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Chapter 1 I Don't Want To Die "If you ask me, Mr. Kennard Larson was way too heartless. This daughter was what Mrs. Larson had waited so many years for, and he actually wanted to kill her." The female doctor let out a quiet sigh. A nurse quickly made a shushing gesture. "Lower your voice, Dr. Taylor. Stop talking and get on with it. "Mr. Larson had everything arranged. Everyone involved in Mrs. Larson's delivery was his people. As long as we helped him get rid of this problem, none of us would have to worry about promotions ever again." The voices went from blurry to clear. Lily Larson listened carefully. When she heard that someone wanted to kill their own daughter, she felt a wave of pity for that baby. Being born into a family like that was simply a tragedy. Compared to that child, Lily thought she had been pretty lucky. She was a medical and financial tycoon in the twenty-first century. Although she had no parents or family, she had lived a free and happy life. Just then, a hand wearing sterile gloves suddenly appeared in front of her face, reaching toward her nose and mouth. Alarm bells rang in Lily's mind. She suddenly realized something terrifying. The baby they were trying to kill was her. And Kennard Larson and Dr. Taylor were characters from a novel she had just read. She had gone three days straight without sleep while attending a conference. Afterward, she only took a short nap. When she woke up, she had somehow entered the novel she had just finished reading. Even worse, she had become a minor character who was killed right after birth. Lily had never seen anyone so unlucky. In the book, this baby girl was smothered to death the moment she was born, and later on, her entire family was completely destroyed. The doctor's hand was already on her face. [Mommy, help me! Please save me. If you don't save me, I'm going to be smothered to death. Mommy, please look at me. I don't want to die!] Lily screamed in panic inside her mind. On the delivery bed, Daisy's body suddenly moved. Her face was pale. The next second, she turned her head in this direction. "Mrs. Larson, your baby has stopped breathing. We'll take her to the morgue right away." The nurse panicked for a brief moment, then quickly calmed herself and walked toward the operating room door while holding the newborn Lily. Daisy's face instantly turned ghostly white. When she heard that her baby had stopped breathing, her vision went dark, and she almost passed out. [Mommy, save me! Don't believe her. These people are all murderers. Kennard arranged for them to kill me. He is a bastard. He wants to kill his own daughter. He's completely heartless.] That soft, sweet voice rang clearly in Daisy's ears and instantly pulled her back from the edge of unconsciousness. She stared at the baby in the nurse's arms. The baby really was not moving. 'Where is that voice coming from? How did it know about Kennard? Could I really be hearing my baby's thoughts?' Daisy wondered in disbelief. She froze for a moment, then forced herself to speak. "Give me the baby." The nurse paused. "Mrs. Larson, you just gave birth and haven't recovered yet. Let me take care of the baby. We'll handle everything properly—" "Give her to me." Daisy stared at the nurse with her pale face, her tone firm and cold. The nurse's entire body trembled. Without thinking, she obeyed and handed the baby over. Daisy immediately pulled open the blanket and looked down. Her baby was still breathing. But there were clear finger marks around her nose and mouth. Daisy could hardly believe what she was seeing. This nurse had actually covered her baby's nose and mouth just now, trying to suffocate her. A chill ran straight down Daisy's spine. Her head was filled with that soft, childish voice. She really could hear her baby's thoughts. And the baby had just told her that the person who wanted to kill her child was her most trusted husband. "Get out." Daisy raised her hand and pointed at the door. All the medical staff turned pale and quickly walked out of the room. Lily finally relaxed and let out a breath of relief inside her heart. She had almost died just now. Luckily, despite her weakness from giving birth, Daisy had managed to stay conscious and save Lily. Daisy lowered her head and looked at the baby in her arms with gentleness. The baby's skin was red and wrinkled, as it should be for a newborn. But her eyes were different. They were not unfocused or dazed. Instead, they were clear and bright. The baby stared straight at her without blinking. Daisy's heart softened instantly. This was her daughter, her only daughter. [Such a pretty mommy! It's just a shame you have terrible judgment when it comes to people. Those medical staff aren't the real masterminds. The real one is my own father. [He wants to kill me so you will break down, then he'll take over your fortune. Those doctors and nurses were already bought off by Kennard. Even if you interrogate them, you won't get anything.] Lily looked at the beautiful woman who was now her mother and quietly sighed in her heart. Daisy's face turned deathly pale. She could not believe Kennard would do something like this to her and their daughter. They had been married for so many years, and they had always seemed loving and close. When she was pregnant, Kennard was overjoyed. He said he would spoil their daughter and treat her like a princess. She couldn't understand why he would arrange to have their daughter killed secretly. Daisy sat down heavily on the bed, completely stunned. Seeing her like this made Lily's heart ache. In the book, Daisy was a wealthy heiress who fell in love with Kennard, a complete scumbag. For his sake, Daisy had used