CHAPTER SIX - JUST BUSINESS

Dickson's POV

Daisy's eyes locked onto mine, filled with anger and something else I couldn't read. Her lips curled as she pulled her wrist free from my grip.

"You don't get to ask that question, Dickson," she said, her voice sharp and cold. "Not after what you did."

I blinked, feeling her words like a slap.

"Daisy, I just need to know. Please," I pleaded.

She let out a bitter laugh, folding her arms. "You *need* to know? Where was that energy when the pack elders tossed me out like trash? Where was this concern when you chose them over me?"

"I had no choice. You know how the elders are. They wanted an heir—"

"Don't," she snapped, cutting me off. "Don't you dare try to blame someone else for what you did. You divorced me. You threw me out of the house. I had nothing. No money. No support. Just... gone."

She paused and looked away, her jaw clenched tightly.

I swallowed hard. "I tried to find you. I swear,Daisy. I searched everywhere."

She turned back to me slowly, her eyes narrowing. "You searched? For what? To tell me you were sorry? Or to make sure I wasn’t ruining your reputation?"

"To explain," I said quietly. "To make it right."

She snorted. "It’s five years too late."

I stared at her, heart pounding. "Are they mine? The kids... are they—"

"I said no," she cut in sharply. "This isn't why I agreed to this meeting. Your company needs an investor, and I’m willing to help. That’s all."

I stared, stunned. Her face was unreadable. Cold. Businesslike.

"So we’re just going to pretend they don’t exist? Four kids? All five years old? Born the same year we separated? That’s not a coincidence, Daisy."

She gave me a fake smile. "Maybe it’s not. Maybe it is. But guess what? It’s not your business."

I leaned forward. "You’re telling me I have no right to know if I have children?"

"Exactly," she replied, standing up. "You lost that right when you signed the divorce papers. Remember those? I do."

"Then why haven’t you remarried? Why stay single all these years if they’re not mine?" I pushed.

She froze for a moment before looking at me with a raised brow. "Are you asking because you care, or because your ego is bruised?"

I didn't respond. Her silence said more than anything.

She grabbed her purse. "We're done here. If you want to talk business, your secretary can reach out again. Otherwise, don’t contact me."

"Daisy—"

She walked out before I could finish. I sat there stunned, confusion swirling inside me. The waitress came by to clear the table, but I barely noticed.

Later that evening, I paced around my office.

Rita came in, holding her phone. "Sir, there’s a file I managed to get from the school their kids attend."

My eyes shot to hers. "You found their school?"

She nodded. "Yes, but it wasn’t easy. The kids' last names are not Reed. They go by different surnames. Each one."

I frowned. "What? Different last names?"

"Yes, sir. It seems... intentional. As if someone didn’t want them to be traced back to one person."

I took the file from her and opened it. Pictures of four children stared back at me. My heart thumped in my chest.

One boy. Three girls. All the same age. All with different surnames. But they had something familiar. The eyes.

My eyes.

"Rita," I said quietly, "I want you to follow Daisy. I know it’s extreme, but I need to know the truth."

She hesitated. "Sir... are you sure?"

"Do it. Please."

The next day, I sat in my car parked across the street from a modest house in a quiet neighborhood. Rita had followed Daisy here. She claimed it was Daisy’s home.

Around 4PM, I saw a black SUV pull up.

Daisy stepped out. She helped four kids out of the back seat. They laughed and chatted, oblivious to the man watching from across the street.

One of the girls had Daisy’s nose. Another had the same dimples I had as a child.

They all looked happy.

Suddenly,Daisy turned around, scanning the area. Her eyes passed over my car, but she didn’t stop. Still, my breath caught in my throat.

Then she ushered the kids inside.

I exhaled slowly.

Later that night, I called Rita again. "I need to talk to one of the kids. Alone."

"Sir, that’s risky. What if Daisy finds out?"

"Then I’ll deal with it. But I need to know."

Three days passed.

Rita arranged for me to meet one of the kids at the park. She had befriended the nanny who sometimes brought them there.

I waited on a bench. Eventually, a little girl wandered over. Curly brown hair. Same shade as mine.

"Hi," I said gently.

She smiled shyly. "Hi."

"What’s your name?"

"My name is..... She stammered."

I nodded slowly. "Do you know your daddy?"

She blinked. "Mommy says we don’t talk about daddy to strangers."

"Oh... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you."

She shrugged. "It’s okay. Mommy says we’re special. That’s why we don’t have a daddy."

I frowned. "What does she mean by special?"

"She says we were chosen. That we don’t need a daddy to be happy."

Chosen?

"Do your brothers and sisters say that too?"

She nodded. "We all know. Mommy says one day we’ll understand more. But for now, we just smile."

Before I could ask more, the nanny appeared.

"Cutie! Time to go."

She waved at me. "Bye mister!"

I watched her go, my heart filled with a strange mix of emotions.

That night, Daisy showed up at my house.

She barged in without knocking. "What game are you playing, Dickson? Why are you stalking my kids?"

I stood, caught off guard. "I just wanted to know—"

"You had your chance five years ago! You made your choice! Why can’t you just leave us alone now?"

"Because I think they’re mine! I deserve the truth, Daisy!"

She stepped closer. "You *deserved* nothing. Not after you threw me away. Do you have any idea what I went through? Alone. Afraid. Pregnant. You were nowhere. And now you think you can just walk back in and claim them?"

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

She turned away. "Because I didn’t want them to grow up with a father who valued a council more than their own mother."

I swallowed hard. "And what about me? Don’t I deserve a chance?"

She spun around, her eyes red. "A chance to do what? To hurt them too? No. I built this life for them. I protect them. And I won’t let you ruin that."

"Daisy... I just want the truth. Please."

She looked at me for a long time. Then she walked to the door, her voice low.

"Some truths are better left unknown."

And she left.

I stood there, drowning in questions.

Were they really mine?

Or had I already lost the only chance to know the truth?