Chapter 74
Theo and Daphne
Daphne barely looked at Theo on the drive home. She kept her arms crossed, her gaze fixed out the window, her lips pressed into a thin line. Theo, of course, was completely unbothered. He just hummed along to the radio, occasionally glancing at her with that infuriatingly smug expression.
By the time they got home, she still wasn't speaking to him. Instead of acknowledging him, she kicked off her heels, changed into Theo's favorite silk slip dress and marched straight to the couch, pulling a blanket over herself like a shield.
Theo laughed quietly to himself before changing out of his suit and entering the kitchen. He moved around the with a kind of effortless ease, pulling out ingredients and lighting the stove as if nothing was wrong.
He was so annoyingly sweet about it too.
"Dinner will be ready soon, Princess," he called out, his tone warm, affectionate. "I made your favorite."
Daphne didn't respond. She stayed curled up, flipping aggressively through her phone, pretending she wasn't secretly watching him from the corner of her eye.
The worst part?
He was actually good at this. He moved with practiced confidence, his hands working deftly as he chopped, stirred, and plated everything with almost ridiculous care.
He was doing this on purpose. Daphne was sure of it. He knew she was mad, and instead of fighting back, he was... being perfect. It was unbearable.
Just as Daphne was considering storming off to their bedroom to avoid having to deal with him at all, the doorbell rang.
Daphne frowned, getting up. "Who the hellâ"
Walking across the penthouse barefoot, she swung the door openâand froze.
"Daphne Dashwood?" One of the men standing outside questioned.
"Yes," Daphne arched her brow. "What's this?"
"Delivery, ma'am," the man said, handing her the flowers.
Flowers....So many flowers.
At least ten deliverymen stood outside, each holding an arrangement more extravagant than the last. Huge bouquets of red roses, peonies, lilies, orchidsâsome wrapped in delicate ribbons, others set in beautiful vases. It was an overwhelming explosion of color and fragrance.
Daphne's mouth fell open.
One of the deliverymen cleared his throat. "Miss Dashwood?"
She blinked, still stunned. "Uhâyeah?"
"These are all for you."
Daphne stared.
Then she slowly turned her head, looking over her shoulder at Theo.
He was leaning against the kitchen counter, a wooden spoon in hand, watching her with an innocent smile.
"I thought they might cheer you up," he said lightly.
Daphne gritted her teeth.
Of course he did.
Daphne let out a sharp breath, barely restraining herself from slamming the door in the deliverymen's faces. Instead, she forced a tight-lipped smile and stepped aside, gesturing for them to bring in the ridiculous amount of flowers. The living room disappeared beneath an overwhelming sea of red, pink, and white blooms.
"Justâput them anywhere," she muttered, rubbing her temples as the scent of roses filled the air, thick and suffocating.
Theo was still standing there, stirring whatever infuriatingly perfect meal he was making, looking pleased with himself.
Daphne spun around, her frustration boiling over. "You are so over the top, Theodore!"
He arched a brow, the picture of amused innocence. "You don't like them?"
Daphne threw her hands in the air. "That's not the point! You always do thisâyou just smother me with these grand gestures like it fixes everything! Like I can't possibly stay mad at you because, oh look, Theo sent a million flowers!"
Theo leaned against the counter, a slow smirk curling on his lips. "To be fair, it was only eleven deliveries."
Daphne groaned, pacing between the bouquets, feeling trapped in his overwhelming, extravagant everything. "Youâ" She whirled around, pointing a finger at him. "You are so frustrating."
His smirk widened. "I know."
"Why are you doing this?" Daphne demanded. "Is this fun for you?"
"What am I doing?" Theo asked innocently. "You have been cranky all day and I'm just trying to cheer up my wife."
"What?" Daphne's head snapped toward him.
Theo did his best to hide the smirk on his face as Daphne's eyes filled with anger.
"What did you say?" Daphne stepped forward.
"I said I was trying to cheer you up," Theo repeated.
"No, before that," Daphne shook her head. "What did you say about cheering me up?"
"Just that," Theo said. "I wanted to cheer you up. Are you okay, my love?"
"You called me your wife," Daphne narrowed her eyes.
"Mm, no, I didn't," Theo laughed.
"Youâ" She clenched her jaw, narrowing her eyes. "Youâ"
"Yes, Sunshine?"
"I hate you right now."
