Ansel shut his eyes in despair. "I know I made a huge mistake, but I lost the ability to think when I read the message they sent me. They told me they wanted to explore the possibility of me marrying Pearl!"

He squatted down and wrapped his arms around his head, saying shakily, "I knew I shouldn't have gone there, but I couldn't control myself." He looked up at Darius tearfully. "And that's why I betrayed you—the Chamberlain family agreed to have Pearl marry me."

Darius sat behind his desk, lo