all her connections to clear his path. In the end, however, he had schemed until her entire family was ruined. [You're risking your life down here to give birth to his child, but he's upstairs in the VIP ward taking care of another woman. He doesn't love you at all, Mommy. You need to wake up now and stop being fooled by that scumbag.] Lily felt terrible inside. But she had just been born. She couldn't speak at all. All she could do was make weak, pitiful whimpering sounds. Daisy suddenly snapped back to her senses. Now she was completely sure. The voice she had been hearing was her daughter's voice. If everything her daughter had just said was true, then Kennard should be in the VIP ward upstairs right now. "Larissa." Daisy forced herself to gather what little strength she had left and called her assistant. "Go to the VIP ward on the top floor and check if Kennard is there. Don't let anyone notice you." "Yes." Larissa looked confused but didn't ask any questions. She quietly avoided the bodyguards and took the elevator to the top floor. Daisy sat on the bed holding Lily tightly. No matter how awful she felt, she didn't forget about her daughter. She unbuttoned her clothes and started nursing Lily. Lily closed her eyes and turned her head away in protest. Unfortunately, she couldn't fight her body's instincts. She still opened her mouth and began to suckle. Looking at the baby in her arms, Daisy couldn't help but smile faintly. At that moment, she still didn't want to believe everything she had heard. She and Kennard had been married for years. They already had two handsome sons, and now they finally had a daughter. She couldn't bring herself to believe that Kennard could be such a scumbag. "Mrs. Larson." Larissa came back. "Did you see him?" Daisy asked, her voice shaking. "Mr. Larson is in the VIP ward," Larissa said hesitantly. "Nancy is there as well. She's giving birth." Daisy's eyes widened in disbelief. A strange smile slowly appeared on her pale face. "Are you sure?" She knew Nancy very well. Because of Nancy, she and Kennard had argued more than once. Every time, Kennard had brushed it off with excuses, saying Nancy was just his assistant. She had foolishly believed him. "Yes." Larissa nodded and dropped another bombshell that hit Daisy like a punch to the chest. "The VIP ward was reserved under Mr. Larson's name." "Just perfect." Daisy let out a cold, angry laugh. Back then, she had wanted to reserve a VIP ward at Sarzon Hospital. Kennard had told her the hospital was fully booked and that she would have to stay in a regular room. However, he had reserved a VIP ward for another woman. "Mrs. Larson, please don't get too worked up," Larissa called out in alarm. Daisy's eyes rolled back, and she fainted on the spot. Chapter 2 Call A Doctor Now Larissa was startled. She quickly caught Lily and called for a doctor to check on Daisy. Lily was placed into a baby crib. Seeing her innocent, helpless mother like this made Lily's heart ache all over again. As a woman herself, Lily understood exactly how Daisy felt at that moment. But she thought this was a good thing. At least Daisy had seen that scumbag's true face early. She wouldn't have to worry about being fooled by him again. When Daisy woke up, an hour had already passed. "Mrs. Larson, you need to take care of yourself," Larissa said softly as she placed Lily beside Daisy. "From the moment you fainted, your baby kept watching you. You really need to look after yourself." Daisy's eyes turned red, but she didn't say a word. [Mommy, you can't let this beat you. If you fall apart, that ungrateful jerk will just be happy,] Lily said anxiously in her heart. When Daisy heard that familiar soft voice, she knew her daughter was encouraging her. She gave a weak smile. She agreed with Lily. Kennard was selfish, calculating, and ungrateful. Just then, Kennard's anxious voice came from the doorway. "Is Daisy awake?" He pushed the door open and walked in. He was wearing a suit and a tie. Even though he was over forty, he still looked handsome and refined. He sat down by the bed, his eyes full of worry, and took Daisy's hand. "Honey, you scared me to death. Thank God you're okay." Daisy didn't move. She just looked at him quietly. The concern in his eyes seemed genuine. After so many years of marriage, Daisy couldn't help but hesitate for a moment. She thought maybe she really had misunderstood him. [Even an Oscar winner couldn't act this well. If I could move right now, I'd slap you.] Lily squirmed in anger and let out a small whimper. "I'm fine." Daisy pulled her hand back and spoke in a distant tone. Kennard froze. Then he seemed to realize something and quickly started apologizing. "This was my fault, but I really had no choice," he said. "The company had an emergency shareholders' meeting because of a project. "You know how important this project is. I couldn't make it to the delivery. You won't blame me, right? I'll spend more time with you and our daughter from now on." His tone was extremely sincere. In the past, whenever he apologized like this, Daisy would always forgive him and even feel sorry for him. But this time, she didn't comfort him or help him save face. She just said lightly, "You really are busy." Kennard was stunned and didn't know how to respond. Lily felt sick listening to him. [Enough with the excuses. Get to the point already. Didn't you come to ask Mommy for that emerald jewelry to give to your mistress? If you keep dragging this out, I'm afraid that woman upstairs will start making trouble.] Daisy's expression tightened. Just as she looked up, Kennard grabbed her hand again and gently rubbed the back of it with his thumb. This was his usual move whenever he wanted something