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?”
