Chapter 165 What the hell was happening to him?

Chapter 165: Chapter 165 What the hell was happening to him?

Cedric brought the water to his lips and drank slowly. The cool liquid soothed his dry throat and he felt some of the tension in his body ease. He finished half the glass before lowering it, his breathing slightly steadier.

He glanced at Daisy again.

She was standing nearby, her hands clasped in front of her, watching him with those quiet, beautiful dark eyes.

"Why are you here?" he asked abruptly.

Daisy blinked, surprised by the question.

Cedric’s jaw tightened. "You didn’t have to come."

Daisy stared at him for a moment. Then she walked toward the table and picked up the notepad Liam had brought earlier. She scribbled something quickly and turned it toward him.

You’re still my husband.

Cedric read the words. His expression flickered, something unreadable passing through his eyes.

"That doesn’t mean you have to take care of me," he said, his voice quieter now. "After everything I said to you..."

Daisy lowered the notepad. She looked at him for a long moment, her expression soft but unreadable. Then she wrote again.

I know you don’t love me. But that doesn’t mean I want to see you suffer.

Cedric stared at the words, his throat suddenly feeling tight for reasons he didn’t understand.

Daisy turned the notepad back toward herself and wrote one more line.

Someone has to take care of you. It might as well be me.

She placed the notepad aside and walked toward the window, giving him space to process her words.

Cedric watched her go, his chest heavy with a confusing mix of emotions. He had treated her terribly. He had told her he loved someone else. And yet she was taking care of him.

Why?

She should have hated him. She should have left him alone in this hospital room without a second thought.

But she hadn’t.

And he didn’t know why that bothered him so much.

He looked down at the glass in his hands, his thumb tracing the rim absently. The water rippled slightly, reflecting the dim light of the room.

"Thank you," he finally said, his voice barely audible.

Daisy turned from the window, her expression surprised.

Cedric didn’t look at her. He kept his gaze fixed on the glass, his jaw tight.

"For the water. And for... staying."

Daisy’s expression softened. She nodded once, a small, gentle smile appearing on her lips.

The entire day passed with Daisy staying beside Cedric. She helped him whenever he needed something, brought him water, adjusted his pillows and reminded him whenever it was time for his medicine.

At first, everything between them had felt awkward, especially after everything that had happened, but as the hours passed, the tension slowly began to disappear. The silence between them, once heavy and uncomfortable became easier to bear.

Cedric, surprisingly, wasn’t nearly as intimidating from a hospital bed. In fact, he was so childish, especially the moment Daisy brought the tablets and glass of water toward him. He looked at them with an expression of pure dislike. His nose wrinkled slightly and he turned his head away like a child avoiding vegetables.

Daisy stared at him.

Then at the medicine.

Then back at him.

Cedric frowned.

"I don’t want it."

Daisy raised her eyebrows.

You need to take it.

"I’ll be fine."

She shook her head, her expression firm.

Cedric looked away like an irritated child, his jaw set stubbornly.

Daisy almost laughed. She had never seen him act like this before. It was strangely endearing.

She picked up the glass and held it toward him again.

"Don’t look at me like that," Cedric muttered, avoiding her gaze.

Daisy’s lips twitched. She tilted her head, waiting.

He sighed.

"Fine."

He took the medicine, swallowed it quickly, and immediately reached for the water, grimacing at the bitter taste.

Daisy watched him with an amused expression.

"What?"

She shook her head, smiling.

Cedric narrowed his eyes.

"Are you laughing at me?"

Daisy nodded without hesitation.

He looked offended.

"I’m injured."

That only made her smile wider.

Cedric stared at her for a few seconds before the corner of his own mouth lifted.

He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this comfortable around anyone else. There was something strangely easy about having Daisy beside him. She didn’t demand anything from him. She didn’t complain. She simply stayed there, quietly helping him whenever he needed her.

And every time she smiled at him, he found himself wanting to smile back.

By evening, Cedric caught himself watching her more often than he intended.

At one point, Daisy was sitting on the couch, looking through something on her phone and Cedric simply stared at her. The afternoon light had faded, leaving the room in a soft golden glow. She was completely unaware of his gaze, her attention focused on the screen.

He suddenly realized he was smiling.

He quickly looked away.

What the hell was happening to him?

He almost felt like a fool.

If Rafael somehow knew that his little scheme had accidentally resulted in Cedric and Daisy spending an entire day together and becoming closer, he would probably regret it immediately.

Meanwhile, night slowly settled over the hospital. The room grew darker and the city lights began to twinkle outside the window.

Daisy was sitting beside the window when her phone vibrated.

She looked down.

Alessio.

She hadn’t heard much from him during the last two days. She hesitated before replying.

Alessio: Are you free?

Daisy hesitated before replying.

Daisy: I’m at the hospital. My husband is sick.

She sent the message and put her phone down.

She had no idea that only a short distance away, Alessio was sitting beside his car in a quiet, almost empty area near the hospital. The night air was cool and still.

He leaned against the side of the car, one hand resting in his pocket while the other held a cigarette between his fingers. Smoke slowly curled around his face as he took another drag.

He rarely smoked.

But the last two days had been particularly difficult, and tonight he needed something to occupy his restless mind.

More than anything, he wanted to see Daisy.

He had been thinking about her far too much.

When his phone vibrated, he immediately looked down.

He read her message.

I’m at the hospital. My husband is sick.

A faint, mocking smile appeared on his face.

Of course.

Her husband...