Chapter 156: The Twin’s Death
The phone buzzed violently in Theo’s palm again, the insistent ring echoing through the office. Daisy’s breath hitched, her hands wringing together as she whispered, "Theo... don’t..."
But his patience snapped. His thumb swiped across the screen, and he pressed the phone to his ear, his voice sharp as a blade.
"This is Theo, Daisy’s husband." His tone was low, dangerous, and cold. "You’ve got some nerve."
On the other end, a mocking laugh slithered through the speaker, making Daisy stiffen beside him. Then came the voice she dreaded most, low, venomous, and cruel.
"Ah," Owen Kennedy drawled, each word dipped in malice, "so she chose you instead of her father?"
Theo’s jaw clenched, his knuckles whitening as he gripped the phone tighter. His glare darkened, though his voice remained icy. "Don’t you dare twist this, old man. If you think threatening Daisy will break her, you’re mistaken."
Beside him, Daisy’s face drained of color, her fingers clutching the hem of Theo’s sleeve, fear consuming her whole body.
"I’m not twisting anything," Owen’s voice slithered through the line, thick with scorn. "I’m just wondering... does she think she’s free now, just because she’s got you?"
Theo’s grip on the phone tightened, his jaw flexing. "She doesn’t belong to you. And she never will."
A cruel chuckle followed, sending ice down Daisy’s spine.
"Doesn’t belong to me?" Owen scoffed, the sound sharp and cruel. "Boy, everything she is... her blood, her name, her life... runs back to me. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you can keep her."
Daisy’s grip on Theo’s sleeve tightened, her breath shallow.
Owen’s tone dropped, darker and threatening. "If she won’t come back on her own, then I’ll make her. Piece by piece. Starting with her father. You’ve seen the picture, haven’t you? That’s only the beginning. Next time, it won’t just be a photograph."
Theo’s fury snapped, his voice like steel through the receiver. "If you touch him... if you so much as breathe wrong in her direction... you’ll regret it for the rest of your miserable life."
Owen only laughed again, low and mocking. "Strong words. Let’s not play games, boy. She will choose... between you and that half-dead old man clinging to life after a stroke. One of you will stay, the other... gone. I’ll make sure of it."
Daisy’s breath hitched, her knees weakening as if the floor itself had vanished. She clutched Theo’s sleeve tighter, trembling.
Theo’s jaw locked, his fury barely caged. "You think you can break her by using her father? You underestimate her. And you sure as hell underestimate me."
Owen’s laugh came again, low and poisonous. "We’ll see. Tick-tock, boy. I’ll be waiting."
"What do you want, actually?!" Theo’s voice erupted, raw and unrestrained.
Another laugh, sharper this time, cut through the speaker. "What do I want? Are you seriously asking me that? I’m sure you already know..."
Theo’s chest heaved, fury boiling past reason. "Is this about what happened years ago? That was your own fault! Why blame everyone else?" His throat tightened, but he forced the words out. "You know damn well... if it wasn’t my father, someone else would’ve exposed your filth. You were rotting in your own sins long before that. Enemies everywhere, scandals piled high. Don’t you dare pretend you were some victim."
A low hum of amusement vibrated through the line. "Years ago, Kingsley and Kennedy played their little game of loyalty and betrayal... and your father thought he was clever enough to tip the scales. Do you really think I’d forget?"
Theo’s jaw locked, every word like acid in his ears.
Owen continued, unhurried, relishing each syllable. "I was going to take her back anyway... blood ties and duty, you know. But imagine my delight when I discovered she’s chosen you. Richard’s son. Kingsley’s pride." His voice dripped with mock sympathy. "It saves me the trouble of splitting my revenge. Now I can ruin you both at once."
Beside him, Daisy’s breath hitched, her eyes widening with horror as she clutched his sleeve tighter. Her legs weakened beneath her, and only her grip on him kept her from collapsing to the floor.
"Bring it on..." Theo replied, "I will protect her with everything I have..."
Owen’s laugh slithered through the phone, smooth and venomous. "Ah... young love, huh? Such foolish devotion. Do you really think of your little act of heroism... Scares me? Shakes me even a bit...?"
Theo’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. "I didn’t plan to shake you... I’m going straight for the part where I crush you."
Owen sneered, "Ah... Definitely Richard’s son... But are you sure you can go against me?"
Theo’s grip on the phone tightened, knuckles whitening. His eyes darkened, fixed on some distant point beyond the office as if he could see Owen standing there.
"I don’t need to be sure," he said evenly, cold as ice. "I know I will. And whatever it takes, I’ll make sure you regret ever threatening her or her father."
Owen’s laugh slithered again, venomous. "Bold... reckless. We’ll see how long that courage lasts, boy." He paused, suddenly scoffed, "I suddenly recalled a secret... Do you want to hear it?"
Theo’s eyes narrowed, the tension in his jaw sharp enough to cut steel. "Speak. I’m listening." His voice was low, dangerous, but steady, like a coiled spring ready to strike.
Owen’s laugh slithered through the line again, cold and calculating. "You had a brother, right?"
"Liam..." Theo muttered, frowning, his voice tight with unease.
"No, no... not that one," Owen said smoothly, his words sending a shiver down Theo’s spine. "Your twin..."
Theo’s breath suddenly heavy. He glanced at Daisy who was also pale by his side. At that moment, he could sense Owen was going to drop something big.
"I always thought that twin of yours... was you," Owen said, his voice smooth and cruel. "You know, he was always sick. I never planned to end him... he’d have faded away on his own. But who would’ve guessed... you two switched places?" He laughed then, loud and hollow, devoid of any guilt. "So, yes... hiking was an ideal place to die, right?"
Right at that moment, the phone slipped from Theo’s grasp, clattering onto the floor with a sharp, echoing thud. His chest heaved, and for a heartbeat, the room seemed to collapse around him.
"That... that’s not possible."