Chapter 136: Hate You But I Love You
The whole room went silent, only the seething breath from Daisy could be heard.
Theo? He froze or more like he couldn’t breathe when he heard the truth. His mind spun, questioning everything, every single thing he had done after the incident.
"At first, I thought maybe you were too busy handling George," she smiled, though it barely reached her eyes, the sadness could be seen through. "Second day... I told myself, maybe you were still angry. Third day... maybe you needed space. But by the time a week passed and I still didn’t see your face..." her voice cracked, trembling, "I realized you had chosen not to come."
Her fingers clenched her clothes tightly, as though holding on to something that kept slipping away. "Do you know what that felt like, Theo? Losing everything in one night and then realizing I had no one left to lean on?"
Theo’s lips parted, but no sound came. His throat burned, his chest tightened painfully, yet words refused to form. What excuse could possibly bridge that abyss? None. So he just stood there, shoulders rigid, drowning in the weight of her truth.
Daisy shook her head, her chest heaving, anger spilling through every movement. "I can’t do this anymore," she hissed, wiping at her tears furiously. Her legs moved toward the door with unsteady determination, each step declared that she had had enough.
But the moment her fingers brushed the doorknob, arms wrapped tightly around her waist, dragging her back against a familiar chest.
"Daisy—" Theo’s voice cracked as he buried his face against her shoulder. His arms trembled, not from strength but desperation. "Please... don’t leave me. I know there isn’t an apology in this world that could ever define the damage I caused... but I can’t let you walk out because I can’t leave without you."
"You lived just fine these past months," Daisy shot back, twisting in his hold until her glare met his. Her voice wavered between anger and heartbreak. "You looked fine to me... did not look like you suffered when I was not around..."
Theo’s lips parted, his breath catching in his throat. For a moment, he only stared at her, as though stunned by the accusation. Then his hand moved, cupping the side of her face with trembling fingers.
"Fine?" His voice was hoarse, heavy with disbelief. "Is that what you saw? Daisy, every night I drowned myself just to shut out the emptiness you left behind. Every morning I opened my eyes praying it was just a nightmare, that I’d find you beside me again." His eyes burned, the raw truth spilling without restraint. "If I looked fine, it was because I wore the mask you forced me into the day you walked away."
"Ah yes, I forced you..." Daisy’s laugh was sharp, but her eyes shimmered with hurt.
"No..." Theo’s voice cracked, his thumb trembling as it stroked her cheek, the one he’d memorized in his loneliest nights. "You know that’s not what I mean..."
"Then what do you mean?" Daisy pressed, her tone cold though her pulse raced. She didn’t step back this time, didn’t flinch from his touch but her gaze was steel. "Say it, Theo. Don’t twist it. Don’t make me feel guilty for something I didn’t do."
His throat bobbed as he swallowed, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths. "I mean... I broke us. Not you. I let anger blind me when I should’ve seen your pain. And I’m just a useless man with an ego too high... so high that I’d rather believe my pride than believe you."
Daisy’s lips parted, her heart lurching against her will. But she clenched her fists at her sides, forcing her voice steady. "Finally. You said it. That’s who you are, Theo. And that’s why..." her voice cracked, but she lifted her chin defiantly, "I can’t—"
Daisy stiffened, her fists hammering against his chest in protest. A muffled sound of frustration escaped her throat as she tried to push him away, but his hold only tightened, the kiss burning with anguish and longing.
When he finally pulled back, his breath was ragged, his forehead pressed against hers. "I don’t know what to say anymore," he whispered, his voice raw, trembling, "but Daisy... knows one thing... I always... have always loved you. Even when I was too blind, too cruel to show it."
Daisy’s breath hitched. For a moment, her eyes softened, the walls she had built threatening to crumble. But then she blinked hard, forcing them back up, her lips curving into a trembling smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
"If that’s your love, Theo..." her voice cracked, brittle but sharp, "then maybe love was never enough for us."
Her words cut deep, sharper than any blade. Theo’s grip on her loosened, his chest heaving. Then, without warning, he sank down onto his knees before her, his head bowed low.
"I’m sorry..." His voice cracked, hoarse with desperation. His hands clutched at her waist like a drowning man clinging to the last thing keeping him afloat. "I’m sorry for everything... for not trusting you, for leaving you alone, for every word that made you bleed inside. If I could take it all back, I would... a thousand times over."
His forehead pressed against her stomach, his shoulders trembling. "Daisy... please... don’t say it’s too late. Don’t tell me to let go. Please... give me a second chance...give us the happiness we should’ve had from the very beginning."
His voice broke, his hands tightening on her waist as though she might disappear if he let go. "I can’t change the past... but I can fight for the future, if only you’ll let me. Just once more... let me try to be the man you deserved all along."
Daisy’s lips trembled, her body stiff as if she were fighting herself more than him. Her hands hovered uncertainly in the air before slowly lowering, brushing against his hair. The moment her fingers touched him, her chest tightened painfully.
"Theo..." Her voice cracked, betraying everything she tried so hard to hide. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling freely down her cheeks. "I hate you... I hate you for making me go through all of that alone..." She sucked in a shaky breath, her words collapsing into a whisper. "And yet... I can’t stop loving you either..."
Theo’s arms tightened instantly, his face buried deeper against her as if he could carve her words into his very soul. His entire body shook, but this time it wasn’t with rage...it was relief, raw and desperate.
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The shrill vibration of his phone cut through the quiet. Theo’s eyes snapped open, his body tense as if the sound itself had dragged him back from drowning. He glanced toward the nightstand, the screen glowing insistently, but his gaze drifted almost instantly to the bed.
Daisy lay there, her face softened by sleep, traces of dried tears marking her cheeks. Her breathing was steady now, a fragile peace after the storm they’d just endured. For a long moment, Theo didn’t move, afraid even the slightest shift might disturb her.
"What is it?" Theo asked, the moment he answered the call.
Miles’s voice instantly stuttered, "Ah just wanted to report back, sir. I am sorry to disturb you late at night but since you asked me to report to you right away, I decided to call now."
"Continue," He slowly sat up and continued to walk to the tall glass window.
"Adrian Cole, the owner, was not here... I mean he is now working as a doctor overseas and it’s been two years already."
Theo’s brows furrowed as he stared out at the city lights shimmering through the glass. His reflection looked back at him, hollow-eyed and worn.
"Two years?" His voice was low, almost a growl. "That doesn’t make sense."
"Yes, sir," Miles replied cautiously. "According to the records, he left right after he got the offer letter. Since then, he’s been practicing medicine abroad. There are no traces of him returning."
Theo’s grip on the phone tightened. "Then who the hell was I dealing with here?" His breath fogged against the cold glass as he leaned closer, trying to steady himself.
Behind him, Daisy shifted in her sleep, murmuring faintly before falling still again.
"Sir..." Miles hesitated. "There’s more. The documents you asked me to cross-check, they weren’t signed by Adrian. The signature... I believe it was forged."
Theo was silent for a few seconds before finally opening his mouth, "I don’t know why... but I feel like I had heard his name before, although yeah the name was too common to hear.
He was staring blank at the beach when something suddenly clicked on his mind, "Alumni! Check his school history and get back to me as soon as possible..."