Theo chuckled, unbothered, and went back to stirring the pot on the stove. "That's okay. You'll love me again in about five minutes."
Daphne seethed. She would not.
Daphne stomped down the hallway. She didn't care that Theo was probably watching her with that obnoxious smirkâshe was too mad to deal with him right now.
The second she stepped inside, she slammed the door shut behind her, letting the sound echo through the penthouse. She let out a sharp breath, her hands curling into fists at her sides, before turning and throwing herself onto the bed.
With a muffled groan, she buried her face into a pillow and screamed.
It wasn't fair. He wasn't fair.
"Daphne?" Theo knocked on the door. "Dinner is ready."
"I'm not hungry," Daphne lifted her head and answered.
Theo sighed on the other side of the door, and before Daphne could tell him to leave her alone, it swung open. She barely had time to react before she felt his hands wrap around her ankles.
"Theoâwhat are youâ"
With one smooth pull, he dragged her down the bed, making her yelp as she slid toward him. He didn't hesitateâbefore she could protest, he scooped her up effortlessly, cradling her against his chest like she weighed nothing.
"Theo!" she gasped, squirming. "Put me down!"
"Nope." He pressed a kiss to her temple, completely unfazed by her resistance. "You're being stubborn, and I'm not about to let you starve out of sheer spite."
Daphne huffed, crossing her arms as he carried her out of the bedroom, his hold warm and secure. She could feel his heartbeat against her cheek, steady and strong, as he walked them to the dining table.
Gently, Theo set her down in a chair before crouching beside her, his dark eyes soft as he tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Dinner and then dessert, okay?" he murmured.
Daphne looked at the beautifully plated meal in front of her, the scent immediately making her stomach twist in betrayal. Theo handed her a fork, his fingers brushing against hers.
"Don't speak to me as if I am a child," she said.
"You're acting like a damn child right now," Theo said rising to his feet.
"You can't handle me," Daphne snorted. "How will you handle an actual child?"
"Who said I can't handle you?" Theo laughed. He looked down at her and gently grabbed her face. Tilting it back, he gazed into her eyes with a soft smile. "You're so beautiful."
Daphne's breath hitched, her heart doing an infuriating little flip at the way Theo looked at her. Even through her irritation, she could feel the warmth of his touch, the way his thumb stroked her cheek with aching gentleness.
She swallowed hard. "Flattery won't get you out of this," she muttered, though her voice had lost some of its bite.
Theo chuckled, his lips twitching. "I'm not trying to get out of anything." He leaned down, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to her forehead. "I'm just reminding you that you're the most breathtakingly difficult woman I've ever met."
Daphne leaned into the kiss against her will, "You still love me?"
"Always," Theo murmured, his fingers still cradling her jaw. "Even when you're throwing a tantrum over flowers."
Daphne scowled, shoving his chest lightly. "I was not throwing a tantrum."
Theo only laughed, stepping back and nudging the plate closer to her. "Eat," he said again, this time with quiet amusement. "Then we can argue some more."
Daphne huffed but picked up the fork.
Theo smirked, watching her take a begrudging bite before sitting beside her, completely content.
Theo sat beside Daphne, leaned back in his chair with that smug, knowing expression that made her want to throw her fork at him. But as much as she wanted to stay mad, it was impossible with the way he was watching herâcalm, patient, and completely enamored.
He didn't push or tease. He simply reached out, his fingers stroking small, soothing circles against her back, the warmth of his touch sinking into her skin through the fabric of her dress. Every now and then, his hand would drift up, tangling lazily in her hair, twisting soft strands between his fingers before letting them fall back into place.
Daphne tried to hold onto her frustration, but the tension slowly drained from her shoulders. The rhythmic glide of his fingers, the slow playfulness of his touchâit was infuriatingly comforting.
She took another bite, chewing slower now, less stiff, her breaths evening out.
Theo smirked, tilting his head. "Better?"
Daphne exhaled through her nose, refusing to meet his gaze. "Shut up."
His soft chuckle sent warmth curling in her stomach. He leaned in, brushing his lips against the shell of her ear. "I love you, you impossible woman."
Daphne's lips twitched, but she kept eating.
Theo just kept stroking her back, content to sit there, watching her, loving her.
Daphne sighed, glancing down at her plate before stabbing a piece of meat with her fork. She turned to Theo, holding it up to him.
"Here," she said.
