His Precious Daisy, My Lost Child

Start Reading

My husband Caleb's mistress and I were in a car crash at the same time, but he chose to save her first.

At the hospital, the doctor told me I had a miscarriage because I was taken to the hospital too late after the accident.

Caleb, I croaked, our baby is gone.

Caleb was standing at the door of the ward, holding his mistress, Daisy.

Daisy only had a few scrapes.

He frowned. "Willow, stop making a fuss. Daisy's pregnancy is still delicate."

That's when I finally saw it clearly. The woman he was protecting had a visibly rounded belly, at least four months along.

He had publicly announced it was the posthumous child of "his fallen brother."

Later, from the next room, I heard the sounds of them making love.

He gasped. "Daisy, I love you."

That night, I packed my bags, leaving the miscarriage report and two time capsules on the table.

Inside the capsules were his promises. "I'll cherish you my entire life, never let you down." He had written those words himself three years ago.

Before boarding, I pulled out my SIM card and broke it in half.

Caleb, your child killed my child.

This time, I don't want you anymore.

Willow's POV

"Madam, your divorce decree with Mr. Owen has been processed as per his request."

Mr. Davies, the lawyer, respectfully handed me the final divorce papers.

I took the papers, softly hummed, and stared blankly at them.

"If you have no other instructions, I'll take my leave."

I nodded, not speaking.

The lawyer relaxed and immediately stood to depart.

I gripped the divorce papers tightly, my mind buzzing, wanting to cry but unable to.

My phone rang. It was Caleb.

"Willow, did you get the divorce decree?" His voice was as deep as ever, but this time, it held a rare hint of tension.

"Yes."

"It's just a sham divorce, don't worry about it. Once the scandal blows over, we'll get remarried, okay?" He quickly added.

"Okay."

He cautiously continued, "I'll leave work early tonight. Want to go out for dinner?"

"Sure."

Hanging up, I looked at the divorce decree in my hand and suddenly started to laugh.

As I laughed, my cheeks grew cold, and tears dripped onto the paper.

I was Caleb's first love.

In college, I was walking past the sports field when Caleb hit me with a basketball.

From then on, Caleb started his relentless pursuit of me.

He brought me breakfast every day and walked me back to my dorm from the library every night.

I casually mentioned a cake shop I liked, and Caleb would drive halfway across the city and wait in line for three or four hours just to buy it for me.

After graduation and starting work, to take care of me, he, who had never stepped into a kitchen, learned to cook.

Later, I found out Caleb was the heir to the Owen family, one of the wealthiest in the country.

But I was just an ordinary girl. My parents passed away, and I only finished my studies through scholarships and part-time jobs.

How could someone from my background ever be worthy of the Owen family?

So I broke up with him.

Caleb refused.

He waited outside my apartment building for seven days and nights, refusing to leave even when a severe storm hit.

I watched his resolute figure from my window upstairs, standing in the pouring rain, and finally, my heart softened.

To get his mother to agree to our marriage, Caleb pleaded with Eleanor for three days, enduring her furious disapproval and extreme conditions, until she finally gave in, and he married me three years ago.

After we married, he spoiled me rotten.

For my birthday, he booked all the giant screens across the city. For our anniversary, he chartered the most luxurious yacht for a trip out to sea.

If I had a fever, Caleb would drop his overseas projects and fly back overnight.

When I had period cramps, he'd rub my stomach all night, not sleeping a wink.

The entire internet envied Caleb and my love story.

Everyone said I was lucky, marrying into a wealthy family and marrying for love.

Everyone praised Caleb as a rare good man.

Every time I saw comments online, my heart swelled with happiness.

This man had suffered so much for me; I wished I could give him the best of everything in the world.

Yet, this very Caleb, two months ago, suddenly brought home a woman named Daisy.

Caleb said, "This is my brother Oliver's girlfriend. He was killed in the line of duty, and she's pregnant. As his brother, I have to take care of her and ensure his child is safe."

I believed him.

My heart ached for Daisy. I often visited her, chatting, cheering her up, taking her shopping, buying her gifts, diligently caring for her on Caleb's behalf.

But gradually, things started to feel off.

Caleb and I had planned to go to the movies, but Daisy said she had a prenatal check-up, so our date was canceled.

I was running a high fever, but Daisy called in the middle of the night, and Caleb immediately got up and left.

His excuse was that Daisy had a nightmare about his brother.

When I landed after a business trip, Caleb, who was supposed to pick me up, bailed again.

