Chapter 82: My Dream Life
Daisy didn’t fully understand what was happening, but the tone in Theo’s voice left no room for questions. She hurried up the stairs until Camellia’s sudden shout froze her mid-step.
Daisy turned just in time to see Camellia pull a kitchen knife from her bag and lunge at Theo.
"Theo!" Daisy screamed, racing back down.
Theo caught her wrist mid-swing, his grip like steel. The knife stopped inches from his side, the metal glinting under the light.
Camellia’s eyes blazed with pain and rage. "It should be you! It should be you! Julian was not supposed to die that day!"
But then, a sudden footsteps noise behind him made Theo turn his head briefly and caught the glimpse of Daisy right behind him, his eyes wide with fear.
"Stop! Daisy, go back to the room now!" Theo commanded sharply.
Seizing the moment, Camellia’s grip on the kitchen knife loosened just enough for her to drop it.
Swift as a flash, she pulled a smaller flip knife from her bag.
Theo reacted instantly, wrenching the kitchen knife free and tossing it aside.
"No!" Daisy shouted. "Lily, call security!" She urged the trembling maids nearby to make the call.
He raised his palms to defend himself, but it was too late.
The blade stabbed into his left palm. He gasped and took a step back, wincing in pain.
"Stop this now..." Theo gritted his teeth, fighting through the creeping pain. "Put down the knife."
Camellia kept the flip knife pointed at him, though her eyes were trembling with fear.
"I—I’m not done," she stammered, determination flickering in her voice. "I won’t stop—"
"Until I die?" Theo cut her off sharply. "Is that what will make you happy? How many times do I have to get hurt before you’re satisfied?!"
"No... I mean... I didn’t mean to hurt you... it’s just... this wouldn’t be happening if you agreed, right?" Camellia’s voice was shaky, laced with fear and pain.
At that moment, Theo caught the sound of footsteps approaching. His eyes flicked to the hallway where security was arriving.
With a subtle gesture, he signaled them to slow down and move carefully.
The security team hesitated, slowing their steps as Theo had signaled. They knew better than to rush in when he gave that look, after all, he still saw Camellia as family, no matter how dangerous the situation had become.
"Let’s be clear here..." Theo’s voice was steady, though the pain in his palm throbbed with every heartbeat. "I’m married, and we both know we’ve never had anything more than a brother-and-sister relationship."
Camellia’s breathing quickened, her fingers tightening around the knife. "That’s not true... you don’t get to decide how I feel."
Theo shook his head slowly. "And you don’t get to rewrite reality just because you want it to be different."
"I know my own feelings," Camellia muttered, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I started to realize... I like you more than Julian. Maybe... it just—"
Before she could finish, the security guards moved in. One of them grabbed her wrist firmly while the other pried the knife from her hand. The metal clattered to the floor, the sharp sound cutting through the heavy silence.
Theo let out a long sigh, the tension in his shoulders finally loosening just a little.
"Wait for my parents to get here," he told the guards, his voice low but firm. "Hand her over to them when they arrive."
The security exchanged quick glances, then gave a silent nod, keeping a close watch on Camellia as she stood there, breathing hard, her eyes still glassy and unfocused.
Theo turned toward Daisy, who looked pale, her eyes shimmering as if she were holding back tears. "I’m okay, see..." He raised both of his palms.
"How is that okay?" Daisy reached for his bleeding hand, sighing at the sight of the wound. "We need to go to the hospital. You might think it’s not that deep, but it is. This is not okay at all." She took his arm, trying to pull him toward the door.
But he didn’t move. His stance was firm, unmoving.
"Let’s go upstairs. I’m tired. Let me rest for a while before going to the office..." Without warning, he lifted her into his arms like earlier.
"No—put me down. Your hand is injured." She wiggled to get down, and he agreed, gently setting her on her feet. "I’m really mad at this moment. You... wait here."
Theo didn’t even manage to stop her when she dashed toward Camellia, who was being held by security, and slapped her across the face.
"That’s the slap for the stab." She then raised her hand for another slap, but Theo stopped her by halting her hand.
"What? I’m not done. Is this how you usually brush off her actions? That’s why she’s become so daring that she’d even hurt you!"
Theo’s jaw tightened, his injured hand still gripping her wrist. "Daisy... enough."
"Enough?" Her voice cracked, eyes burning with anger. "She tried to stab you! And you’re still—"
"I said, enough." His tone was low but firm, the kind that cut sharper than a shout. "This isn’t about letting her off. My parents are on their way. She’s not walking away from this."
Daisy glared at him, chest heaving, but the weight of his gaze made her slowly lower her hand. She turned away from Camellia, muttering under her breath, "Just tell me... this isn’t her first time, right? I mean... hurting you?"
Theo closed his eyes as the headache slowly crept in. "Let’s go." He reached out and tugged her gently toward him, but she snapped her hand away.
Daisy turned her head sharply back to Camellia, her glare burning. "Using mental issues to get away from this..." She leaned in, her voice low and cutting. "Pathetic."
Camellia’s lips curled into a faint smirk, just at the corner. She whispered, "I’ll make his whole life a living hell. I promised myself that. Why?" She pulled her head back slightly, her tone dripping with bitterness. "Because he ruined my dream life."
Daisy’s palm connected with her cheek before she could say another word.
"What are you doing?!" Evelyn’s voice cut through the air as she rushed in, eyes wide at the scene before her.