Chapter 2 2

"I hope you like the dishes, Daisy." Mr Robert let out when they were all sitting in the dining room, having dinner.

Daisy nodded. "They are very delicious." She asserted as she shoved the spoon of rice in her mouth that she was holding.

Alex who was quiet all the time, stole a glance at her before he gazed at his brother. "So how did you guys meet?" He was really so curious.

Daisy stopped chewing her food and inhaled a sharp breath, retaining her patience.

"Actually, we met in New York. But luckily we met again in Canada."

When she heard Edward's reply, her pulse leaped. It wasn't going to be good. She was afraid, wanted to run away, nevertheless, she remained tight-lipped and chose to let her boyfriend continue.

"She was a student in a local college and used to work as a part-time waitress job in a restaurant near my college." He took a halt and let out a soft laugh. "Almost all of the guys were crazy about her. They went to the restaurant every day just because of her. But too bad, among all of them, she chose me. Although it was not an easy process, it took about two years to make her say yes."

Alex's face stiffened with hardness as he forced out a soft smile. "So what does she do now?"

Edward grinned proudly. "She is a math teacher in an elementary school."

Alex nodded and started playing with his food on the plate whilst a smirk curved his lips. "That's great. But will she even marry you and stay with you? Or just run away?"

This question stunned his parents and Edward, they looked at him with puzzled faces. Yes, he has been so cold and arrogant too but he was never this mean to anyone.

Edward cleared his throat and let out an awkward laugh. "I won't let her run away from me."

Daisy on the other side clenched her fists tightly. He was trying hard to play with her patience. But she can't let him win easily. "What about you, Mr Alex?" She finally let out and smiled tightly. "Are you married yet? Or I guess you have a really pretty girlfriend."

Everyone tensed up by what she asked just now. Edward immediately put down his chopsticks and held her hand. "Daisy..." He whispered in a way of stopping her.

"Did I say something wrong?" She arched a sly brow. "Why? Doesn't he get a girlfriend? I thought he would be married. He is handsome and successful."

Mrs Alina turned to her. "Let's not talk about it. You..."

"She left me. I don't know where she is." Alex's voice rose, cutting his mother words off, staring straight into Daisy's eyes.

Everyone froze with what he said just now including Daisy, she held his gaze with a victorious smile on her face faded. She didn't expect such a reply.

"My girlfriend. She ran away on our wedding day. It was all six years ago. But you are right. She is very pretty. And you... you look so much like her. Big fascinating eyes, small nose, long hair, and fair skin. I think my brother and my taste are quite similar." He paused and chuckled. It sounded pathetic although he was trying hard to hide and endure.

"Left you?" Daisy asked, eyes slightly widened. "Y-you didn't find her out?" She almost stuttered, surprised by what he had said or surprised by the new habit of lying that he had developed.

Alex chuckled again, pretending not to be affected by her questions. Swallowing the pain, he attempted to lie. "But this world is very small, so I will surely meet her again. I am really yearning for the day." He drew a fake smile. He didn't mean anything he said. All he wanted to do was to see her reaction and he successfully did.

Daisy's smile faded immediately, her eyes started getting reddened and skin turned pale.

Alex smirked and leaned slightly forward. "Her name is... Rhianna Riddles." He uttered loudly, sounding more challenging now.

Daisy quickly looked away, trying to hide the tears in her eyes that were threatening to fall. She balled her trembling hands and hid them under the table. After so many years, the name echoed in her ears and she didn't know it will hurt so much until now.

Realizing the tensed up atmosphere, Edward let out an awkward laugh. "She probably doesn't. Look at her face. By the way..." He paused and glanced at his parents. After a moment of silence, he finally earned the courage to talk again. "I want to tell you something really important and that was the reason I brought her here. I hope you will take it easy and won't hurt her."

"What is that?" Mr Robert asked.

Daisy widened her eyes, assuming what he was going to say. But hell no, she had to stop him. Alex shouldn't know about this.

She felt a lump in her throat when he continued. "She has a past. Back then maybe she made a mistake, but the outcome was never one. It was a blessing. And it is..."

"Edward." She cut him off, almost shouted.

"Yes?" He replied, alarmed.

"Can you please take me outside? I am suddenly having nausea." She pleaded. She learned it quite well that he would never avoid her request.

"Yeah, sure. Let's go."

* * *

"This is our garden. Al and I used to play here a lot. I will show you some pictures of our childhood that I have on my phone." Edward paused as he searched his pocket to find his phone out but when he didn't, he sighed and looked up at Daisy. "I think I forgot it in my room. Wait a moment here. I will be back soon." With that, he made his way inside the mansion.

Daisy sighed and stared up at the dark sky mindlessly. Why must she condone all these shits? She thought everything was over and now she can start a new life. Or, a better life with the person who was the most important for her now. For whom, she was here again. She hated herself because of being so weak.

Whilst she was immersed in her deep thoughts, someone came by and stood beside her. "Waiting for your boyfriend?"

Hearing upon the familiar voice, she looked at the person beside her with no interest and as expected, it was Alex. "Yes." She replied and immediately averted her gaze. She was afraid that if she looks into his eyes for a while, she won't be able to control herself.

"What? Are you scared to look into my eyes now? But you were very brave in front of everyone earlier." He smirked.

Daisy let out a deep sigh. "I don't know what are you talking about. But if I have offended you by mentioning your girlfriend. I am sorry."

Alex leaned his back against the car and shook his head. "It doesn't matter. By the way, choosing my brother was a nice move. But don't you think a golddigger like you will be badly dumped by him when he will know about your secret past? And as long as I know my brother... he will be very hurt when he will know that his girlfriend...." He paused and moved closer to her. "slept with his elder brother."

Daisy's eyes welled up immediately. How could he be so mean? She lifted her hand to slap him but he was fast enough to grab her hand. "Think before you do so. I still have the contract and don't forget you still owe me three weeks. And you have to pay for that."

She hung her hand back at the side and looked away. Alex sighed when he noticed the tears falling from her eyes. He wasn't sure if she was hurt or angry but he had always hated to see her like this. He turned to her and lifted his hand but before he could touch her face, Edward's voice chimed in.

"Al, what are you doing here?"

Alex drew his hand back to its place as he looked at his brother in front of them. "We were just talking about your childhood." He lied. Whatever it was, he didn't want to hurt his brother's feelings.

Edward narrowed his eyes to slit. "You didn't say anything funny, right?"

"Of course, I did. I talked about your underwear policies. And look, she has tears because of laughing too much." Alex replied, shoving his hands inside the pockets. "Anyway, I have too many works. I will go. You guys enjoy."

"Yeah, let me find those pictures." Edward said whilst scrolling his phone, searching for the photos in the gallery.

"Remember... the three weeks." Daisy who was fighting her tears until now heard Alex say in his lowest tone before he made his way to the mansion. She felt her heart started bleeding as all the Goddamned miseries of six years ago started replaying in her mind.