She gripped the bedsheet tightly, her knuckles turning white. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears as Daimon’s lips hovered just a breath away from hers. Then, suddenly, he stopped. His face was so close that she could see the faint stubble lining his jaw, his features as striking as ever despite the years that had passed.But she wasn’t the same woman he once knew. Life had worn her down, and the burden of their past weighed heavily on her heart. Their children’s struggles with illness gnawed at her soul, and anger surged up from deep within her.Without warning, her hand flew up and struck his cheek with a sharp “Slap!” The sound echoed through the room, leaving a tingling silence in its wake. Daimon didn’t flinch, his head merely turning with the force of the blow. Slowly, he brought his gaze back to hers, his eyes dark and inscrutable.Daimon licked the inside of his cheek, pushing against the numbness as he whispered in a low, gravelly voice, “Is that enough? Or do you want to try
Daimon’s eyes flickered with something unreadable as he felt the emptiness on his face and hands. It was like his heart had been left hollow too. He thought back to the endless, sleepless nights in that cold, empty bedroom—nights where he had nothing but memories to keep him company.And now, after five years, she was right in front of him—alive, breathing, her emotions dancing openly across her face. Seeing her here made his heart feel warmer than it had in years. Even if she refused to admit who she really was, even if she kept pretending to be someone else, it didn’t matter. Sooner or later, he would break down that wall and see the truth behind her disguise.A faint smile curved on his lips, one so full of warmth and affection that it sent a shiver down Enlyan’s spine. She couldn’t help but feel uneasy. What’s wrong with him? The man who had always been so cold and distant was now looking at her as if she was his entire world.Was he crazy? What game was he playing this time?“Dai
Enlyan felt her heart jolt, but she refused to show it. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the warmth that flickered in his gaze and the determination in his tone. Why is he doing this now?Daimon quietly poured a glass of warm water and placed it on the bedside table before settling into a chair next to Enlyan’s bed. He opened his laptop, his voice low and gentle as he spoke.“You’re injured—get some rest. I won’t bother you. If you need anything, just call me. You don’t have to treat me like your boss right now. Just think of me as... your personal caregiver.”Enlyan shot him an incredulous look. Caregiver? This man had truly lost his mind! She scoffed, trying to mask her confusion.“You’re the president of the company,” she argued. “I can’t just treat you like some... male nurse. Besides, there’s a gender issue here!”Daimon raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “Gender issue?” he repeated, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Are you worried because you’re bei
Austin still wanted to say something, but before he could, Daimon suddenly snatched Enlyan’s phone from her grip and spoke coldly into the receiver."Mr. White, handle your own matters. As for Iris, I'll be the one taking care of her."Enlyan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Daimon! What the hell are you doing? Give me my phone!" she yelled, reaching for it, but Daimon stepped back, completely ignoring her protests.Consumed by a surge of jealousy and frustration, Daimon didn’t give Austin a chance to respond before ending the call and switching the phone off. The possessiveness blazing in his eyes made Enlyan’s blood boil."Daimon, are you out of your damn mind? That was my phone, my boss, my friend! Who gave you the right to interfere like that?" she snapped, her voice trembling with fury.She looked like a furious little kitten, baring her claws and ready to fight. The way her eyes flashed with anger cut right through Daimon’s heart, but his irritation only grew stronger. He couldn’t
Enlyan scoffed bitterly, but tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. The realization hit her hard—loving him had always been a losing battle. She had loved him with everything she had, yet he had never once looked at her the same way.Even if he was good to her now, it was only because of her status and what she could offer him professionally. Men like Daimon were practical and realistic—love had nothing to do with it.A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she wiped away her tears, forcing herself to regain her composure.She whispered to herself, "Never again."Enlyan wiped the tears from her cheeks and picked up her phone, turning it back on. The screen lit up, and she hesitated for a moment before dialing Austin’s number. He answered almost immediately.“Iris, did he give you a hard time?” Austin’s voice was tense with concern.“No,” Enlyan replied softly, trying to keep her voice steady. “To him, I’m just a stranger now.”Austin let out a sigh of relief, a faint smile in his tone.
Enlyan watched the exchange quietly, her heart sinking further. She sneered bitterly to herself, the bitterness weighing heavily on her chest."See?" she thought. "This is the man you once loved with everything you had. This is the father of your daughter."Her eyes narrowed as she reflected on the contrast of Daimon's reaction to Oasis's fever. He was nervous, yes, but not in the way a parent should be. It was a far cry from the kind of care he would’ve shown if it were another child—perhaps Katrina's.How could he be so indifferent to the life and death of his own flesh and blood? Even if he did care, could he truly be as worried as he would be for someone else's child?She shook her head slightly, her thoughts spiraling with the realization that the man before her—who had once been everything to her—could never be the father she had hoped for their child.The realization left her feeling hollow and betrayed."What happened to Oasis?" Daimon demanded, his voice low and full of fury.
