Louis stood before the large map pinned to the wall of his private study. Each red mark on it represented a gang linked to Daisy’s recent accidents. His sharp eyes darted from one point to another as his hand clenched the edge of the table.
“Sir,” one of his trusted men said, standing a few feet behind him, “we’ve narrowed it down to three major players. They’re smaller groups but have connections to Natalie’s circle.”
Louis’s jaw tightened. “I don’t care how small they are. I want them dismantled-cleanly and without a trace. No one connected to Daisy gets to walk free.”
“Yes, sir.” The man bowed and left the room.
Louis leaned against the table, running a hand through his hair. His mind raced with thoughts of Daisy-her bright laughter, the way her eyes sparkled even when the world seemed to conspire against her. He’d kept his emotions buried for so long, but the distance between them was becoming unbearable.
“Soon,” he whispered to himself. “Soon, I’ll bring you back where you belong-safe by my side.”
Across town, Liam was engrossed in a meeting with a group of high-profile businessmen. The conference room was filled with the hum of negotiations as Liam effortlessly secured alliances and deals that would further strengthen his empire.
One of the executives leaned forward, a curious smile on his face. “You’ve been expanding quite aggressively lately, Mr. Croft. Any particular reason for the sudden surge in ambition?”
Liam smirked. “Let’s just say I have someone very important to protect. And to do that, I need to be untouchable.”
The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling over the table.
As the meeting adjourned, Liam checked his phone. A news notification popped up, and his relaxed demeanor shifted instantly. His eyes narrowed as he read the headline:
“Scandal Erupts: Daisy Croft and Ryan Carter Spotted Together!”
At the campsite, Daisy froze as Veronica shoved her phone in front of her.
“Daisy, what’s this?” Veronica asked, her tone laced with concern.
Daisy stared at the screen, her heart sinking. The article featured a blurry photo of her and Ryan from the bonfire night, with a suggestive caption implying something romantic.
Clara gasped. “But that’s ridiculous! You barely spoke to him.”
“I know,” Daisy said, her voice trembling. “But the media doesn’t care about the truth.”
As the article spread, Ryan’s fans flooded the livestream comments with hateful messages, calling for Daisy to be boycotted. The production team tried to manage the backlash, but the damage was already done.
Daisy paced in her room, clutching her phone. She couldn’t take the overwhelming noise of the scandal anymore. With shaking hands, she dialed Louis.
He picked up on the first ring. “Daisy?”
Her voice cracked. “Louis, I swear it’s not what they’re saying. Ryan and I-”
“Stop,” Louis interrupted gently. His tone was calm but firm. “You don’t need to explain anything to me. I know you, Daisy. I trust you.”
The sincerity in his words made her chest tighten. “But what if the fans-”
“I don’t care about them,” Louis said, his voice softening. “I care about you. Let them talk. Let them think whatever they want. It won’t change what I feel.”
Tears welled up in Daisy’s eyes. “You always know what to say to make me feel better.”
Louis chuckled faintly. “It’s because I mean every word. Daisy, this distance between us… it’s unbearable. I hate not being able to hold you, to protect you in person.”
Her heart ached at the raw emotion in his voice. “Louis…”
“When this show is over,” he continued, “I’m not letting you go again. I’ll make sure you’re safe, no matter what it takes.”
“I promise I’ll come back to you soon,” Daisy said, her voice steady despite the tears streaming down her face.
Unbeknownst to Daisy, Ezekiel had been watching the scandal unfold from his end. His cold gaze lingered on the photo of her and Ryan, his jaw tightening.
“Ryan Carter,” he muttered, leaning back in his chair. “You’ve just made yourself a target.”
He picked up his phone and sent a quick message to his team: Find everything on Ryan Carter. I want him under surveillance.
As he stared at the screen, his thoughts returned to Daisy. The world seemed intent on tearing her down, but he wouldn’t allow it.
“No one will harm you, Daisy,” he whispered. “Not while I’m here.”
That night, Louis sat in his dimly lit study, swirling a glass of whiskey. The scandal had only solidified his resolve. The enemies lurking in the shadows, the malicious intentions against Daisy-they all needed to be eradicated.
He opened a secure file on his computer, studying the names and locations of the gangs associated with Natalie. His plan was clear.
Across the city, Liam worked late into the night, securing new partnerships and expanding his influence. He, too, had read the news about Daisy and Ryan, and his protective instincts flared.
The two might have had different methods, but their goal was the same: to shield Daisy from harm at all costs.