Chapter 45
Theo and Daphne
"Thank you."
Daphne smiled despite the pounding headache pulsing at the back of her head. She shifted slightly, her muscles protesting as Evie gently slid a pillow behind her back.
Lily and Wendy sat perched at the edge of her bed, their eyes swimming with concern, like two worried puppies. Lily's hands twisted together in her lap, while Wendy kept shifting her weight.
"Can I get you anything else?" Evie's voice was soft but edged with worry, her eyes scanning Daphne's face for any sign of pain she might be hiding.
"No," Daphne sighed, leaning back into the pillow. "I'm okay for now. Really. Thank you." She gave them a small, reassuring smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"No need to thank me," Evie said, brushing a strand of hair from Daphne's face. "I'm just glad you're okay and not in a hospital right now. Some of these people get so crazy when they see a little bit of snow."
"I wish Theo had sucker-punched the guy," Wendy muttered, crossing her arms.
"We can track him down and press charges," Lily added.
"You guys," Daphne laughed softly, careful as to not hurt herself. "I'll be okay."
The girls looked unconvinced. Their concern wrapped around Daphne like a blanket, and she felt a deep gratitude settle in her chest. They were here, making sure she was comfortable, safeâbut even surrounded by their warmth, her mind kept drifting back to Theo.
His silent presence, the gentle touch on her cheek, the way he'd kissed her forehead without saying a word. And, of course, the moment she had confessed her love to him.
The words replayed in her mind over and over.
I love you.
She hadn't planned to say it, hadn't expected the raw truth to escape in that vulnerable moment. Now, she couldn't stop wondering what he was thinking, what his silence meant.
Was he shocked?
Confused?
Or something else entirely?
"Daphne?" Evie's voice broke through her thoughts. Daphne blinked, realizing the room had gone quiet, all three girls watching her expectantly.
"Sorry," Daphne murmured, forcing another smile. "I'm just... a little out of it."
They nodded and the silence returned. Lily fiddled with the edge of the blanket while her mossy green eyes peered at Daphne as if she might vanish into thin air.
"Do you want us to leave?" She asked. "Theo said not to bother you."
"You're not bothering me," Daphne said. "Where....where's Theo?"
"I saw him by the cigar room," Wendy said. "Can't believe this place actually has a man cave."
"Do you want me to go get him?" Lily asked.
Daphne hesitated. Part of her wanted to leap out of bed and find him herself, to demand answers, to understand the silence that had stretched between them. But another part felt frozen, fear mixing with anticipation.
What if he doesn't feel the same? What if...
Daphne's heart pounded, the silence around her amplifying the chaos in her mind. She could feel her pulse in her ears, every second stretching into an eternity. The girls' voices faded into the background, their concerned faces blurring as her thoughts spiraled. Theo's silence haunted her, each unanswered moment a stone in her chest.
What if I scared him off? What if he thinks... this is too much?
She swallowed hard, the weight of uncertainty pressing down. Her fingers twisted the edge of the blanket, a nervous habit she couldn't shake. The room felt too small, the walls closing in.
I need to see him.
The thought echoed in her mind, urgent and insistent.
"Daphne?" Lily's voice broke through again, soft but insistent. "Are you okay? You don't look... here."
"Iâ" Daphne hesitated, her throat dry. "I'm fine," she lied, the words barely above a whisper. Her eyes flicked toward the door, every instinct urging her to go find him, to see the truth in his eyes.
"You want me to get Theo?" Lily offered again, her voice gentle.
Daphne shook her head, forcing a tight smile. "No, it's... I'll... I just need to talk to him myself."
The girls exchanged a look, worry etched on their faces. But Daphne barely noticed. The room's warmth suddenly felt suffocating, her skin prickling with a restless energy she couldn't contain.
What if he's avoiding me? What if he's regretting everything?
Each thought hit like a punch to the gut.
Her mind replayed the confession over and over, dissecting every moment, every breath. She hadn't meant to say itânot then, not like that. The words had slipped out, raw and unguarded. And now, the silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken questions.
I need to see him. I need to know. The urgency twisted inside her, an ache that wouldn't relent.
"Daphne, are you sure you're okay?" Evie's voice was soft, her concern evident.
Daphne forced herself to meet Evie's eyes, the anxiety churning just beneath the surface. "I just... I need to talk to Theo."
The words hung in the air, and for a moment, no one spoke. Finally, Wendy nodded, her expression softening. "Then go. He's by the cigar room."
