"If Darrick leaves, how will the Graham Family ever hold their heads high in this circle? Isn't this an insult to Miss Graham? Having her husband snatched away at her own wedding—who knows what trouble she'll stir up next!"
"Secretary? More like a mistress! Haven't you forgotten? Darrick's college girlfriend was also surnamed Shields..."
The murmurs grew louder and Darrick's expression darkened.
"Stop being unreasonable. This concerns life. I'll explain everything when I return."
He grabbed the keys to his Maybach and turned to leave.
I suddenly smiled.
"Life-and-death matters are for doctors to handle. You're neither a doctor nor a God—will your presence make her illness disappear?"
"Darrick, I spent three hundred million to bail out the Calderon Family. Now you want to leave? Are you trying to insult me in front of everyone?"
I smiled faintly and turned to sit down. "You can leave if you wish, but consider the consequences."
"How the Calderon Family will conduct its business going forward... It's truly a headache to contemplate."
I pretended to be troubled, rubbing my temples, though my words carried no hint of difficulty.