Theo's lips curled into a slow, lazy grin. "Guess you don't hate me that much."
"Don't push your luck."
Still smirking, he leaned in, wrapping his lips around the fork as his dark eyes stayed locked onto hers. Daphne tried not to react, but the way his lips brushed against the metal, the way he hummed in satisfaction as he chewedâit sent a warmth rushing up her neck.
"Not bad," he murmured.
Daphne rolled her eyes, but she didn't stop herself from scooping another bite and holding it out to him. This time, Theo didn't take it right away. Instead, he wrapped his fingers around her wrist, guiding the fork to his mouth at an excruciating pace, his lips brushing her fingertips as he took the bite.
Daphne sucked in a breath, her heart stuttering.
Theo chewed, then smirked again. "What?"
She scowled. "Nothing."
He swallowed, his gaze softening as he reached up, brushing his knuckles along her cheek. "You're cute when you pretend you don't like me."
Daphne scoffed, but before she could retort, Theo leaned in, capturing her lips in a slow, lingering kiss. His mouth was warm, tasting like the remnants of their dinner, sweet and rich. His fingers threaded into her hair as he deepened the kiss, stealing the last bit of her irritation away.
By the time he pulled back, Daphne was breathless, her frustration completely melted into something softer.
Theo grinned. "Better now?"
She narrowed her eyes. "You're insufferable."
But when she handed him another bite, he knew she had already forgiven him.
"What's for dessert?" Daphne asked as they finished dinner.
"We have ice cream in the fridge," Theo said, whipping his hands on the napkin on his lap. "And the brownies you made on Sunday."
Daphne nodded, "Okay, good. You made dinner. I shall take care of dessert."
"You sure?" Theo asked, grabbing her wrist and pressing a kiss upon it as Daphne rose from the table and gathered their dishes.
Daphne rolled her eyes at Theo's sudden burst of affection but let him press a kiss to her wrist anyway. She shook her head and carried the dishes to the kitchen, already mentally planning out the dessert. Ice cream and browniesâit was simple, easy. A perfect way to end the night.
As she set the plates by the sink, she reached for the dish soap, only to pause.
A small, velvet box sat next to it.
Daphne blinked.
Seriously?
A laugh bubbled in her chest, her lips curling into an amused smirk.
"Nice try, Theodore," she called out, wiping her hands on a towel. "I know what you're up to. You are so cruel!"
She grabbed the box, flipping it open without hesitation, expecting to find something ridiculous insideâa joke, maybe, or one of his pranks. A fake ring. A folded note that said Gotcha! Something absurd that would have her throwing a dishrag at his head.
Instead, she found a ring.
Not just any ring. His mother's ring.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Her fingers tightened around the box as a strange warmth bloomed in her chest.
This... this wasn't a prank.
"Theo?" Her voice softened as she turned, glancing toward the dining room.
Silence.
A strange feeling settled in her stomach.
Brows furrowing, she stepped out of the kitchen and into the living room, her heartbeat thudding a little harder now.
The moment she entered, she froze.
The lights were dimmed, the golden glow of candles flickering across the room. Flowers surrounded herâroses, lilies, peonies, every bouquet that had annoyed her earlier now seemed different, almost surreal.
And there, in the center of it all, stood Theo.
Waiting.
Her fingers tightened around the ring box, her pulse hammering against her ribs.
He wasn't smirking. He wasn't teasing. He was just watching her, his expression unreadable, his hands tucked into his pockets.
Daphne's breath hitched.
Slowly, hesitantly, she stepped forward, her bare feet silent against the floor.
Theo exhaled, as if steadying himself, and then he slowly dropped to one knee.
Daphne's heart stopped.
"Theo..." she whispered, her grip loosening on the box as she stared down at him. "I swear if you......"
He looked up at her, his dark eyes holding a depth that made her knees feel weak.
"I meant to do this properly," he murmured. "With less yelling. Less slamming doors. Maybe without you threatening to stab me with a fork."
Daphne let out a breathless laugh, her chest tightening and her eyes watering.
Theo's lips twitched into a small smile. "But then again, nothing about us has ever been simple."
She swallowed hard, her vision blurring at the edges.
Theo took a deep breath and flipped the small box open, revealing the delicate, vintage ring.
"I've spent my whole life chasing things that don't matter," Theo murmured. "But you... you've always been the one thing that does."