Daphne's heart skipped, a mix of fear and hope surging through her. She stood, her legs unsteady but determined. With a deep breath, she stepped out of the room and turned toward the stairs.
Her steps echoed softly down the hallway, each one deliberate yet uncertain. The ornate details of the cabin blurred around her as her focus narrowed to a singular purpose. Her heart pounded, an unsteady rhythm that seemed to sync with the anxious flutter in her chest.
The corridor felt longer than she remembered, every shadow stretching like a reminder of her confession. The air was thick, each breath shallow as she approached the door to the cigar room. She could hear the soft murmur of voices filtering through the heavy wood, each word muffled, indistinct.
She paused, her hand hovering near the doorknob, her pulse quickened. A low voiceâTheo'sâbroke through the murmur. Daphne leaned closer, the polished wood cool against her ear.
"None of this was supposed to be real," Theo's voice was strained, uncharacteristically unsure.
Daphne's breath caught in her throat, her fingers gripped the doorframe.
"You think it isn't real now?" Mason's voice was calm. "She said she loves you."
Theo didn't answer immediately. The silence stretched, heavy and uncertain. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer. "I can't help but wonder. I set everything in motion. Did I just... fall into my own trap? Did she?"
Daphne's eyes stung, tears threatening to fall. She pressed a hand to her chest, the ache there deepening with each word.
"Is it me she's in love with or is it the lifestyle I can give her?" Theo asked. "And what if I can't give her all this....the gifts, the vacations, the private jets.....what if I .... What if I was never Theodore Silvano?"
Daphne froze, her breath shallow as she clung to the doorframe, Theo's words slicing through her like shards of glass. The polished wood pressed cool against her ear, grounding her as her world seemed to tilt.
Inside, Mason's voice carried a steady calm. "Dude, you're overthinking this," he said gently. "This is Daphne you're talking about."
Theo's sigh was heavy, filled with the weight of uncertainty. "This all started as an arrangement. I needed her to play a part, and somewhere along the line, I started believing it. But... what if she didn't?" His voice faltered. "What if I'm not the man she thinks I am? Without all thisâthe money, the nameâwhat's left?"
"You're still you, Theo," Mason said. "The guy who's been there for her, who cares about her. That's not something you can fake."
"I....." Theo paused. "I don't know what's real or fake anymore. Everything feels like a lie. My whole life feels like a lie."
"Okay, Levi," Mason snorted. "Calm down."
"This whole relationship started on a lie, Mason," Theo said. "And now....she's telling me she loves me. Where is this coming from? Does she love me, the man I am, or is it the money and the name I come with?"
Daphne clung to the doorframe, her heart pounding in her chest. The ache inside her deepened, a storm of emotions swirling as she fought to hold back tears. Did he truly think her love was just a construct, a byproduct of circumstances?
The silence stretched, and Daphne barely dared to breathe, her heart hammering in her chest. The weight of Theo's words wrapped around her like a vice, threatening to choke the air from her lungs. Her chest felt tight, the ache within her growing with each passing second. She wanted to run, to escape from the suffocating tension, but she couldn't move. Her feet felt rooted to the floor, as though the ground itself had absorbed her pain.
"You're being a drama queen right now," Mason said. "Shouldn't you be checking on her? The doctor said not to let her fall asleep because of the concussion."
There was no answer. Or maybe Daphne didn't hear because all she could really hear was the blood running past her ear. Her head swayed and her stomach churned.
Suddenly, the quiet and slow rustling of footsteps reached her ears, followed by a soft click of the cigar room door. The handle turned slowly, the sound of metal against wood grating on her nerves. Daphne couldn't move as the door opened and she came face to face with Theo.
His eyes went wide, his expression instantly shifting from confusion to shock. Daphne's tears had already begun to spill down her cheeks, and the sight of her, standing there left Theo speechless.
"Fuck," Mason whispered from behind his brother.
For a long moment, neither Theo nor Daphne moved.
The silence stretched and Daphne's fingers curled tightly around the doorframe, a last desperate attempt to ground herself, but it was no use. The tears flowed freely now, each drop a reminder of how deeply she had fallen for him, how she had trusted him with her heart. Her chest ached with the weight of his words and of the knowledge that he hadn't believed in her words.
Theo didn't speak, just stood there, rooted to the spot, his eyes scanning her face, as if searching for somethingâan explanation, an answer, a way to fix what had been broken. But Daphne knew there was nothing to fix. His doubts had already carved a jagged line through her heart, and no amount of words could undo that.
