Chapter 123
Daisy fell from the slide and broke her leg.
Barnard took her straight to the hospital. It was a small thing, really, and there was no point trying to hide it. In fact, he told Camilla himself. Maybe he was just trying to show Camilla he was loyal to her, because right after he left Daisy at the hospital, he drove straight to Brookfield Manor to explain everything.
He told Camilla it was just an accident. Daisy had gotten hurt, Davina was completely lost, so he’d just stepped in to help. He also promised that, once Daisy healed up, he’d keep his distance and send her right back to school.
He never went back to visit Daisy. Instead, he left everything in Magee’s hands.
At the hospital, Davina tried calling Barnard over and over, but he never picked up. In the end, all that anger fell on Daisy’s shoulders.
“You’re such a burden. Why are you always so much trouble? Didn’t I tell you to behave? All you had to do was stay at that school for a little while. If you just listened, and I managed to marry into the Carter family, you’d be their little princess. You could have transferred to whatever school you wanted, had everything you ever dreamed of. So why, of all times, did you have to mess things up now p>
Daisy’s eyes were red and swollen, her leg and forehead both wrapped in bandages. She choked on her sobs. “I didn’t mean to, Mom, I swear, I p>
“Don’t try to deny it. You’re useless, nothing but dead weight! You couldn’t even last a single day at school before causing trouble and rushing back here. What do you think Barnard’s going to think of us now? See? This is all because of you. If you hadn’t messed everything up, Barnard wouldn’t be off comforting Camilla right now p>
Davina had been sure that once Daisy was out of the picture, she’d finally have time to get close to Barnard and lock things down between them. She never imagined Daisy would come back home after only a single day.
Daisy sobbed even harder. “All you ever do is yell at me, or hit me! If Camilla can marry Barnard so easily, how come you can’t? Your problems aren’t my fault p>
She’d been holding in her hurt for so long, but now, after getting hurt and still not earning so much as a shred of comfort from her mom, everything just boiled over.
Davina snapped and slapped Daisy hard across the face. “How dare you talk back? If it weren’t for you and your useless dad, I wouldn’t look this old already. You’re the one dragging me down! You should be grateful I’m still willing to take care of you. Keep running your mouth and I’ll drop you off at your grandmother’s for good p>
The slap left Daisy frozen in terror. She grabbed Davina’s sleeve, her voice trembling. “Mom, I’m sorry. Please don’t leave me. Please… please p>
“Then be good. Help me win Barnard over, and I won’t send you away,” Davina said coldly.
Mother and daughter finally reached a shaky truce—only to discover Elise standing at the entrance to the hospital room, completely shocked. She’d only come because someone mentioned Barnard had rushed in carrying a child. Worried it might be Jasper, she asked around and ended up right here, hearing everything between Davina and Daisy.
When Davina spotted Elise, her face lost all color. Barnard had warned her again and again that if she wanted to marry into the Carter family, absolutely no one could find out yet, especially not Camilla. But now, Elise—Camilla’s own mother—had heard it all.
Davina’s head spun. She couldn’t allow Elise to take this to Camilla.
She stared fiercely at Elise, her mind racing.
Clutching her chest, Elise stumbled into the room, unable to hold back anymore. “You—how could you! Both of you! I can’t believe it, after all this time, you were really trying to ruin Camilla’s marriage. I even felt sorry for you. I told Camilla to be good to you both! How could I have been this blind p>
The next thing anyone knew, Camilla found out about her mother’s collapse in Daisy’s hospital room. An hour had already passed.
Barnard was the one who called her, and he sent Aaron personally to bring Camilla to the hospital.
Elise was already in the emergency room.
“Camilla, don’t panic,” Barnard tried to reassure her. “Your mom is going to be okay p>
Camilla’s voice was cold with suspicion. “Just tell me—why did my mother faint in Daisy’s room? Davina, what did you do p>
She lunged for Davina, ready to grab her by the collar, but Barnard stepped in, blocking her.
“That’s not fair, Camilla. This isn’t Davina’s fault. You know your mom’s health. She heard Davina was at the hospital and came to check in. Then she fainted, just like that. If you don’t believe me, check the security footage. Davina never even touched her p>
Davina rushed to echo him. “Exactly, Camilla! This is a hospital, there are cameras everywhere. Even if I was crazy, I’d never dare lay a finger on your mother here. I swear, I had nothing to do with it. Please, don’t blame me for something I didn’t do p>