Chapter 151: Kingsley vs. Kennedy Rivalry
Theo sighed, his gaze lingering on Daisy’s face as she slept, her brows still drawn tight even in dreams. She looked restless, fragile, as though the weight of the day had followed her into slumber.
They weren’t supposed to be discharged from the hospital yet. The doctors had wanted her to stay, to rest under their watchful eyes. But Daisy had refused, her voice quiet but unyielding. ’I couldn’t stay here any longer,’ she’d said, clutching his sleeve until he relented.
Now, back in the quiet of their home, Theo sat at the edge of the bed, brushing a stray lock of hair from her cheek, his chest heavy with a mix of worry and anger he couldn’t put into words.
A soft knock broke the silence. Theo stiffened, his eyes darting to the door as Daisy stirred faintly in her sleep.
"Sir," the maid’s voice came through, careful and subdued, "the Master has arrived. He’s waiting in the living room."
Theo’s jaw clenched. Of all times, it had to be now. He glanced back at Daisy, her face drawn even in sleep, her hand clutching the blanket as though it could protect her. Bending down, he smoothed a stray strand of hair from her forehead and whispered, "Rest..." His lips brushed her forehead in a fleeting kiss before he straightened.
Straightening, he moved toward the door, the curiosity of his father’s sudden presence already pressing on him before he even left the room.
As he made his way down the hall, his steps slowed when the sound of low conversation reached him from the living room. The familiar timbre of his father’s voice, measured, calm, but carrying that undercurrent of authority, tightened his chest.
When Theo finally stepped into the room, Richard was already on his feet, tall and composed as always. His presence filled the space effortlessly, not with menace like Kennedy, but with the kind of gravitas that could never be ignored.
Their eyes met.
"Theo," Richard said evenly, studying his son with a sharp gaze that missed nothing. "We need to talk."
Theo didn’t look away, his own stare firm, not angry, but carrying the same quiet edge. He didn’t want to be disturbed at this moment.
"Is this about the company?" Theo asked, his voice clipped. "If it is... can it wait?"
Richard’s brows drew together, a shadow flickering in his eyes. "It’s not about the company."
Theo exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders tightening instead of easing. Whatever this was, it wasn’t business and that meant it was personal.
"If this is about my wedding—"
"No." Richard cut him off, his voice sharp and immediate. His gaze hardened, heavy with something unsaid. "Did you meet with Owen Kennedy earlier?"
Theo’s frown deepened, a flash of unease crossing his face. "How... do you know?"
Richard’s jaw tightened, the faintest flicker of hesitation crossing his face before he spoke. "Because I had my people keeping tabs on Owen Kennedy."
Theo blinked, caught off guard. "What? Why would you—" He stopped, narrowing his eyes, suspicion cutting through. "Why?"
For a brief moment, Richard’s composure cracked. His lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze shifting away as if weighing whether to speak at all. He exhaled slowly, the weight of old memories pulling his shoulders down.
Theo studied him closely, unease growing. "You’re hiding something."
Richard’s eyes darkened, the sharp edge of old bitterness flashing in them. "Because Owen Kennedy holds a grudge against me," he admitted, his tone low, heavy with the weight of years unspoken.
Theo furrowed his brows, leaning back slightly. "I figured there must be something between you..." His jaw tightened as he recalled the venom in the old man’s words earlier. "Since he really won’t even consider Kingsley as a potential candidate for his granddaughter, even though we’re above him now."
Richard gave a short, humorless laugh. "That’s exactly it. The higher Kingsley rises, the more it eats away at him. For a man like Owen Kennedy, pride matters more than power. He’d rather watch his family rot than let his bloodline be tied to ours."
"What did you do?" Theo asked, his voice steady but edged with curiosity. "What makes him hate Kingsley so much?"
Richard’s lips pressed into a thin line. For a moment, he said nothing, his gaze drifting past Theo as though pulled back into memories better left buried. Then he exhaled, slow and sharp.
"I fell into a trap," he finally admitted. "Back then, Owen Kennedy was weaving his way into politics. He had power, money, and the right connections. But he also had enemies—one in particular who wanted him out of the picture. That man used me as his pawn."
Theo’s brows furrowed. "Pawn? How?"
Richard’s expression hardened. "I was fed information... Owen’s dirty dealings in business, the kind he thought he’d buried so deep no one could dig them up. I exposed them, thinking it was a step forward for Kingsley, not realizing I was being played. The fallout was catastrophic. Kennedy suffered a massive loss. His reputation was shredded, his political career destroyed before it even began. And Owen?" Richard let out a humorless laugh. ""He didn’t just decide to keep his family away from ours. After the fallout, Owen vowed to crush Kingsley to the core."
Theo blinked, the room tilting a fraction. "Crush... us?"
Richard nodded once, hard. "He lost almost everything at that time, reputation, money, the chance at politics. He blamed me, and he blamed Kingsley. From that day on, he swore he would pull the Kingsleys down, piece by piece.
He let out a slow breath before continuing, his tone edged with caution. "But with each year, we’ve only grown stronger. Too strong for him to strike directly. His only path now is to align himself with someone even stronger... and secure it through a strategic marriage."
Theo’s gaze sharpened. "So Daisy..."
Richard met his son’s eyes steadily. "Yes. She’s his card."
Theo sighed weakly, his eyes fixed on his father. "So... judging from all of this... you must’ve known about Daisy the moment I brought her back?"
Richard’s voice dropped, steady but heavy. "Not from the start... I learned after checking her background. And believe me, Theo, that’s when I knew... bringing her into this family might come at a cost."
"Whatever it is," Theo said, his brows knitting together, "leaving her is not an option." His jaw set like stone as he added, voice low and unyielding, "I’ll protect her with everything I have. And, Dad... don’t you even think of using her as a shield."