from her. "Honey, do you remember that emerald jewelry set your mother left you when you married me?" Kennard asked carefully. The moment he brought it up, Daisy clenched her teeth. "Why are you asking about that?" "Today's client really loves collecting emerald pieces," Kennard said smoothly. "If I give it to him, this project will be a sure thing." He was clearly just waiting for Daisy to agree so he could go home and get it. But to his surprise, Daisy calmly pulled her hand away. "That emerald jewelry is for our daughter. Give him something else." Kennard's smile froze. For a moment, he even thought he'd heard wrong. "What did you say?" The hostility in his eyes almost slipped out. Daisy felt completely different today. After all, she had never refused him like this in all these years. He had already promised Nancy that he would give her that emerald jewelry set as a gift for giving birth to their child. If he couldn't get it, he had no idea how he was going to explain it to her. [Didn't expect that, did you? You're not getting it. That's something Mommy is giving to me.] Lily laughed so hard in her heart that she almost hiccupped. She felt more and more satisfied watching things unfold. Daisy gently patted her daughter's back and then said to Kennard with a hint of bitterness, "Our daughter has already been born, and you haven't even looked at her once since you came in. Are you really going to take away the gift I'm giving her?" Kennard was prepared. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "Of course not. I prepared something a long time ago. Take a look." Daisy took the box and opened it. Inside was a carefully carved pendant. "I had this specially made," Kennard said. "Our daughter will definitely like it." [Oh, please. You're trying to swap a fake for Mommy's emerald jewelry worth 300 thousand dollars. Now I finally understand how you made it so far in business.] Lily kicked her legs angrily. [Take this fake away. Take it away.] Daisy was already furious. Her daughter was of noble birth. She couldn't believe Kennard was trying to brush her off with a fake pendant. "I'll accept the pendant for our daughter, and I'm still giving her the emerald jewelry," Daisy said coldly. "You can figure something else out." She tossed the box aside. From that day on, Kennard could forget about taking even a single cent from her again. And she would take back everything he had taken from the Burke family. After being rejected again, Kennard's face looked awful. But because of Daisy's background, he held his temper in. After sitting there for a few minutes, he made up an excuse about meeting a client, stood up, and left without offering a single word of comfort. The moment he walked out, Larissa quietly followed him. Less than five minutes later, Larissa returned. "Mrs. Larson, it's a good thing you didn't give him the emerald jewelry. He was planning to give it to Nancy. Since she didn't get it, she's fighting with Mr. Larson right now." Daisy showed no reaction. She simply handed Larissa the box Kennard had brought. "Throw it away. As far as possible." Just looking at that fake made her feel sick. "Okay," Larissa replied, took the box, and left the room. Lily thought Daisy would break down and cry. But after finding out about Kennard's betrayal, Daisy was unusually calm. She just held her baby and sat quietly on the bed, staring into space. Lily realized Daisy was even stronger than she had imagined. But suddenly, Lily noticed something was wrong. Daisy's face was pale, and her lips were turning purple. [It's a stress-induced heart attack. Call a doctor now!] Lily screamed anxiously in her mind. But all that came out of her mouth was a baby's loud cry. Daisy's breathing became rapid. Her hands trembling, she placed Lily down on the bed and tried to press the call button herself. Before her fingers could reach it, a sharp pain shot through her chest. She clutched her chest and let out a muffled cry of pain. [Mommy, you can't let anything happen to you. Breathe slowly. Don't get upset. Don't let that scumbag ruin your health. If something happens to you, I won't survive either!] Lily screamed desperately in her heart. Watching Daisy's face grow paler and paler, Lily wished she could grow up instantly and save her mother. As Daisy's face turned whiter by the second, Lily's cries grew louder and louder. Chapter 3 You Big Idiot Just then, someone rushed into the hospital room. "Mom!" Fred hurried over and helped Daisy sit up. "Mom, what's wrong?" Lily felt a flicker of hope. [Mommy's chest hurts because that scumbag made her so angry. Hurry and call a doctor for Mommy!] Fred froze for a split second. He thought he had heard a baby's voice. But there was no time to think about that. He immediately ran out to call for a doctor. The doctor arrived quickly and had Daisy wheeled straight into the emergency room. Fred broke out in a cold sweat. Holding his newborn sister, he stood outside the emergency room and waited. People passing by kept glancing at him. Lily also stared at Fred's profile without blinking. [He's so handsome. His profile is perfect, and those thick eyelashes are hard to resist. He's even better-looking than a movie star.] Fred looked down at the baby in his arms. That voice was exactly the same one he had heard in the hospital room earlier. For a moment, he wondered if that voice had really come from his sister. With a slightly confused and helpless look, Fred raised his hand and gently wiped away Lily's drool. [He's actually really gentle. It's all Kennard's fault for always putting him down and crushing his confidence. What's worse is that later on, he'll be set up by someone Nancy arranged, get addicted to drugs, and die miserably