Daphne stood frozen, her mind reeling from the blow. For a moment, it felt as if her fragile heart had been shattered.
Was it her fault?
If she’d just listened and gone home with her father, maybe Mr. Shaw wouldn’t have gotten hurt. But the one who’d fired those metaphorical arrows at her–it was Dames, her own brother by blood.
Once, they’d been inseparable.
But as they grew, and Dames grew taller and stronger, his attitude toward her had soured. In the Vaughn family, Daphne realized, only her mother treated her and Dames the same. Even her father clearly favored her brother.
“Dames! Even if you apologized, I wouldn’t forgive you!” Daphne’s voice rang out, trembling with hurt.
She turned desperately to Harrison. “Dad, can I… can I stop being your daughter? What do I have to do so I never have to go back to the Vaughn family?”
She wanted to break free, but she had no idea how.
Harrison’s face turned to stone, as if carved from ice.
“Daphne! Your last name is Vaughn. You’ll always be my daughter, a member of this family!”
“Then… then what if I took Mom’s name instead?” Daphne’s voice was barely more than a whisper. “Could I stop being a Vaughn?”
A shadow passed over Harrison’s features, his whole body tensing.
Felicity crossed her arms and let out a cold laugh. “Selene, look at your wonderful daughter–bold enough to betray her own family! She even wants to disown her father!”
She looked down at the little boy clinging to her leg. “Dames, you’d better not follow your sister’s example.”
Selene stepped forward, placing her hands reassuringly on Daphne’s shoulders, steadying her.
Just then, the operating room doors swung open. A doctor wheeled Adrian out on a stretcher.
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Chapter 56
Everyone’s attention snapped to the hallway.
Adrian’s shirt was off, revealing a broad, muscular back, every muscle defined even
in repose. He rested easily, his torso lean and strong.
“Mr. Shaw, are you all right?” Daphne’s voice was thick with worry.
Adrian turned his head and smiled at her, a dimple appearing in his cheek,
softening his whole expression.
“Is someone here with the patient? I need to go over his post–op care,” the doctor called.
Selene had already phoned Theodore to tell him what happened; he was on his way to the hospital.
“Speak with me,” Selene said, stepping forward. After all, Adrian had saved Daphne–she owed him.
Harrison watched Selene’s retreating back, his gaze dark and troubled, not even aware that his brow was furrowed in frustration.
Adrian was taken to a private room by the medical staff. Daphne wanted to follow, but Harrison’s sharp glance stopped her in her tracks.
“I hope you understand the gravity of what you just said,” Harrison said coldly.
Then he led Dames into the room.
Adrian, now lying on his stomach on the hospital bed, pointed at Harrison. “Give the bill to him.”
The doctor handed the hospital invoice to Harrison. “Please make sure to settle this at the front desk.”
Since Dames had injured Adrian, Harrison had already decided to cover all of Adrian’s medical expenses. He barely glanced at the bill; money was the least of his concerns.
“Go apologize to Mr. Shaw,” Harrison ordered his son.
th
Dames lowered his eyes and shuffled forward, his voice small but clear. “Mr. Shaw, I’m sorry.” Even at his age, he understood Adrian’s status–this was someone you didn’t offend.
Adrian smiled slyly. “You hurt me, and now Selene’s the one who has to take care of me. Not that she’s doing it because of you, but still–I suppose I should thank you.”
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Chapter 56
Dames was left bewildered by Adrian’s words.
But Harrison understood all too well.
Adrian’s remark was aimed directly at him. Harrison had always suspected there was something between Adrian and Selene, but even now, lying injured in a hospital bed, the man dared to challenge him so brazenly.
Yet instead of anger, Harrison found himself oddly amused.
