Chapter 93
Jackson heard the noise from next door too. As he came back in with Jasper, he muttered, “That family next door, always so loud. That girl’s been crying nonstop these last couple of days. No manners at all. People who live around here are supposed to be respectable, but I really don’t get how they raised a kid like that p>
He kept rambling until his eyes landed on Camilla, and then it seemed to hit him whose house was next door. Embarrassment flashed across his face and he quickly apologized, “Sorry, Camilla. I wasn’t thinking p>
“It’s fine. Their business has nothing to do with me,” Camilla replied.
Even as she said it, curiosity flickered in her eyes. She couldn’t help but wonder just how bad things had gotten between Davina and Barnard.
Lance turned to her and offered with a smile, “The flowers on the upstairs balcony are blooming. Camilla, do you want to come up and take a look p>
Camilla remembered that from Lance’s balcony, you could see right into Barnard’s yard. Last time Snow had gone missing, she’d noticed something odd from there too.
She nodded, handing Jasper over to the butler before following Lance upstairs.
When they stepped out onto the second-floor balcony, there weren’t many flowers in their own pots, but the roses in the neighbor’s yard were in perfect bloom.
Down below, Barnard had just come home and was immediately blocked by Daisy. Daisy clung tightly to his leg. “Barnard, why were you gone so long? Are you going to leave me and Mommy p>
Her eyes were red as she cried, “Mommy’s been so sad. She won’t eat or drink anything, and I’m scared… Barnard, please p>
Barnard crouched down, trying to comfort her and guide her inside, but Daisy refused to let go and just kept clinging to his leg, sobbing.
After a long, awkward standoff, Barnard finally just scooped Daisy up and carried her inside.
The living room was already a mess. The minute Barnard set foot inside, one of the servants rushed over, panic in her voice. “Barnard, please, you need to check on Ms. Davina! She keeps saying she’s sorry to you and that she’s too ashamed to keep living. She’s… threatening to end things p>
The second she heard that, Daisy wriggled out of Barnard’s arms and ran, throwing herself at Davina’s locked door, sobbing so hard it hurt to listen to. “Mommy! Please, Mommy, don’t do this. Don’t leave me. You’re all I’ve got p>
She turned to beg Barnard, “Barnard, I’m begging you. Don’t leave me and Mommy, please p>
Barnard had barely walked in the door from work before getting swept into this chaos. He was still dazed, but Daisy’s desperate cries forced him to pull himself together.
He hurried over and knocked on Davina’s door. “Davina, come out, please. Let’s talk about this, okay p>
Her voice came through the door, strained and muffled. “Barnard, please don’t worry about me anymore. I’ve had a lot of time to think lately, and I see that I’ve only made things harder for you. I feel awful. I can’t face you. Please just go. I really don’t want to trouble you anymore, I mean it p>
Barnard’s anxiety only deepened. He asked Jackson to take Daisy away and told someone to bring the key, then went ahead and unlocked Davina’s door himself.
Davina had always stayed in one of the guest rooms, not the live-in help’s quarters, so her room was big and full of sunlight. Now, though, it was a disaster zone. Luxury bags that Barnard had bought her were scattered across the dresser, like seeing them might fill some empty place inside her.
She looked like she hadn’t taken care of herself in days, still wearing the same outfit as when Barnard had last come home. Her hair was wild, and she looked completely unraveled. In her hand, she was gripping a fruit knife.
Barnard froze for a second then snapped at her, “Davina, what are you doing? I know maybe I was too harsh before, but I’ve never actually blamed you. Why are you doing this? Please, put the knife down p>
“No, Barnard,” Davina said, her voice shaky. “I watched you grow up and all I ever wanted was for you to be happy. But now, I’ve only gotten you in trouble. I hate that I’ve made you suffer. I wanted to do this as soon as I realized it, but I was scared for you. I just wanted to see you one last time. Now I have nothing left to worry about. Just go. Please leave me alone p>
Barnard’s brow furrowed in frustration. “Don’t say that, Davina. Those problems weren’t really problems, and they’re all taken care of now. You still have Daisy. If something happened to you, what would she do? Just put the knife down, please, and let’s talk this through p>
At the mention of Daisy, Davina wavered. Barnard quickly stepped forward, grabbed the knife from her hand, tossed it aside and pulled her into a tight hug.
The maids who had come in with him exchanged glances, then quietly slipped out of the room.
As they left, they couldn’t help but mutter to themselves. None of them could understand how Barnard actually believed Davina’s suicide attempt was real. If she’d really wanted to die, she’d had plenty of chances over the last few days. Why wait until Barnard came home to put on this scene? And if she truly felt guilty for causing trouble, she’d never use such a dramatic, attention-grabbing way to make things even messier.