Chapter 268: Ryle ’CEO’ Harper
Daisy was afraid if he looked into her eyes right then, he would see things that she had yet to decipher. Or he would be met with feelings that she was incapable of hiding.
’’You rescued her and all the other women being tormented there, regardless of what your objective was. You destroyed that lair that made a business of women...’’ Daisy spoke softly, ’’You and I both know that while there is a huge possibility that she is your sister, she might also not be the one. Yet you held it in, your impulses. You did not rush for a DNA test or a conversation, nor did you urge her to remember your past. Because she is not in the best state, you did not force things on her. You left her there to adjust to the new place.’’
’’I am not as kind as you make me out to be. I have my reasons for doing what I do.’’
’’I know,’’ Daisy stroked his back softly as she spoke, ’’Another reason you have been acting that way, staying away from her, keeping your distance from her, delaying this inevitable DNA test and the eventual confrontation is also because you are scared. You don’t know what to do if she does not turn out to be your sister. You don’t know how to face the consequences if that happens or how to find more leads.’’
’’Didn’t know you knew me so well, princess.’’
’’I was equally clueless,’’ Daisy pulled back from him and cupped his face as she met his gaze, ’’I don’t know how to assure you on this, Ryle. Maybe your worst fears will become true or your hopes will be fulfilled. I don’t know. All I know is that no matter what you have done or what you are doing, I do not see anything wrong with it. You did nothing wrong so never blame yourself for any of it. And... know that you have me.’’
It was a rarity to have her say so many words at once and there was a hint of awkwardness in her tone as if she had never done that before.
Ryle stroked her cheek and pulled her close before pressing a soft kiss on her forehead, ’’I adore you, Daisy Chen. I really do,’’ he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers.
’Thump’
Daisy’s heart skipped a few beats, leaving a trail of butterflies in its wake even as her face remained impassive.
To hide her fluster, she quickly uttered, ’’You know... I still remember the way you switched the subject hours ago.’’
Ryle arched a brow.
’’When I asked you if you had done something.’’
"_" Ryle stiffened. She was indeed his Daisy. Even after all her energy drained, she remembered her point. He thought she would forget about it if she had no energy left but apparently that smartass of a brain was still active.
’’Don’t say if you don’t want to,’’ Daisy rolled her eyes, ’’As long as you haven’t messed with the Chen family ancestors’ graves, I forgive anything.’’
Ryle chuckled, inwardly relieved. If she pressed further, he would have had to reveal that he had gone behind her back to look into the events of that night. And he had a feeling that they were not ready for that conversation, at least not until he had a clear answer with him.
’’What if I did offend your ancestors? I didn’t peg you for a religious one.’’
’’I am not,’’ Daisy frowned, ’’But in any case, now that I am living here in the ancestral mansion, I would play by the rules.’’
’’You don’t play by the rules when I bend you over the kitchen countertop and you part your legs willingly, begging for more.’’
’’Shut up,’’ she snapped.
And he never did. He only laughed harder, the sound of it comforting a part of her soul that wanted to etch him to herself. Forever.
...
The next morning.
When Daisy woke up, her mind felt rather muddled.
Ryle urged her to sleep some more but she turned him down, considering the sickeningly claustrophobic schedule that Secretary Han had sent at sharp 6 am.
Daisy forced herself to drag her body to the washroom and freshened up and took a shower quietly.
As she stepped out of her room, she was met with Ryle’s concerned gaze.
Daisy was about to approach him when Aunty Lu made her way towards her, ’’Oh dear, you are late today.’’
’’Am I?"
’’Yes, you usually step out of the room at 6 am sharp...’’ the woman trailed off, her eyes wandering between Ryle and Daisy.
Daisy was amused. She felt like the woman was still in partial disbelief about her and Ryle’s relationship. What more, them living together. A few months back, she was delusional that Ryle and Nora are still together and for once, she had really worked that idea into her mind.
Looking back at it, Daisy found it rather lame that she had considered the possibility of it.
Aunty Lu coughed, ’’What about the little girl? Is she awake yet?"
’’No. Let her sleep,’’ Angel is as active as any other kids her age when she is awake but she gets tired fast and while it might mess with the little girl’s sleep schedule a bit, Daisy, as a mother, was a bit selfish. She did not have the heart to wake her up.
Just as Aunty Lu left, Ryle walked towards her, his brows etched together, ’’You can just take a leave.’’
’’I am the CEO.’’
’’CEOs take leave. Take me, for example,’’ the man arched a brow, ’’I have abandoned my company and settled here with my girlfriend in another country. Is the company still not functioning?"
’’Mr. Ryle ’CEO’ Harper, not everyone is as talented as you.’’
’’I don’t think so. You are more talented than me.’’
Daisy rolled her eyes. Ryle rarely took his company seriously. The man was very casual about it and while working there, she had seen how he had trained the core members in a way that they can keep the company working in his absence and they excelled at it.
