<h4>Chapter 614: The Nerve</h4>


    Nnenna didn’t even need to nce at it to know it was his phone number. So he’s actually serious? What a weird guy, she thought, blinking at him.


    "Okay,dies and gentlemen, this concludes the treatment," Darius announced, standing with theatrical ir. But not before shing onest smile at the nanny by the door, and then letting his gaze linger shamelessly on Nnenna.


    "Where are you going?" Carl shot up from his seat. "What do you mean the treatment’s over?" His brows furrowed, confused.


    "It means exactly what I said, it’s over," Darius replied in that matter of fact tone that made people want to strangle him. "She’s not depressed. In fact, she’s taken this whole thing like it’s a vacation trip to the tropics. Her mental health’s fine. Honestly, you would see that too if you weren’t looking at her through your ’big brother’ lenses."


    Carl froze, jaw tightening.


    "You were right," Darius added smoothly, eyes glinting. "There really is a conflict of interest in you treating her, but not because she’s going to break apart. No, it’s because you need to work on being objective when ites to family."


    The wordsnded like a dart.


    Satisfied, he adjusted his cuffs and headed for the door. "I expect my payment in my ount before I get to the airport," he called over his shoulder. "Oh, and I have a feeling this session benefitted more than just one person. So don’t be stingy with the bonus."


    The nerve.


    "You’re not going anywhere," Arthur’s voice cut through the air, cold andmanding.


    Darius didn’t even break stride. He kept walking, only to bump into two hefty men blocking the doorway.


    "Mr. Darius," one of them said firmly, "his highness isn’t done speaking with you."


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    With polite but very firm hands, they ushered him right back into the dining hall.


    Darius sighed dramatically, dragging his feet like a prisoner being hauled back to his cell. "And this, gentlemen, is exactly why I don’t visit," he muttered. "One best friend is a smiling poison, the other is an iceberg armed with knives..." He trailed off, eyes narrowing slightly before he added in a quieter voice, "And once upon a time, there was the mountain, unshakable, immovable, crushing everything in his path. Somto."


    The room fell still for a beat. Even Darius’s mocking tone softened as he bowed his head slightly. "May his soul rest in peace," he said, genuine for once. The weight of the loss pressed against them all for a fleeting moment.


    Then, as if flipping a switch, his smile returned. "So," he asked lightly, ncing at Arthur, "what exactly do you want?"


    Arthur didn’t even look at him as he picked up another dish and served himself calmly. "I want you to do what you were brought here for. Otherwise, I see no reason for you to continue practicing your profession at all."


    The threat hung in the air like a de.


    "Carl?" Darius called out quickly, looking for backup.


    But Carl only shrugged, casually spearing a piece of food with his fork. "Don’t look at me. I agree with him."


    Darius let out another long sigh, muttering something under his breath about being bullied by icebergs and traitors.


    "How many times do I have to tell you guys?" Darius finally snapped, frustration slipping through his usual smooth tone. "She’s fine. There’s no denial, no repression, none of those textbook emotions you expect from a ’normal’ patient."


    "We don’t think so," Arthur replied tly, not even bothering to look at him.


    Darius rolled his eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t get stuck. "Fine," he grumbled, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. "She might not need my help epting the paralysis, but she does have a trace of unresolved trauma from what happened to Somto. Barely noticeable, which means she’s healed a lot. Still, I guess I can stick around and make sure it’s a hundred percent. Happy now?"


    Arthur didn’t answer. Not even a twitch.


    Darius clicked his tongue. "Cold as ever." He turned toward Nnenna, gesturing dramatically like a knight offering to escort a princess. "Come on, Nnenna. Let’s go."


    Nnenna nodded politely, wiping her mouth with a napkin before tapping the controls on her chair to follow him.


    "Oh, and Darius."


    Arthur’s voice stopped him in his tracks.


    Darius groaned loudly, head tipping back. "What now?"


    "I expect you to dust off those books on doctor patient boundaries before her next session," Arthur said calmly, returning to his food without sparing him a nce.


    Darius muttered something under his breath, rolling his eyes as Nnenna’s lips twitched in amusement. Together, the two of them left the hall, followed by the two hefty guards.


    The moment the doors shut, the atmosphere shifted. Only Carl, Arthur, the housekeeper, and Nanny remained.


    Arthur turned his cold gaze on Carl, his wordsced with ice. "You just had to hire that flirt, didn’t you?"


    Carl leaned back in his chair, meeting his stare without flinching. "Well, we wanted the next best person, didn’t we?"


    He didn’t wait for a reply. Carl stood smoothly and walked out, leaving Arthur behind with his icy aura spreading through the room like a storm about to break.


    Upstairs, Nnenna wheeled straight towards her room with Darius trailing behind.


    "Am I even allowed in there?" he asked, ncing around the hall as they approached. "I don’t think brother dearest would approve."


    "Well, brother dearest already turned my room into the fortress of medicine," Nnenna said dryly, amused. "So what better ce for a session than here? Plus, this is just the outer part of my room. I thought I would show you where toe when you’re done dusting off those books on doctor patient confidentiality."


    "Oh, that," Dariusughed it off, as if he hadn’t been worried a moment ago. "Well,tely I don’t exactly like using clinical settings for my sessions. They just... kind ofe to me. Even in the most inconvenient ces....