Cold Betrayal Took Her, Warm Revenge Set Her Free

Daisy couldn’t stop herself from bending forward, her body trembling as tears spilled down her cheeks. Under the shocked gazes of passersby, she fled home, humiliation clouding her every step. But home offered no refuge; it was a storm waiting to explode. The moment she stepped through the door, her father’s furious slap landed across her face. "Ah!" The searing pain on her cheek made her head spin, but it was the fury in her father’s eyes and the deep disappointment in her mother’s gaze that cut deeper. “Heather slit her wrist because of you. Are you happy now?!” “You knew she liked Desmond too, but you still insisted on marrying him. What else did you expect her to do?” “You’ve completely let us down!” "Daisy, you've become so selfish. You weren't like this before." Daisy’s laugh escaped, bitter and broken, her tears falling freely as she stared at the parents who had once adored her, now looking at her like a stranger. She wanted to scream, "How did you become this? Are you still my parents?" It was Heather who had stolen her fiancé, so why was she the one being blamed? Daisy knew all too well that if she spoke her thoughts aloud, all she’d receive in return would be their stunned, confused stares and an even deeper sense of disappointment. So she remained silent. The pain slowly dulled, leaving her oddly calm. “What do you want me to do?” “Give Desmond to Heather. For three years, while you were in a coma, she stayed by our side. She’s done so much for the family. You can’t just turn your back on her!” Before Daisy could respond, Desmond and Heather walked in. Daisy’s eyes flickered to their intertwined hands and a cold chill filled her gaze. She didn’t need her parents to say a word; she didn’t want Desmond anymore. The moment Heather returned, her parents immediately dropped their harsh words for Daisy and rushed to Heather, showering her with concern. “Heather, are you alright? Silly girl, why would you do something so reckless? What would we do if something happened to you?” The scene was too much to bear. Daisy’s heart burned with pain. She couldn’t watch it any longer. She pressed her hand against her aching cheek and turned to leave, but Desmond’s hand suddenly gripped hers. “Daisy, about today…” “I know what you’re going to say,” Daisy cut him off, turning to face him. “But I don’t want to hear it.” She could already predict it: another half-hearted apology, followed by a promise of a grander wedding next time. But after being abandoned at the altar three times, Daisy had stopped holding out hope for anything more than empty words. Instead, she had become the punchline of the city’s cruelest joke. “Desmond, hearts are made of flesh,” she said. She wasn’t some unfeeling machine. The love she had once poured into him had crumbled to dust, leaving nothing but cold indifference. Desmond had expected her to lash out, to fall into the same tantrums that had marked their past. But instead, she met him with calm detachment, leaving him speechless. His heart tightened as he reached out, but before he could say another word, Daisy slipped from his grasp, her figure retreating like the fading echo of a dream. “Daisy.” Desmond panicked, instinctively moving to follow her, but a sudden cry from behind stopped him in his tracks. “Desmond, come quickly! Heather fainted!” His feet froze and just like that, he veered back, rushing to Heather's side in a flurry of concern. A bitter twist of irony flickered in Daisy’s eyes as she watched him go, her heart heavy with the sting of abandonment. She turned away, wandering into the garden, the cool breeze a stark contrast to the suffocating ache in her chest. After a long stretch of silence, her phone buzzed with a message from Heather. [Sister, look how pathetic you are. With just a flick of my wrist, both your parents and Desmond come rushing to me. And you? You’re nothing but a forgotten ghost in this house.] [Oh, but even a shadow like you still bothers me.] [Don’t worry. One day, I’ll make sure you crawl out of here like the dog you are.] Attached was a video of Desmond gently feeding soup to Heather while her parents looked on, their eyes filled with the kind of care Daisy once thought she’d receive.

