and influence. And Marina, well, she was eager to please."

Anger and disbelief had shrouded Darnell's face.

"You're lying," she spat. "Marina would never betray me like that."

Elvis shrugged. "Believe what you want, Darnell. But the fact of the matter is, Marina and Daren are getting hitched today. And you're invited."

The thought sent Darnell's mind reeling as a cascade of possibilities tumbled in her head. This had to be some kind of play. Marina would never marry Daren after everything that had happened.

"You don't believe me?" Elvis asked, seeming to find it all very funny. "Fine!" I'll take you to reality."

He held his hand out to me, as though expecting Darnell to take it.

But I was far from it. She stormed out of the door, just to prove him otherwise.

As she stepped onto the sidewalk, her eyes widened in awe.

Outside, a sleek black luxury car with tinted glasses glinting with bright sun rays, was parked.

There again, hushed whispers escaped from her lips.

"Who's that?" She asked, barely audibly.

Elvis smirked and swaggered toward the car. "I'm Elvis De Luca," said the brimming confidence in his voice. "I can buy anything I want, even you."

Her head spun as she had her eyes glued to the car. She hadn't known Elvis was this rich.

His arrogance finally made some sense.

The door opened wide, and a luxurious interior invited her in.

"In," he said briefly.

Darnell hesitated. Should she trust him?

But she needed to know what was going on with Marina's marriage.

Gingerly, she settled in the passenger seat and took a heart-skipping-a-beat pose.

As Elvis pulled away from the curb, Darnell couldn't help but wonder how much more he was keeping from her.

"Where are we going?" she tried to ask casually.

Elvis just smiled-as cryptically as Darnell's heart fell when Elvis pulled to a stop in front of the grand wedding venue; she hadn't taken him seriously that he would take her anywhere near the wedding.

Standing before the entrance, a wave of nausea overcame her.

The dazzling ornamentation, the beaming guests, the merry melody-all seemed some prank of the gods.

Elvis's hand on her back urged her further forward as Darnell stepped into the hall.

Her gaze quivered in search of the unimaginable around the room.

Then she saw them.

Marina and Daren stood before the altar, taking vows.

Darnell's vision blurred as she saw her sister's lips touch Daren's in a tender kiss.

The room erupted into applause and whistles, but Darnell's world went silent.

She felt like she'd been kicked hard in the gut.

This had to be some sick joke. Marina would never do this to her.

But when Darnell looked into Marina's eyes, she saw something that ran a chill down her spine-a flash of guilt, suddenly suppressed and replaced with a bright smile.

Darnell's mind reeled: Had Marina been playing her all along?

"How could you?" she screamed in a quavering tone, betraying her wrath and pain.

Marina's smile wavered for a while, then she shrugged.

"You're just jealous, Darnell. You lost him, and now I've found him."

Daren's eyes gleamed with malice.

"You were never good enough for me, Darnell. Marina knows how to treat me right."

Darnell's face burned from the tears she heard them utter in the most pitiless tone.

"How could you do this to me, Marina? You're my sister."

Marina rolled her eyes. "Spare me the drama, Darnell. You've always been selfish.

Rosalie, Darnell's mother, who was cold and stood beside Marina, said, "You're no longer part of this family, Darnell. You're nothing to us."

Standing on her feet, her world crashed around her as she stood awash with tears.

She couldn't cope with the betrayal. She turned to walk away; her legs buckled under her, and she fainted into Elvis's arms, which were already opened to catch her.

Marina and Estrella just stood there with no emotion.

"You're worse than the devil himself," Elvis cursed in a hushed tone, as if Darnell was a child, and he had hoisted her up over his shoulder, carrying her out of the venue.

Marina sprang forward, but Estrella clutched her arm.

"Let her go," Estrella warned. "She's no longer our concern."

As Elvis whisked Darnell away, Marina's eyes slid.

"We're better off without her."‌

‌

.

Darnell came around slowly, her head fuzzy, her body aching. She knew the doctor was talking, but nothing much registered until she heard Elvis's sharp intake of breath.

".and, Mr. De Luca, the tests confirm that Ms. Darnell is approximately six weeks pregnant."

Darnell opened her eyes but lay still, pretending to sleep.

She didn't want Elvis anywhere near her child.

Elvis' face filled hers, his eyes dark with the tempest brewing inside him. He had leaned down their lips, meeting in a soft kiss.

"Sorry," he whispered slowly.

Darnell hadn't moved, her heart racing wildly.

Elvis straightened, his eyes still clutched on hers before he turned away and began heading out the room.

It wasn't until the door shut behind her that she opened her eyes.

Mumbling to herself was a cursing, "You will never get to see my child."

Now more determined than before, she threw the covers off and went right to the window.

It was the first floor; she could take a break from it.

She pushed the window open and slipped out into the night, careful not to be seen. She knew she couldn't go to Joan's; Elvis would be the first place to look. So she ran and ran, the soles slapping on the pavement.

She ran and ran, her feet pounding the pavement. As she reached the middle of the street, a car screeched to a halt merely inches from her.

But it was too late.

The car bumper hit her and flung her to the ground. Darnell's world seemed to spin out of control as she struggled to sit up.

Strong arms lifted her, cradling her in front of a warm chest.

In a fuzzy vision, Darnell saw a stranger's face etched with concern.

"Save me," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"Take me out of here." Darnell's eyelids fell as her strength abandoned her body.

As the darkness swallowed her in, she felt the stranger's arms wrap tighter around her.

....

Elvis entered the room with a broad smile, expecting to see Darnell's fragile form snuggled into the bed.

Instead, he was met with a sea of sheets stretched over a bed with absolutely no one in it.

His heart sank.

"Darnell?" He called into the quiet of the room.

There was no response.

Elvis' eyes narrowed as he dragged his phone out.

"Louis," he barked to the receiver. "Where's Darnell?"

Louis's hesitant tone sent Elvis' anxiety skyrocketing. "I haven't seen her, sir. "I thought she was with you." Elvis' grip on the phone tightened.

"Find her. Now." He hung up and went around the mansion, searching room by room; he looked everywhere, screaming out Darnell's name.

But there was no answer.

Elvis exploded into the night, the cool air offering little relief from his rising panic.

"Darnell!!!" he bellowed, his voice ringing in the darkness. His eyes raked the grounds with an almost silent prayer that somehow, somewhere, he could catch sight of her.

But she was gone, and Elvis finally snapped.

"My child..."

He ran back into the mansion, his hand already formed into a fist.

"Somebody find my wife!!!!!!" he exclaimed, his voice shaking, filled with anger.