Daisy's body laid limp in Vincenzo's arms as he carried her out of the car. Her face was getting really pale. The blood staining his shirt was a clear reminder that he had failed to protect her. The hospital doors slid open with a whoosh. The doctors and nurses rushed toward him before he could call for help. They took Daisy from his arms, placing her on a gurney. He followed them as they wheeled her away, his legs moving on their own as his mind raced with different thoughts. He watched helplessly as they pushed her through a pair of swinging doors marked “Operating Room,” and then they were gone. The doors swung shut, leaving him standing in the silent hallway.He was alone, feeling utterly helpless and powerless. His hands trembled uncontrollably. The blood on his shirt felt like a stain that would never wash out. He paced the hallway, back and forth, the only sound that echoed in his ears were the rhythm of his heart hammering against his ribs. He couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe.
Daisy felt a jolt of terror. Then she charged at her, desperate for answers. She grabbed Arianna’s shoulders, holding her, forcing her to look at her. “What are you talking about? Who put you up to this? Who is ‘she’?” Daisy demanded.Arianna’s lips twisted into a smirk. With her last strength, she pulled out another knife. Daisy hadn't even noticed it, hidden expertly in a strap around her thigh. Before Daisy could react, Arianna plunged the second knife into Daisy’s stomach. Daisy gasped, a sharp cry of pain tearing from her throat. Her eyes widened in shock. She stumbled back, clutching her bleeding stomach, groaning. The pain was immense, and her legs gave out, and she fell down, crashing to the floor, struggling for breath, the life slowly draining from her.Arianna stumbled towards the door. She fumbled with the handle, her movements jerky as the knife still protruded from her neck. She pulled the door open and staggered outside, leaving a trail of blood, her mission to kill Da
Everyone in the Marino mansion had gone to bed, leaving the grand house quiet. But the night had other plans for Daisy, she’d been on edge throughout the evening. She was currently in her room, laid in her bed, sleeping. Suddenly, a faint sound, made her eyes snap open. Before she could even fully process what was happening, a dark shape loomed over her. A heavy, suffocating weight pressed down on her face.It was a pillow. And it was being forced down on her face, trying to cut off her breath.Daisy was not a deep sleeper. The years of abuse, the constant need to be aware, had made her a light sleeper. She immediately thrashed, fighting with every ounce of strength she had. Her arms flailed, pushing against the unseen assailant. She struggled, clawing, kicking, trying desperately to free herself from the suffocating weight. Her lungs burned desperately for air. She pulled at the pillow, pushing it away, twisting her body.With a surge of adrenaline, she managed to roll, tumbling off
Vincenzo’s jaw tightened. “I know, amore. I know.” He took a deep breath. “Marco just gave me an update. One of our new surveillance cameras in the garden recorded her conversation with someone on the phone while she was out there yesterday evening. The audio isn’t perfectly clear, but it’s enough. She was confirming a meeting. And it seems she’s meeting up with someone tomorrow.”He paused, then continued. “So we need to watch her until tomorrow, and wait for her. Let her lead us straight to the person she’s working with. And then,” his eyes turned cold, “then I’ll make sure she pays for trying to hurt you. She will suffer for her actions, amore. I promise you.”“I think Arianna is getting suspicious,” she told him. “She looked so surprised to see me come out of my room this morning, after she thought I had drunk that juice. She looked like she had seen a ghost.”Vincenzo shrugged. “It doesn’t matter now, amore,” he said, his voice firm. “Her surprise means nothing. She tried. She fa
Daisy sat beside Alessandro Ferrari, both of them were silent, waiting for the results. Finally, a nurse came out, holding a sealed envelope. She called their names, her voice was calm and professional, completely unaware of the life-altering news contained within the paper she held. Daisy’s heart hammered against her ribs. Alessandro took the envelope, his hands trembling slightly. He tore it open, pulling out the official document. His eyes scanned the words slowly, once, then twice. He looked up at Daisy, his eyes glistening. “Daisy,” he began, his voice barely a whisper. “It’s… it’s true. It says here. Alessandro Ferrari is indeed the biological father of Miss Daisy.” He repeated the words, as if trying to grasp their reality. “All these years,” he continued, his voice cracking, filled with regret, “all these years… I had a daughter. And I never knew anything about her. Not a single thing. You were right here, in this world, living a life I was completely unaware of. How could
Moments later, in Maria’s room, Daisy was sitting by Maria’s bedside. Maria was resting, her breathing still a little shallow. The door opened softly, and Arianna entered, a fresh glass of orange juice in her hand. She walked over and handed it over to Daisy.“Here you are, miss Daisy,” Arianna said, her voice still sickly sweet. “Freshly squeezed, just as you asked.” She placed the glass firmly into Daisy’s hand, holding it a moment longer than necessary. Her eyes, for a split second, met Daisy’s. Then, without another word, she quickly turned and left the room, closing the door softly behind her, wanting to avoid any suspicion. Barely ten minutes later, the mansion’s private doctor arrived. He was led to Maria’s room. Daisy greeted him and quickly led him to inside the room.The doctor examined Maria thoroughly, taking her temperature, checking her pulse, asking her gentle questions. After a few minutes, he looked at Daisy. “She is suffering from a mild fever,” he explained, his vo