The man’s gaze grew increasingly calm and profound.
He reached out, grabbed Daisy Ginger’s wrist, trying to snuff out the cigarette in her hand. Daisy refused, struggling to pull away from him. Her wound cracked open and bled again; she resisted fiercely.
The man’s palm covered her, wrapping her entire right hand along with the cigarette in his grasp. The cigarette butt pressed into the wound on his skin, yet he didn’t move, as if unaware of the pain.
Daisy finally quieted down.
She looked up, silently exhaled a breath, gazing at the man’s handsome features, and chuckled softly, "Edward Stephens, you must have done more than just this. Let me guess what else you’ve done."
"That day my phone was snatched, you were so worried and insisted on taking me to the hospital because you knew your plot had succeeded. You were afraid I’d fall and miscarry, so you arranged for a full check-up."
"You won’t let me go out because you’re afraid I’d encounter robbery outside again, taking preventive measures."
"You’ve been so accommodating to me lately because you’re worried my mood swings might affect the baby’s health."
She closed her eyes, then opened them, flashing him a smile.
"Let me guess again." She slowly pulled her hand free from Edward’s grip, chuckling softly, "The candies you put in my bag every day, are they also something you had someone make? They’re not ordinary candies, are they?"
"..." The man looked at her face with a cold smile, raised his hand to gently wipe away a trace of congealed blood from the corner of her eye, "I have no other way, Daisy Ginger."
"I hope you can stay, and I also want you to be devoted to me. But what do I have to keep you with?" He cupped her face with one hand, his eyes deep, gazing intently at her, "We don’t have those eight years together. I wasn’t the one by your side as you grew up. If I could, I would’ve come to you sooner, but that’s not possible, is it? I just hope we can last long."
Daisy Ginger slapped his hand away.
The bit of warmth nurtured in these days by his tolerance was also worn away by his words.
She tugged at the corner of her mouth, realizing she couldn’t muster any smile, so she didn’t force it. She simply turned coldly, pushed past him, and walked towards the door. Chapters fırst released on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖✶𝕟𝕖𝕥
Edward Stephens grabbed her, "Where are you going?"
Daisy responded coldly, "The hospital. Abortion."
The man’s previously calm gaze finally showed a cracked expression. He tightened his grip on her wrist, pulling her to a stop, his voice low, "No."
Daisy turned her head, facing his face, and simply said, "I won’t keep it. If you want one so badly, go find another woman."
The corners of the man’s lips turned downward, the gentleness on his face vanished. He looked at her coldly, and told her word by word, "Daisy Ginger, I want you."
Daisy met his gaze, then gave him a somewhat disdainful smile. She said nothing, but Edward Stephens saw the unspoken words in her eyes—
I don’t love you. Never will.
The man, for some reason, also started to smile. He reached out, pulling her forcefully towards him, encircling her frail body in his arms.
"You’re not allowed to go anywhere, sweetheart. Obediently give birth to our child, and I promise you will like it too."
"Do you know what I hate most in my life?" She looked up, staring into the man’s face, meeting his gaze.
"I hate being played, manipulated, and betrayed the most, Edward Stephens. People like you aren’t worth anyone’s genuine feelings! Besides plotting and scheming, what else can you do?!"