Louis sat in his dimly lit office, staring at the empty glass of whiskey in front of him. His tie hung loosely around his neck, and his normally immaculate appearance was disheveled. He hadn’t slept properly in days. Every moment was a struggle to hold himself together, and every time he closed his eyes, Daisy’s laughter haunted him.
A soft knock on the door pulled him out of his reverie. He didn’t answer, knowing who it was but unwilling to entertain her.
The door creaked open anyway, and Natalie stepped inside. She was dressed modestly, her expression carefully molded into one of concern.
“Louis,” she began softly, stepping further into the room. “You can’t keep shutting yourself off like this.”
He glanced at her, his gaze icy. “I don’t recall asking for your opinion.”
Natalie hesitated but pressed on, taking a seat across from him. “I know you’re grieving. We all are. Daisy was… important to me too.” Her voice faltered, feigning emotion.
Louis’s fist clenched at her words. “Don’t,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Don’t you dare say her name.”
Natalie’s lips quivered, but she didn’t back down. “I’m only trying to help you, Louis. You can’t go on like this. You’re not alone.”
Louis stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor as he loomed over her. “I know what you’ve done, Natalie,” he hissed, his voice sharp as a blade.
Natalie’s breath caught, her carefully constructed mask of sympathy slipping for a moment. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she stammered.
Louis slammed a folder onto the desk, the contents spilling out. Photographs, documents, and detailed accounts of her orchestrated attacks on Daisy spread before her. “Don’t insult me by pretending you’re innocent,” he growled.
Natalie’s hands trembled as she reached for one of the photos, her mind racing. She hadn’t expected him to have gathered so much evidence. “Louis, please. It’s not what it looks like. I was… I was scared. I didn’t mean for things to go so far.”
His glare was unforgiving. “Save your excuses. You’re lucky I haven’t already handed this over to the authorities.”
—
A Letter from the Past
Natalie swallowed hard, her mind scrambling for a way out. Then, as if remembering something, she reached into her bag and pulled out a carefully preserved envelope. “Before you make any decisions,” she said, her voice trembling, “you should read this.”
Louis eyed the envelope warily but didn’t move to take it. “What is it?”
“It’s from Daisy,” Natalie said softly, placing the envelope on the desk. “She wrote it for you… in case anything ever happened to her.”
The mention of Daisy’s name made Louis freeze. His gaze shifted to the envelope, and after a long moment, he picked it up. The familiar loops and swirls of Daisy’s handwriting stared back at him, and his chest tightened.
With trembling hands, he unfolded the letter.
Louis,
If you’re reading this, it means I’m no longer with you. I can’t imagine the pain you must be feeling, and I’m sorry for leaving you like this. But there’s something I need to ask of you, something only you can do.
Natalie has always been… complicated. I know she’s made mistakes, but deep down, I believe there’s good in her. She’s lost and doesn’t know how to find her way. Please, Louis, if you can, look after her. Protect her like you protected me.
It’s my final wish.
Yours always,
Daisy
Louis’s hands shook as he finished reading. His mind raced, torn between anger and a deep sense of obligation to Daisy’s memory.
Natalie watched him carefully, gauging his reaction. “I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness,” she said quietly, tears pooling in her eyes. “But Daisy saw something in me, something good. Please, Louis, let me prove her right.”
Louis stared at the letter for what felt like an eternity before folding it and slipping it into his pocket. His jaw tightened as he looked at Natalie. “If I do this, it’s for Daisy. Not for you.”
Natalie nodded, lowering her gaze. “I understand.”
With a heavy heart, Louis reached for the folder of evidence on his desk. One by one, he fed the photographs and documents into the fireplace, watching as the flames consumed them.
Natalie hid her smirk, keeping her expression somber. “Thank you, Louis. I won’t let you down.”
He said nothing, his focus on the fire, the weight of Daisy’s letter crushing him.
As the last of the evidence turned to ash, Louis turned to Natalie. “You’ll stay out of trouble. And you’ll stay away from me unless absolutely necessary.”
Natalie nodded obediently, but inside, triumph bubbled in her chest. She had managed to turn Daisy’s death into an opportunity, and now she had Louis exactly where she wanted him.
But even as she left his office, a small part of her couldn’t shake the unease that came with her victory. Louis’s cold demeanor and the depth of his grief were unlike anything she’d ever seen. She had won this battle, but the war was far from over.