CHAPTER 39: CONSUME BY EMOTIONS

"No..." Theo shook his head, answering her question quietly. "I basically forgot everything that happened in between. I mean..." His eyes dropped to the table. "As of now, I don’t remember anything from the past three months."

Daisy didn’t speak right away. She just looked at him, trying to piece it together.

"So that’s why you don’t remember that we’ve been deeply in love for three months?" she said, her tone light, but her eyes watching closely.

Theo’s gaze lifted slowly, uncertain. "Deeply in love?"

She nodded solemnly, lips curving into something between a smile and a dare. "Hopelessly. Madly. The kind of love that makes people nauseous."

He let out a short breath, a quiet huff. "Really?"

"You used to say I was your world," she added, reaching for her glass of water with deliberate calm. "That even if your memories failed you, your feelings wouldn’t."

Theo raised a brow. "Did I?"

Daisy tilted her head, resting her chin on her hand. "So? Do they?"

He didn’t answer right away. His gaze lingered on her, sharp yet distant, as if still piecing together what was real... and what she wanted him to believe.

"You’re messing with me," he said finally. His voice had cooled again, the edge unmistakable. "Just because I forgot... you think I don’t know anything?" A scoff escaped him. "You talk like you’re clever, even if your appearance doesn’t exactly scream it."

Her lips parted, then curved into a soft laugh, light, but hollow. "Charming... Mr. Forgot-His-Wife strikes again."

Theo snickered. "So, since we’re deeply in love, which stage are we in?" He stood slowly, the scrape of his chair deliberate as he reached out and tugged hers an inch closer. "Kissing? Screwing? Sex?"

Daisy didn’t flinch, though her heart thudded once, loud enough she was sure he could hear it.

She arched a brow, voice cool. "You’re asking your own wife for a progress report?"

Theo tilted his head, eyes narrowing like he was dissecting her. "Well, apparently I’ve missed three months of passion. I think I deserve a recap."

She exhaled slowly, the edges of her confidence starting to fray. "Let’s just stop here," she said, standing abruptly. "I’m done for tonight."

But she didn’t get far.

Without warning, Theo grabbed her arm and hoisted her up, slinging her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.

"What are you doing—Theo!" she yelped, kicking lightly as he turned.

"We’re going to talk all night," he said coolly, striding toward the bed. "Since I’ve lost three months, I need you to fill in every... single... detail."

He tossed her onto the mattress with zero ceremony.

Daisy scrambled upright, breath uneven. "Are you serious?"

His gaze was unreadable, dark with something she couldn’t quite name. "Try me."

Daisy stared at him, breath uneven. "Try you?" she echoed. "What do you want me to say? That you were obsessed with me? That you couldn’t keep your hands off me? Fine. You were clingy. You used to follow me around like a lost puppy."

Theo laughed once, cold and low. "That doesn’t sound like Theo Kingsley."

"No?" She tilted her chin, pushing back. "Then maybe I am delusional?" She gulped, she shouldn’t have pushed this far even though she was annoyed.

"Perhaps," he murmured. His tone changed, lighter and amused, but it made her skin prickle. "Because the real Theo Kingsley? He doesn’t display his heart on his face."

He came closer, slow and deliberate. "But this version of me?" A lazy smile curved his lips. "He flirts with everyone. Doesn’t know how to keep his hands to himself. Touchy, talkative... dangerously charming."

He tilted his head, eyes locking with hers. "And it seems like you prefer me this way, don’t you?"

She started to sit up as she felt danger was coming. "I think I should—"

But Theo moved first. In one smooth motion, he pushed her back down, his hands firm against her shoulders, pinning her to the mattress.

Her breath caught. "Theo—"

He leaned in, the smile still playing on his lips, but his eyes darkened. "What’s wrong? Isn’t this what you said Theo Kingsley was like? Clingy, obsessed, couldn’t keep his hands off you?"

She shook her head, trying to squirm free, but his weight made it impossible. The playful edge in his tone turned razor-sharp as he whispered near her ear.

"Let me remind you..." His voice dipped lower, velvet and venom. "Elias can be more touchy than Theo."

Before she could move, he closed the distance, his lips crashing into hers, rough, insistent, uninvited.

Daisy froze for a second too long before she shoved at his chest with everything she had before decided to bite his lips to make him stop.

He hissed in pain and pulled back but... not fast enough when a slap reached his cheek.

The sound cracked through the room.

Theo flinched, the sting blooming across his cheek.

For a heartbeat, neither of them moved.

Then Daisy sat up, breathing hard, her voice trembling. "Do you enjoy this?" she asked, eyes shimmering. "How long do you plan to keep playing this game, Mr. Theo Kingsley?"

Theo blinked, and for a moment, the smirk he wore so confidently slipped. His gaze lingered on her face, and something flickered in his eyes, confusion, surprise and maybe even a trace of guilt.

"How long," he asked quietly, his voice losing its usual arrogance, "did you know it was me?"

The playful mask of Elias slipped, exposing something raw beneath. For once, Theo Kingsley didn’t look sure of himself.

"I—I didn’t mean..." he paused, voice low and unsteady.

But Daisy was already pushing at him, her body trembling as she tried to slide off the bed. "I’m leaving..."

"No, you can’t—" He caught her wrist, then pulled her back, wrapping his arms around her from behind. His breath was warm against her neck. "I’m sorry... Don’t leave. Please... I didn’t mean to hurt you—I just—I didn’t manage my emotions well."

She stood rigid in his hold, chest rising sharply as she fought to keep her voice steady. "So what now?" she whispered, eyes burning. "Am I locked in here with you, the one who can’t even manage his emotions well?"