In the past, Daisy would’ve been consumed by rage, rushing headlong into a confrontation with Heather. But now, she simply added Heather’s name to her mental blacklist, void of any emotion. It wasn’t until later, when Daisy woke from her coma, that the truth slowly unraveled before her. During her absence, her parents had been swallowed by their grief and in a desperate attempt to fill the void, Desmond had turned to Heather, a girl who bore an uncanny resemblance to Daisy. With her sweet words and effortless charm, Heather quickly wove her way into their hearts, soothing their pain. At first, Daisy had been grateful, even finding joy in the idea of gaining a younger sister. When she heard her parents had taken Heather in as their foster daughter, Daisy had thought it was a beautiful thing, a way to bring light back into their lives. But soon, Daisy saw the truth unraveling before her. Things weren’t as she had imagined. Heather, with her charm and subtle manipulation, began to take center stage in everyone’s life. When Heather casually showed interest in Daisy’s room, their parents insisted she give it up without a second thought. If Heather admired a necklace once gifted to Daisy, it would immediately become hers. The dowry Daisy’s grandmother had left her, a token of love and legacy, was quietly claimed by Heather without a word from her parents. But what truly cut the deepest was Desmond. His gaze, once filled with adoration for Daisy, now softened with an indulgent affection for Heather. On her birthday, he left her alone, choosing instead to spend the day with Heather. On a cold mountaintop in the dead of night, he had abandoned Daisy, all because of Heather. Even the grand wedding he had promised Daisy faded into nothingness, swallowed whole by Heather’s influence. Despite her outward innocence, Heather was a master of manipulation. Since Daisy had woken up from her coma, Heather had worked tirelessly to drive a wedge between her and her parents, as well as between her and Desmond. Daisy had no means to counter her cunning. In just two short years, Daisy’s parents grew increasingly distant and Desmond’s humiliation of her became a cruel, familiar routine. Daisy had fought, argued and caused scenes, all in vain. Each time, it only pushed them further away. Slowly, she began to understand that Heather’s triumph in driving a wedge between them wasn’t just her doing. It was because the ones Daisy had once trusted with her heart no longer cared. Love didn’t vanish; it simply transformed. Daisy had never believed that before, but now she understood it all too well. Even if she exposed Heather’s cruel messages to the world, she knew how it would go. Her parents and Desmond would just accuse her of fabricating lies to tarnish Heather’s image. In the end, Daisy would be the one left holding the pieces. She set her phone down with a sigh, her gaze drifting to the empty yard. The house that once felt like home had long since lost that warmth. Even if Heather didn’t push her out, Daisy knew she would leave on her own terms. Then, out of nowhere, something dark and bloody flew from the side, startling Daisy. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. It was Heather’s pet Ragdoll cat, the one she doted on so fondly. Now, it lay lifeless, its soft fur matted with blood. Daisy’s hand flew to her mouth in horror, her breath catching in her throat. Desmond, who happened to walk by, was also taken aback. “What’s going on?” “Desmond, it…” Before Daisy could finish, a sharp scream shattered the air. Heather rushed over, scooping up the bloodied cat, her face contorted with feigned distress. “Sister, why would you hurt Althea?” Daisy froze. “What are you talking about?” “I know you’re angry about the wedding,” Heather sobbed, her voice trembling. “But if you have a problem with me, take it out on me. Why would you take revenge on Althea?” Tears streamed down Heather’s face and Daisy’s mind raced. It all clicked. This was another setup. This had happened time and time again, but framing her for something like this, killing a pet, was a new low. If Daisy remembered correctly, this cat had been left behind by her mother before she passed. A cold shiver ran down her spine. As always, everyone would side with Heather. Still, she couldn't remain silent. “It wasn’t me. Someone just threw it over here.” “But the cuts on Althea are clearly from someone with professional skills,” Heather sobbed, her eyes overflowing with tears. “And you’re the only one in this family who studied medicine. If not you, then who should I suspect?”

