Chapter 110
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63
“Wow,” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “you’re not even married yet, and you’re already choosing her over your own family?‘
She shot me a withering glance, as though I were personally responsible for corrupting her brother.
Finley replied firmly. “Now apologize to Clara for your rudeness.”
Daisy’s perfectly glossed lips pressed into a thin line.
She looked between Finley and me. Finally, she straightened her shoulders.
“I’m not going to apologize,” she said coldly.
Without another word, she turned and stalked out of the office, the sharp click of her heels punctuating her exit.
“Clara, I’m so sorry about that. Daisy has been…” he trailed off, searching for the right words, ” She’s been spoiled since childhood.”
“It’s okay,” I said, giving him a reassuring smile.
“Why does your family continue to indulge her?” I asked, genuinely curious.
Finley sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair.
‘It’s… complicated. There are circumstances that…”
He paused, seeming to make a decision.
“Daisy isn’t actually my biological sister.”
I blinked in surprise. “She’s adopted?”
“Not… exactly.” Finley took a deep breath.
“Twenty–six years ago, my mother gave birth to a baby girl in New York. The day after the birth, while my mother was still recovering,
someone took the baby from the hospital nursery. At that time, my mother was almost driven mad.”
“Oh my God,” I whispered, my free hand rising to cover my mouth.
“The kidnapper demanded a ransom,” Finley continued, his voice low and controlled.
“My father paid it—a fortune–and a baby was returned to them. But when they did DNA testing later, they discovered it wasn’t their daughter.”
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Chapter 110
I felt my heart constrict. “But the kidnappers…”
“Were killed that night in a police operation gone wrong.” Finley’s expression was grim.
“So Daisy is…”
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“The baby that was returned to them. My father blamed himself for the whole situation. He believes his real daughter probably died that night and that the kidnappers, in desperation, substituted another baby.”
Finley’s voice grew quieter. “I was twelve when I overheard my father talking with a private investigator about it. My mother still doesn’t know–she believes Daisy is her biological child. Everyone has kept the secret to protect her.”
I sat in stunned silence, trying to process what he was telling me.
“That’s… I don’t even know what to say,” I finally managed.
Finley sighed and continued speaking.
“My father and Ethan have always spoiled Daisy because they hope that if our real sister somehow survived and was adopted by another family, they’d treat her with the same love and care,”
“Thank you for sharing this with me, Finley. I understand better now.”
“I’m not excusing her behavior,” he said quickly. “Just… explaining it.”
“I know,” I squeezed his hand. “I understand why your family has protected this secret, especially for your mother’s sake.”
Finley’s expression softened as he covered my hand with his.
“This doesn’t mean you have to tolerate her attitude, Clara. I will always stand by your side. ”
He leaned back slightly,
‘I moved out when I was a child to pursue my art career. We were never particularly close to begin with, and knowing she wasn’t actually my biological sister…”
His voice trailed off, a shadow of confusion crossing his face.
I wanted to ask him about giving up his artistic ambitions to return to the family business.
Was there a part of him that mourned that creative path not taken? Did he ever resent the expectations that eventually pulled him back into the Cole family orbit?
But before I could ask the question, my phone burst into life with a shrill ring.
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18:28 Sat, Jan 31
Chapter 110
I jumped, fumbling to pull it from my pocket. Audrey’s name flashed on the screen.
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
