CHAPTER 60: JUST SOMEONE IN MY LIFE

Inside the car, the engine purred steadily beneath them, and the silence was only broken by the distant crash of waves fading behind. Daisy kept her eyes on the scenery ahead, trying to act normal and casual. Like she hadn’t just kissed a man who wasn’t her husband. Who technically was her husband. Kind of.

She could feel it, that weighted gaze burning a hole into her cheek.

"Stop staring," she mumbled without looking at him.

"I’m not," Elias replied way too quickly.

She turned her head, caught his eyes unapologetically fixed on her face. "What?"

He tilted his head, lips quirking. "I just remembered something."

Daisy narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "What is it?"

"You didn’t take a bath this morning," he said, completely deadpan.

Daisy blinked. "What?"

"You didn’t," he repeated, this time with a hint of amusement in his voice. "See this—" He gently tugged at her sleeve, lifting her arm as if presenting evidence to a courtroom. "You’re still wearing my hoodie. And your hair?"

He leaned in, eyes narrowing dramatically before his hand reached out, fingers brushing through the tousled strands on the right side of her head. "Still a mess. You even have a crease here—" He smoothed it gently, just above her ear. "Probably from the pillow."

Daisy’s breath caught. She should’ve rolled her eyes. Said something sarcastic. Instead, her cheeks warmed like a traitor.

"And yet," he murmured, his thumb lightly brushing just beneath her jaw, "You are still cute..."

Daisy cupped her cheeks a little too hard. "What is this flirting style called? And are you sure you’re twenty years old?"

The grin on his face stayed, but something in his expression... shifted. Like a curtain pulled just enough to let a flicker of something else show through.

He reached for the start button, the moment stretching a beat longer than it should’ve.

"I’m twenty-nine," he said, almost to himself, as he started the engine.

Daisy froze. Her heart thudded once, loudly.

"What?" She asked, just trying to confirm what she heard.

But he didn’t look at her. Didn’t clarify. His eyes were on the road now, calm and unreadable.

She stared at him, suddenly unsure. The man beside her—was he still Elias?

Or had Theo just slipped through?

But the moment of doubt vanished almost instantly because right now, Daisy had bigger problems.

She turned her head slowly, her gaze locking onto the massive glass entrance of the city’s largest shopping complex.

And then down at herself.

Baggy shirt and loose sweatpants. Hair? A little tragic. Face? Questionable. And let’s not even talk about the fact that she still hadn’t bathed and it was already two in the afternoon.

She sank slightly into her seat.

"What are you doing here, Mr. Kingston?" she muttered in disbelief, tugging at the oversized sleeves like they’d magically turn into a dress.

"I need to do some shopping for myself..." He glanced at her, smiling slowly and unapologetic. "And for you too."

"And the hell I will go out like this...!" she hissed, shrinking deeper into the seat.

"Then..." Elias turned the steering wheel slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips, "shall we head to Theo’s house first?"

Her head snapped toward him. "Why Theo’s?"

"Well," he drawled, eyes fixed to the front, "Do you want to go back to Kingsley’s mansion?"

His voice was light, but his eyes focused straight ahead and carried a weight that made her pause.

"No," she muttered.

"Exactly." He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. "And Theo’s place is technically neutral ground. Not quite the lion’s den, not quite mine."

Daisy nodded slowly. "It’s a better choice, I guess..."

"Then let’s head there."

The engine hummed to life, and the car sped out of the shopping complex, leaving behind rows of designer shops she was far too underdressed to enter.

They arrived quietly. The mansion stood just like she remembered it.

When she stepped inside of his house, her pace slowed as they reached the stairs. Her gaze dropped, lingering on a specific spot where she fell down.

She stopped walking.

Elias turned back, confused. "You okay?"

Daisy didn’t answer right away. Her eyes were still fixed on the step. "I fell here," she muttered, more to herself than to him. "First time I came... Slipped and broke my finger."

Elias blinked, then gave a soft chuckle. "Wow. Strong first impression."

"Yeah," she said with a dry laugh. "That was a bad one." She muttered under her breath, "I wonder what was on his mind at that—"

But the shrill ring of her phone cut her short.

She blinked and looked around, confused. "Wait—where...? I left it on the bedside table, didn’t I?"

"Err..." Elias reached into his pocket and pulled out her phone, a sheepish grin forming. "This early morning, it wouldn’t stop ringing. So I put it on silent and, well... slipped it into my pants pocket."

Her mouth opened slightly. "You what?"

He looked far too pleased with himself. "And when I changed earlier, I swapped it back, but things got... tense. Not exactly the right moment to go, ’Hey, here’s your phone.’"

He handed it over with a casual shrug. "Anyway, it’s Jasmine, I think?"

Daisy narrowed her eyes. "You checked the screen too?"

"Just the name," Elias said, raising both hands in defense. "Could’ve been urgent. She called a bunch of times."

"Everything’s always urgent and demanding with her," Daisy muttered, eyes fixed on the now-silent screen.

"Who is she?" Elias asked, studying her face.

"Someone," Daisy said quietly, jaw tightening. "Just someone in my life..."

Before he could ask more, the phone buzzed again. She sighed, then answered with a clipped, "What is it?"

"What is it?!" Jasmine’s voice exploded through the phone, sharp and frantic. "Where the hell have you been?! I’ve been calling nonstop! What do you mean by selling the house?! The agent is here with someone who’s ready to buy! Who gave you permission? That house is mine! Mine!"

Daisy slowly lifted her gaze and met Elias’s eyes.

She didn’t say a word.

She didn’t have to.

Jasmine was loud enough that he could hear even without a speaker.