Daphne's lips parted, but no sound came out.
Theo exhaled, his fingers tightening around the small box. "You drive me insane. You test my patience. You make me work for every damn thing." A small, crooked smile. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Daphne parted her lips to speak but no sound came out. She could barely breathe.
"Marry me, Sunshine." Theo's voice was low, steady, sure. "Be my wife."
Daphne's hands trembled as she stared down at him, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst.
And for the first time that night, she was completely, utterly speechless.
A sharp, overwhelming warmth filled Daphne's chest, spreading through her like a rush of sunlight after a storm. It was almost too muchâtoo intense, too deep, too real. She had never felt anything like it before.
Her breath shuddered, her heart stammering beneath her ribs as she took in the sight of himâTheo Silvano, the man who drove her insane, who challenged her at every turn, who kissed her like she was something sacred and held her like she was something fragile. The man who had somehow, despite all odds, become hers.
Her fingers curled against her chest, pressing lightly as if trying to contain the sheer force of the emotions threatening to spill over. She had never been good at thisâat expressing things that left her vulnerable, at handling feelings so big they swallowed her whole. But right now, she felt it all so vividly, so painfully beautiful, that it nearly stole the air from her lungs.
Loved.
She felt so loved.
And in this moment, staring down at Theoâthe man who had somehow become the center of her worldâshe realized something else, something terrifying and wonderful all at once.
She had never not loved him.
Maybe she had fought it, maybe she had denied it, but the truth had always been there, waiting for her to stop running.
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she let out a shaky, breathless laugh, overwhelmed by the sheer force of himâof the way he looked at her, of the way he said her name, of the way his entire world seemed to rest in her hands.
Theo's brows knit together slightly, a flicker of something like uncertainty flashing across his face. "Daphne?"
She sucked in a breath, blinking back the blur of tears as she let out a soft, incredulous laugh.
"You absolute idiot," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I should say no for all the heartache you have caused me in the last twenty four hour."
Theo's lips parted, but before he could speak, she dropped down to her knees in front of him, her hands reaching for his face, fingertips tracing along his jaw, as if trying to ground herself.
"I love you," she whispered, the words barely above a breath.
Before Theo could respond, she kissed him.
It wasn't soft. It wasn't hesitant. It was fierce, desperateâan answer, a promise, a vow.
Theo groaned against her mouth, his hands fisting into her dress, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss as if he could somehow pour all his love, all his devotion, into this one moment.
When they finally broke apart, their breaths mingling, Theo rested his forehead against hers, his thumb sweeping against her cheek.
"So..." His voice was hoarse. "Is that a yes?"
Daphne let out a shaky laugh, pressing another kiss to his lips.
"Yes," she whispered against his mouth, her fingers tangling into his hair. "It's always been yes."
______________________
Lily
Lily trailed her fingers over the smooth surface of a ceramic vase, barely registering its design as she stood in the middle of the home décor aisle. The bright fluorescent lights of the department store cast a sterile glow over the shelves, but all she could focus on was the weight in her chestâthe nagging, suffocating feeling she hadn't been able to shake.
She had invited Alexa. It felt like the right thing to do, the normal thing. Best friends did things like this togetherâshopping for new apartment essentials, picking out dishes and throw pillows, laughing over the weird knickknacks they found. But today, there was no easy laughter, no playful debates over color schemes.
Instead, there was silence.
Lily glanced at Alexa, who was inspecting a set of wine glasses, holding one up to the light as if it mattered. She looked the sameâher soft black hair tied up in a lazy bun, her purse off one shoulderâbut something about her felt different. Or maybe Lily was different.
The knowledge of what she had seen sat like a stone in her stomach, making her wary of every word Alexa spoke, every movement she made. She hated the way it made her second-guess everything. The way she hesitated before speaking, afraid of what might slip out.
"You need new dishes, right?" Alexa finally broke the silence, turning to her with a small smile. "These are cute."
Lily forced herself to nod, stepping forward to examine them. White ceramic, simple designânothing special, but they would do.
"They're nice," she said, her voice a little too even. "I'll send Mason a picture and see if he likes them."
Alexa hummed in agreement, placing a set in the cart. "We should find some candles, too. Your new place has to smell good."
Lily gave another small nod, her grip tightening on the cart handle. It felt like they were playing pretend, skating over the surface of something fragile, acting as if nothing had changed.
But Lily had changed.
