CHAPTER 52: ENGAGE AT NINETEEN

"You’re lucky!" Elias’s silhouette stood near the window in the dimly lit room, his voice sharp and cold. "Help me get rid of this bitch..."

Both Daisy and Liam frowned.

"Bitch...?"

The door was pushed open completely, revealing Camellia inside the room, trembling in fear. She now stood frozen, caught in the crossfire of Elias’s fury.

"What are you doing here?" Liam frowned, grabbing Camellia’s arm to drag her out of the room.

"No!" Camellia snapped her arm free and rushed to stand in front of Elias. "I know you heard me. I’m sorry if I was too harsh with you... but can you just stay like this? I mean... you used to be like this before... happy, always smiling..."

Liam moved to stop her again, gripping her shoulders in an attempt to pull her back.

"I’m talking to him!" Camellia shouted. "Just stay as Elias, or whatever name you want to use... just don’t go back to being Theo. Not the cold, distant Theo who—"

"What the heck are you doing?!" Daisy was frowning hard, she widened her arms in front of Elias as if it would shield him from any harsh words.

"What do you know?" Camellia knitted her brows in anger, "You are just a stranger who suddenly appeared in our life! What do you know about him?!"

Daisy didn’t flinch. "Maybe I am a stranger to you," she said firmly, her eyes never leaving Camellia’s, "but that doesn’t give you the right to talk to him like that."

Camellia’s jaw clenched. "You think you’re helping him? By standing there pretending like you understand anything about him?"

"I never said I understood everything," Daisy shot back. "But at least I’m not trying to make him choose which version of himself is more convenient for me."

Elias, who had remained eerily quiet, let out a breathy laugh, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "You girls are loud," he muttered, voice low but clear.

Liam, still gripping Camellia’s shoulders, glanced between the two women, unsure whether to step in or step back.

Camellia’s voice trembled now not with fear, but frustration. "He was better as Elias—"

"No! That’s just for you!" Daisy snapped, crossing her arms in clear annoyance. "What’s with you? Are you feeling guilty over something you did to him?"

Camellia’s lips trembled. She opened her mouth but no words came. "I mean..." she faltered, breathing hard. "I mean—"

"Oh, he suddenly fell in love with me..." Elias cut in, casually wrapping his arms around Daisy’s waist and resting his head on her shoulder. "Can’t help... I am too charming..."

Daisy immediately turned, the moment his lips touched her neck and peeled his hands off. "Stop interrupting when adults are talking... and what’s with all the skin ship? You’re not allowed to do that."

Elias scoffed, "Adult? And what am I? A teenager? Twenty’s a great age to have..." He leaned down and whispered into her ear, "...sex."

Daisy slapped his arm instantly. "Behave!"

"Woah, that’s cute." Elias smirked, unfazed, then tilted his head toward Liam with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I think I’ve fallen in love with an older woman..."

Liam narrowed his eyes. "Don’t drag me into your weird flirting style."

Elias only grinned wider, his tone mocking. "Why not? Isn’t she cute when she’s angry?"

Daisy shot him a glare. "Elias—"

But then Camellia rushed forward, pushed Daisy aside, making her stumble.

"Let’s talk...really... We need to talk..." Camellia breathed heavily, looking desperate.

"What with you girl? When I say I’ve fallen in love with an older woman..." he gently pulled Daisy back to stand in front of him, "this woman, not you!"

The whole conversation made Daisy frown, "What is this... I don’t understand..."

"You don’t?" Elias tilted his head and looked at her from the side, "I think I am being clear here, this woman loves me..."

"How?" Daisy’s voice was shaky, confused, "She is your sister..."

Elias pouted and let out an exaggerated sigh before turning to Liam. "Is she our sister?"

Liam stared at him like he’d grown two heads. "What kind of question is that?"

Camellia visibly flinched, her lips parting, but no words came out. Her eyes darted between Elias and Liam, as if silently begging him not to say more.

Liam hesitated, just long enough to make the tension crackle then finally muttered, "Technically."

"Technically?" Daisy echoed, her eyes narrowing. "What does that even mean?"

Camellia quickly stepped forward, voice tight. "It means we grew up together. That’s all that matters."

Elias gave a low whistle. "What a vague and diplomatic answer."

Camellia clenched her fists. "Don’t twist it."

"I’m not twisting anything," Elias replied, brushing Daisy’s shoulder with a light touch before she swatted him again. "I’m just asking questions everyone else seems to be avoiding."

Daisy folded her arms. "If you’re siblings, then this conversation is more messed up than I thought."

Camellia took a shaky breath. "We’re not... related by blood."

Liam shot her a sharp look, but the words were already out.

Elias blinked slowly. "Huh. Interesting... right? Sister...who is not related by blood." He turned Daisy to face him, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What’s wrong?"

She looked pale. Her lips parted slightly as she murmured under her breath, "Is that it..."

Her pulse pounded in her ears as memories surged, especially the moment Theo first offered her that strange marriage deal. "Is that it?" she asked again, this time louder, her eyes locking with Elias’s.

"What?" Elias tilted his head, clearly confused. "Is that it—what?"

But Daisy wasn’t listening anymore. Her thoughts were racing, her chest tight with the weight of realization. She turned away, eyes burning.

"So that’s why," she muttered, barely above a whisper. "That’s why he needed me."

And without another word, she turned to walk out, only to be stopped by Elias’s hand catching her arm.

"What did you just say?" His voice was sharp. "What is it? Do we need to explain something?" His eyes flicked to Liam and Camellia.

Daisy didn’t look up. Her gaze stayed locked on the floor. Her mind was spinning, everything crashing down at once.

"Hey, bitch," Elias snapped at Camellia, his voice laced with venom. "Tell her. Tell her we’re nothing but strangers."

Camellia shook her head, trembling. "No. We were supposed to be engaged when I was nineteen."

The words dropped like a bomb, freezing the room in heavy silence.