Upon hearing the news, Heather’s expression hardened as he gestured for a servant and whispered something low. Moments later, a doctor in a white coat arrived, carefully took the cat’s lifeless body and began his examination. “It’s true that the wounds were inflicted with a knife, the method eerily precise. The cat was drained of blood and died in agony.” Soon after, security personnel rushed in to report, “We reviewed the surveillance footage. This afternoon, only the eldest young miss entered the garden.” Heather’s expression darkened, her eyes locking on Daisy with a cold, commanding gaze. “Do you have anything else to say?” Daisy’s lips parted, but no words came out. She had known it would come to this. Finally, Daisy spoke softly, “What can I say? You’ve never believed me. What’s left for me to say?” Desmond hesitated, his gaze faltering for a moment. “Sister, are you saying I purposely framed you?” Heather shook her head, tears spilling from her eyes as she sobbed harder. “Althea was the only thing my mother left me. Even if I wanted to frame you, how could I bear to sacrifice her life for it?” With that, Heather collapsed, overcome with grief. Desmond immediately caught her, his expression hardening again. “Daisy, I never imagined you could become so vicious.” “At the wedding, I was the one who abandoned you. If you want to hate someone, hate me. Taking it out on Heather’s cat, what kind of person does that?” His eyes were filled with disappointment. “The Thomas Family can’t accept a daughter-in-law who’s so cruel and underhanded. If this is how it is, let’s cancel the engagement.” “Fine,” Daisy replied, calm and steady. Desmond’s anger froze, his expression darkening further. “I’m not joking. Don’t regret this later.” Before he could continue, Daisy’s parents arrived in a hurry. Without a second of hesitation, Samuel slapped Daisy hard across the face. “How could I have raised such a wicked daughter?!” Daisy’s face, already bruised from an earlier beating, split open again from the fresh slap. But her father, still seething, raised his hand once more. “Today, you kill a cat. Tomorrow, you’ll kill a person!” “Ever since you woke up, all you’ve brought is chaos into this family!” “If I’d known you’d turn out like this, I would’ve preferred you died in that car accident!” “Someone, lock her up! No food! She’ll stay locked up until she truly reflects on her actions!” The sting of the slap spread like a thousand needles pricking at her skin. Her head pounded, nausea churned in her stomach and she dry-heaved, but no pain could match the ache in her chest. Years ago, during the car accident, she had dragged her parents and Desmond out of the car one by one as it teetered on the edge of an explosion. She had only become a shell of herself, lying unconscious for three long years, all because she had sacrificed her life to save them. And now, they cursed her for not dying in that accident. Daisy felt the wetness on her face and couldn’t tell whether it was blood or tears. She lifted her head, eyes searching for the faces of those who had once meant the world to her. But now, their expressions were unrecognizably cold and cruel. Daisy let out a soft, hollow laugh, but her eyes were empty as if something vital had drained from her soul, never to return. For a brief moment, Desmond and Hannah, Daisy’s mother felt an unsettling emptiness in their hearts, as if they had lost something precious and irreplaceable. Their instincts screamed to reach out, to beg for forgiveness for Daisy. But before they could act, Heather stepped in front of them. “Mom, Desmond,” she began, “as much as I hate seeing my sister suffer, Father’s actions aren’t unjust. Letting her learn now is better than waiting for her to destroy everything.” “After all, we can protect her here, but the outside world won’t be as kind.” At her words, Hannah’s hand fell to her side. Desmond nodded reluctantly. “You’re right. She needs to learn now.” Daisy was dragged away, her body limp as they locked her in the abandoned garage, her fate sealed.

Leaning against Desmond’s shoulder, Heather allowed a faint, triumphant smile to tug at her lips, though she masked it with a veneer of concern. “Don’t worry, I’ll bring my sister some food. I won’t let her starve.” Desmond nodded gratitude in his eyes. “Thank you.” Once Heather left, Desmond glanced at Daisy’s state, a flicker of guilt tugging at him. His expression softened slightly. “What I said before was that it was in the heat of the moment. Once Heather’s feeling better, we’ll set a new date for the wedding. Daisy, you don’t have to take it this far.” He checked the calendar and added, “The third of next month seems perfect.” But Daisy’s heart felt like stone, unaffected by his words. She had long given up on this fiancé. The third of next month would indeed be her wedding day, but Desmond wouldn’t be the one at the altar. Outside the door, Heather overheard, her teeth grinding together. A malicious gleam flashed in her eyes. Heather hadn’t anticipated that, after all the schemes and all the years of waiting, Desmond would still refuse to let Daisy slip away. Her nails dug painfully into her palms as frustration boiled over. Once in her room, she immediately dialed a number. “Make it look like an accident. Kill Daisy.” And as the night deepened, the fire began to spread, silently licking its way through the shadows. Daisy had no idea that death’s blade hovered over her, unseen but inevitable. For more than twenty years, her existence had been defined by her