His words, while thoughtful, still left her feeling flustered. "I told you, I don’t need you! Why can’t you just listen to me?" Before she could finish, Daimon scooped her up effortlessly and, without another word, placed her back on the bed."If you're tired, you can rest. And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m not going anywhere," Daimon said, his tone firm yet oddly considerate. He then sat down on the nearby sofa, opening her laptop and diving into his work.Enlyan lay there, feeling too embarrassed to speak as he conducted a video conference.She felt like an outsider in her own room as he casually dealt with business matters, as though she wasn’t there. But what truly surprised her was how little Daimon seemed to care about her presence. His work was on full display in front of her, with no attempt to hide the company’s struggles."Sir, the company’s confidential files have been leaked. The damage is already done, and the immediate loss is 300 million. What should
Once back at home, Daimon was greeted by Katrina, who rushed toward him with tears streaming down her face. “Daimon, I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to punish Oasis a little. I didn’t think he’d be so stubborn. I’m sorry. I really am. It’s my fault.”Her tears and frantic apology irritated Daimon, but he tried to keep his composure. “I know you acted out of concern. How is Oasis? Has he seen the family doctor yet?”“He’s still being examined,” Katrina replied, her voice trembling. Her red eyes showed genuine worry, but Daimon was too focused on the situation to respond with much sympathy. He walked briskly toward Oasis’s room with Katrina trailing behind him.Inside, Oasis lay on the bed, his face flushed with fever. He mumbled weakly, "Cold..." Daimon’s heart tightened at the sight. He placed his hand on the boy’s forehead, feeling the heat radiating off him.“In the future, don’t touch the child like that again,” Daimon muttered sternly to Katrina.Katrina’s face crumpled, and she w
Her mind whirled with schemes and calculations. One way or another, she had to find a way to get rid of Iris for good—without leaving any trace that could link back to her.She stomped her foot in irritation, glaring at Oasis, who was still lying unconscious on the bed, his small face flushed with fever.“Useless!” she muttered bitterly. “I went through hell to give birth to you, just so you could live the life of a young master. Yet here you are, lying there doing nothing. Why can’t you think of a way to help your mother for once?”Of course, Oasis didn’t respond—he couldn’t even hear her. And even if he did, he was just a child—too young to grasp her cruel words. Katrina huffed in frustration, wringing her hands as she tried to come up with a plan. She couldn’t let Iris take everything from her.Just then, the door creaked open, and she heard the low murmur of voices outside. Daimon and Ertha had just come out of the study. Forcing a look of concern onto her face, Katrina hurried ov
Ertha paused and shook his head, keeping his tone neutral. "No, nothing about the company, Miss Katrina. I’m just here to see the boss. We’ll talk later." Without giving her a chance to question him further, he quickly moved past her and entered the study.Katrina’s heart pounded with unease as she watched him go. Something wasn’t right—Daimon’s secrecy, the doctor’s vague explanation, and now Ertha’s haste. Her instincts screamed that there was more going on than just Oasis’s health.Katrina's heart pounded as she pressed her ear closer to the study door, straining to catch every word. The hallway was empty, and she knew she was risking a lot by eavesdropping, but curiosity burned inside her.Inside the study, Daimon's voice remained calm but razor-sharp. "So, someone tampered with the car before Iris drove it that day?""Yes, sir," Ertha confirmed. "I reported it to the police. They've started investigating, and a few witnesses mentioned seeing a suspicious figure enter the garage t
Once back at home, Daimon was greeted by Katrina, who rushed toward him with tears streaming down her face. “Daimon, I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to punish Oasis a little. I didn’t think he’d be so stubborn. I’m sorry. I really am. It’s my fault.”Her tears and frantic apology irritated Daimon, but he tried to keep his composure. “I know you acted out of concern. How is Oasis? Has he seen the family doctor yet?”“He’s still being examined,” Katrina replied, her voice trembling. Her red eyes showed genuine worry, but Daimon was too focused on the situation to respond with much sympathy. He walked briskly toward Oasis’s room with Katrina trailing behind him.Inside, Oasis lay on the bed, his face flushed with fever. He mumbled weakly, "Cold..." Daimon’s heart tightened at the sight. He placed his hand on the boy’s forehead, feeling the heat radiating off him.“In the future, don’t touch the child like that again,” Daimon muttered sternly to Katrina.Katrina’s face crumpled, and she w
His words, while thoughtful, still left her feeling flustered. "I told you, I don’t need you! Why can’t you just listen to me?" Before she could finish, Daimon scooped her up effortlessly and, without another word, placed her back on the bed."If you're tired, you can rest. And if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m not going anywhere," Daimon said, his tone firm yet oddly considerate. He then sat down on the nearby sofa, opening her laptop and diving into his work.Enlyan lay there, feeling too embarrassed to speak as he conducted a video conference.She felt like an outsider in her own room as he casually dealt with business matters, as though she wasn’t there. But what truly surprised her was how little Daimon seemed to care about her presence. His work was on full display in front of her, with no attempt to hide the company’s struggles."Sir, the company’s confidential files have been leaked. The damage is already done, and the immediate loss is 300 million. What should
