Chapter 7
“I understand. Thank you, doctor.”
Daphne lowered her gaze and replied softly. The doctor offered a few more parting words before turning and leaving the room.
As he reached the door, he brushed past Nestor, who was standing just outside.
Nestor strolled in and sat down beside the bed. He watched her silently, and Daphne’s heart lurched–she had no idea how much he might have overheard.
She kept her eyes on him, waiting in silence. After a while, he finally spoke first. “After all, Josephine is my wife. I had to save her first…”
The words were barely out before Daphne quietly let out a breath of relief. Apparently, he’d come too late to hear the earlier conversation.
.As for his choice of whom to save… Daphne nodded, her expression calm and composed. “That’s exactly how it should be, Leonardo.“}]
At the sound of that name, a flicker of confusion crossed Nestor’s face. “You never used to call me that. You always refused.”
“Because I’ve made peace with it,” she said, pausing for a moment, still unable to meet his eyes. “I’ve accepted the fact that no one loves me.”
Her voice was steady–so steady that just hearing her say it left his throat parched and tight. He tried to comfort her. “Your brother… He loves you very much, you know.”
Daphne smiled.
She smiled for a long, long time, until her eyes were rimmed red.
“He’s already gone.“%
The moment you decided to fake your own death, Nestor, was the moment you truly died in my heart.”
Staring into her eyes–still and empty as a stagnant pool–Nestor found himself utterly lost for words. Guilt flooded him in waves, threatening to drown him. He stood abruptly, unable to linger a second longer.
“I’ll go check on Josephine.”
Daphne followed the doctor’s advice and stayed in the hospital for a few more days to recover. On the day she was discharged, Felton gathered everyone together, then beckoned Daphne to sit beside him.
“Daphne, today is Memorial Day. Go see Nestor one last time.”
He sighed, eyes filled with a tangle of affection and remorse. After a few more words of advice to Nestor and Josephine, he sent the three of them on their way. The staff loaded their things into the car. Just as everyone was about to climb in, Josephine suddenly remembered she’d forgotten something and hurried back into the house. Daphne pulled open the car door, but before she could get in, a hand stopped her.
“What did Grandfather mean by ‘one last time‘? What are you hiding from us?“!
She glanced down at the hand gripping her wrist and shook herself free. “Nothing. Grandfather just doesn’t want me visiting too often and dwelling on the past, that’s all. 2
Without another word, she got in, shut the door, and settled into her seat.
Nestor stared at his empty hand, a creeping sense of dread spreading through him. Something was slipping out of his grasp, but he couldn’t quite name it. He wanted to press her further, but Josephine was already hurrying back.
“Honey, let’s go!“2
So he swallowed his words and followed her.%
They had barely reached the cemetery when Nestor’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen, then gestured to Daphne and Josephine to go ahead without him.
Daphne laid her bouquet at the headstone, where the photograph looked uncannily like Nestor.!!
Once, she would have sobbed helplessly at the sight of that photo, grief threatening to consume her. But now? Her face was calm, untouched by any emotion. Just then, Josephine waved an envelope in front of her face, a smug smile lighting up her features.
“Well, aren’t you hard to kill, sis? Last time you fell into the sea, not a single person in the family tried to save you, and yet here you are, still breathing.” Tve been in a pretty foul mood lately, until I stumbled on something interesting. Want to guess what it is?“N
7 was wrong before. I thought maybe, even if no one else loved you, at least Nestor did. But then I accidentally found the love letter he wrote to me. Turns out, he’s been in love with me all along. B
“All those times I got cute little breakfasts as a kid? That was him Every time I was upset, he’d show up right away–not a coincidence. Even marrying you was all to keep you from getting between me and Leonardo. Isn’t it hilarious, sis? Your whole existence in this world is nothing but a cosmic joke…”
Chapter 8