parents and Desmond. Now, extracting them from her heart left a raw, empty wound that nothing could fill. Curled in the cold, she felt a searing pain that made even the simplest of breaths feel like a cruel torment. The anguish gnawed at her as if her very soul were being pulled apart. In that agonizing moment, she felt the pull to surrender, as if nothing in the world was worth holding on to. And when the fire erupted in the room, Daisy remained unmoving. Outside, the shrill sound of alarms pierced the silence of the Johnson villa. “What’s happening?” “The garage where the eldest daughter was locked... it’s on fire!” Desmond’s face shifted instantly, a flash of panic overtaking his features. He sprinted toward the garage, but someone beat him to it, kicking open the door with force. "Sister!" Seeing Heather rush in, Desmond’s heart dropped. "Heather, it’s too dangerous!" But Heather, as if deaf to his warning, ran straight into the fire. Desmond had no choice but to follow. As Desmond stepped through the flames, Daisy’s blank gaze, locked onto the oncoming inferno, flickered with the faintest trace of life. But before she could even process it, Heather, running ahead of Desmond, turned, a sly smile playing on her lips as she mouthed silently to Daisy, "Sister, guess who he’ll save, you or me?" Before Daisy could react, Heather screamed and crumpled to the ground. Desmond caught her instinctively, his eyes flickering between her and Daisy, the hesitation burning in his chest. Ultimately, he lifted Heather in his arms and said to Daisy, the fire closing in, "I’ll take Heather out first... then I’ll come back for you." But the fire spread like a beast unleashed, swallowing the space between them. There was no chance for him to return. The faint light in Daisy’s eyes dimmed and then died, extinguished completely. She watched, unmoving, as Desmond’s figure grew more distant, his footsteps hastening. Her parents rushed toward Heather, their faces twisted with concern and focus, yet not a glance in her direction. She had become invisible in just five short years. Daisy sank back to the ground, her expression blank. The air around her was thick with smoke and the sound of falling beams. This was fine. Death might have been a release. As Daisy’s consciousness slipped away, the faces of the people on the other side of the flames blurred, their outlines dissolving into the smoke. She tilted her head back, forcing the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks to stay hidden. In silence, she wished that, in another life, she would never cross paths with Desmond or her parents again. She couldn’t tell how long had passed, but when she opened her eyes again, she saw the harsh white of the hospital ceiling. It was then that she realized she had somehow survived. A cold, humorless laugh cut through the air beside her.

Daisy turned her head, her gaze locking with Heather’s, which radiated pure malice. "You really are impossible to get rid of. Even a fire like that couldn’t finish you off." Heather chuckled, a smug grin spreading across her face. She produced a mirror, holding it up with a gleam in her eyes. "But once you see what you look like now, you might just wish you hadn’t survived." Daisy’s heart sank as her eyes met the reflection. Her skin had been scorched from the left side of her forehead to the corner of her eye, a cruel reminder of the flames. Daisy’s pupils contracted involuntarily. The satisfaction in Heather’s eyes was palpable, almost overflowing. To a woman, having her face marred like this was more tormenting than death itself. Heather leaned in closer to Daisy, a hint of feigned sympathy in her eyes. "Do you think Desmond will still want you after this?" But the breakdown she had anticipated never came. Instead, Daisy stayed eerily calm. Heather’s eyes narrowed and with an immediate motion, she shoved a scalpel into Daisy’s hand, slashing her own face in one clean stroke. Before Daisy could process what was happening, Heather let out a piercing scream. "Ah! Sister, don’t!" In that instant, Desmond appeared at the door. Heather wasted no time, rushing into his arms with dramatic sobs. "Desmond!" Desmond froze, his brow furrowing. "What happened?" Heather trembled in his arms, her voice shaky. "She... she tried to destroy my face." Seeing the blood running down Heather’s face, Desmond’s eyes hardened in anger. His gaze snapped toward Daisy, sharp and accusing. Their gazes locked and Daisy, her expression unreadable, reached for the scalpel that had fallen beside the bed. Without a second’s hesitation, she flung it toward Heather. The scalpel flew through the air like an arrow aimed directly at Heather. Her eyes widened in terror and she screamed. Desmond hadn’t expected Daisy to attack, especially not in front of him. Panicking, he raised his arm instinctively, the blade slicing a deep gash into his forearm. "Desmond!" Heather cried, grabbing his arm, her face painted with concern. Desmond’s eyes were filled with sorrowful disappointment. "You used to say we wronged you and favored Heather," he said, his voice cold as ice. "What do you have to say for yourself now?" Daisy had no intention of justifying herself. Her brush with death had sharpened her view of the world. She looked at the two of them, her eyes icy with disdain. "Didn’t she say I wanted to ruin her face?" "Not following through would make me as false as her accusations." "Daisy!" Desmond’s voice grew colder still, his eyes narrowing as if he had never seen her before. The parents rushed