Chapter 4

Specks of blood had begun to seep through the gauze he was holding.

"Lidia, don't forget your place!"

My place. Perhaps in the eyes of others, I was just a woman who had gotten close to him for his money.

But the truth was, my father had helped the Wellington Group through their most difficult times. It was just that Derick seemed to have forgotten all of it after he met Daisy.

Just as we were locked in a stalemate, Daisy sauntered to the doorway of my hospital room.

The back of her hand was wrapped in a neat, tidy bandage, a stark contrast to my own disheveled state.

"Derick, my hand hurts a little."

Derick crossed the room in a few quick strides, rushing to her side.

"Daisy, what are you doing here? The doctor said you shouldn't overexert yourself, or the wound could get inflamed."

A wave of scorn washed over me. How could a short walk of just a few steps be so tiring?

"It's okay, Derick. I also wanted to come see Lidia. She was hurt much worse than I was. I wonder if she's feeling any better."

As she spoke, Daisy had already sat down on the edge of my hospital bed.

As if on purpose, she dangled the pigeon-egg-sized Van Cleef & Arpels necklace she wore around her neck right in front of my eyes.

The necklace was exquisitely crafted, sparkling with a rainbow of fiery colors.I’d seen it on Rodeo Drive, and I remembered the one Derick had given me.

It turns out mine was just her free gift.

Even the gift Derick used to pacify me was just a freebie she didn't want.

"Lidia, are you feeling any better?"

"Oh dear, what kind of doctor bandaged this? It’s bleeding through."

"Let me bandage it for you. I’ve had some medical training before. Don't worry, I'll make sure it's done right."

I leaned away, but she only moved closer.

The diamond necklace dangled back and forth before my eyes, and I saw the triumphant smirk on Daisy's lips.

"Get away from me!"

I snatched the necklace from her neck and threw it to the ground. Daisy was completely stunned.

Daisy's eyes immediately reddened, and Derick swept her into his arms.

"Lidia, what are you doing!"

"Derick picked this necklace out for me himself! If you wanted it, I would have just given it to you. Why did you have to destroy it!"

"The value of the necklace isn't important! What's important is the thought Derick put into it for me!"

The necklace was incredibly expensive, and the murderous look in Daisy's eyes at that moment didn't seem like an act.

Nestled in Derick's arms, Daisy looked even more petite and adorable."Daisy, let's go. Don't stoop to her level."

Derick soothed her softly, with a tenderness I had never seen before.

When he turned to face me, that cold mask was back in place.

"Lidia, you've disappointed me so much!"

With that, he left the room without a backward glance, leaving me alone with my throbbing wound.

During the two weeks of my recovery, it was as if Derick had vanished.

I never saw him again, and neither the doctors nor the nurses ever mentioned him.

Until one time, he forgot to block me, and I saw his post was from the Maldives.

I had asked him countless times to go on an overseas vacation with me, but he always made excuses.

He'd either say he wasn't interested or that the company was too busy for him to get away.

But to make it up to Daisy, he spent those two weeks traveling the world with her.

I put down my phone and laughed at my own pathetic situation.

After two weeks of physical therapy, I could finally walk normally again.

I never expected that when I returned to what was once our home, I would find it completely transformed.

The modern art I loved was gone, replaced by the pastoral floral prints Daisy adored, which clashed horribly with the minimalist decor.

The household staff who took care of us had also been replaced by all of Daisy's aunts and cousins. Suddenly, my heart clenched into a tight knot, for I didn't see Max—the Golden Retriever I'd had for eight years—waiting faithfully at the door for me to come home as he did every day.