in rehab.] Lily let out a quiet sigh in her heart. Fred's heart shook. He wanted to hear more, but just then, the light above the emergency room went out. "Your mother is fine now," the doctor said as he came out. "She just gave birth, so make sure she doesn't get emotionally upset." The nurses then pushed Daisy back to her ward. Fred stayed by the bedside, holding Lily. He had never taken care of a baby before. He had always heard that babies cried a lot and were hard to handle, so he stayed extremely alert. But after watching her for a while, he noticed that Lily didn't cry at all. Instead, she kept staring at Daisy without blinking, as if worried about her. That sight softened Fred's heart. He couldn't help but think about what he had heard earlier. For a moment, he even wondered if his sister could really see the future. Kennard truly didn't like him. He often said that being good at studying was useless. Over time, those words had indeed made Fred feel insecure. Now that he thought about it carefully, everything his sister had said made sense. Fred silently swore that no matter what, he would never let Kennard destroy him or Daisy. "Fred." After a long while, Daisy finally woke up. Her body was still very weak. She could barely sit up while leaning against the pillow. [Mommy's awake!] Lily shouted. "Mom, you're awake." Fred finally let out a sigh of relief. "Give me your sister." Seeing how stiff and careful Fred was with the baby, Daisy didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. She took Lily from his arms. If it hadn't been for her precious daughter, she probably would have been driven to death by that scumbag Kennard by now. "Your sister doesn't have a name yet," Daisy said softly as she gently touched Lily's little face. "What do you think we should call her?" "Shouldn't you ask Dad?" Fred asked. Before the delivery, Kennard and Daisy had agreed to choose the name together. Daisy laughed coldly in her heart. Because of Kennard, she had almost died twice. And right now, he was still staying with another woman. "I gave birth to this child. Why should I ask him?" Daisy said as she continued playing with Lily. "Right, my precious daughter?" [That's right. Don't ask that scumbag. Look at how awful the names he picked for you were.] Fred clearly heard his sister's mocking tone, but he stayed silent. [I want to be called Lily. Mommy, I'm Lily.] "How about Lily?" Daisy asked naturally. [I agree, Mommy!] Lily got so excited that she blew spit bubbles. Fred and Daisy both smiled. "Then we'll call her Lily. It sounds really nice," Fred said with a nod. He chatted with Daisy for a bit longer. After making sure she was really okay, he finally went home. Daisy placed Lily beside her, then opened the laptop Larissa had brought over and started looking through Kennard's Instagram. [Mommy, you won't find anything there. He hid everything really well.] Lily rolled her eyes in her heart. [You won't find anything on his messaging apps. Otherwise, he couldn't have fooled you for so many years. [He's done plenty of dirty things. He's been using all kinds of excuses to transfer your assets. And he also opened Nancy's company for her. [Over the past few months, the Burke Group has been performing worse and worse because Kennard has been giving Nancy all the good projects.] The more Lily thought about it, the more unfair it felt. All those years of marriage and feelings had been fake. Daisy's hands clenched tighter and tighter. Luckily, she still had her children who truly cared about her. She had to fight and take everything back, for herself and for her children. But she hadn't been to the company much since giving birth to her second son. If she wanted to investigate all this, she would have to do things the hard way. After thinking for a moment, Daisy made a phone call. An hour later, Larissa sent the bodyguards away and brought in a private detective wearing a black jacket. "Here is 150 thousand dollars." Daisy handed him an envelope. The money came from her private account. Kennard wouldn't notice anything. "I want evidence of my husband's affair. Don't alert him. When you're done, I'll give you another 150 thousand dollars." The man took the money and left without saying much. "Mrs. Larson, have you really made up your mind?" Larissa asked, looking at Daisy with concern. Daisy's face was still pale, but her eyes were calm and firm. "Larissa, I'm not someone who can't live without love. I still have my parents and my children. I can't just watch Kennard destroy everything." Daisy could give everything up for true love. But she could also walk away from love and start over. [Mommy is amazing!] Lily watched everything and felt pure admiration. [Mommy is the best. What are Kennard and Nancy compared to you? You're a wealthy heiress. When it comes to schemes, they're nothing next to you.] Daisy couldn't help laughing out loud. She had no idea why her daughter was so adorable or how she could think such strange things. "I will definitely protect all of you," Daisy said as she kissed Lily's soft face, her eyes full of love. [I'll protect you too, Mommy.] Lily's heart melted. Just as the room was filled with warmth, the door opened again. A clear voice rang out. "Mommy." Lily turned her head to look. A chubby little boy tossed his backpack aside and charged toward the bed like a tiny cannonball. "Ned's here," Larissa said with a smile. "Where's my sister? I want to see my sister." Ned leaned closer to Lily, staring at her curiously. Lily stared right back at him. Ned was wearing a trendy little suit. His hair was slicked back in a style far too mature for his age. His face was round. "Ned, this is your sister, Lily," Daisy said with a smile as she