Shattered Bonds 1
HEADLINE OF THE DAY
SHOCKING NEWS
(MR. WILL CONFIRMED DEAD)
COMMENTS:
How can that be possible?
Why can't it be possible? He went to challenge my husband, Alexander Qin.
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Mr. Will had the audacity to challenge the well-known cold-blooded man.
_View 18 more replies_
Even if I loved him as a man, I am, killing Mr. Will is not acceptable at all.
Shut up! Is there any proof that says Mr. Qin killed Mr. Will? Stop talking rubbish. Like you don't know, in the business world, you'll have plenty of enemies.
Isn't it obvious? After trying to challenge Mr. Qin, it's not even 48 hours before he was found dead.
You have…
"Really, man?" Daisy muttered to no one in particular. She dropped her phone onto the table while sipping her early morning coffee at a nearby café close to the hospital where her mother was admitted. The trending news had just been taken down from the internet while she was reading it. No pictures of this so-called Alexander Qin could be found anywhere, except for one—an image of his back. Even that was deleted shortly after. Daisy didn't have the time or energy to delve into the mystery of this "Mr. Popular" unknown man.
She had more pressing things to worry about, like finishing her coffee quickly so she could go pick up her little brother from school.
After finishing her coffee, Daisy walked toward the counter, paid for her cup, and then picked up some doughnuts for her brother, hoping to brighten his day with a little treat. She wasn't particularly fond of these sweet distractions, but they worked wonders for him when she was busy.
As she stepped out of the café and back onto the bustling streets, people continued to stare at her as if she were some kind of anomaly. Daisy was used to it by now, though. She didn't let it bother her. Her outfit—a white oversized shirt with a black button-up T-shirt on top, paired with baggy black trousers and white sneakers—was designed for comfort, not style. It was nothing remarkable, but it always seemed to catch attention. Her black bobbed hair and face cap didn't help either.
To anyone who wasn't familiar with her, Daisy looked like a boy—handsome, sharp-featured, and with a sharp chin that made girls admire her and men seethe with jealousy. Her pale pink lips and captivating side profile were enough to make anyone take a second look, even if they weren't sure whether she was a boy or girl. That was the effect she had.
As she continued her walk toward the hospital, she noticed her stepsister, Kelly, standing near the entrance. Daisy, however, kept walking, choosing to bypass her entirely. She wasn't in the mood for banter or pointless conversation.
Six years ago, she would have done anything to avoid confrontation with Kelly, but now, Daisy barely even cared. She could still remember that rainy night—the night she and her mother had packed their things and left their home. They had taken her baby brother with them, leaving everything behind because of Kelly's mother, Elizabeth.
Six Years Ago
At 18 years old, Daisy had become all too familiar with the constant shouting and arguing between her parents. But this time, something felt different. She couldn't quite make out the words, but the intensity of the quarrel was enough to make her feel uncomfortable. Daisy was used to these arguments, but tonight, it sounded more serious.
She was holding her baby brother in her arm
The voices from the living room grew louder, more heated. Daisy couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of curiosity. There was something off about tonight's argument, and the fact that she heard a woman's voice only deepened her unease.
Why would a woman be here at this hour? Daisy wondered, but no answer came. She couldn't stop herself from creeping down the stairs, trying to get a glimpse of what was going on. She continued to rock her baby brother gently in her arms as she tiptoed toward the parlor. Daisy found a spot near the staircase where she could observe without being seen.
What she saw made her blood run cold.
Her father and mother stood facing each other, both clearly furious. But it wasn't just them. There was a woman in the room, and Daisy instantly recognized her. Miss Elizabeth, her mother's best friend. Beside her stood Kelly—her stepsister, only a few years younger than Daisy.
Daisy froze. She had no doubt in her mind that what was happening now would change everything.
Miss Elizabeth's voice broke through the tense silence. It was sharp, but there was a fake pleading tone laced with sarcasm that Daisy recognized instantly.
"Please, Lucy," Elizabeth said, speaking directly to Daisy's mother. "I want my daughter to have the love of a father in her life. She's already sixteen, and I can't keep lying to her. I can't tell her that her father is overseas whenever she asks about him. She deserves to know the truth. I'm not asking you to leave—just let us be one happy family. Your daughter Daisy loves Kelly like a sister, and Kelly feels the same way. Isn't that what families do? Look out for each other?"
Daisy's mind raced as she listened to the words, the bitterness creeping in as Elizabeth played the role of the "victim." Daisy could almost hear the hidden message beneath the words: You've had your time with him. Now, it's my turn.
And that, Daisy realized, was the real reason they were here tonight.
She looked at her mother, but the pain in her eyes made it clear: she already knew what was happening. The guilt, the hesitation, the strain between them—it all made sense now. Her father was the one who had been unfaithful, and it seemed like the woman who had once been their family friend was now claiming what she thought was rightfully hers.
Her mother had always known about Elizabeth's feelings for her husband, but Daisy had never imagined it would come to this.
Daisy's grip on her brother tightened, her chest tightening with a mix of anger and betrayal. The room felt suffocating. She didn't want to witness this. She didn't want to hear any more.
But she couldn't tear herself away.
As her parents argued, Elizabeth's voice grew louder, and Daisy couldn't help but feel as though her family was being torn apart right in front of her. The woman who had once been a friend had now become an enemy—an enemy who was trying to destroy her family for her own gain.
Daisy stayed hidden, her baby brother now asleep in her arms, oblivious to the storm raging just a few feet away.