Chapter 21
When rivals meet, the tension thickens.
Desmond’s presence shifted in an instant, his eyes as cold as ice, a dangerous chill hanging in the air. But Gordon remained unfazed, his military aura cutting through the space like an iron wall. Without skipping a beat, Gordon walked forward, his voice steady.
“What’s the point of this emotional act?” Desmond’s breath grew heavier, his chest tightening with every word. “Don’t act like you’ve already won. How long have you known Daisy? We’ve shared over twenty years of memories, from childhood until now. Those feelings can’t be erased that easily. So, don’t get too cocky.”
The words sliced through the air, but Gordon merely raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a mixture of surprise and disdain.
“So, to you, Daisy is just a prize to be claimed?” Gordon asked, his voice low, measured. His eyes never left Desmond. He had expected more from the head of the Thomas Family, but all he saw was a man blind to anything but his own stubbornness. It made sense, though. How else could Desmond have ignored Daisy’s wishes, sending her to a psychiatric hospital without a second thought? Gordon had no time to waste on Desmond’s blind arrogance.
Without hesitation, he handed over the folder he’d been holding. “This is the information I’ve gathered. Take a look.”
With that, Gordon turned, slipping into the car, and Daisy still hadn’t appeared, not even sparing a glance at Desmond. As the car drove away, Desmond hesitated, the urge to chase it clawing at him. But through the window, he saw Daisy and Gordon leaning close, whispering to each other. Desmond’s legs turned to stone, heavy and unmoving. The closeness between them felt like daggers digging into his chest.
“What did you give to Desmond?” Daisy asked, her curiosity piqued as she glanced at Gordon. Gordon didn’t shy away from answering.
“I found out some things about you, so I made a copy. I thought Desmond should know the truth.”
Daisy didn’t speak for a long while after hearing Gordon’s words. Though she had known of his feelings for years, hearing that he’d gone to such lengths for her touched her deeply.
Seeing the silence stretch between them, Gordon’s anxiety grew. “Are you mad?” he asked, his voice laced with worry.
Daisy snapped back to reality and smiled. “No, Gordon. Thank you.”
Her eyes were genuine, shining with a clarity that softened the scar marking her profile, yet she remained as beautiful as ever. Gordon’s ears flushed red, but his face remained serious.
“You’re welcome,” he replied, his voice quiet.
Daisy couldn’t help but chuckle at his stiff demeanor, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She sighed softly, her gaze turning wistful. How long had it been since someone cared for her so completely?
At the gate of the Davis estate, Desmond stood frozen, watching Daisy’s car disappear from view. Only then did he open the folder. Inside, there was a voice recorder, a video player, and several photographs and documents. Desmond flipped through the stack of papers, each one revealing shocking moments from the past, where Heather had carefully crafted lies to frame Daisy. One revelation after another hit him like a punch to the gut.
The truth was so brutal that Desmond’s legs nearly buckled beneath him. He stumbled, shaking his head in disbelief.
“I don’t believe this,” he muttered. “It must be Daisy trying to make me feel guilty with all this. After all, she was always good at twisting the truth.”
In his mind, he recalled Heather’s past, growing up as an orphan after her mother died when she was just twelve. She had lived alone, her only company her strength and determination. When they first met, Heather had seemed perfect, well-behaved, sensible, and an excellent companion. But now, the truth was hard to ignore.
