?Chapter 854:


    Although he had acted swiftly to suppress the fallout, issuing strict orders to keep everything under wraps, there was no telling what Sadie might do. She could very well use the incident as leverage—or worse, inform Jarrett directly.


    If Jarrett ever found out how thoroughly Ophelia had humiliated him, the fragile alliance between the Johnsons and the Higgins would copse in an instant.


    What choices did he even have left?


    A wave of dizziness washed over Daren as his temples throbbed with mounting pressure. He returned home, his thoughts a chaotic spiral of dread and desperation.


    The moment he stepped inside, the butler approached, visibly distressed. His lips parted, but no words came.


    Daren’s stomach dropped. His voice came out sharp.


    “Just say it.”


    The butler finally bowed his head and spoke, his voice low and cautious.


    “Sir, since Miss Johnson returned, she’s been in hysterics. Crying nonstop, throwing fits in her room… She said she doesn’t want to live anymore. A few minutes ago, she tried to jump from the balcony. The staff managed to stop her just in time. She’s locked herself in now—won’t open the door, won’t see anyone.”


    Daren’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. His sister had been spoiled beyond reason. And now, in the middle of a crisis, she chose to spiral into melodrama instead of facing the consequences of her actions.


    Grinding his teeth, he strode to Ophelia’s door and knocked sharply.


    “Ophelia. Open the door.”


    There was no answer—only the broken sound of muffled sobs, barely audible through the thick wooden door.


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    Daren’s patience snapped.


    “Break it down,” he barked at the servants.


    But before they could move, the door flew open from the inside.


    Ophelia stood there—eyes red and swollen, her face streaked with tears, a mess of heartbreak and indignation. Her voice trembled with desperation and wounded pride.


    “Daren! Were you really going to break the door down? Don’t you love me anymore? I told you—I won’t marry Jarrett! I won’t spend the rest of my life with a cripple! How can you ask me to live like that?”


    In that moment, thest trace of brotherly affection Daren had been clinging to vanished. He exhaled a weary sigh.


    “Ophelia, if you still want to keep your ce in the Johnson family—if you want to keep living in luxury andfort—then you will marry into the Higgins family without another word. Our future is tied to Jarrett now. If he rises, we rise. If he falls, we fall with him.”


    He paused, his voice cooling, his eyes hard with warning.


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