in, their faces a mix of concern and disbelief. They could hardly recognize their daughter anymore. Heather’s voice was weak, almost pleading. "Sister, I know you’re upset because Desmond saved me last night instead of you." "I should’ve been the one disfigured. Forget about me taking the knife from you; if it makes you stop resenting him, I’ll do anything you ask." At this, Desmond’s brow furrowed, his expression darkening. "You ran into the garage to save her. If anyone should’ve been saved first, it’s you. Besides, who I save is my choice and no one has the right to question that, especially not someone who resorts to violence!" By the time he finished, his voice had turned as cold as ice, cutting through the tension like a blade. Daisy remained unfazed, her composure never once slipping. No number of justifications or excuses could change one simple truth and he didn’t care. Once Daisy understood that, everything else felt utterly meaningless. When she heard Heather’s words, she couldn't help but smile, a quiet expression that seemed out of place. "I don’t blame you," she said softly, as if at peace. "In fact, I should thank you." Thank you for showing me just how fragile hearts can be. The room fell silent, everyone struck by her unexpected calm. "I don’t think she’s learned anything," Samuel said with a sharp edge in his voice. "From now on, you’ll stay in this room and think about your actions. You won’t take a single step outside!" With that, they all left, carefully escorting Heather away.

Samuel left two bodyguards to keep watch over Daisy. Once the door to the hospital room clicked shut, she reached for her phone and contacted another hospital. The one she was currently in was managed by the Thomas Family and she had no intention of staying tied to them or her biased parents any longer. After securing her transfer, she changed out of her hospital gown, waiting for the bodyguards to leave for their meal break before slipping away unnoticed. But as she rounded a corner in the corridor, the voices of her father and Heather reached her ears. Daisy paused mid-step. "Heather, you acted too hastily! Hiring someone to start that fire will be easy to trace. Thankfully, I stopped Desmond from digging deeper. If they find out who’s behind this, I won’t be able to protect you. Don’t make such reckless moves again." “Hah! It’s because you’re too useless! You promised my mom you’d give me everything from the Johnson Family. And now? Are you hesitating because you still can’t let go of your precious daughter? Don’t forget, I’m your biological daughter too!” “Let go? If I truly couldn’t let go, would I have personally planned that car accident five years ago? Heather, you need to understand that I’ve always loved you and your mother.” A smug chuckle drifted from around the corner. “And Desmond, too. I want him and I want the Thomas Family behind him.” The words hit Daisy like a lightning strike, the shock nearly paralyzing her. Her blood seemed to freeze in her veins. The truth was too much to bear. Daisy stumbled back, her nails digging deep into her palms. She felt as though she were turning to stone; her only movement was the tremble in her eyes. Her father had been behind the plot to kill her. And Heather... she was his illegitimate daughter? In that moment, Daisy saw her father for who he truly was, not the upright man she had believed him to be. A cold gust of air swept through the hallway, snapping Daisy back to reality. Without another thought, she rushed home. When she arrived, both her mother and Desmond looked up in surprise at her sudden appearance. Her mother’s face darkened in an instant. “Why are you back?” Desmond’s brow furrowed, confusion and concern flickering in his eyes. Daisy gripped her mother’s hand tightly, her voice trembling with the weight of her words. “Mom, Desmond…” “I overheard a conversation between Dad and Heather. The car accident from five years ago, Dad planned it. And Heather… she’s his illegitimate daughter!” Both her mother's and Desmond’s faces drained of color, their expressions twisted in shock. “Are you sure?” her mother asked. Daisy nodded, the truth stinging her heart. No matter how broken she felt, her instinct was to warn them, to keep them from being blinded by lies. But before she could speak further, Heather’s voice rang out from behind her, filled with feigned innocence. “Sister?” Daisy’s heart clenched painfully in her chest. Slowly, she turned, facing the two people who had once been her entire world: her father and Heather. Heather’s eyes filled with disbelief, tears welling as if her heart had been shattered beyond repair. “I never imagined you’d fabricate such lies. Has Dad’s love for you not been enough? Even a tiger wouldn’t harm its own cub; how could Dad ever hurt you?” “And as for me… I know I was brought into the Johnson Family as your stand-in simply because I resemble you. If it weren’t for this face, I’d never have been loved by a father, mother and brother who cared for me so much.” “But just because I look like you, you think it’s fair to tarnish my name like this?” At her words, Hannah, who had wavered in suspicion, pushed all doubts aside, immediately rushing to Heather’s side. “Of course not. Mom has never once doubted you or your father.” Desmond turned his cold gaze to Daisy. “Is this your childish attempt to cause a rift between us all?” It was as if a freezing wave of water had crashed over Daisy. Her lips parted in shock, but after a moment’s pause, she realized returning had been a mistake.

