Chapter 135: Past Due
"Who is Adrian Cole? Is this the reason you want the divorce that much?" Theo’s eyes narrowed, his brows knitting tighter with every syllable. His voice carried both suspicion and the sharp edge of jealousy.
Daisy froze at the sudden name on his lips, her hands that were tied at the headboard slowly going numb. "Who?" She frowned.
"Adrian Cole! The owner of the souvenir shop! Who is he?" His anger flared, it could be seen by how he breathed at this moment. "Just tell me... if you have another per—"
"So... if I have another person in my heart at this moment... will you let me go now?" Daisy cut through his words.
Theo’s breath hitched, his jaw tightening so hard the muscle ticked. Her words sliced through him, sharper than any denial could have.
"You didn’t let me finish," he growled, leaning closer, his shadow falling over her. "I asked you a question. Who is he to you?"
Daisy tilted her head, her smirk bitter and tired all at once. "Does it matter? In your eyes, I’m already guilty, aren’t I? Guilty for smiling, guilty for breathing, guilty for not drowning in misery the way you want me to."
Her voice cracked, but she didn’t look away. "So answer me, Theo. If I say yes...if I say there’s someone else... would you finally sign those damn divorce papers and set me free?"
Theo pushed himself up, his shadow stretching across her as his voice came out rough, jagged. "No..." His gaze locked on her, unwavering. "You will stick with me forever."
Daisy’s breath caught, but she forced out a laugh, bitter and cutting. "Forever with you? That’s not love, Theo. That’s a prison."
His jaw flexed, his brows drawn so tight it looked painful. For a moment, silence pressed between them, then he leaned closer, his voice low, trembling under the weight of his own emotions. "If it is... then I’ll live in that prison with you. I don’t care what you call it." His throat worked, his eyes dark but not cruel. "Because I can’t let you go, Daisy. For years, I woke up everyday with the thoughts of leaving this world, but after meeting you... I finally found the reason to stay."
Her smirk faltered, eyes wavering against his intensity and her breath suddenly unsteady. For a split second, something inside her cracked, the wall she’d built for this moment, trembling under the weight of his words.
But then she blinked hard, forcing the burn in her eyes back, and let out a shaky laugh. "Beautiful speech, Theo... almost convincing." Her lips twisted, though the bitterness didn’t quite hide the tremor in her voice. "But words don’t erase the fact that you didn’t trust me when it mattered."
Theo’s chest rose sharply, as if her words had struck him clean in the ribs. He reached forward, fingers twitching before curling into fists at his sides. "I—I’m sorry..." he reached for tie hand and released her, "I’m really sorry..."
He gently pulled down her hand and checked her wrist, "I didn’t hurt you right?"
Daisy frowned, "Are you trying to change the topic at this moment?"
Theo’s brows pinched, guilt heavy in his eyes as his thumb brushed lightly over the faint redness on her wrist. "No... I’m not trying to change it. I just..." His voice faltered, raw. "I can’t stand the thought of hurting you again, even in the smallest way."
Daisy’s frown deepened, though her chest ached at the sincerity bleeding through his tone. She pulled her hand back slowly, cradling it against herself. "Says someone who tied me just a few seconds ago..."
Theo froze, the words cutting straight through the fragile apology he had offered. His lips parted, but for once no defense came. He dragged a hand over his face, the weight of shame settling heavy on his shoulders.
"I know..." he admitted hoarsely, eyes dropping to the floor. "I was desperate. Afraid that if I let you go, even for a second, you’d disappear again." His gaze lifted, raw and unguarded. "I don’t want to lose you, Daisy... even if I go about it the wrong way."
Her throat tightened at the honesty in his voice, but her expression stayed cold. "Wrong way?" she echoed bitterly. "Theo, everything you’ve done is the wrong way."
Theo went quiet, he gazed at her and suddenly pulled her into his embrace. "I miss you..."
But Daisy pushed against his chest, trying to escape from the hug. "Let me go..."
"Please..." His voice was low, pleading as he rested his head on her shoulder. "I feel like I’m going insane. Every day I wake up thinking
Daisy let out a bitter scoff, her lips curving into a cruel smile though her eyes betrayed the pain beneath. "There it is. The truth. You don’t miss me, Theo... you just miss the relief. You’re only afraid Elias will crawl back into your life if I’m not there to shield you."
"Why do you twist every word I say?" He pulled back just enough to catch her gaze, his own dark and unsteady.
"At least I twist them," she sneered, her voice cracking. "You? You never even bothered to hear me out."
Theo’s jaw tightened. He lowered his gaze, staring at her hands as though they were something fragile he didn’t deserve to touch. "I must’ve been a fool... too blinded by my own emotions then. But believe me, Daisy... I was there. Every day at the hospital, I checked on you secretly. Even after you were discharged. And then..." his voice faltered, "one day you suddenly vanished."
Daisy’s frown deepened, her laugh sharp and cutting. "Hello? Did you hurt your head more than you admit? Or maybe it’s just that other side of you talking?" Her tone dripped with cruelty, but her eyes glistened. "I didn’t disappear, Theo. I just moved on. Exactly the way you wanted."
His breath shuddered, and he dragged his hands over his hair, fingers digging into his temples. For a moment, he just sat there, exhausted, as though the weight of every unspoken word was caving in on him. "Why does it feel like no matter what I say, we’re speaking two different languages..."
Daisy suddenly pushed herself up from the bed, her movements stiff and final, but before she could take a step away, Theo’s arm shot out. His hand clamped firmly around her waist, yanking her back down beside him.
"Theo—" she gasped, her hands shoving against his chest. "Let go!"
"No." His voice was hoarse, but his grip only tightened, trembling with a mix of fear and need. His forehead pressed against her shoulder, his breath uneven. "We really need to settle this now... I think I know what’s been going wrong..." His voice cracked, his words almost stumbling over themselves. "I never even asked you what happened that day... what you went through. I just—" he sucked in a breath, jaw clenching, "I just threw my anger at you without listening."
Daisy froze in his hold, her heart thundering. The ache in his tone reached her, but she pressed her lips into a thin line, refusing to let it show. "And what?" she whispered bitterly. "That’s already past due..."
But even as the words left her mouth, her eyes betrayed her. They glistened, her lips trembling, emotions overlapping so tightly she could no longer hold them back.
Silence remained for a few moment before Daisy glared at him with her eyes red.
"I was scared..." Her voice broke, shaking with the weight of memory. "No—no, I was terrified!" She shook her head violently, as if to deny the images flashing back. Her eyes squeezed shut, and tears slipped free. "All I could think about was how to save our baby... and you—" her chest heaved, "I don’t know what made you believe I chose to abort... was it because I once said I wasn’t ready? Was that it, Theo?"
Theo’s arms shot forward, desperate to give her a hug, his voice rough with guilt. "Daisy, I’m sorry—I’m so sorry—"
But she shoved him back, her palms flat and forceful against his chest, the crack in her voice splitting wider.
"I didn’t know he put something in my food..." Her body shook as the words tumbled out, ragged and broken. "He fooled me, Theo... he forced me to eat that—" Her voice shattered, her hands curling into fists against him. "Do you think I would ever... ever choose that on my own?!"
Her fists slowly uncurled, falling limp against his chest as fresh tears blurred her vision. Her voice came softer now, but it cut far deeper.
"The moment I woke up..." She swallowed hard, her lips trembling. "I heard the baby was gone. But you know what hurts more, Theo?" Her eyes lifted to his, red and wet, a storm barely holding together. "That you were gone too. The time I needed you the most... you weren’t there."