Daisy had just taken a few steps along the hallway when suddenly she heard the sound of approaching footsteps. She moved her arm and jabbed the person without restraint, but to her surprise, the person didn’t dodge and took the blow head-on.

"Ow... So heartless..." a familiar voice whispered in her ear as a strong arm wrapped around her waist.

In the next moment, Daisy felt herself being lifted like a sack of potatoes as Ryle tossed her over his shoulder. Within seconds, they were in his room. He kicked the door shut behind him and carried her to the bed.

"What are you doing? Put me down."

He obeyed, putting her down—on the bed. Then he moved to climb on top of her.

Daisy promptly rolled to the other side, and he landed on the mattress. "You... Keep a distance while we talk business."

Ryle grabbed a pillow and let out a muffled groan into it. "Nonsense! There’s no such thing as business between us." When she didn’t acknowledge his words, he looked at her unfamiliar face with a flash of pain in his eyes. "Sweetheart, you really went all out with that attack. Won’t you ask if I feel my ribs shattering?"

Daisy paused. After a moment, she pulled the mask off her face. As she massaged her cheeks, she spoke, "It’s amusing how easily you use terms of endearment with anyone."

"Where does it hurt?" Daisy asked as she sat up on the bed.

Ryle’s brows twitched. "Sweetheart, are you jealous?" The unspoken ’of yourself?’ lingered in his tone.

"Are you hurt or not?"

"Very hurt..."

Daisy sighed and inched closer to him. She had kept her movements discreet but had been alert the entire time. When she heard the footsteps, she thought she had been careless and was about to be discovered by one of the secret guards. In her haste, she had gone all out, intending to bring the man down. If Ryle hadn’t spoken, her next move would’ve knocked him out.

"I said I’m very hurt, inside and out," he continued.

Daisy pulled back when she realized what he was up to.

Ryle chuckled at the look on her face. "I might seem delicate..."

Daisy glanced at the 6-foot-something broad-shouldered ’delicate’ man, wordlessly, while he continued.

"...But this body of mine can handle whatever you’ve got. If you want to attack, let it be your battlefield. No matter how hard you hit me, I wouldn’t die... ow..."

Ryle winced dramatically when Daisy gave him a soft kick. But when he looked up at her, he didn’t see her mood lightening. Instead, she had turned away, her face emotionless but seemingly down.

"My grandpa used to say he was too strong and healthy for his age, that he’d live a long life, but he passed away suddenly. It’s not about whether you’ll die or not," Daisy turned to him. "You have to live. You have to live well, and not talk about things like that..." Her words trailed off as Ryle pulled her into his arms. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

As her head bumped against his chest, Ryle let out a long, relieved breath. Holding her like this always worked wonders for him. She felt like home. No matter where he wandered, once he held her like this, he felt like himself again. The rage that had built up inside him at the breakfast table seemed to fade away, bit by bit.

"Nothing’s ever going to happen to me, sweetheart. I can’t risk it. I know that the moment I slip up, some stinky bastard will try to steal you away from me," he said, the picture his guards had sent still vivid in his mind. Her walking peacefully beside Lu Xian had stirred something ugly inside him, leaving a bitter aftertaste.

He had tried to keep it in check the night he saw the picture, but jealousy reared its head time and again. Just thinking about it made Ryle tighten his grip around Daisy. She was fucking his. Entirely his.

She didn’t bring up the man, and he didn’t push the issue. It wasn’t significant, he knew. Though he had been initially confused about what they were doing together, once she came here, it all made sense. Daisy had found a clever cover to fool his people, hiding her real intentions of coming to see him.

Daisy didn’t push him away or struggle in his arms. She remained still for a long time, inhaling his scent. "You should’ve left the table earlier."

"I couldn’t leave you alone there."

Daisy didn’t reply. She had felt his rage when Nathan insulted Ryle’s mother. She had expected him to storm off when he stood, not sit back down for her sake. "I would not have put myself in danger.’’

"I know you didn’t need me there. You’re strong, Daisy. You don’t need me to do anything for you. But I’d still do it because you mean the world to me. I want you to lean on me, to trust me completely. No matter how capable you are, I still hope you’d let me handle things for you." Ryle pressed his chin against the crown of her head. "And I’d have worried myself to death if I’d left you there, so stop thinking about it."

"I... Cough..." Daisy broke into a coughing fit, feeling her throat itch.

Ryle’s brows furrowed as he stroked her back. "Are you okay?" He pulled her back from his embrace and pressed his forehead against hers, checking her temperature. But it was normal.

"I’m fine," Daisy said, pressing her palm against his chest and gently pushing him away. She looked up at him, and for some reason, Maria’s words circled in her mind.

Had the young Ryle just been this concerned when he saw his family breaking apart? Till when had he tried with his small body to negotiate with his father, or to take care of his mother? When was he eventually disappointed until he stopped trying?