She should have never meddled. In the end, a self-deprecating smile curled on Daisy’s lips as she turned toward the door. “Where do you think you’re going?” her father’s voice, cold and seething with silent fury, stopped her in her tracks. Taking a deep breath, Daisy spoke the words she had long steeled herself to say: “I’m cutting ties with the Johnson Family. I’m leaving.” A collective shift in the room was palpable. “Don’t even think about it!” her father growled. “If I have to beat you into submission today, I won’t let you disgrace the Johnson Family outside! Someone, bring the whip!” A servant hurried forward with a horsewhip, the cold crack of leather snapping through the air. Daisy was forcefully pinned to the ground and the whip lashed down, searing through her skin and leaving a trail of blood on her back. But the pain was nothing compared to the humiliation that gripped her. Yet this scene of cruelty unfolded with no one stepping in to stop it. All eyes remained icy and indifferent. By the end, her back was a mangled mess of raw flesh and she collapsed, her body succumbing to the excruciating agony. How much time had passed, she wasn’t sure, but the cold air brought her back to consciousness. Opening her eyes, Daisy saw Desmond sitting by her bed, his hands gentle as he applied medicine to her wounds. In the dim light, his features were soft, calm and refined, but Daisy recoiled from his touch. Desmond glanced up at her. “Does it hurt?” Daisy remained silent. Desmond reached out, brushing aside the strands of hair that had fallen over Daisy’s ear. "Daisy, there's only so much one can take. If you push too far, all you're doing is digging your own grave, don't you think?" Daisy remained silent, her gaze distant, as though she could no longer bear to look at him. She used to argue and push back because she still harbored some flicker of hope and some expectation for these people. But now, those feelings had turned to ash. She no longer cared for their words, their lies. Desmond had planned to speak with her and try to reason with Daisy. He wanted to tell her that if she continued down this path, her bitterness would only consume her. He wanted to say that, despite the scars that marred her face, he would still see her for who she truly was. He wished she could return to the carefree, kind-hearted girl she once was. He wanted to explain that Heather had feelings for him, that she had fallen into a dark place when he didn’t return them, but that he had always seen her as a sister. Once Heather was well again, Desmond intended to marry her. But Daisy remained as cold and distant as ever, her walls firmly in place. "Don’t shut me out, Daisy!" Desmond's voice grew sharp, tinged with frustration. Just as Desmond’s patience was about to snap, Heather entered the room. "Desmond, let me speak with my sister. The conflict between the two of you is all because of me. If we clear the air, things will be easier to fix." Desmond paused, contemplating her words. After a moment, he conceded, realizing that her suggestion wasn’t entirely without merit. However, a lingering hesitation gnawed at him; he worried Daisy might lash out again. "Don’t worry," Heather reassured him, "she’s been beaten to the point of exhaustion. What strength does she have left to hurt me?" Once Desmond left, Heather wiped away her crocodile tears and turned to Daisy with a sinister smile. "I didn’t expect you to overhear the conversation between Dad and me." "Surprised, aren’t you? Your real father actually wants you dead." "I was just trying to figure out how to replace you when Desmond came to me. And now, he’s chosen me over you time and time again." "Your mom is even more pathetic, favoring the daughter of the mistress over her own flesh and blood." Heather’s fingers grazed the burn scars on Daisy’s face as she sighed. "I almost feel sorry for you." "How about I help end your misery?" Daisy’s instincts screamed in warning. "What are you doing?" "I heard you have blood clots in your brain. One wrong move and you’ll be a vegetable again," Heather said, dragging Daisy toward the stairs. Daisy realized what was happening, but she didn’t have the strength to resist. Helplessly, she watched as Heather forced her down the stairs. A deafening crash echoed through the stairwell. Daisy’s head slammed against the floor and for a few moments, she was enveloped in a haze of nothingness, just like the lifeless state she had once known.