held Lily up. "Can she help me with my homework later?" Sixth-grader Ned glanced at Lily, then looked at Daisy seriously. "They said once I have a sister, she can do my homework for me." Daisy didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. Lily rolled her eyes in her heart. [You big idiot!] Chapter 4 Save The Fake Concern Lily squirmed and complained nonstop. [I was just born, and you already wanted me to do your homework. When you grew up, you'd see how bad things got. [You didn't do your homework or study hard. No wonder Nancy and that illegitimate kid drove you crazy later and chained you at the door like a pet dog just to humiliate you. [Don't think that just because your trashy dad spoiled you now, your future was going to be good. You were in for real suffering later.] Kennard crushed Fred's confidence with constant criticism, but when it came to Ned, he showed endless indulgence. Ned was only in sixth grade and was already spoiled beyond saving. All he ever wanted to do was play. Kennard's plan was vicious. Twelve-year-old Ned froze in fear. When he heard he would be chained at the door like a pet dog and mocked, he instinctively reached up and touched his neck. Ignoring Daisy, who was just as shocked, he quickly opened his backpack and pulled out his homework. "Mommy, I need to finish my homework first. Then I can play with Lily." He didn't want to be humiliated like that. He obediently bent over the table and started writing carefully. He even pushed his brand-new game console aside. [At least you were still worth saving.] Lily felt extremely satisfied. [Don't make mistakes, and make sure Mommy checks it.] Daisy almost laughed out loud. She was relieved that someone had finally managed to rein Ned in. For years, Ned had been spoiled and feared no one. Now, he was finally showing some self-control. Over the next few days, every time Ned came to the hospital, he obediently did his homework. He even handed over all his electronic devices to Daisy without complaint. The atmosphere in the hospital room stayed warm and peaceful until an unwelcome presence burst in. Kennard stood at the doorway. His gaze moved from Ned, who was sitting at the table writing seriously, to Daisy, who was holding Lily. His eyes darkened. The woman he loved had given him a child. But because of the Burke family, he could only sneak around in secret. What annoyed him even more was that Nancy was furious because he hadn't managed to get the emerald jewelry. Still, he firmly believed he would solve all these problems soon. Thinking this, Kennard finally put on a smile and walked over to Daisy, acting attentive and concerned. [Save the fake concern. I was about to throw up just listening to it. If you had something to say, say it fast and don't disturb my sleep.] Lily was straightforward. From the moment Kennard walked in, she had closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. He tried to get closer several times, but she didn't react at all. "Lily just woke up," Daisy said. She secretly gave Lily a thumbs-up in her heart and smoothly changed the subject. "Why did you come today?" She didn't believe Kennard had come just to see her. He hadn't even brought flowers or supplements. She had never realized how stingy he was before. Kennard didn't notice Daisy's disgust at all. Her question landed exactly where he wanted. "Honey, I came today to talk about something. "Your dad's birthday is coming up, right? I haven't gone back with you in a long time. How about we take this chance to bring the kids home and visit your dad?" Kennard looked sincere, but the calculation in his eyes didn't escape Daisy. It was obvious he wanted her to take him along so he could curry favor with her father. Daisy laughed coldly inside. She finally understood why Kennard had insisted on going back to her parents' house even though he knew they disliked him. She had once taken his actions as concern for her. Looking back now, she realized it had all been a joke. "Sure. Let's do what you said. Thank you for thinking of me, honey." Daisy looked genuinely moved. "It's what I should do," Kennard said. "You're my wife. Your father is my family. Talking like this makes us sound distant." Lily panicked. [Mommy, don't fall for that scumbag's sweet talk! He just wanted to use this chance to go to the Burke family and steal the bid documents for Burke Group's newest project. [Because those documents were stolen, Burke Group lost the partnership they were negotiating. He handed the documents to Grant Group, and they teamed up to crush Burke Group. [This eventually led to the Burke Group going bankrupt. Mommy, you can't believe him!] Daisy felt a chill run through her. She trembled with rage. She realized she had underestimated Kennard. She had thought he was just greedy and unwilling to give up wealth and comfort. She never expected that he wanted to replace the entire Burke family. "Honey, what's wrong?" Kennard noticed something was off and looked at her suspiciously. Afraid he would sense something, Daisy forced a stiff smile. "Nothing. I was just feeling weak after giving birth. I'll be fine after resting." "Should I call a doctor to check on you?" Kennard asked, but he didn't move at all. Daisy couldn't be bothered watching him act. "No need. I'll be fine after a nap. You should go take care of your work. I'm okay." Kennard was delighted. He immediately stood up. "Then get some good rest. I'll come see you again in a couple of days." With that, he turned and left without saying a single word of real concern. "What a jerk!" Daisy was so angry that she cursed under her breath. Lily was anxious. [Mommy, don't get angry yet. You need to stay alert. If Grandpa's bid documents really got