"Stacy, dear, I promise nothing will happen. Go in, and I'll join you very soon," Daisy's voice came again, breaking Stacy from her swirling thoughts. Her gaze finally strayed from the imposing figure of the man standing nearby to meet Daisy's reassuring face. Stacy's blue eyes, which had turned glossy with fear, softened slightly, but the fear still lingered.
Daisy crouched down to Stacy's level when she saw the fear in the little girl's eyes. She knew what the child must be feeling; after all, Stacy had opened up to her a bit about her ordeal when Daisy first saw the burn marks on her lap while helping her bathe. That moment had shattered Daisy's heart, but she had promised to stay strong for the girl.
"Don't worry, my love. He won't do anything to harm us. He's a nice uncle, remember?" Daisy's voice was gentle, her wide smile meant to ease the tension in the air. She reached out to softly pinch Stacy's cheeks, trying to break the dark cloud hovering over the girl.
"You told me that they're good," Stacy replied, her small voice trembling, but a faint hint of trust appeared in her eyes. Daisy smiled, her heart swelling with affection for the brave girl.
"That's right, they are good," Daisy said, her voice still calm and soothing. "So, you can go inside now. I'm safe with him, don't worry." She ruffled Stacy's hair lightly, finally convincing the little girl to step away. Stacy hesitated for a moment longer before nodding, her trust in Daisy winning over her fear. She gave one last uncertain look at the man before heading toward the house.
As soon as Stacy was out of earshot, Zade, who had been silently observing the entire exchange, finally spoke up. "Why didn't you tell me you had a child?" he asked, his voice cold but laced with something that hinted at conflict. He didn't know whether to be angry at the fact that she'd hidden this information or confused by the sudden revelation.
"Who is her father?" Zade's voice grew harder as he stepped closer to Daisy, making her breath catch in her throat. His eyes were dark, and the tension between them was palpable.
Daisy took a deep breath, preparing herself to explain. "Yes, it's true, I'm her legal guardian," she admitted, her voice steady though her heart pounded. "But I didn't give birth to her, Zade. She's my friend's sister. I had to take custody of her because of… unforeseen circumstances." She hesitated, not wanting to go into the painful details, but it was enough to make Zade pause.
Zade released a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, a wave of relief washing over him. Still, there was so much to process.
"I know this is a lot, especially now that I have to live with you, but I can't leave her behind, Zade. She has no one else," Daisy added, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Zade's expression softened for just a brief moment before hardening again with resolve. "She'll come with us," he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument. Daisy's eyes widened, disbelief crossing her features. Had she heard him correctly?
"What?" she asked cautiously, not daring to believe it.
"I said, she's coming with us. She'll live with us," Zade repeated. "Since you're her legal guardian and I'm now your husband, that makes me her stepfather. It would look bad if word got out that Zade Harnes abandoned his supposed stepdaughter," he explained, his voice taking on a calculated tone.
Daisy stared at him for a moment, feeling a mix of emotions. Of course, it made sense now. She had let herself believe, even for a second, that he was doing this out of some newfound affection for Stacy or for her. But no—this was Zade Harnes, after all. He was protecting his image, nothing more.
She let out a quiet scoff but managed a small, grateful smile nonetheless. "Thank you," she muttered, even though she knew his reasons weren't entirely selfless.
"What about your family?" Daisy asked after a brief pause, her voice dropping with worry. She knew that Zade's family would react badly to the news that he was now responsible for a child, especially one that wasn't biologically his. This could cause all sorts of problems for him.
"You don't have to worry about my family," Zade replied, his voice firm. "Just keep her out of the public eye. If my uncle finds out about this, it won't end well," he warned, his eyes narrowing with seriousness.
Daisy nodded slowly, fully aware of the risk he was taking by accepting Stacy. If his family discovered the truth, it could jeopardize his standing, maybe even his position within their business empire. She understood the delicate balance he was trying to maintain.
But Zade wasn't wrong to be concerned. Daisy knew how ruthless his family could be, especially his uncle. Taking in Stacy wasn't just a risk—it was a dangerous gamble, one that could come crashing down if the wrong people found out.
Daisy knows he is taking a big risk in taking Stacy under his wings .
His family would definetly not agree to this of they found out, and that can threaten his position greatly .