"Good! I shouldn't have come to look for you in the first place. I'm just a God damn fool making myself ridiculous!" Edward had been worried. After about three hours of searching for her, he got really irritated. Daisy's words made him think that all the things he had done for her were unnecessary and she didn't need him or his efforts. He lost his temper and for the first time he cursed in front of her.
Daisy still didn't turn around to look at him. She tried to hold back the tears, but in vain. Fierce tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Watching her back, Edward felt she didn't appreciate his concern at all. He closed his eyes dismally. When he reopened them, he walked down the hill, alone.
As Edward's footsteps became thinner, Daisy turned around. She watched him go farther and farther away from her through tearful eyes. Grief ran through her.
She always knew that a distinguished and arrogant man like Edward wouldn't love her deeply enough to humor her all the time, and she had been reminding herself to be discreet. But when he got mad at her, the indifference he showed was still too much for her to bear. She felt as if she was reliving those painful days when Edward had treated her like no more than a stranger.
Edward slammed the car door and sped away, as if he had forgotten the woman he loved was still on the hill. He looked grim, eyes elusive. His mouth was a tight line. One single glance at him could give people chills.
Luke, you don't need to look for her anymore. I found her," Edward answered on his vehicular telephone and slowed down his car. Luke had been trying to reach him.
"Mr. Mu, where are you? Do you need me to come over?" Hearing that Edward had found Daisy, Luke stepped on the brake and pulled over.
No. You go back to the hotel." Edward frowned and made a U-turn.
Okay, be careful." Usually Luke was at Edward's side. He and Edward were now separated because they had gone in different directions to look for Daisy. He was worried to leave him alone. His ultimate aim was to protect him. Only when he was with Edward could he stop worrying.
"I will." Edward hung up. The look on his face softened a little.
Luke sensed Edward's bad mood over the phone. He was worried and confused. Edward was supposed to be happy to find Daisy. Why did he sound angry? Had they been fighting? But since Edward always pampered Daisy, fighting seemed unlikely.
Daisy was still in the same place where Edward had left her. She was sitting on a rock, rubbing her sprained ankle, looking dejected just like the high heel lying aside.
She forced a wry smile. Edward had left without looking back, as if she were just a stranger to him. She had believed he would tolerate everything about her. Now, clearly, she was proved wrong. In his heart she was not as important as she had thought her to be. From what happened today, she realized that in this world nobody could love and tolerate her as much as herself.
She decided not to waste more time on self-pity. She took off the other shoe and started to walk down the hill with bare feet. The pebbles hurt the soles of her feet. It was much better than walking in high heels, though.
Reality was cruel, but she was tough. Despite the absence of the shoulder she could lean on, she would rather endure the pain than cave in. She limped on the cobbled path. The passing by tourists gazed at her curiously. She looked embarrassed, but she kept walking, slowly and steadily. Years of military life taught her how to remain calm in difficult situations. This was just a tiny snag to her.
She wetted her lips with her tongue. After the fierce training at JC Military Academy, there was nothing she couldn't manage on her own. It was the mental pain that distressed her more. The mistake was mutual. She and Edward shared responsibility for the fight. For her part, she hadn't processed the matter properly. She wasn't understanding enough. The Lamborghini parked at the gate of the park again. Edward stepped out and walked toward the park. His presence and appearance drew much attention among the crowd. But he didn't seem to have noticed people's gaze and strode urgently on. Edward gasped. Maybe in front of her, he had to lower his dignity. He did leave angrily, but after a while, he calmed down and came back for her. He just couldn't leave her there alone. He walked up the path. He wasn't sure if she was still there, since he had been away for a while. If she intended to make him worry, she would have left and disappeared.
However, that was what Daisy would have done if she hadn't been hurt. At the moment, she was taking each step with enormous difficulty. Getting to the foot of the hill was a huge challenge for her. She felt like walking on needles, but she wasn't going to give up. She was an example in the army from whom the soldiers took inspiration. She was not a wuss. Her dress was soaking wet. Her lips were parched from thirst. Her hair was slipping over her face. She looked like a princess who was suffering misfortune. When Edward saw her again, he was stunned. When he saw her walking without shoes, he felt a wave of pain in his heart. He ran up to her quickly.
"Daisy, is this what you want to put me through?" There were too many feelings going on in his heart - ache, anger, and pride. He wanted to take her into his arms, but when he opened his mouth, he sounded aggressive. Daisy wasn't glad to see Edward come back. She lowered her head to look at her toes, which were covered with dust and sand, because she didn't want him to see her eyes which were red from incessant crying. She hid her shoes behind her, trying to conceal her fragility.
"Have you lost your tongue?" Edward saw neither Daisy's pale face nor her awkward feet hidden under her long dress. When he didn't get an answer, his pride was hurt by her indifference.
Why did you come back?" Daisy would rather be left alone than let him see her in such embarrassment. She didn't care about other people staring or laughing at her, but this was Edward. She didn't want him to feel sorry for her.
Would you spend the night on the hill if I didn't come back?" Edward said angrily and tucked the hair slipping over her face back behind her ear. He had been away for a long while, but she didn't seem to have moved forward at all.
I bet you'd like that. Out of sight, out of mind. Right?" She didn't want to talk like that. She had realized her own mistake a moment ago. But on hearing his hostile tone, she became aloof again. Despite the difficult situation she was in, she tried to maintain the upper hand. It was until now that she realized how much she wanted to win in everything.
"Am I such a jerk in your eyes?" Edward clenched his fists, suppressing his anger. He hadn't expected her to be so unforgiving with him.
No. I'm in a too embarrassing situation to see you." Daisy didn't know why she was being so pushy. Where were all those harsh words coming from?
Are you saying I can't even take care of my wife?" Edward's brows were tightly knitted. On a second thought, he did seem like an irresponsible husband. He didn't even notice when she left the hotel.
I didn't say that. Don't fabricate charges against me." Daisy sounded frigid. If he couldn't bring her comfort, she would rather he stay away from her or ignore her. She felt extremely mortified right now.
"It's not about what you said. It's what you did. Your behaviors make me feel that way. Why did you take off your shoes?" Edward took out his handkerchief from his pocket. He bent over to clean the sand off her feet. Nonetheless, Daisy took several steps back and tripped over her dress. She fell on the ground and the cuts on her feet were exposed to Edward.
What's the matter with your feet?" Edward was surprised to see the small cuts on her soles. His gaze slid upward. What he saw next pained him as if the injuries were not on her body but on his heart.
None of your business." Daisy withdrew her feet and shielded herself from his cold gaze with her dress. He looked angrier than he had been last night.
Daisy, I told you that you could do whatever you like, as long as you don't hurt yourself. Is this how you keep your promise? Seeing her covered with cuts and bruises, Edward shut his eyes. She seemed to have never taken his words seriously. A violent surge of rage forced its way through him.