The moment stretched, agonizingly long, before Mason's voice broke the tension. "I'll give you two some space," he said quietly. With one last glance at Daphne, Mason turned and stepped away, leaving the two of them alone.
The door clicked softly behind him, and suddenly, it was just her and Theo, standing in the same room, but feeling miles apart.
Theo's breath caught, his hand still hovering in the air, as if he wasn't sure whether to reach for her or pull back. He looked at her with an expression full of guilt. The silence between them grew thick, oppressive, as if the space was too small to hold all the emotions swirling around them.
"Daphne..." Theo began, his words faltering before they even left his mouth. His gaze dropped, and he closed his eyes briefly, trying to collect himself. The hesitation was palpableâhe wanted to say something, anything, but the words wouldn't come. He reached a hand toward her, but it was hesitant, as if he feared what might happen if he touched her.
Daphne's chest tightened, her heart pounding in her ears. She had to tell him, she had to make him understand. She couldn't let him walk away without knowing how deeply she felt for him, how real her love was. But as the words bubbled up inside her, they stuck in her throat, lodged there like a stone. She met his gaze instead, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, and forced herself to speak.
"Is that really how you see me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling with the weight of her emotions. The words felt fragile, like they might shatter the moment, but she had to say them.
Theo flinched, as if her question struck him in a way he hadn't anticipated. "You weren't supposed to hear any of that," he said, his voice strained. He closed his eyes, his jaw clenched tightly, and he looked as though he wanted to retreat from the situation, to take back everything he had said.
Daphne's chest tightened even more, the hurt now twisting in her stomach. The tears she had been fighting for so long were threatening to spill over.
"You can say it, but I can't hear it?" Her voice wavered with confusion and pain. Her hands trembled at her sides, but she fought to stay strong.
Theo shifted uncomfortably, his expression a mixture of frustration and guilt. "I was talking to my brotherâ" he started, but the words trailed off as Daphne shook her head, not letting him finish.
"About us... about me," she said, her voice cracking on the last word. It was a question, an accusation, a plea, all in one. Her eyes searched his face desperately, but the expression on Theo's was distant, like he was already trying to pull away from her, trying to distance himself from the truth of what they had.
Theo looked as though the weight of her words was slowly sinking in. He exhaled sharply, his breath shaky.
"Daphne, pleaseâ" he began, but his voice faltered. He took a step back, as though afraid of what might happen if he took another step forward.
Daphne's heart twisted painfully in her chest.
"Theo, I love you," she finally said, her voice breaking on the last word. She had to get it out. "I love you so much. Not the gifts, not the money, not the name....you....I'm in love with you."
The tears fell freely now, Daphne's emotions spilling out in a rush. She reached out, but her hand shook as she dropped it back to her side, too afraid to touch him when he was pulling away.
Theo's expression wavered, and he closed his eyes again, his face contorting in pain, and something elseâfear. He shook his head slowly.
"Don't do this," Daphne whispered.
"I can't," Theo said. "I'm not ready for this, Daphne. We're moving too fast... I don't even know what's real anymore."
Daphne's frustration flared, the heat of it rising in her chest, burning away the sad tears in her eyes. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, and her heart raced as her words came out in a rush, raw and desperate.
"How can you say that?" she demanded, her voice growing louder, filled with disbelief. "How can you tell me we're moving too fast when you're the one pushing us forward? You're the one who wanted our families to meet, who invited me to every damn family dinner, who made it seem like we were building something! You met my parents, Theodore! You made plans to take me to Italy with your family. You did all that." Her breath hitched, her face flushed with frustration. "You made me believe that I was part of your life, that we wereâwe were something real."
Theo stood there, his face pale, his jaw clenched as if trying to hold back whatever emotions were swirling inside him. His eyes flickered with guilt, but there was no apology in his stanceâjust distance, more of it than she could handle.
Daphne's pulse thudded in her ears as her emotions boiled over. She felt the tears coming again, but this time, they were mixed with a deep anger, a need to be heard. She wasn't going to stand here and let him throw everything they had away without a fight.
"No," she spat, taking a step forward, her chest tight with emotion. "I'm not going to let you make this about me being the problem. You want to say we're moving too fast? Look at everything we've done together!"