And no matter how hard she tried to push it down, the doubtâthe paranoiaâstill clung to her, making every moment feel like a carefully balanced lie.
Alexa glanced at Lily as they wandered into the candle aisle, her brows furrowing slightly. "You're really quiet today," she said, her voice light but probing. "Is something wrong?"
Lily forced a small smile, pretending to focus on the rows of scented candles in front of her. "No, I'm fine," she said, too quickly.
Alexa didn't buy it. "Lily." She sighed, shifting her weight as she turned to fully face her. "Is this about Jake?"
Lily's stomach twisted, the lie forming on her tongue before she could stop it. "Yeah," she exhaled, feigning reluctance. "We kind of had an argument."
Alexa frowned. "About what?"
Lily hesitated, then forced herself to continue. "About... us not having sex yet." The words tasted bitter in her mouth.
Alexa's lips parted slightly in surprise, then pressed together in understanding. "Ugh, Jake's such an ass sometimes." She rolled her eyes, reaching out to touch Lily's arm. "Please don't let him pressure you into anything. You don't owe him shit."
Lily swallowed hard, nodding. She hated this. Hated lying, hated the way Alexa was looking at her like she cared. Because maybe she did care. Maybe Lily was being crazy.
Maybe she was ruining a friendship over nothing.
But the messages. The secrecy. The sick feeling curling in her stomachâit was all still there, whispering that she wasn't crazy.
She forced another weak smile. "Yeah. I know."
Alexa smiled back, giving her arm a reassuring squeeze before grabbing a vanilla-scented candle off the shelf. "Good. Now, let's make your new apartment smell amazing so you can forget all about Jake being an idiot."
Lily hesitated, gripping the shopping basket a little tighter. The words felt thick in her throat, but she forced them out before she could lose her nerve. "Alexa... can I tell you something?"
Alexa turned to her, her expression immediately softening with concern. "Of course. What's up?"
Lily exhaled slowly, staring down at the candles in front of her. "I... I feel insecure when you're around Jake."
The admission felt humiliating, but she pushed through. "I know it's stupid, but I can't help feeling like... like he likes girls like you. The effortless, confident, beautiful kind. And I guess it just messes with my head."
Alexa's eyes widened in surprise before her face melted into something tender. "Lily," she said, stepping closer. "Oh my God, please don't feel that way."
Lily swallowed hard, keeping her gaze locked on the rows of candles, unable to meet Alexa's eyes.
"I would never do anything to make you feel that way," Alexa continued, her voice warm, reassuring. "And if Jake is making you feel like that, that's his fault, not yours. He's supposed to make you feel special, not insecure." She reached out, giving Lily's hand a comforting squeeze. "I'll keep my distance from him if that helps. I don't want you to feel like that, ever."
Lily finally looked up, her stomach twisting. Alexa sounded so sincere, so genuine, that for a second, doubt crept in. Was she reading too much into everything? Was she really about to throw away their friendship over some paranoid assumptions?
She forced a small smile. "That... would help," she admitted quietly.
Alexa smiled warmly. "Good. Because you're amazing, and Jake should be worshiping the ground you walk on."
Lily felt her heart twist, an ache settling deep in her chest. She didn't want to believe Alexa could hurt her. She didn't want to believe that the girl standing in front of herâthe one who had been there through late-night study sessions, heartbreaks, and whispered secretsâcould betray her like this.
Alexa's warmth, the easy sincerity in her voice, made Lily's doubts falter. What if she was wrong? What if the messages weren't what she thought? What if this paranoia, this awful, gnawing suspicion, was just in her head?
"Lily," Alexa's voice softened. "Do you not realize how incredible you are? Everyone flocks to you. You should never feel insecure about anything."
Lily bit her lip, staring at the flickering glow of a candle on the shelf. Then why do I feel like I'm being lied to?
Her paranoia whispered cruel things in her ear, urging her to see the worst, to believe that Alexa was hiding something. But doubt followed close behind, clawing at her resolve, telling her she was ruining a friendship over suspicion and fear.
She forced a small nod, hoping Alexa couldn't hear the pounding of her heart. "Yeah. I know."
Alexa smiled, giving her arm a gentle squeeze, and Lily felt her stomach sink. Because she had no idea if she was making the biggest mistake of her lifeâtrusting Alexa, or doubting her.
Yay!! They're getting married!!!!