Chapter 2

Daisy’s POV

I instinctively tried to shut the door, not wanting to deal with him.

Nicolo caught the frame before it could click shut.

His brows furrowed as he stared down at me. 

"Avoiding me? Why?" 

He leaned in a fraction. "Are you mad? Because of Cece?"

I quickly shook my head. "I'm not mad. I'm happy for you, Uncle Nico. You two finally got together."

His eyes darkened.

"You mean that? You're not just throwing a tantrum?" He let out a harsh, mocking laugh.

"Daisy, don't tell me you're still hung up on me. Your eighteenth birthday party—you got drunk and stole a kiss. Did you really think I didn't know?"

"And those pathetic little love letters you’ve been writing for years? I’ve read every single one."

"You thought you hid it so well, but the longing in your eyes was so obvious. Who in this estate couldn't see you were obsessed with me?"

"Not confessing was the smartest thing you ever did. I would have laughed right in your face."

"Laughed at your pathetic delusion."

He chuckled darkly, pushed past me, and strode straight to my desk.

He yanked open the bottom drawer, grabbed the thick stack of envelopes, and threw them across the floor.

Then, he crushed them under his shoe.

"I’ve taken care of you since you were seven, Daisy. I raised you. Yet you harbored these sick feelings for your guardian!"

"You knew damn well Cece was the only woman in my heart, but you still wrote these. You know what? It makes me sick."

He closed the distance between us, leaning in until his lips brushed my ear.

His voice dropped to a lethal whisper. 

"I came here to tell you something. Last night, when those rival bastards spiked my champagne with that aphrodisiac, I saw the hunger in your eyes."

"I knew you wanted to offer yourself up as my 'cure.' Thank God you didn't. It would have disgusted me for the rest of my life. You aren't worthy of warming my bed."

Even though I didn't love him anymore in this life, those vicious words still stung. 

Nicolo fired off another warning, telling me to keep my distance so Cecilia wouldn't get the wrong idea.

Then he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. 

I didn't want to breathe the same air as them. Besides, I needed to finalize my visa .

I grabbed my bag and left the estate.

I deliberately stayed out until almost 10 PM. 

The moment I walked back into my bedroom, I knew something was wrong.

Someone had messed with my bed. 

Then, I opened Instagram.

Cecilia had just posted a new story—a selfie of her lounging in a bed. 

The caption read: "Nothing beats a custom luxury mattress. I just mentioned I wasn't sleeping well, and he instantly swapped my bed for this. Find yourself a man who treats you like a queen!"

She took the mattress Nicolo had bought for me.

It was a custom orthopedic one that cost a fortune, ordered specially for me early last year when my back injury flared up after that rival family's ambush. 

He used to treat me so well.

He knew exactly what it meant to pamper a girl he had practically raised, yet he let me fall in love with him anyway. 

But now, he stood on his moral high ground, calling my love for him twisted and sick. 

And all it took was one casual complaint from Cecilia for him to strip my bed bare, without even a word of warning.

Hearing me come back, Nicolo appeared in my doorway.

He leaned against the frame, his tone casual. 

"Cece is a light sleeper, so I had your mattress moved to her room. Your back is fully healed anyway. You can sleep on anything."

I didn't even look up.

"Okay," I murmured.

Nicolo frowned. 

"Daisy, this sudden 'good girl' act is really throwing me off. What the hell is wrong with you these past two days?"

"You used to throw a fit anytime I treated anyone else well. Why aren't you acting out? Are you plotting something behind my back?" 

"I'm warning you. If you dare mess with Cece, I won't go easy on you!"

I finally lifted my head and met his gaze calmly. 

"I don't want to mess with anyone. In fact, I'd prefer it if everyone just left me alone."

"Besides, Uncle Nico, haven't you always wanted me to grow up and be obedient? You should be thrilled I'm finally acting my age. Right?"

Nico's jaw clenched tight. He looked like he wanted to murder someone. 

"Good. Very good, Daisy," he sneered bitterly. 

He turned on his heel, the door slamming shut with a violent crack as he headed downstairs.

Usually, that meant he was furious. 

But I was done coaxing him. 

His anger didn't matter to me anymore.

Because very soon, I'd be gone for good.