CHAPTER 90: GET RID OF DIVORCE DEPARTMENT

Theo crouched beside the bed, only for Daisy to roll to the other side, her back to him.

"Still mad?" he asked, climbing up and stretching out beside her. "Listen..."

But Daisy turned again and pulled the blanket over her. "I’m tired. I want to sleep."

He let out a slow breath. "I just... sometimes I need to shut everything out. No calls, no people... nothing. It’s the only way I can think straight." His voice was quiet, almost careful. "It’s not about you."

"That’s the problem," she murmured, her voice muffled under the blanket. "If you really meant what you said... if I was that important, you wouldn’t disappear when things got messy. You wouldn’t leave me hanging like yesterday."

Theo’s eyes searched the curve of her back, but she didn’t move. He exhaled slowly. "I’ve been doing this for years..."

"Hmm... okay..." she muttered, the words clipped.

"Daisy... you need to understand," he said, his tone calm but firm. "Liking you doesn’t mean I can flip a switch and undo years of habit overnight. I’m not wired that way."

She didn’t answer. The only sound between them was the faint rustle of the blanket as she shifted slightly away, as if to make sure there was still space between them.

Daisy stared into the darkness, her chest tight. She knew he wasn’t lying, that this was just how he’d been for years but knowing didn’t make it hurt less. He liked her, he’d said so himself, but when the world pressed too hard on him, she still wasn’t the place he turned to.

It was a strange kind of ache, being wanted but not needed.

"Okay, I understand now. So..." Her eyes shut, "can you please leave me alone?"

Theo froze, her words settling between them heavier than anything else she’d said tonight.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again. For a moment, it looked like he might argue, insist on staying but instead, he slowly pushed himself up from the bed.

"Alright," he said quietly.

When the door clicked shut, Daisy let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. She pouted at the silence. "Yeah... whatever..." She tossed the blanket aside.

Then she stuck her tongue out at the innocent door, as if it could feel the sting of her mockery.

But then she couldn’t react much when the door swung open again without warning.

Theo stood there holding a small plate with a slice of her favorite cake balanced in one hand. He stopped, eyes locking on her frozen, tongue-sticking-out face. "Oh—am I interrupting something?"

Daisy’s eyes went wide. She yanked the blanket back over her head.

Theo chuckled softly and stepped inside, setting the plate gently on the bedside table. "I figured maybe you’d be too mad to eat. Should I give it to someone else?"

After a long pause, Daisy muttered, "Hmm... just throw it away."

Not expecting that kind of response, Theo raised an eyebrow. "Throw it away?"

"Yeah!" She harshly pulled the blanket off her head and stared at him. "Throw it away! Like everything can be fixed with a slice of cake. What would be the use of the divorce department if cake could fix things, right?"

Theo blinked, trying to process her angry words. "Aha... okay..." He nodded lightly. "So, should I ask the government to get rid of the divorce department? Because honestly, who really wants to get divorced, right?"

Daisy squinted her eyes, "Yeah... whatever. Not funny at all."

Theo’s grin softened into a mock pout. "Ouch, tough crowd." He scooted a little closer, lowering his voice playfully. "I know I’m not good with jokes, but I think I’m great at other things..."

She gave him a suspicious look. "Oh? Like what?"

Theo smirked, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Like knowing exactly how to make you forget you’re mad." Then, before she could react, he leaned in and pressed a quick, light kiss on her lips.

"Excuse me!" She frowned, covering her lips instantly, "That’s a foul play!" She clenched her jaw cutely and closed her eyes.

But the moment she opened her eyes, Theo’s face was an inch from hers, and he leaned in for more.

"No!" she protested, leaning back, but he caught her by cupping her face with both hands, thumbs gently brushing her cheekbones.

"Kissing me won’t solve anything, like me being mad and not gonna make me liking you ba—"

Before she could finish, his lips crashed firmly against hers.

Her eyes flew open as his hands slid from her cheeks down to cup her jaw, tilting her face just enough to deepen the kiss.

She tried to pull back, but his grip was steady, his body leaning in so their chests pressed close, heat radiating between them.

Her fingers curled into the collar of his shirt, anchoring herself as his lips moved with a confident, slow rhythm, soft but utterly claiming every inch of her mouth.

At that moment, she closed her eyes and let him devour her lips, surrendering to the intensity.

His breath mingled with hers, warm and steady, as his forehead gently pressed against hers when they finally broke apart, both breathing a little heavier.

Before she could catch her breath, Theo’s hands slid from her jaw down to her waist, pulling her closer. With a gentle but firm motion, he shifted, guiding her until she was sitting on his lap, chest flush against his.

"I will make sure..." His lips brushed against her neck, warm and soft. "The divorce department never receives our divorce form."

Daisy blinked up at him, her breath hitching. "Theo... not there, it tickles."

"Where? Here?" He smiled against her skin, trailing kisses along her neck down to the bottom of her jaw. "But I think I’m sick... I just can’t stop myself anymore..."

A shiver ran through her. "Theo—"

She gasped before she could finish her words when Theo gently eased her backward until she was lying beneath him on the bed, his hands steady but tender as he held her close. "I think I’m contagious," he murmured, his voice husky. "Because once I catch your scent, I just can’t help myself."