CHAPTER 126: GRIEVING AND DIVORCE

Theo sat stiffly on the metal chair. Across the cold steel table, George was escorted in by two guards, his wrists cuffed together in front of him. The orange jumpsuit hung loose on his frame, making him look smaller than Theo remembered.

Marla’s call earlier still echoed in his head, the reason he had come here today. "George’s mental health evaluation is out. He’s confirmed to have depression—and he was on Depozem the day he took Daisy from the bridal boutique. He might use that as an excuse to slip out of this mess."

Theo’s jaw tightened as George finally sat down, the cuffs scraping against the table.

"Didn’t think you’d actually come," George drawled, his voice rougher than Theo remembered.

Theo didn’t answer right away. He studied George—the hollowed cheeks, the restless twitch of his fingers, the way his eyes darted too quickly, too sharp. Depozem or not, Theo couldn’t decide if he was looking at a broken man... or a dangerous one pretending to be weak.

"You think depression gives you a free pass?" Theo finally said, his voice low but cutting.

George tilted his head, feigning innocence. "I wasn’t myself that day. You heard the report. Medication, side effects, it all messes with your head. You can’t pin that on me."

Theo’s jaw flexed. "Tell that to Daisy. Tell her it was the pills talking when you shot me and my man."

For the first time, George’s smirk faltered. The room went still, broken only by the faint hum of the flickering light overhead.

"I really didn’t mean to hurt her that day, Kennedy..." George’s voice cracked, then steadied. "Kennedy said if I didn’t agree to the marriage, they’d hand Daisy over to Lancester’s old man instead."

Theo leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "And you believed that? Lost your damn mind over it? You hurt a lot of people, George... and now you expect me to swallow this story? Why would Kennedy go to you or Lancester, when I was the best choice on the table?"

George’s jaw clenched, his voice spitting with venom. "Best choice? Don’t make me laugh. You think you’re untouchable, Theo? You’re nothing but a bastard playing king. You can’t even protect your own wife..."

Theo’s gaze sharpened, his voice dropping to a dangerous calm. "And what makes you think I can’t?"

A twisted smile tugged at George’s mouth. "By how easily I dragged her out that day. Right under your nose. One pull, and she was mine for the taking."

Theo’s knuckles tightened, the veins in his forearm straining as if the fury was clawing its way out of him. George’s words hit their mark—because they were true. Too true.

His chest heaved. "You think that makes you powerful? That you could touch her because I wasn’t there?" His voice cracked with rage, his composure splintering. He slammed his fist into the table so hard the metal rattled. "I should’ve torn you apart the moment you laid a hand on her!"

George flinched at the sudden outburst but quickly masked it with another smirk. "There it is. The bastard’s guilt. You weren’t there, Theo. You didn’t save her. I’m just stating the facts."

Theo’s glare burned through him, every muscle coiled as if one more word would snap the last thread holding him back.

"I guess your relationship isn’t that good these days..." George smirked, his voice dripping with malice. "I’ll make sure to get her back the moment I’m out of this damn place."

Theo straightened slowly, his shadow falling over George like a warning. "And like hell I’d ever let you out..." His voice was low, dangerous. Then, after a beat, his lips twisted into something cold. "Even your own father abandoned you."

The smirk faltered for the first time.

Theo didn’t wait to savor it, he turned and stormed out, the heavy door slamming shut behind him and it echoed in the room.

Theo strode down the corridor, his fists still clenched, jaw tight enough to ache. George’s words clung to him like poison, replaying with every step. ’You can’t even protect your own wife...’ Damn him! it stung because it was true.

He shoved the door open and let the evening air hit him, forcing a breath into his lungs. Pulling out his phone, he dialed without hesitation.

"Miles," Theo’s voice was rough, colder than usual.

"Yes, sir?"

"Track Daisy. Right now. I don’t care what you’re in the middle of... find out exactly where she is, who she’s with, and call me back within five minutes."