A sharp, searing pain exploded from the back of Daisy’s head, causing her to curl into herself in agony. Her voice barely rose above a whisper, "Help me." Through her blurred vision, she saw a frantic scene. Heather was being rushed by everyone, their concern palpable as they surrounded her. Daisy watched helplessly as Desmond scooped Heather up and rushed off with her parents to the hospital, leaving Daisy abandoned, just as she had been before. The pain in her body intensified and the world around her seemed to darken in waves. Summoning every last bit of strength, she crawled a few meters and, with trembling hands, grabbed the phone that had slipped from her grasp. She dialed for emergency help. When she finally regained consciousness, barely clinging to life, she was greeted not with concern but with an avalanche of scolding from Desmond and her parents. "Heather’s ankle is fractured! Don’t you realize she’s a dancer? How will you make up for that?" "I should’ve known you were a disaster. I should never have let you be born!" "From now on, you are no longer my daughter!" Daisy could already guess that Heather had placed all the blame on her once again. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, her thoughts drifting as she listened to her parents’ harsh accusations. Her gaze shifted to Desmond, who stood silently, his face unreadable. She let out a shaky breath. If she had the strength, Daisy would have screamed those words out loud, but the oxygen mask on her face and her weakened body betrayed her, leaving her unable to speak. In the end, it was Desmond who managed to persuade her parents to leave, staying behind himself. Their eyes met. Desmond reached out, gently touching her pale face. To her surprise, his voice broke the silence, soft and unexpected, a stark contrast to his usual cold demeanor. "Heather said you tried to drag her down with you." "I know that’s not what you meant." Daisy was taken aback. Had Desmond finally seen through Heather’s true nature? But Desmond’s next words shattered any remnants of hope she had left. "I consulted a psychiatrist. The doctor mentioned that waking up from a vegetative state could cause personality shifts due to brain trauma." "I’m sorry. I never considered that possibility before." Desmond’s eyes briefly flickered with regret and pity. "The Daisy I knew was generous, kind and lovable. But now... you’re so different. It only just hit me why." "Thankfully, it’s not too late." Desmond took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I’ll make arrangements to get you into the best mental health facility. Don’t worry, Daisy, I’ll help you get better." He leaned down, his lips brushing her forehead in a soft kiss. "I hope that by the time you’re well again, you’ll return to the person you once were." The young mistress of the Thomas Family had to be graceful and virtuous. He couldn’t marry someone so extreme, so unstable. His voice was soft, but Daisy only felt an icy chill crawl up her spine. She tried to protest, but her voice was so faint, it barely caused the oxygen mask to fog. Desmond wasn’t asking for Daisy’s opinion. After explaining his plan, he turned to her parents. For an elite family, having a legitimate member branded mentally ill was a shameful taboo, a scandal waiting to burst. Yet, with Daisy’s constant troublemaking and her reckless attempts to harm others, Hannah hesitated only a moment before giving a reluctant nod. Samuel, driven by his own hidden agenda and Heather, her heart full of malice, both raised their hands in support. Heather smiled sweetly. "I know of a rehabilitation center with exceptional confidentiality and treatment. I’m sure they can help my sister." But then, when no one was looking, she locked eyes with Daisy, whose gaze was filled with panic and desperate pleading. Heather’s smile turned sly and she silently mouthed, "You’re in my hands now. Let’s see how you’ll escape this time." A piercing scream tore through the silence in the electroshock room. The figure strapped to the treatment bed thrashed violently, her body writhing and convulsing uncontrollably,

Finally, the excruciating torture ceased. Daisy collapsed onto the floor, utterly broken and defeated. Someone yanked her hair roughly, dragging her like a lifeless doll back to the hospital room before throwing her carelessly onto the floor. It wasn’t until the sun began to dip low in the sky that Daisy gathered enough strength to crawl into a corner, curling into a tight, trembling ball. When she had first arrived here, she’d fought, tried to escape and even contemplated ending it all. But now, all that remained in her heart was terror. A soft, mocking laugh broke the silence, making Daisy flinch. She looked up to see Heather’s sweet smile. "How pitiful." Heather reached out, her fingers gliding over Daisy’s pale cheek. "You know, if you’d just stayed a good little vegetable, things would’ve been so much easier. But no, you had to wake up and fight me for