stolen, it would be a disaster.] Daisy took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. She picked up her phone and found a number she hadn't called in a long time. After hesitating for a moment, she dialed it. The phone rang once and was quickly answered. "Well, look who finally decided to call home." An elderly voice came through the line. The moment Daisy heard her father's voice, her eyes filled with tears. Back then, Kennard had been nothing but a poor boy. She had insisted on marrying him, and Benjamin Burke had refused again and again, afraid she would suffer. But for the sake of so-called love, she had ignored all warnings and married Kennard despite her parents' objections. Later, to protect Kennard's pride, she had rarely gone back to her family. Thinking about it now, Daisy wanted nothing more than to slap herself for being so stupid. She quickly wiped away the tears that had fallen. Her voice trembled. "Dad, Burke Group was working on a real estate partnership with Lynch Group, right? You're always forgetful. Make sure you keep the bid documents safe and don't lose them." "Now you're lecturing me, huh?" Benjamin snorted, but he still locked the documents into the safe. "I'm not. I'm sorry, Dad." Thinking of everything she had done wrong, Daisy couldn't stop herself from tearing up again. "Have someone at the company keep an eye on Kennard." Benjamin immediately sensed something was wrong. In the past, Daisy had always wanted them to help Kennard. Today, she was strangely telling them to guard against him. "Did Kennard bully you?" Benjamin asked anxiously. "I told you he wasn't reliable, but you never listened." "No," Daisy said quickly. "I'm just worried. Kennard is still young and needs you to watch over him. That's all. I'm hanging up." Before Benjamin could say anything else, Daisy ended the call. Lily felt awful. [Grandpa Benjamin had always cared about you, Mommy. But you couldn't bring yourself to make peace with them. [After that scumbag killed you, your parents went to him to demand justice, and he had people beat them to death. Mommy, you absolutely couldn't trust that scumbag anymore.] Daisy squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed her tears. She thought Lily was right. She could no longer be fooled by that hypocritical man. She was going to take back everything that belonged to the Burke family. Chapter 5 You Really Misunderstood After a week of recovery in the hospital, Daisy was discharged and took Lily home. Throughout that entire week, Kennard didn't visit her even once. When it was time to leave the hospital, Daisy didn't bother informing him. After getting home, Daisy placed Lily on the bed and opened her suitcase to unpack. She took out the clothes she had worn in the hospital and opened the closet to put them away. That was when a beautifully wrapped box caught her eye. She took it out and looked at it more closely. Inside was a brand-new set of lingerie, bright red and eye-catching. [This is not for kids!] Lily complained in her mind. Daisy almost laughed. But she didn't recognize the lingerie at all. She quickly checked the size and let out a cold laugh. The size wasn't hers. That meant the lingerie wasn't meant for her. Kennard probably thought she was still in the hospital and had left it at home, forgetting to give it to whoever it was actually for. When Daisy thought of Nancy, her expression darkened. She was about to put the box back when the bedroom door suddenly opened. Kennard stood at the doorway, breathing hard. His eyes locked onto the lingerie in Daisy's hands, and panic filled his face. Cold sweat soaked his back. "Honey, let me explain—" "You must be exhausted from work," Daisy interrupted him coldly before he could finish. "Is this lingerie for me? I don't wear this brand, and the size is wrong." Daisy looked at him calmly, without any emotion. Kennard stiffened, and his face instantly turned awkward. [Wow, Mom didn't give anything away!] Lily cheered silently. Kennard started sweating even more. "Honey, you really misunderstood." He put on a hurt expression and wrapped his arms around Daisy's waist, resting his chin against her neck. His voice sounded gentle, but his eyes showed nothing but disgust. "A client gave this to me a while ago. I brought it home to see if you liked the style. "If you did, I was planning to buy you a new set. They said it's really comfortable. It was my fault for not telling you first. I'd be heartbroken if you doubted me." [Oh, come on. What kind of client gives someone sexy lingerie? You're not young anymore. Stop thinking about stuff like that.] Lily exposed the lie without mercy. Daisy found it ridiculous. If this were the old her, she probably would have believed him. After all, Kennard acted caring every day. No one would think that a man who made her breakfast every morning before work could be such trash. "Alright. I didn't say anything." Daisy pushed Kennard away and looked down at the lingerie. "But I can't wear this, and it would be a waste to leave it here." After thinking for a moment, she called the housekeeper over and handed the box to her. "Thank you so much, Mrs. Larson!" The housekeeper was overjoyed and thanked her repeatedly as she carried the expensive box away. Kennard was burning with anger inside. He had custom-made that lingerie according to Nancy's preferences, and now it was gone. But that wasn't enough. Daisy remembered Lily saying that Kennard had bought Nancy a house. Taking away one set of lingerie didn't even begin to satisfy her. "Honey." Daisy suppressed her disgust and wrapped her arms around Kennard's waist, resting her face against his chest. A faint scent of another woman's perfume drifted into her