Chapter 6

Daisy's POV

I spent three days in the hospital, and Sean never showed his face once.

He merely had an assistant deliver a gift basket with a message telling me to recover properly before returning to work.

I was in no rush to leave. I cooperated with the doctors, taking my meds and changing dressings until the cuts on my body scabbed over.

During those days, the company's internal group chats were flooded with updates about Sean and Madison.

Sean had rented out an entire downtown amusement park to make up for Madison's birthday, setting off water-screen fireworks for four consecutive nights.

At a private Vance family gala, Sean had personally pinned the heirloom diamond brooch onto Madison's evening gown.

Shortly after, Vance Real Estate purchased a massive plot of suburban land at a thirty percent premium, intending to build a private equestrian center just for Madison.

I scrolled past the candid photos without pausing, my heart completely flat and unmoved.

After clearing the discharge paperwork, I changed back into my sharp business suit and clocked in at the office as usual.

I proofread every single international business contract without missing a beat, except that any file requiring Sean's signature was handed over to the administrative manager to deliver.

After a peaceful week, the executive line rang directly at my desk.

Holding the requested folder, I entered the CEO's office, placed the document flat on his desk, and turned to leave.

"Hold on."

Sean stopped me, flipping through a report.

"I have a closed-door meeting on the west side shortly. Madison is in the lounge. She doesn't like eating alone in the office. Stay and keep her company."

Before I could refuse, the lounge door opened.

Madison stepped out wearing a baby-pink knit set, casually sitting on the guest sofa.

"Sean says you're the most detail-oriented. I want seafood for lunch. Crack this king crab and get all the meat out for me first."

Sean grabbed his suit jacket and car keys, closing the heavy doors behind him as he left.

Looking at the platter on the coffee table, I didn't argue. I slipped on disposable gloves and quickly shelled the entire crab clean.

Madison took a bite of the crab, then pointed toward a fresh seafood delivery nearby.

"I want raw oysters too. The delivery guy forgot the shucking knife. Pry them open with your bare hands."

The edges of fresh, jagged oyster shells were as sharp as razor blades.

Using my bare hands to pry against the hard edges, the shells instantly sliced deep cuts across my fingertips and palms, blood welling out immediately.

By the time I pried the last oyster open, both of my hands were covered in bloody cuts.

"Now bring over the heated soup from the pantry."

The takeout container had just come out of the microwave; the bottom was scalding hot.

The moment my wounded hands gripped the container, a sharp spasm shot through my fingers.

The edge slipped, and the piping-hot soup splashed down the inner side of my forearm.

My skin turned bright red instantly, blistering into painful welts within seconds.

A searing agony shot straight to my brain. I bit my lower lip hard, collapsing to my knees from the pain.

Madison was just about to laugh when the sound of the office door unlocking clicked through the silence.

Wiping the smirk off her face in a split second, she pinched the back of her own hand hard and let out a tearful, shrill shriek.

"Sean! Miss Daisy couldn't even hold the soup steady! She deliberately splashed it at me and scalded my hand!"

Sean rushed in, his face shifting instantly when he saw the mess on the floor.

He hurried to the sofa, grabbing Madison's hand to inspect it frantically.

"Where did it burn you? How bad is it?"

Madison squeezed out tears, pointing to a faint pink spot on the back of her hand.

"Just a few drops, but what if it leaves a scar?"

Sean turned toward me as I knelt on the floor, his face darkening.

"You can't even carry a container of soup without spilling it? What have you been learning here for the past five years?! Madison has delicate skin. Can't you be more careful?!"

The reprimand had barely left his lips when his eyes caught the massive, raw blisters covering my forearm and the blood dripping from my hands. His voice abruptly cut off.

Sean's brow knotted tight, his tone softening slightly.

"Get to the garage. Ride in my car to the hospital's burn unit."

Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself up and followed them down to the underground garage with my head lowered.

Sean sped recklessly the entire drive.

Madison sat in the passenger seat, whining about the pain in her hand every few seconds. Sean kept turning to check on her, his knuckles white against the steering wheel.

As the car blew through an intersection, a heavy SUV running a red light at high speed slammed broadside into our vehicle.

A deafening crash tore through the air as the car door caved violently inward.

Sitting in the back, the massive impact slammed me violently against the deformed steel pillar.

The distinct, sickening snap of ribs echoed in my ears, accompanied by tearing pain in my abdomen.

Blood gushed from my forehead and the corner of my mouth, quickly soaking through my shirt.

Trembling violently, I lay pinned beneath the seat, struggling to open my eyes through the veil of blood.

The front airbags had deployed. Sean kicked the door open, frantically pulling an unconscious Madison from the passenger seat.

The wail of ambulance sirens grew louder.

Paramedics rushed over with stretchers. Taking one look inside, a medic shouted urgently to Sean:

"Sir, the woman in front only has a mild concussion and shock! The passenger in the back is hemorrhaging heavily, has multiple fractures, and her pupils are dilating! We have to get her to trauma right now!"

Sean shielded Madison desperately in his arms, his eyes bloodshot as he screamed back at the crew:

"Save Madison first! You have to take Madison to the hospital first!"

Those were the very last words I heard before slipping into endless darkness.