Desmond." With a cruel twist of her hand, Heather jabbed a needle into Daisy’s arm. Daisy let out a scream that was so piercing that it seemed to tear through the air. Heather’s lips curved into a satisfied smirk. Just as she was about to continue, the door flew open and someone rushed in with hurried news. "Mr. Thomas is here." Heather’s hand froze in mid-motion. She stood, a sinister glint in her eyes and said, "Well then, let’s make sure my dear sister is presentable before he arrives." The marks of the electric shock were visible, but Heather had been careful to hide the more subtle signs of her cruelty. She had no doubt that Desmond wouldn’t notice a thing. When Desmond finally arrived, Daisy could no longer hold back. She reached for his hand, clinging to it as if it were her final lifeline, the last thread of hope she had left. "Daisy, I was wrong. Please, take me away from here," she sobbed, her voice cracking under the weight of despair. Tears streamed down her face as she begged. "I’ll do anything, I promise. Please, I beg you." The thought of enduring another second in this place felt like it might drive her to madness. Desmond couldn’t ignore the sight of her, her tear-streaked face and the gauntness that had overtaken her in such a short time. His heart twisted in sympathy, but before he could say a word, Heather’s voice sliced through the air. "The early stages of treatment are brutal, I know, I’ve witnessed it myself, but Daisy’s treatment is at a crucial stage now. Stopping could undo all the progress." She spoke gently, though the smile on her lips was far from warm. "Besides," Heather continued, her tone sweet, "just look at her. She’s much calmer now, no longer resisting or hurting anyone. The treatment is clearly working." Desmond’s gaze shifted back to Daisy and he couldn’t deny it. It was true. The words he had been about to say caught in his throat, replaced by a soft sigh. "Daisy, I’ll come for you before the wedding. Be good, okay?" His hand slipped from hers, his touch lingering for only a moment before he turned to leave. Behind him, Daisy’s voice rang out, raw with desperation. "Desmond!" His steps faltered for a split second, but he refused to turn around. At that moment, something within Daisy snapped. The endless disappointment she had felt for this man had finally been overshadowed by a deep, searing hatred. Desmond had always cherished and protected Heather, but he had never once given her the commitment of marriage. This contradiction, the love he had for Heather and the coldness he showed her, infuriated her to no end. Heather had longed to end Daisy’s life right then and there, but she knew better. The woman had been sent here because of her own suggestion and any untimely death would surely bring Desmond’s wrath down on her. But if Daisy died outside, Heather would bear no responsibility. A cruel smile curled on Heather’s lips, her eyes gleaming with silent, calculated malice. Late that night, the door creaked open quietly. Daisy curled up in the corner like a wounded animal and instantly lifted her head, her eyes wide with wariness as she watched the door. But no one entered. The door, left slightly ajar, seemed to glow with a faint, inviting promise. It beckoned Daisy forward, like a distant dream she couldn’t resist. Despite knowing it could be a trap laid by Heather, Daisy couldn’t help herself. She pushed herself up, unable to ignore the pull toward freedom. The hallway was eerily silent, the stillness pressing in on her as she stepped cautiously into it. Without a second thought, she sprinted into the night, her heart racing with every step. The alarm screeched to life, its harsh wail splitting the quiet. Floodlights blazed to life, flooding the courtyard in blinding white. The frantic shouts of security guards echoed through the night. But Daisy didn’t falter. She took off, choosing a random direction and pouring every ounce of strength into her flight. In the surveillance room, Heather sat back with a satisfied smirk, watching the chase unfold on the monitors. But as the minutes ticked by, a frown slowly began to tug at her features. Daisy didn’t take the main gate of the sanatorium, as Heather had expected. Instead, she slipped through the back door, her escape route leading her up the mountain. Heather's heart sank. Was her plan to have Daisy killed on the road about to fall apart? She cursed under her breath, a storm of frustration brewing inside her. With a sharp decision, she set off after Daisy herself. But when danger loomed, a person’s potential could stretch beyond reason. Daisy ran with relentless speed and for a while, no one could even come close. It wasn’t until they reached the cliff's edge that Heather, breathless and frustrated, gritted her teeth and sneered, "Sister, below is an untamed wilderness, untouched and full of wild beasts. If you step into it, you’ll never make it out." Daisy, however, didn’t even flinch. Without a second thought, she leaped into the unknown.