Chapter 216 I’ll leave the house today

Chapter 216: Chapter 216 I’ll leave the house today

Alessio didn’t move.

Cedric stared at him with intense anger but somewhere beneath that anger was something he didn’t want to acknowledge. Because Alessio was right. He wasn’t her husband anymore. He had no right to question where Daisy would stay. No right to decide who could take care of her. No right to demand explanations about her life.

They had just signed the divorce papers. Just moments ago, he had looked at Daisy and told her they were divorced. Yet now, hearing another man say that he was no one to ask made the reality feel brutally clear.

Cedric’s jaw tightened. "I’m still—"

He stopped himself.

Still what? Her husband? No. He wasn’t.

His eyes unconsciously moved toward Daisy. She was standing beside Grandpa James, looking between them with a slightly confused expression.

Cedric swallowed.

Alessio noticed his silence but didn’t push further. Instead, he simply turned his attention back toward Daisy.

"Anyway, you don’t have to decide anything right now," he said calmly. "I’m only offering."

Cedric looked away, his face dark. He hated the fact that he couldn’t argue with him. And he hated even more that the reason he couldn’t argue was because the marriage he had once taken for granted was now officially over.

Daisy stood silently beside Grandpa James, her eyes drifting toward Cedric for a moment before lowering again, hiding an unknown expression.

She didn’t know what she was supposed to do anymore.

The divorce was over and although she had known this day would eventually come, the reality of leaving still made her heart feel strangely heavy. It wasn’t that she wanted to stay married to Cedric. She had made peace with that decision long ago. But that house had been her home for three years. Her room, especially, held so many small memories that she couldn’t simply forget because a few papers had been signed.

She had received an apartment as part of the divorce settlement but Daisy already knew it was practically empty. She didn’t even have the energy to imagine moving into an unfamiliar place alone and starting everything from nothing.

She looked at Grandpa James. Her fingers moved slowly.

I’ll leave the house today.

Alessio watched her gestures carefully. His expression flickered with something. Concern, perhaps or reluctance.

"You’re saying you’ll leave house today?"

Daisy nodded.

He frowned slightly.

"If that’s what you want, I’ll take you."

Daisy looked at him with grateful eyes and nodded again. Her shoulders relaxed slightly.

Cedric, who had been standing nearby, suddenly let out a quiet scoff. His arms were crossed, and his expression was difficult to read.

"So you’re really leaving today?"

Alessio’s eyes shifted toward him. His gaze was calm but sharp, a silent warning.

Cedric’s expression was difficult to read. There was something in his eyes. Something almost like regret or maybe disbelief.

"Are you sure she wasn’t asking to stay a few more days?"

His tone carried a faint hint of mockery.

Alessio’s expression changed immediately. He looked at Cedric intensely, his green eyes narrowing just slightly. The sudden change in his expression was enough to make Cedric instinctively straighten.

Alessio’s presence was very powerful. His shoulders were squared and his jaw was tight.

"Don’t."

His voice was low and quiet.

Cedric stared at him.

Alessio took one step forward. Just one but it was enough to make Cedric’s instincts scream at him to step back.

"Don’t keep looking for opportunities to say something hurtful to her."

Cedric’s jaw tightened. His hands clenched at his sides.

Before he could respond, Grandpa James spoke sharply.

"Shut up now, Cedric! Enough of you!"

Everyone became silent.

James looked at his grandson with clear disappointment.

"You’ve done enough today. You’re only looking for another chance to hurt Daisy."

Cedric opened his mouth. "Grandpa, I—"

"No." James cut him off. "You don’t get to defend yourself every time someone points out your behavior."

Cedric’s face darkened.

James continued, his voice firm. "Don’t forget, you’re the one who cheated on Daisy. And don’t think I only know what happened in that room yesterday. I got to know everything."

Cedric froze. His expression changed immediately, the color draining from his face. His eyes widened and his lips parted.

James’s eyes were cold. "So don’t stand here acting as though you’re the injured party."

Cedric lowered his gaze. His shoulders slumped and for now, he didn’t have anything to say.

Alessio glanced toward Daisy. She was standing silently, her fingers intertwined in front of her Her expression was calm, but he could tell she was uncomfortable. Her eyes were lowered and her shoulders were tense.

James noticed it too. His expression softened slightly before he turned toward Alessio.

"Alessio."

Alessio looked at him.

"If you don’t mind, can you take Daisy in your car?"

He glanced toward Cedric. "Otherwise, Cedric is only going to make things harder for her."

Cedric’s head immediately snapped up. "What?"

He looked genuinely offended. "Grandpa, seriously?"

James raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Do I look this unreasonable?"

James stared at him for a long moment. Then he simply said, "Yes."

Margaret quickly turned her face away, hiding a smile.

Cedric looked at his grandfather in disbelief. "Grandpa!"

James sighed. "You’ve spent the last several minutes arguing with everyone outside a courthouse. You told Daisy to leave, then questioned where she would stay, then started arguing with Alessio."

He shook his head. "And now you’re asking me if you look unreasonable?"

Cedric fell silent. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.

Alessio’s lips twitched slightly. He didn’t say anything but the faint amusement in his eyes was unmistakable.

James turned toward him again. "Take her home safely. Let her collect whatever she needs."

Alessio nodded. "Of course."

Daisy looked at him. Their eyes met. Alessio gave her a small reassuring nod.

"Come on."

Daisy hesitated for only a moment before following him. Her steps were slow and she glanced back once at Grandpa James, who gave her a warm smile and a gentle wave.

Behind them, Cedric watched silently. His eyes remained fixed on Daisy until she walked farther away. He had told her to leave. He had wanted her to go. So why did watching her leave with another man make his chest feel as though something was being pulled out of it?