Chapter 187
Daisy’s POV:
“You wouldn’t dare,” I whispered.
“Try me,” Eleanor hissed, her eyes glinting with desperation.
“Your parents already hate us. What do I have to lose by telling them,
their precious Daisy paid me to keep their biological daughter away
from them?”
I felt trapped, cornered by my own schemes.
“Fine,” I conceded through gritted teeth. “I’ll… I’ll figure something
out.
I took a deep breath, trying to think clearly despite my panic.
“We could work together to make sure my parents never truly accept
Audrey,” I suggested in a hushed tone.
Eleanor’s eyes lit up with understanding.
“Exactly. The more they dislike Audrey, the safer we both are,” she
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whispered urgently.
Suddenly, we heard a faint sound from the hallway–like the creak of
a floorboard.
Eleanor and I exchanged alarmed glances before she hurried to open
the door.
We peered into the empty hallway, seeing no one.
“We should get back. We’ve been gone too long already–they’ll get
suspicious.”
When we returned to the living room, Father was already informing
George that he would use his Wall Street connections to ensure the
Baileys regretted crossing the Cole family.
The car ride home was agonizingly silent.
I kept stealing glances at Ethan, trying to read his expression, but his
face remained impassive, revealing nothing.
My heart hammered against my chest, realizing that something had
shifted.
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The tension in the air was so thick I could barely breathe.
When we finally arrived home, I excused myself to my room, needing
a moment to collect my thoughts.
The mirror reflected a pale, frightened girl I barely recognized.
Get it together, Daisy. Everything will be fine.
E
Exhaustion washed over me as I lay in bed and closed my eyes.
When I opened them again, night had already fallen.
By the time I emerged from my room, everyone had gathered in the
living room.
William sat stiffly beside his wife, Clara looked uncomfortable, and
Finley stood by the window with an unreadable expression.
Dad and Mom occupied the loveseat, their faces grim.
The moment I stepped into the room, all eyes turned to me, and I felt
my stomach drop.
Ethan stood in the center, his posture rigid.
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“Now that everyone’s here, there’s something we need to discuss.”
I plastered on a smile, hoping to diffuse the tension.
“Is everything okay?”
“No, Daisy, it’s not.”
Ethan’s voice was cold, colder than I’d ever heard it.
“I heard your entire conversation with Eleanor.”
My smile froze on my face.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You paid Eleanor Bailey thirty million dollars to keep information
about Audrey from us,” Ethan said, each word like a knife to my chest.
“And you were even planning to work with Eleanor to drive wedges.
between Audrey and us.
The room spun around me.
“That’s not–I didn’t-”
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“Don’t lie to me!”
Ethan’s voice boomed through the room, making me flinch.
“We have investigated the bank transfers, the recording, everything.”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
“I was just scared,” I whispered.
“This goes beyond fear, Daisy.”
Ethan’s eyes were hard, unyielding. “You’ve disappointed me more
than I can express.”
Those words cut deeper than any physical pain I’d ever experienced.
“I’ve made a decision,” Ethan continued.
“I will send you to Europe.”
The room tilted beneath my feet.
“No,” I gasped. “Please, Ethan, don’t send me away. This is my home.
You’re my family.”
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This time, Ethan remained completely unmoved.
His eyes were cold, distant–nothing like the protective older brother
I’d always known.
“I gave you a chance, Daisy. And you threw it away.”
Desperate, I looked toward Mr. and Mrs. Cole, searching for any sign
of support, any willingness to intervene on my behalf.
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