Chapter 20
Jasmin averted her gaze from Daisy, her voice laced with smug satisfaction. “This is fine. Daisy no longer cares for Desmond, and now, Desmond will be yours.”
As soon as the words left her lips, Jasmin clapped her hands, her eyes glinting with mischief. She pointed at Heather and then turned to Daisy’s mother with a wicked smile. “If I’m not mistaken, this is your adopted daughter, right? I’ve never seen such favoritism.”
Her voice dripped with mock admiration as she continued, “An adopted daughter treated better than your own? I heard you even gave her your shares and the dowry meant for your real daughter.” She clicked her tongue. “I never thought I’d come across someone like you, a mother who’d do such a thing. But today, I’ve certainly learned something new.”
Daisy’s mother’s face turned crimson with fury. “What do you know? Heather has helped our family. Without her, I wouldn’t be here today.”
“Oh?” Jasmin’s expression hardened, her tone turning cold. “She’s been with you for three years, and you’re filled with gratitude. But your own daughter almost died saving you, and I haven’t seen you show any thanks.”
Hannah faltered, her face flushing with guilt. After a long pause, she stammered, “I’m not being biased… I… I was completely…” Her words stumbled, and she shook her head. “It’s Daisy who hit her head and changed. She’s not the obedient, sensible girl she used to be. If you must blame someone, blame her. If she were as sensible as Heather, how could I have given the dowry to Heather and not to her?”
Jasmin almost laughed in fury, her mouth curling into a sneer. Before she could continue, Daisy stepped forward, halting her.
Daisy’s gaze turned cold as she looked at the woman who had once been the most loving toward her. “You say you have Heather, so that should be enough. Well, I suppose you don’t want a daughter whose mind is broken.”
Daisy’s voice rang out, strong and final. “Since that’s the case, it’s just as well. Let everyone here bear witness. From now on, I sever all ties with these parents. We have nothing to do with each other anymore.”
Hannah’s face went pale, shock sweeping over her. She opened her mouth to protest, but Daisy didn’t give her the chance.
With those final words, Daisy turned on her heel and walked away, not sparing a single glance behind her. The distance between them stretched, the gap widening as if they were no longer from the same world.
The sounds of laughter and celebration still echoed faintly from the wedding, but as the wedding march played, it felt as though Desmond’s spirit had shattered. He stood frozen, unable to accept that Daisy had slipped from his grasp and become someone else’s bride.
Hannah was equally stunned, her mind reeling from Daisy’s words, severing their bond. She couldn’t make sense of it all. In the past, Heather would have rushed forward to offer comfort, but now, she couldn’t bring herself to care for either Desmond or Hannah. She was a storm within, restless and unsettled.
“Dad, what should we do?” Heather whispered urgently, leaning in close to Samuel when no one was looking.
Samuel gritted his teeth, frustration evident in his expression. “We’ll talk when we get home.”
They hurried out, but it wasn’t until they were safely in the car that Heather realized Desmond hadn’t followed them.
“Desmond!” she exclaimed, turning to look behind them. Desmond stood motionless, a small figure in the distance, offering them only a wave.
Heather couldn’t understand why every man seemed so determined to marry Daisy. Jealousy burned hot in her chest, but there was nothing she could do to stop it. With a frustrated stomp of her foot, she muttered, “Let’s go.”
But Desmond wasn’t ready to give up. He stood outside the Davis mansion, unmoving, waiting for Daisy to emerge. Time stretched on unbearably. Each second felt like an eternity. The thought of Daisy being claimed by another man seared through Desmond’s chest, a pain as hot as fire.
Desmond waited from noon until evening, then through the night and into the next morning, yet Daisy never appeared. Finally, around noon, the familiar wedding car came into view.
Desmond’s body trembled with a sudden jolt. Without thinking, he stepped forward, blocking the car in the middle of the road. The car skidded to a stop, but when the door opened, it wasn’t Daisy who stepped out.
It was Gordon.
