CHAPTER 115: A LOSER’S PLAY

The world outside carried on, distant laughter from people walking outside, the faint hum of a passing car but inside this room, it all felt muted, as though sound itself had been swallowed whole. Daisy’s fingers curled into fists at her sides, the sharp sting of her nails in her palm the only proof she hadn’t already frozen solid.

She told herself to breathe. To speak. To move.

But then his shadow dipped closer, brushing against hers, quiet and suffocating. "So... what do you say?"

Daisy’s chest tightened. Her voice came out soft but steady. "Love isn’t about dragging someone where they don’t want to go. If it’s forced... then it isn’t love. What I had with Theo, that is love. Simple. Free. That’s all it should be."

George tilted his head, studying her as though she were a child who hadn’t learned the truth yet. A faint smile touched his lips. "Free? Simple? No, Daisy. Love isn’t one color... It’s a spectrum. Sometimes it’s gentle, sometimes it burns. Sometimes it feels like a gift, sometimes like a curse. But forced or not..." His voice dipped lower, almost tender. "It’s still love."

Daisy closed her eyes, drawing in a slow, weary breath. Talking to someone like George needed patience, razor-sharp words to pierce his twisted logic, but right now, she had none left to give. All she could offer was silence, hoping it would sting more than anything she said.

Aurora tugged Daisy back a few steps, then leaned close and whispered, "Should I distract him and you run to safety...?"

"Ah—uh, don’t even think of running." George’s voice cut in, smooth but sharp. His lips curved into a smile that should have been warm, but instead crawled under their skin. "Because in my hand, I have another bait to make you come to me willingly. For instance... Theo’s medical health report."

The smile deepened. "Now, tell me... what do you think will happen to the Kingsley empire the moment this little secret leaks?"

He pulled out his phone, tapping on the screen before turning it toward them. The glow of the report lit his smirk as he savored the way their faces stiffened.

"Fascinating, isn’t it? Your perfect Kingsley heir, reduced to a man battling a fractured mind. Now... imagine what happens when everyone else sees this little truth."

Daisy looked at Aurora, hoping she could help her think of a way out, but at that moment, Aurora froze. She didn’t know about this fact.

George chuckled under his breath, slow and deliberate. "Oh... you didn’t know? How quaint. Did I just break a huge secret?" He lifted a hand to his mouth in fake shock, eyes glinting with amusement. "You are good at keeping your husband’s... craziness, aren’t you, sweetie? I like that."

His gaze slid to Daisy and lingered, locking on her like a predator savoring its cornered prey. Aurora’s eyes darted between them, her confusion etched across her face, but Daisy couldn’t look away from George’s stare.

"Run, I’ll cover you..." Aurora suddenly broke the tense silence.

Daisy, who hadn’t expected those words, froze for a moment, her mind racing. Then, with a sharp inhale, she lifted her gown just enough to move quickly and turned toward the back.

Aurora planted herself firmly in front of George, voice steady despite the racing of her heart. "Wait inside. I’ll stall him until... Theo arrives."

George’s gaze swept over her, a smirk playing at his lips. "Ah too bad, my schedule is quite packed," he said, taking a slow step forward. "I don’t wait for anyone. Not for Theo, not for any... one."

Aurora’s jaw tightened, her fingers clenching at her sides. She knew she couldn’t hold him off forever, but every second she bought was a second Daisy could put between herself and George.

"Then I guess we’ll see who tires first," Aurora said with her lips trembling though she tried to sound casual, but her heart pounded in her chest.

George’s smirk widened, eyes glinting with amusement and something darker. "Oh, I like your spirit," he murmured, stepping closer, the air between them tightening like a coiled spring.

Aurora braced herself, ready to stall with everything she had, knowing full well that George wouldn’t be so easily shaken.

George tried to slip forward but then Aurora pushed her chest and knowing full well how men and women’s strengths differ, Aurora got pushed back easily, "Stop, can you just understand English?! Do we need to speak in another language for you to understand that you can’t force someone to love you?!"

"I am not forcing, I am offer—"

He didn’t manage to finish his words, when a smack landed at the back of his head.

George blinked, momentarily caught off guard as the sharp slap tingled at the back of his head. He turned, his eyes narrowing, and found Liam standing there with that infuriatingly casual expression, hands in his pockets.

"Ah... come on, big bro," Liam said smoothly, tilting his head. "Surely you’re better than this?"

Aurora exhaled softly as her steps volunteered, stepping closer to the changing room door, relief flickering as Daisy peeked out, gripping the edge of her gown.

George’s lips twitched, a mixture of irritation and intrigue crossing his features. "So... the little brother finally decides to play hero," he said, eyes narrowing as he appraised Liam.

"Not so little..." Liam stepped closer, meeting George’s gaze with a sly grin. "See... I’ve even grown taller than you."

George scoffed, "Like height could estimate power..." His eyes flicked up, sharp and cold, "Did he send you, thinking you are enough to stop me?"

Liam’s grin widened, but there was steel behind it. "I wasn’t sent. I came on my own. And trust me, I’m more than enough to make you think twice."

George arched a brow, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Confidence... I like that. But do you really think a little swagger and a few extra centimeters can change the game?"

Liam sneered, tilting his head up for a moment before locking eyes with George again. "You might have forgotten something. I’m Kingsley too. And Anderson? Number two will always stay number two..." He laughed mockingly.

George’s fist shot forward, aiming for Liam, but Liam instinctively dodged, smirking as he saw someone approaching from the back.

Before George could recover, Theo dashed forward, a fierce determination in his eyes. In one swift move, he grabbed George by the head and slammed it against the glass table at the side. The impact rattled the boutique, sending small shards skittering across the floor.

George groaned, momentarily stunned, while Theo’s gaze burned with controlled fury. "I told you, the other day was supposed to be the end," he growled, his voice low but lethal.

Liam stepped aside, letting Theo take the lead, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Guess that answers who’s really in charge here," he muttered.

George groaned, dazed, slowly pushing himself up. "That’s how losers play... attack from behind," he muttered, wiping the blood trickling from his forehead. His eyes flicked between Theo and Liam, a dark, simmering fury building. "So this is how it’s going to be... fine."

Theo stepped closer, the tension coiling in his muscles like a spring ready to snap. "If attacking from behind is considered a loser," he said, voice low and cold, "then what should we call you?"