Her voice cracked with the weight of her emotions, but she forced herself to keep going. "I don't want your money, I don't want anything except you. You. And you're throwing it all away like it was nothing. But it wasn't nothing. I'm not just some girl you bring home to impress your family. I'm me, and I love you. I love you with everything I have." She took a breath, her chest heaving as she glared at him. "And you're going to stand there and tell me this is moving too fast? That it's all been a lie? And you think I'm doing this for the gifts?"
Theo flinched, his mouth opening as though he was going to say something, but Daphne wasn't finished.
"No! Don't you dare," she snapped, her voice sharp.
The room grew silent, but this time, it wasn't filled with hurtâit was full of rage.
"How can you do this to me?" Daphne demanded. "How can you think so little of me?"
Theo stood frozen, his eyes dark and filled with something that Daphne couldn't quite read. He opened his mouth several times, but nothing came out. His face was an unreadable mask, his posture stiff and closed off. Every word Daphne threw at him seemed to bounce off whatever wall he had built up around himself.
"I don't want to hurt you," Theo finally said, his voice low, almost defeated. "But I can't do this. I.....I need some space and some time."
Daphne's heart stuttered in her chest. She could feel the world beginning to tilt around her as her brain struggled to process what he was saying.
"What are you talking about?" she whispered, the words barely leaving her mouth, as if she was afraid to hear them. She took a step closer, her body trembling with a mixture of anger and confusion. "Theo, you can't just throw this away, not like this."
He shook his head, "I....I can't, Daphne."
Daphne felt the ground shift beneath her feet, "Why are you doing this?"
Theo stood there, his back rigid, his jaw tight, unableâor unwillingâto meet her gaze. His silence only deepened the ache in Daphne's chest.
"I trusted you," Daphne said quietly. "I've let you into my life. I've let you see the parts of me that no one else has, and you're telling me you can't do this? After everything?" Her voice cracked on the last word, the rawness of her emotions coming to the surface with force she hadn't expected.
She took another step forward, her eyes pleading with him to understand. "Did you ever trust me? Did you ever trust my feelings? Were you ever really in this with me, or was it all just a game to you?"
The question hit Theo like a punch to the gut. His eyes were filled with a sadness that Daphne had never seen before, a deep sorrow that only deepened her hurt.
Daphne's chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath, her mind racing, her body trembling with the weight of what was happening.
"If you didn't trust my feelings, why the hell were you even with me?" she demanded, her eyes stinging with tears. She shook her head, her lips trembling. "If you couldn't trust me, then why make me believe in thisâwhy make me believe in us?"
"I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" Daphne suddenly laughed. "That's all you got?"
Daphne's laugh was hollow, bitter, as the words escaped her mouth. Her shoulders shook with the weight of the emotion she was holding back, the anger, the hurt, all blending into something unbearable. She didn't want to cry in front of him, but the tears were fighting to break free. She blinked rapidly, trying to hold them at bay.
"You don't get to just walk away and say sorry like that's supposed to fix everything!" Daphne's voice cracked with a mixture of fury and disbelief. "You don't get to hurt me and then pretend like it's okay with a half-assed apology!" Her words burned like fire, her face flushed with anger.
As Daphne stood shouting, her vision began to blur, the room spun as the adrenaline surged through her, her breath coming in uneven gasps. She felt the ground shift beneath her feet, the rush of blood to her head making her lightheaded. Her hands trembled, and suddenly, the world around her felt like it was collapsing.
Theo's eyes widened, and before she could take another step, he lunged forward, his arms reaching out to catch her.
"Daphneâ!" His voice was frantic, but she couldn't bear to have him touch her. Not now. Not after everything he had just said.
Daphne shoved him away, her chest heaving with the effort, the words spilling out in a rush of raw emotion.
"No! Don't touch me!" Her voice shook with both rage and desperation. "You don't get to act like you care anymore, not after everything you've done. You're the one walking away. You don't get to fix this by pretending you're sorry!"
Theo hesitated, pain flashing across his face. But Daphne wasn't done. Her body swayed slightly, the dizziness threatening to overwhelm her, but she refused to let him see the weakness in her. She glared at him through the tears that blurred her vision, her chest tight with anger and heartbreak.
"Just go...," she whispered, her voice breaking as she fought to stay standing. "Please... just go."
She turned away from him then, her legs unsteady as she stumbled, the weight of everything crashing down on her. Before she could collapse, Theo reached out and caught her, despite her protest.
"How could you do this?" Daphne whispered, her soft lips trembling. "You weren't supposed to make me cry, Theodore."
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