Because Daisy was scared of thunder. I had to take a cab home alone in the pouring rain.

No matter what we were doing, one call from Daisy could always make Caleb leave.

Willow's POV

I voiced my dissatisfaction once, but Caleb always used the same line: "Daisy is pregnant, and this is for Oliver's child."

Though I felt wronged, I didn't want to make things difficult for his brother's widow.

After all, it was a life. I thought, it'll all be fine once the baby is born.

Until the night before last, Caleb was with Daisy at a concert, and a reporter snapped photos of them supposedly kissing.

The next day, media outlets rushed to report it.

Suddenly, Caleb's affair and the identity of his mistress became hot topics online.

That day, I went to a private club to find Caleb, wanting to discuss how to handle it.

As I approached the door of the private room, I overheard Caleb's conversation with his friend.

"Everyone knows about your situation. What are you going to do?"

Caleb sat in the middle of the sofa, long legs crossed, his brow deeply furrowed.

He was silent for a moment before speaking, "Willow and I will get a sham divorce first, so Daisy won't be considered my mistress. Once the storm passes, I'll remarry Willow."

His friend sounded incredulous, "You're really willing to divorce Willow for Daisy?"

"It's just a sham divorce. Willow will always be my wife."

"I really don't get it. You clearly love Willow so much, how did you end up having a child with Daisy?"

Caleb looked down, twirling a lighter in his hand, and after a while, he said, "Daisy came from a humble background, and to make ends meet, she worked as a hostess at a high-end club. She reminds me so much of how Willow used to be, struggling but resilient and brave."

"Being with her, I feel like I'm back to the beginning of my relationship with Willow."

I stood outside the door, my mind exploding.

What brother's girlfriend? What brother's child?

It was all a lie.

That was Caleb's own mistress and child.

"Aren't you afraid Willow will find out?" His friend asked.

Caleb's face darkened, and he was silent for a longer moment, "Oliver is on a mission. He won't be back for several months."

"As long as he doesn't come back, Willow won't know."

"Once Daisy has the baby, I'll send her and the child abroad."

I leaned against the hallway wall, utterly cold, my limbs refusing to obey.

My heart felt like it was being violently seized and then ripped apart, making me break out in a cold sweat.

On my way here, I was still thinking that, for his brother's sake, I would endure it and work with him to figure out how to handle the public outcry.

But it turned out his brother wasn't dead at all.

And Daisy, whom I had genuinely cared for for two months, wasn't his brother's girlfriend at all. She was my husband's mistress.

The shopping trips I took her on, the gifts I picked out for her, the comforting words I spoke to her, all became a complete joke.

Caleb, who had constantly vowed to love only me forever, cheated on me after three years of marriage.

He neglected his wife at home to have an affair with a woman who reminded him of my past self, and they even had a child.

Not only that, he brazenly brought his mistress right in front of me, confidently expecting me to care for her.

Caleb, you are truly audacious.

That evening, Caleb returned home and, as expected, brought up the sham divorce to calm the public.

His words were sincere, his tone gentle, and he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, "It's just temporary. Trust me."

Caleb probably expected me to cry and make a scene.

Instead, I accepted it without a word.

Caleb visibly relaxed. He thought he had appeased me.

He didn't know that what I agreed to wasn't a sham divorce at all.

What I wanted was a real departure.

I snapped back to reality, put away the divorce decree, and went out to do two things.

Willow's POV

First, I applied for a visa.

Second, I canceled my ID and wiped my records from the system.

The clerk said all procedures would be completed within two weeks.

As I walked out of the ID office, my phone rang.

It was Caleb calling.

"Willow, where are you? Why aren't you home?" His tone was urgent, barely concealing his anger.

It used to be like this.

Once, I went to the grocery store and didn't notice my phone.

I was only out for forty minutes, but when I returned, I found Caleb had called twenty-seven times.

Seeing me return with grocery bags, he pulled me into his arms, squeezing me so tight I couldn't breathe.

"Willow, if I can't find you, I'll go crazy!"

That Caleb, so anxious and caring about me, could also make room for another woman in his heart. How ironic.

"I just came out for a walk, to clear my head," I tried to make my voice sound normal.

"Stay right there, I'm coming to pick you up." Caleb's voice was tense, "The divorce news just broke, there are reporters everywhere. You're not safe alone."

After hanging up, I suddenly realized. Caleb and Daisy's affair was still trending on social media. Going out alone now indeed made me an easy target for reporters.

Caleb arrived quickly, his Maybach screeching to a halt.

