Chapter 16
The next moment, Daisy completely broke down, her emotions spilling over in front of her mother-in-law, a woman she was meeting for the first time. She had no idea how long she had buried her face in Jasmin’s comforting embrace, but when she finally pulled away, the living room was empty except for Gordon.
Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she stammered, “Sorry, I…”
Jasmin gently patted her hand, her voice warm and soothing. “There’s no need to apologize, dear. It’s only natural for a child to cry in front of their mother.”
Sensing Daisy’s discomfort, Jasmin smoothly changed the subject, asking her about her life before subtly steering the conversation toward her marriage to Gordon. “Daisy,” she said with a warm smile, “when will you and Gordon have your wedding ceremony? A legal marriage is important, but every young lady deserves a proper ceremony. Whatever others have, our family’s daughter should have too.”
Daisy opened her mouth, the words on the tip of her tongue, but Gordon interjected smoothly, “Mom, I think it’s best if we wait a little before making any decisions.”
Jasmin sighed, her expression softening with concern. “We can wait, but I worry your grandfather’s health might not hold out much longer.”
After leaving the family home, Daisy and Gordon walked side by side, the fading light of the setting sun casting a golden glow over the world. The warmth of his hand seemed to linger in hers, like a small ember that wouldn’t cool.
Instinctively, Daisy curled her fingers around his. She couldn’t stop herself from asking, “So, did you marry me just to bring peace of mind to the elders?”
The question caught Gordon off guard. He halted mid-step, surprise flashing across his face.
“Not entirely,” he said after a pause, turning to face her. His gaze softened as his voice lowered to a quieter, more sincere tone. “That might’ve been part of it, but more than anything… I wanted to marry you. It was because of you that I proposed.”
A faint flush crept up his ears as he spoke, and Daisy tilted her head slightly, studying him. From Jasmin’s earlier words, she pieced together that Gordon had only recently returned after serving in the military, carrying the stern discipline of a soldier with the commanding presence of someone accustomed to authority. But now, with his ears flushed red, he looked less like an intimidating figure and more like a bashful young man caught off guard.
Daisy felt a flicker of embarrassment herself, but curiosity stirred within her. Why would someone like Gordon want to marry her? Could it have been love at first sight? Just as the thought crossed her mind, Gordon let out a soft sigh.
“You really don’t remember me?” His question left a large question mark hanging in Daisy’s mind, and confusion was written all over her face.
Five years ago, he began, his voice steady but laced with something unspoken. “During the earthquake in Willow Creek, I was on the front lines for support. You were there too. We were trapped together in a classroom for twenty-four hours…”
As he spoke, a flicker of recognition sparked in Daisy’s wide eyes. Slowly, the image of a tall, dust-covered figure emerged from her memory.
“It was you!” she exclaimed, her voice tinged with amazement. Her gaze instinctively dropped to his legs, and new concern took over. “Your legs… they didn’t suffer any lasting damage, did they?”
A faint smile curved Gordon’s lips. “No,” he replied gently, “the doctor said we were lucky. If we hadn’t done emergency treatment back then, I might’ve lost my leg.”
During the aftershocks, when they were trapped in a civilian house, a steel bar had pierced through Gordon’s thigh. Fortunately, Daisy, a medical student at the time, had the knowledge and presence of mind to administer first aid. With her medical kit, she saved him from what could’ve been a lifetime in a wheelchair.
“Twenty-four hours might not have been an eternity, but it was long enough for emotions to root themselves deep in someone’s heart,” Gordon continued, his voice steady but tinged with tenderness. “But back then,” he said, his voice quieter, “I heard from others that you had a fiancé and were planning to marry right after graduation. I didn’t dare confess.”
He hesitated for a moment before adding softly, “Until I happened to save you last time…”
His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotion. Though his face gave no outward signs of nervousness, the deep crimson of his ears betrayed him, as if they might bleed from the intensity of his feelings.
Daisy stood speechless, her thoughts swirling. Everything made sense now, the kindness Gordon and his family had shown her. Her own cheeks burned with warmth, and in her silence, she turned her gaze away, unable to meet his eyes.
The two of them fell into an uneasy quiet, their steps falling in rhythm as they continued walking forward, the tension between them thick and unspoken.
“Then what about your grandfather? What’s going on? Is he sick?”
“Yeah,” Gordon replied, his voice solemn. “Grandpa has cancer. His time isn’t long. He wants to see me get married and have children. Looks like he might not live to see it.”
