Rebirth Of The Heiress And The Tycoon's Lover (Alina) novel Chapter 322

**Collapsed 322**

**Chapter 322**

**AUTHOR’S POV.**

As Luna softly shut the door to Alina’s room, a wave of urgency crashed over her, propelling her forward with a heart that raced like a wild stallion. The instinct to confront Darius felt primal, almost instinctual, as she sensed the storm brewing within their family dynamics. Darius was already striding purposefully down the corridor, each step resonating with a determination that felt like a desperate escape from the very thoughts that tormented him—thoughts that could unravel the delicate fabric of their lives.

With every echoing footstep, Luna’s anxiety intensified, a tempest of emotions swirling within her, urging her to close the gap between them. Each stride felt heavy, as if the weight of their shared history pressed down on her shoulders, amplifying the reality of their precarious situation.

Trailing just behind, Damien stood as a silent observer, caught in a whirlwind of frustration and helplessness. His fists were clenched tightly at his sides, nails digging into his palms, a physical manifestation of his inner turmoil. He was acutely aware that confronting Darius in this charged moment could ignite a firestorm of conflict, one that might engulf them all.

Finally, gathering her courage, Luna steadied her breath, though it escaped her in a shaky whisper. “Darius…” she called out, her voice trembling with emotion. “Does this marriage truly have to happen?”

Without breaking his stride or casting a glance in her direction, he continued forward, his determination unyielding.

“It’s been so many years,” she pressed on, her voice cracking slightly under the weight of their shared past. “Darius… it doesn’t matter anymore.”

At her words, Darius came to an abrupt halt, his body tense as he turned slowly to face her. In that moment, their eyes locked, and Luna caught a glimpse of the raw pain flickering in his gaze—a pain that suggested her words had struck a long-buried wound, one he had tried desperately to keep hidden.

“Don’t act like you don’t understand what’s at stake,” Darius replied, his voice steady yet tinged with an unmistakable hurt. “Alina and Damien were too young to grasp the implications back then—” His gaze flickered momentarily toward their son before returning to Luna, “—but you know what this means for both our families.”

A lump formed in Luna’s throat, and her breath hitched. “I understand it all too well,” she whispered, her voice barely audible, heavy with emotion. “But we just found Alina. Can’t you see that if you proceed with this, we risk losing her all over again?”

Darius exhaled sharply, his gaze drifting away as if her words were too painful to confront. “Luna—”

“No,” she interjected, stepping closer, desperation lacing her voice. “You keep insisting it’s for the merger, for the agreement… but she doesn’t want this. She’s terrified, Darius. She woke up screaming just the other night.”

Darius’s jaw tightened, a muscle twitching with suppressed emotion. “It doesn’t matter what she says right now.”

Luna’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What?”

This time, he met her gaze squarely, unwavering. “It doesn’t matter whether Alina wants to. She will marry Lucius, whether she likes it or not.”

Damien inhaled sharply, his fingers twitching at his sides, an instinctive urge to lash out at the wall or anything that could absorb his pent-up frustration. Luna’s expression crumbled into disbelief, her heart racing with indignation.

“Darius,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, “is this truly about the merger? Or is there something else lurking beneath the surface?”

For a fleeting moment, he remained silent, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. His breathing was slow and heavy, as if the enormity of his burdens had become too much to bear.

He stepped closer, raising his hands to gently cup her face, a gesture that spoke volumes of their shared history and love, even amidst the chaos. She leaned into his touch, despite the anger swirling within her; their bond was deep-rooted and enduring.

“This is for Alina’s good,” he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “Everything I’m doing… it’s for the welfare of this family.”

Luna’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “But it doesn’t feel that way,” she whispered, her heart aching.

“It may not seem that way now,” he replied, brushing his thumb tenderly along her cheek, “but in time, it will.”

Her breath hitched. “Darius…”

He continued, his tone earnest, “I would never do anything to intentionally harm Alina. She is my daughter. All I want is for her to be safe, protected, and happy.”

Luna stepped back from his hands, shaking her head in disbelief. “But can’t you see that you are hurting her? Can’t you see the damage this is causing? We both know who truly makes her happy. We both know who she longs to be with.”

In an instant, his expression hardened, a wall of resolve slamming down between them.

“That is never going to happen,” Darius declared firmly. “She cannot be with Lucian Blackwood.”

Luna stared at him, her heart aching with disbelief and sorrow. “And what if she had married Lucian before we found her? What then? Would you have forced her to divorce him? To shatter her heart because of a contract signed years ago?”

He remained unmoved, his resolve unyielding. “Well, it’s fortunate we managed to halt the wedding before they exchanged vows.”

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