He pushed open the car door and strode over, not even wearing his suit jacket, clearly having dropped everything to rush here.

When he reached me, he instinctively reached out to pull me into his embrace.

His arm lifted halfway, then dropped.

We were outside now.

And we were publicly divorced.

His hand froze in mid-air, eventually just lightly resting on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. He lowered his eyes to look at me, a hint of indescribable grievance in his expression, "Willow, I'm just glad you're okay. I was so worried about you."

I looked at his face, and a sharp pang twisted in my chest.

He looked so sincere, so concerned about me.

Just like every other time he couldn't find me.

But I already knew that this concern wasn't just for me anymore.

I lowered my eyes and quietly asked, "Where are we eating?"

Caleb quickly pulled open the car door for me, "I've booked a restaurant. It's a private event, just the two of us tonight, Willow."

The car drove into the private driveway of a French restaurant in the city center.

The entire restaurant had been booked out, the crystal chandeliers glowed softly, and someone played the violin in the corner, the melody lingering beautifully.

Caleb pulled out my chair, personally spread the napkin on my lap, and ordered for me.

When the steak arrived, he took the knife and fork, expertly cut the meat into small pieces, and pushed the plate toward me.

Every time we ate Western food together, he was this thoughtful and attentive.

I looked down at the neatly arranged steak pieces on my plate, my throat tight, unable to swallow a single bite.

Caleb observed my expression, put down his knife and fork, and took my hand, "The divorce is just for show."

"Willow, just bear with it for a few days. Once this is over, we'll remarry immediately."

"My care for Daisy is just for..."

"Just to take care of Oliver's girlfriend for you." I finished his sentence for him, even managing a small smile. "He was always the best to you since you were little. I know. I understand."

Caleb finally exhaled in relief.

He reached out and pinched my cheek, a smile in his voice, "Willow is the most understanding. You'll always be my wife."

He took my hand, lacing our fingers together, his thumb slowly stroking the back of my hand, and whispered, "When we remarry, I'll propose to you again."

My eyelashes trembled.

I remembered the night he proposed three years ago.

Caleb knelt before me and said, "Willow, I will never marry anyone but you. Marry me, and we'll be together forever, okay?"

I was crying so hard I couldn't speak.

The same hands that put a ring on my finger three years ago handed me the divorce decree three years later.

Caleb's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen.

I clearly saw the tenderness and deep affection in his eyes vanish instantly, replaced by tension.

He answered the phone, "Daisy, what's wrong?"

The restaurant was quiet. Daisy's tearful voice came through the receiver, "There are reporters outside the door, I'm so scared."

Caleb shot up, "Don't be afraid. Lock the door. I'm coming right now."

He hung up and looked down at me.

His eyes still held an apology, but his body was already moving toward the door.

"Willow, Daisy has a situation. I need to go handle it. I'll have the driver come pick you up."

With that, he was out the door.

I sat alone in the empty French restaurant.

A whole table of carefully prepared dishes, barely touched. The waitstaff stood in the distance, their gazes carrying a hint of undisguised pity.

I waited for two hours. The driver never came.

Caleb had forgotten me.

I walked out of the restaurant alone.

Before I even reached the roadside, a group of reporters swarmed me, cameras and microphones practically shoved into my face:

"Ms. Lynn, is it true you're divorcing Mr. Owen?"

"Do you know about Ms. Rance's relationship with Mr. Owen?"

"When did your relationship break down?"

"Is Ms. Rance the reason for your divorce?"

Willow's POV

I finally managed to escape the mob of reporters and took a cab home, looking utterly disheveled.

But before I even reached my doorstep, I saw a group of reporters squatting outside the main gate, long lenses and microphones set up everywhere.

I couldn't go home.

I had no choice but to take a cab to our small apartment.

Back when Caleb was pursuing me, he didn't mention his identity as an Owen heir, fearing I'd reject him.

To live with me, he bought a small 600-square-foot apartment on the west side of town.

Back then, we went furniture shopping together, chose a decorator together, and furnished our new home together.

Every single item in that small apartment, we had picked out together.

Later, Caleb revealed his identity, we got married, and moved into the mansion.

He kept that small apartment, arranging for it to be cleaned regularly. He never allowed anyone to touch anything inside.

He said it was our home, just for the two of us, filled with too many memories for anyone else to touch.

Occasionally, he would even take me back to stay for a night or two.

I took a cab to the small apartment, opened the door, and froze right inside the entrance.

A pair of women's flats were on the floor.

They weren't mine.