nose, making her feel sick. "Did you buy a house recently?" Daisy asked softly, holding her breath. "How did you know?" Kennard's heart, which had just calmed down, started racing again. The panic in his eyes was impossible to hide. That look was all Daisy needed. She knew Lily had been right. Kennard had been using her money to support his mistress, buying her a house and planning to give her emerald jewelry. He was generous to Nancy, but everything he gave Daisy and Lily was fake. Daisy clenched her teeth in anger, wanting to tear him apart. But reason won out. Daisy closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down. "The real estate company called yesterday to look for you, but they called my phone by mistake. That's how I found out. I was just curious. Why were you so nervous?" "Yes." Kennard forced a smile, sweat forming on his forehead. Inside, he was cursing those real estate employees nonstop. "I knew you wouldn't be completely indifferent after I gave birth to your child," Daisy said softly. "So you were planning to surprise me. Honey, thank you." She looked at him with gratitude. "This house is a gift for me, right?" Kennard had no choice but to nod. "Of course. You went through so much, honey." [Oops. There goes the house. The mistress is going to explode.] Lily was delighted. She thought this was exactly how Daisy should deal with him. Kennard was on the verge of losing his mind. He had spent about a million dollars on that house and promised Nancy that she and her child would live there. Now the house was gone, taken by Daisy, and he had no idea how to explain this to Nancy. "What's wrong?" Daisy looked at him, her eyes filled with doubt and hurt. "Wasn't this house for me? Or was it meant for another woman?" "Of course not." Kennard could barely keep the smile on his face. He forced himself to stay patient. "You're my wife. If not for you, who else would I buy a house for? I'm just annoyed at the real estate people. I told them it was supposed to be a surprise for you." "Thank you, honey. It's the thought that matters." Daisy pulled out her phone. "I'll have Larissa take care of the paperwork now and transfer the house into my name." "Okay." Kennard felt like he'd been struck by lightning. Losing that much money made his heart ache. If Daisy hadn't still been looking at him with affection, he would have thought she already knew everything. "I still have work to do. I'll be in the study. You finish unpacking." He needed time to calm down and figure out how to explain this to Nancy. He had to buy another house as soon as possible. "Okay." Daisy couldn't wait for him to leave so she could be alone with her daughter. Once the door closed, Daisy let out a cold laugh. She knew his excuse about work was fake. He was probably figuring out how to buy Nancy another house. Too bad the timing was off, or she would have kicked him out right then and there. After thinking for a moment, Daisy called the bank without hesitation. "I need you to limit spending on all my bank cards and credit cards. Set the maximum at 10 thousand dollars. All purchases need my personal approval. Yes, that includes my husband." She wasn't giving Kennard any chance to buy Nancy another house. [Mom, you're amazing!] Lily finally relaxed a little. Daisy had authorized Kennard to use all those cards before. A large part of the money he'd spent on his mistress had actually come from Daisy. Now that Nancy was used to living in luxury, 30 thousand dollars wouldn't even come close to enough. Just imagining Kennard's furious reaction made Lily want to laugh. Chapter 6 Make Something Up At that moment, Kennard had been looking at several houses. Nancy was his precious one, and he had to keep his promises to her. That house cost about a million dollars. He figured he would just use the unlimited credit card Daisy had given him. When he saw Nancy calling, he thought she was rushing him about the house and quickly picked up. "Kennard, I risked my life to have your baby, and you put a spending limit on my card, huh? You're so heartless!" Nancy shouted. Kennard was completely confused. He had always been able to charge around 100 thousand dollars on the cards Daisy gave him. He couldn't understand why he was suddenly being blocked by such a low limit. He said, "Don't get upset. You just gave birth. Don't stress yourself out. The card machine must be broken. How could I possibly limit your spending?" "I just wanted to buy a necklace I liked, and it wouldn't even go through for 30 thousand dollars," Nancy sobbed. Hearing that, a wave of panic hit Kennard. After finally calming Nancy down, he immediately contacted the realtor, planning to secure the house first. To his shock, all his cards showed insufficient funds. He tried one after another, but none of them worked. The limit kept dropping until the payment finally went through at 10 thousand dollars. The staff member looked apologetic. "Mr. Larson, I'm sorry, but this card requires Mrs. Larson's personal confirmation and signature before it can be used." "Are you kidding me?" Kennard snapped. The staff member kept a professional smile. "Maybe you could ask Mrs. Larson to confirm it." There was no way Kennard could let Daisy come. If she found out he was using her money to buy a house for Nancy, everything would blow up. He rushed home in a fury and went straight to Daisy's room. Lily had just finished her meal and was half-asleep when the door slammed open, startling her awake. [What the hell? He can't hurt me directly, so now he's trying to scare me to death, huh? Mom just gave birth, and he storms in like this. Is he crazy?] Lily whined unhappily, blowing a few milk bubbles. Daisy gently wiped Lily's mouth and said coldly, "Knock