Patrick's expression turned into a gleeful one when he saw who was calling him. He gave Darius and Stephen a smug look, making the latter uneasy. Stephen glanced at Darius and reached out to tug his sleeve, but Darius put his hands behind his back.

At the same time, he smiled and said, "You look pretty happy. What have you done this time? I can't wait to hear you brag about it!"

Patrick's breathing hitched at Darius' words, and he gritted his teeth, giving Darius a hate-filled glare. He didn't know why Darius had seen through his elaborately laid plans so easily; there wasn't a trace of surprise or shock on his face. Patrick felt like a fool in comparison. He clenched his fists and breathed deeply, deciding to proceed with his plan.

If he were to fail in this, he wouldn't have any way out. All his other plans had fallen through thanks to Darius' interference—this was the last thing he could do. He continued breathing deeply, trying to ignore Darius' amused gaze.

When he finally rega