CHAPTER 93: THE TWO-WEEK SILENCE

The faint ’tap-tap’ of Daisy’s fork against the plate echoed through the quiet dining hall. She had been staring at her untouched breakfast for what felt like forever.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps broke the stillness. She stood up instantly, turning just in time to see Theo striding toward the stairs without even glancing her way.

"Err... Theo..." Her voice came out softer than she intended, but she forced herself to continue, gathering what courage she could to break the two-week silence since their last argument.

He stopped mid-step, turning his head just enough to glance at her. His face was the same as the day they first met in his office, cold, unreadable.

"It’s been a while since I visited my dad, so I’m thinking of going today..." She tried to smile, though it barely reached her eyes. "Can I?"

His brow twitched. "You don’t need my permission."

That was all he said before turning away, taking the stairs two at a time. Daisy’s gaze fell to the floor, the weight of his words pressing heavier than the silence that followed.

Daisy remained standing there, watching the stairs, until Theo finally came back down. He carried a document file, probably something he’d left behind earlier before heading to the office. His expression was calm but there was a slight tension in the way he held the papers.

She took a deep breath, trying again. "I... think I changed my mind," she said, laughing lightly, though it came out more like a nervous titter. "I’ll visit him tomorrow instead. Will you come back for lunch? Or... do you want me to bring a packed lunch to the office? I think I’m doing okay now, so I wanted to get some fresh air."

Theo paused mid-step, giving her a long look that made her heart skip despite the weeks of distance.

"Why would you?" Theo asked, his tone clipped, sharp, like a line drawn in the air.

Daisy blinked, flustered, fumbling for words. "I... thought maybe you’re too busy to even go out for lunch... so bringing you lunch would be better."

"Don’t bother." His voice was flat, final. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Daisy standing there, her stomach twisting with embarrassment and a twinge of sadness.

She turned to the maids standing nearby, forcing a smile. "Hmm... I’ll go up first."

Entering the room, she sat at the edge of the bed, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her dress. Holding back her emotions felt heavier than she expected. She glanced around the quiet room, its emptiness making her chest ache. For the past two weeks, Theo hadn’t stepped foot in here—not once.

Dressing room? The thought drifted through her mind. It was connected to the next room, the one Theo currently occupied. The silence between the two spaces seemed louder than words, and for a moment, she felt the weight of it pressing down, like the house itself was reminding her of his absence.

Her fingers traced the edge of the bed, and a small sigh escaped her lips. "Should I apologize?"

But then she frowned, staring at nothing. "Why should I? I didn’t do anything wrong. I just didn’t want to get pregnant. Ah..." She rolled her eyes, letting out another weak sigh. "Thank God I brought the pill along..."

Her mind drifted back to the pharmacy, the memory sharp and vivid. She hadn’t gone there expecting anything more than her usual fever medicine, yet the moment she stepped inside, a woman with swollen eyes, probably from crying, had caught her attention. Daisy had watched quietly as the woman hesitated, fidgeting nervously in front of the pharmacist. When the words finally came out, she asked for a pill to prevent pregnancy after sex, Daisy remembered feeling a strange mix of empathy and relief.

She laid back on the bed, exhaling slowly. "At least I was prepared," she muttered to herself, the thought both comforting and oddly embarrassing. The room felt quieter now, almost too quiet, leaving her alone with the echo of her own reflections and the weight of the tension that still lingered between her and Theo.

"Ah, this man!" She sat up abruptly, frustration written all over her face. "I don’t even know if you like me out of love... or if it’s just some fleeting feeling that could vanish as easily as it came!" She huffed loudly, tossing a pillow onto the bed. "What if I agree to have a baby, and then you suddenly—suddenly tell me you don’t like me anymore because you found someone else who could... pull you back from your mess?"

She froze mid-thought, recalling his words. Theo had admitted before that she wasn’t the only one capable of steadying him, that Camellia could too. A pang of unease crept through her chest, her mind swirling with doubt. The very thought that she could be replaceable stung more than she expected.

She pressed her hands over her face, her heart racing. "Ah... I can’t trust him..." she whispered to herself, the words hanging in the empty room.

"Whatever... I need to head to Dad..." she muttered, shaking off the lingering tension. Determined to distract herself, she strode toward the dressing room to change her clothes. Each movement felt purposeful, a small act of control in the chaos of her thoughts. As she zipped up her outfit, she stole a glance at the mirror, "As cute as always." She winked to herself.

Turning to walk out, her fingers traced the cabinet that stored Theo’s watches, and her eyes paused. The ring. The couple’s ring was gone. She tried to push the thought aside, but her gaze fell to the trash bin below. The velvet box lay there, discarded, as if tossed without a second thought.

With a sharp inhale, Daisy crouched slightly, her fingers brushing the edge of the trash bin. The velvet box sat there, lying askew. She picked it up carefully, lifting the lid. The couple ring she remembered so vividly was still there, gleaming faintly under the soft light of the room.

Her breath caught. The diamond sparkled innocently, almost taunting her with its quiet beauty. She ran a finger over the smooth metal, feeling the weight of it.

"Did he... really throw it away?" she whispered to herself, heart twisting. Slowly took out the ring from the box, she let it slide over her finger. It fit perfectly, as if it had been waiting for her. The metal was cool against her skin, the diamond catching the soft light.

But the moment it settled on her finger, a sharp, hollow ache pierced her chest, as if something had crushed her heart from the inside.

She looked down at the ring again, guilt, longing, and confusion twisting in her stomach. Her fingers trembled slightly as she whispered to the empty room, "Why... does this hurt so much?"