next time. You scared the baby. Seriously, how are you even a dad?" Kennard had come home already furious, and her words pushed him over the edge. "Honey, why did you put limits on all my cards? And why do they need your signature now? Do you have any idea how humiliating that is in front of people?" He stared at Daisy with anger, as if she were an enemy instead of his wife. Lily tried hard to roll her eyes, though she couldn't quite manage it. [Serves you right. You've always lived off women. Who do you think you are to question my mom? Your mistress can't use the card anymore, and that's why you're freaking out. Disgusting!] Daisy looked down at Lily in her arms. Seeing her little expressions, sometimes angry and sometimes amused, Daisy gently pinched her cheek. "What were you trying to buy when you found out the card didn't work?" If this had been in the past, Daisy would have fixed it right away without asking anything, afraid Kennard would get upset. Being questioned like this caught Kennard completely off guard. [No words now, huh? Go on. Make something up. Let's see what lie you use this time.] Lily tried to stare into Kennard's eyes. "Business dinners and entertaining clients all cost money. What exactly are you worried about?" Kennard said, forcing himself to stay calm. Since Daisy had given birth, this was the second time she had indirectly refused him. This had never happened before. [You hit a nerve. He feels guilty. Mom, don't soften up. If you do, he'll keep spending your money on his mistress, living in your house, driving your car, and hurting your kids.] Lily grew anxious and tried to grab Daisy's finger. Daisy felt a heavy ache in her chest. Her daughter had just been born and already knew how to worry about her, yet the man she had loved for years had been plotting against her the entire time. "Honey, if you don't lift the limit, it'll affect the company's projects. I'm doing this for our family and for you." Without waiting for an answer, Kennard shoved his phone into Daisy's hand, completely missing the cold look in her eyes. Daisy laughed bitterly inside. She couldn't believe she had been blind enough to fall for someone like him. She gently put the phone down and shook her head. "It's not that I don't want to help. This was my dad's decision. There's nothing I can do." "But if the company's projects fail, that won't be good for them either." Kennard knew exactly how much the Burke family cared about Daisy. Even though her parents had never liked him, they had still helped his company for years. Everything had gone smoothly for so long, and now they suddenly refused to cooperate. Something felt off. He looked at Daisy suspiciously. Daisy sighed helplessly, "You know my dad's temper. He never liked you, and he's always been unhappy about me marrying you. I ignored my family and even had three children with you. He can't let it go. This limit is just a warning." As she spoke, her eyes turned red. Only now did she realize her father had been right all along. Kennard was never a good man. Thinking about how hard she had worked over the years to help Kennard succeed just to prove Benjamin wrong, she felt nothing but regret. Now, over money alone, Kennard could ignore the fact that she had just given birth and storm in to question her. It was clear he had only ever used her. There was no real love. Lily awkwardly reached out her tiny hand, trying to touch Daisy's face. [Mom, don't cry. Grandpa and Grandma love you. They never blamed you. The one who should feel ashamed is Kennard.] Daisy gently kissed Lily's little hand. She thought Lily was right. The ones who needed to pay were that scumbag and his mistress. Now Kennard truly panicked. It was very possible that the Burke family had asked the bank to impose limits. They had never thought much of him anyway. But without access to the cards, he had no way to support the woman and child he cared about most. "Honey, how could that be? You just gave birth to our daughter. If there are limits, how are you supposed to take care of yourself? "Why don't you call and ask them to restore your limit? At least you and our daughter shouldn't suffer, right?" Kennard said, pushing the phone toward her again. Daisy's expression grew colder. Knowing she couldn't explode yet, she replied carefully, "I know you're stressed. Why don't you put the client expenses on credit for now? Without my dad's support, that land project in Latermel City will be hard to close." She looked at him with a conflicted expression. "If this call makes him unhappy..." Kennard suddenly understood. He knew Daisy was right. His current projects still depended on the Burke family. But now he had no way to buy Nancy a house, and she was definitely going to cause trouble. Her daily expenses were substantial, and the money issue was giving him a massive headache. His thoughts raced, his expression shifting again and again, but in the end, he didn't dare offend the Burke family. Suddenly, a trace of malice flashed through his eyes. He quickly softened his expression and reached out to put an arm around Daisy's shoulder. Daisy instinctively moved away. "Honey, I was just worried the bank made a mistake, so I asked. This isn't worth bothering your dad about. Let's think about what gifts we should bring when we visit so that your parents will be happy," Kennard said gently. Hearing him back off, Lily sneered silently. [Now the mistress has no money to spend. She's definitely going to lose it. He's not really trying to please Grandpa and Grandma. He's planning to steal documents. [I really hope Grandpa Benjamin listens to Mom and keeps those files locked up.] Daisy looked down at Lily, and a clear plan slowly formed in her mind.