There was a pause on the other end before Miles answered, steady but quick. "Understood."

Theo ended the call and stood by his car, the weight in his chest refusing to ease. For the first time in a long while, he wasn’t sure if he wanted answers or if he feared them.

"Divorce? Not a chance, Daisy. You might have broken my trust, but you’ll never break what I feel for you."

Theo sat in the driver’s seat, the engine off, the silence inside the car pressing down heavier than the day itself. His hand stayed on the steering wheel, unmoving, his phone lying faceup beside him. The minutes dragged, every tick of the clock tightening the knot in his chest.

Finally, the screen lit up. He snatched the phone before it could even ring a second time.

"Report."

The voice on the other end was steady but carried something unusual, a hesitation Theo rarely heard from him.

"Sir... I couldn’t track her."

Theo’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean you couldn’t? You are always good at doing this kind of job."

"It’s not that simple this time," Miles said quickly. "It’s like her trail just... vanished. No phone activity, no cards used, no track. Nothing."

Theo’s grip on the phone tightened until his knuckles blanched. "That’s impossible."

"There’s more," Miles added. "The divorce papers and the card you received this morning weren’t delivered by her. A young man dropped them off. We checked the cameras, but he was wearing a cap pulled low. Face obscured. We couldn’t get a clear shot."

For a moment, Theo said nothing, staring blankly at the dark windshield. His pulse thudded in his ears.

"So... she didn’t even come herself," he muttered under his breath, voice rough, almost broken.

The silence stretched before he rasped, "Daisy... do you seriously want to leave me?" His throat burned, but he forced the words out, each one laced with restrained fury.

He paused, his jaw clenching, then continued coldly, "Find her. No matter what... use any means you can. The divorce papers... send them back to the lawyer she hired. Demand she pay back every cent of the money she owes me. All of it."

His grip on the phone trembled, though his voice grew sharper, deadlier. "That’s how she’ll come to me. She won’t have a choice."

Theo shoved his phone into the console and slammed the car into gear, the engine roaring to life. His knuckles whitened around the wheel as he drove straight toward Aurora’s house.

Disappear? Just like that? No. Daisy wasn’t capable of pulling something like this off. She didn’t have the kind of sources, the kind of reach, to make herself vanish without a trace. Not her.

Which only meant one thing, someone was helping her.

Theo’s grip on the wheel tightened, the leather creaking under his palm as a dangerous thought formed. Whoever it was, they’d just signed themselves up to be dragged into his storm.

Halfway there, he thumbed his phone again, dialing Liam. His brother’s voice came through, casual, unaware of the storm raging in Theo’s chest.

Theo’s voice was clipped, sharp. "Did Aurora show up at the office today?"

There was a pause on the other end, papers rustling, before Liam answered, "No... I haven’t seen her. Why?"

Theo’s jaw flexed, his eyes narrowing on the road. "Because Daisy’s gone. And if Aurora’s not where she’s supposed to be, then she knows something. Help me find out where she is..."

There was another stretch of silence before Liam spoke again, slower this time. "Gone? What do you mean gone?"

Theo’s grip on the steering wheel tightened until his knuckles whitened. "I mean she vanished. No trace. No one’s seen her. She suddenly sent me divorce papers this morning." His tone was low, clipped, edged with a fury he could barely contain.

"Divorce papers?" Liam stifled a laugh but a puff escaped anyway. "But isn’t that what you wanted? You even told Mom and Dad the reception wouldn’t happen anymore..." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

Theo’s eyes flicked dangerously, his teeth grinding as he forced the car faster down the road. "Don’t test me, Liam."

"Then what’s the problem?" Liam countered dryly. "She gave you exactly what you wanted. No wedding, no wife, no mess. Shouldn’t you be celebrating instead of storming around like a madman?"

Theo’s nostrils flared. His voice came out rough, like gravel. "Can’t I even take a moment to grieve?"

"Grieve?" Liam shot back. "You left her hanging for almost two months."