As Daphne lay on the couch, she kept thinking about how much her mother had favored Kayla in the past.
Even when Kayla’s real family tracked her down and brought her back to their wealthy household.
Things weren’t rosy for Kayla at the beginning because her parents had an adopted daughter of their own.
They had wanted to fill the void of losing Kayla.
But that void just couldn’t be filled, that was why they continued searching for their daughter.
When Kayla got back with her family, the adopted daughter hated her and tried to make things hard for Kayla, even going as far as setting Kayla up to make her parents think she was evil and bratty.
Back then, Kayla would run back to Daphne and her parents who loved her, wholeheartedly.
Daphne and Susan had urged her to come stay with them instead but Kayla had refused and her relationship with the Smith family grew increasingly distant.
That night, Daphne just laid on the couch, unable to sleep due to her jumbled thoughts.
**********
Early the next morning, Daphne processed Susan’s discharge and drove her home.
Susan noticed Daphne the car Daphne was driving was one she had never seen before.
She often drove Trevor’s car in the past.
“Daphne, did Trevor get a new car?
Wow, it must have cost a lot.” Susan gushed, taking in the sleek interior of the car.
Not knowing how to respond to that, Daphne brushed it off without mentioning that she had changed jobs.
Damn it!
She had to find the perfect opportunity to tell her mother the truth.
After arriving home, Daphne began tidying up the house.
When she walked into the living room, she couldn’t find her mother.
“Mom?” Daphne called.
The woman should be resting and not moving around.
Susan emerged from the storage room with a worried expression on her face.
“Daphne, why is the storage almost empty?
Trevor had given us lots of gifts when he proposed.
Did you move them?”
Daphne swallowed, not knowing how to respond to that.
She had thrown some away and returned the rest.
As she thought of what to say, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” She let out, using that as a way out.
As she opened the door, she was surprised to see Kayla who was holding a basket of fruits.
“Hello, Daphne.
I heard Auntie got discharged today.”
Knowing Kayla’s true character, Daphne really didn’t want to be associated with her anymore.
And so she wanted Kayla to leave.
“You’re not…”
“Who’s at the door, Daphne?” Susan’s voice sounded, distracting Daphne.
Kayla took advantage of this opportunity and brushed past Daphne and into the house.
“Hello, Auntie.” Kayla began, cheerfully.
“Oh my dear, you’re here.” Susan sounded so happy.
Daphne rolled her eyes as she shut the door.
She wondered why her mother was still so fond of Kayla.
“I had taken the day off to come see you, Auntie.
I was so worried.”
Susan held her hand.
“You have no reason to worry anymore.
I’m better now.”
Daphne glared at Kayla.
Oh she was such a pretentious snake.
“How are you doing?
What have you been up to lately?” Susan asked.
“Nothing much.
But I got promoted recently and even received a raise.”
“That’s great.
Congratulations, Kayla.” Susan said, genuinely.
Kayla smiled and stared at Daphne, smugly.
“I’m not working as an assistant to a very influential person at the company, an opportunity I had fought for myself.”
With how Kayla was staring at her, Daphne guessed that this influential person was Mabel.
Staying composed, she carried the fruit and headed for the kitchen.
But halfway through, Kayla asked her.
“When will you return to TM, Daphne?
Isn’t your break almost over?
You have a lot to catch up on.” Kayla taunted.
She couldn’t wait for Daphne to face the situation involving Trevor and Mabel, greatly hoping to see Daphne lose her mind.
“I…”
Before Daphne could replied, Susan cut in.
“Oh she’s not in any hurry to resume work just yet.
Since I’m okay now.
Daphne has to focus on planning the wedding.”
Kayla almost burst into laughter but she held herself back.
Was Daphne and her mother still hoping for a wedding ceremony soon?
Well, the only wedding ceremony they’d be attending soon would be Trevor and Mabel’s.
*************
After the housekeeper arrived the next day, Daphne felt completely at ease with leaving her mother alone for some hours.
She took her postgraduate exam materials to a nearby café to study.
She was applying for Professor Alistair’s part-time graduate program; having been away from university for years, she needed to brush up on her math and other areas.
After completing her day’s study, Daphne reflected that now that she had escaped an unhealthy relationship where she had completely disregarded her own goals.
She was completely at peace that the relationship ended.
Even if it hurt, it needed to end.
Daphne then decided to study more at the University’s library every week from now on.
*********
Daphne was relaxing at home after dinner, watching a soap opera with her mother when her phone rang.
The phone was closer to Susan and so she passed it to her and happened to see the caller ID.
“It’s Trevor!” Susan let out, sounding excited.
Daphne’s teeth clenched as she let out a smile.
How long did she have to put up with this?
Sighing, she picked up and walked up to the balcony to answer the phone.
“Hello,”
“Daphne, I heard your mother was discharged yesterday.
How’s she’s doing?”
“She’s fine.” Daphne replied, curtly.
“I’m really sorry for not visiting her as much as I should…”
“You do not have to.”
“I saw the stuff that was delivered to my house.
You didn’t have to return anything I gifted you.
Especially the engagement ring.
I know I haven’t had the chance to explain things properly to you but I will soon.
And you should have kept the ring.
Our engagement was only called off temporarily, we can still…”
There was suddenly silence at his end of the call, followed by the sound of a door opening.
And a woman’s high pitched voice.
“Hey, Babe.”
Upon hearing this, Daphne laughed bitterly to herself.
This two-timing bastard.
Did he seriously think he could still keep her close while also being with Mabel?
The nerves of him!
Before Trevor could say a word, she hung up the phone.
*******
Seeing the call had been disconnected, Trevor swallowed knowing Daphne must have heard Mabel’s voice.
He wondered if she was upset.
She must be.
He had to seek advice on how to keep both women in his life.
“Who was that on the phone?” Mabel
suddenly asked.
Trevor swallowed.
“A…a business partner.”
Mabel forced a smile.
“Okay,”
But she had seen how tensed he had looked when she walked in and how his face fell on seeing the call had been disconnected.
Her teeth clenched.
That fucking Daphne wasn’t trying to seduce him again, was she?
*********
Early the next morning, Daphne left after breakfast.
Susan assumed she was going on a date with Trevor and told her it was okay to come home late, urging her to spend more time with him.
Daphne, tired of hearing about Trevor, forced a smiled and headed out.
**********
She went to the university library where she spent two hour studying.
Feeling stiff, she stretched out her arms and was surprised to see someone walking up to her.
It was Marco.
“Hello, Daphne.
What a coincidence…running into you here.” He began, pulling out a chair and sitting across from her.
Daphne swallowed.
Was this really a coincidence?
She then recalled that she hadn’t been to the office in three days.
Daphne thought Marco might misunderstand her studying for the postgraduate entrance exam as neglecting her work.
“Mr King…”
“Marco.” He corrected.
“Didn’t we agree you’d call me that outside of work hours.”
“Ah…yes.
Marco.
I’m really not neglecting my work.
I barely have anything to do in the office for now and you said I could take as much time as I needed when I asked for a day off so I…”
“You do not have to explain yourself, Daphne.
Wasn’t I the one who said you could take as much time as you need?
I didn’t forget that.
Don’t worry, I’m also here to read so pretend I’m not here and continue.”
Daphne nodded.
“Thank you.”
Marco placed a book on the desk and pretended to be engrossed in reading.
In truth, he had just picked a random book when he walked in.
Not seeing her for the past three days had unexpectedly being hectic and he had to track her down to this place.
Marco occasionally sneaked glances at her.
She was so focused on her books.
This “taking it slow” with her was slowly killing him.
What should he do to speed things up without scaring her away?