Enlyan watched the exchange quietly, her heart sinking further. She sneered bitterly to herself, the bitterness weighing heavily on her chest."See?" she thought. "This is the man you once loved with everything you had. This is the father of your daughter."Her eyes narrowed as she reflected on the contrast of Daimon's reaction to Oasis's fever. He was nervous, yes, but not in the way a parent should be. It was a far cry from the kind of care he would’ve shown if it were another child—perhaps Katrina's.How could he be so indifferent to the life and death of his own flesh and blood? Even if he did care, could he truly be as worried as he would be for someone else's child?She shook her head slightly, her thoughts spiraling with the realization that the man before her—who had once been everything to her—could never be the father she had hoped for their child.The realization left her feeling hollow and betrayed."What happened to Oasis?" Daimon demanded, his voice low and full of fury.
Enlyan scoffed bitterly, but tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. The realization hit her hard—loving him had always been a losing battle. She had loved him with everything she had, yet he had never once looked at her the same way.Even if he was good to her now, it was only because of her status and what she could offer him professionally. Men like Daimon were practical and realistic—love had nothing to do with it.A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she wiped away her tears, forcing herself to regain her composure.She whispered to herself, "Never again."Enlyan wiped the tears from her cheeks and picked up her phone, turning it back on. The screen lit up, and she hesitated for a moment before dialing Austin’s number. He answered almost immediately.“Iris, did he give you a hard time?” Austin’s voice was tense with concern.“No,” Enlyan replied softly, trying to keep her voice steady. “To him, I’m just a stranger now.”Austin let out a sigh of relief, a faint smile in his tone.
Austin still wanted to say something, but before he could, Daimon suddenly snatched Enlyan’s phone from her grip and spoke coldly into the receiver."Mr. White, handle your own matters. As for Iris, I'll be the one taking care of her."Enlyan's eyes widened in disbelief. "Daimon! What the hell are you doing? Give me my phone!" she yelled, reaching for it, but Daimon stepped back, completely ignoring her protests.Consumed by a surge of jealousy and frustration, Daimon didn’t give Austin a chance to respond before ending the call and switching the phone off. The possessiveness blazing in his eyes made Enlyan’s blood boil."Daimon, are you out of your damn mind? That was my phone, my boss, my friend! Who gave you the right to interfere like that?" she snapped, her voice trembling with fury.She looked like a furious little kitten, baring her claws and ready to fight. The way her eyes flashed with anger cut right through Daimon’s heart, but his irritation only grew stronger. He couldn’t
Enlyan felt her heart jolt, but she refused to show it. She gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the warmth that flickered in his gaze and the determination in his tone. Why is he doing this now?Daimon quietly poured a glass of warm water and placed it on the bedside table before settling into a chair next to Enlyan’s bed. He opened his laptop, his voice low and gentle as he spoke.“You’re injured—get some rest. I won’t bother you. If you need anything, just call me. You don’t have to treat me like your boss right now. Just think of me as... your personal caregiver.”Enlyan shot him an incredulous look. Caregiver? This man had truly lost his mind! She scoffed, trying to mask her confusion.“You’re the president of the company,” she argued. “I can’t just treat you like some... male nurse. Besides, there’s a gender issue here!”Daimon raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “Gender issue?” he repeated, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Are you worried because you’re bei
Daimon’s eyes flickered with something unreadable as he felt the emptiness on his face and hands. It was like his heart had been left hollow too. He thought back to the endless, sleepless nights in that cold, empty bedroom—nights where he had nothing but memories to keep him company.And now, after five years, she was right in front of him—alive, breathing, her emotions dancing openly across her face. Seeing her here made his heart feel warmer than it had in years. Even if she refused to admit who she really was, even if she kept pretending to be someone else, it didn’t matter. Sooner or later, he would break down that wall and see the truth behind her disguise.A faint smile curved on his lips, one so full of warmth and affection that it sent a shiver down Enlyan’s spine. She couldn’t help but feel uneasy. What’s wrong with him? The man who had always been so cold and distant was now looking at her as if she was his entire world.Was he crazy? What game was he playing this time?“Dai