I was rooted to the spot.

Faint voices drifted from inside. Caleb and Daisy.

"Make yourself comfortable. No one knows about this place, so no reporters will bother you."

Daisy's voice was timid, "Will Willow be unhappy if I stay here?"

"Willow won't know."

He had said this was our home, just for the two of us.

Now, another woman was walking on the floors I picked out, sleeping in the bed he and I chose together.

He remembered to find a secluded spot for Daisy, away from reporters, but he forgot that I, too, was blocked by reporters and had nowhere to go.

He didn't think of me even once.

Pain spread from my chest, stifling me until I could barely breathe.

I silently backed out, gently closing the door.

As I walked out of the apartment building, I looked down and saw my hands trembling.

My phone vibrated. It was a message from Caleb:

"Willow, we can't be photographed together for the next few days. I won't be coming home these days."

I stared at the screen, wanting to ask him, "Are you going to stay with Daisy in our small apartment? Are you going to sleep in our bed?"

But I couldn't type a single word.

My vision was completely blurred, and tears streamed onto the phone screen.

I waited at a street corner near our house until past 1 AM, waiting for the reporters outside to leave, then secretly returned home.

Back home, I found my documents, then picked out a few common clothes and toiletries and stuffed them into my suitcase.

A twenty-inch small suitcase held everything I wanted to take from three years in Caleb's house.

Four days later, Caleb finally returned.

The moment he walked in, he pulled me into a hug, resting his chin on my head, his voice urgent, "Willow, I missed you so much. Did you miss me?"

I didn't speak, my hands hanging at my sides.

Caleb noticed something was off. He released me and looked down at my face. A clear tension in his eyes. "The reporters were too vigilant these past few days. I didn't dare come back. But I worried about you every single day. Please don't be mad, okay?"

Worried every single day.

Yet, in those four days, he didn't send me a single call or message.

He didn't ask what I ate, didn't ask if I was cornered by reporters, not even a goodnight.

I subtly stepped back half a pace from his embrace, "I'm not mad. You've worked hard."

Caleb took one of my hands, brought it to his lips, and kissed it, "For our future, it's not hard."

He took out a jewelry box. Inside was a ruby necklace.

He personally put it on me, "Come on, tonight I'm taking you back to the family estate for dinner. I told Mr. Jenkins to prepare all your favorite dishes."

"The divorce is just a public statement. In our family, you're still my wife. That won't change."

I didn't want to go back to the family estate.

His mother, Eleanor, never liked me from the start.

She disliked my ordinary background, feeling I wasn't worthy of the Owen family.

That year, Caleb, to marry me, was willing to face punishment, even declaring firmly, "If she doesn't marry me, I'll never marry anyone else."

Only then did Eleanor agree.

The first year of our marriage, Eleanor was relatively polite to me, considering Caleb.

From the second year on, because we had no children, Eleanor's attitude toward me grew colder by the day.

But Caleb didn't wait for me to refuse. He took my hand and walked out.

I sat in the car, watching the city lights pass by.

The man who once said he'd marry no one but me, changed so quickly.

Willow's POV

At the family estate, I greeted Eleanor.

Eleanor scowled, not even looking at me.

Caleb frowned, reminding her, "Eleanor!"

Only then did she grudgingly respond.

Before dinner was even served, Caleb sat beside me, peeling grapes for her.

Eleanor sat opposite, her face so dark it looked like it could wring out water.

Dinner began, and Caleb busied himself serving me food and handing me napkins.

Not long after, Daisy arrived.

Eleanor's face immediately lit up. She stood to greet Daisy, taking her hand and smiling warmly, "Daisy, you're here? Is it cold outside? Are you hungry? Come, sit down."

She then turned to urge Caleb, "What are you waiting for? Get Daisy a glass of freshly squeezed juice, there's some in the fridge."

Caleb put down his cutlery, stood up, and went to get it.

At the dinner table, Eleanor's gaze remained fixated on Daisy's swollen belly, her joy evident.

She suddenly spoke, "Caleb, since you two are already divorced, I don't think you need to remarry."

"Daisy is all alone, and besides, this child is yours, the Owen's."

"You've already announced publicly that you're with Daisy, haven't you? Why don't you marry her? Take good care of her child. Everyone will be happy."

Caleb put his cutlery down on the table with a clatter and said coldly, "Eleanor!"

Eleanor huffed in displeasure but didn't say anything more.

Caleb squeezed my hand, lowering his voice, "Willow, Eleanor's getting old and confused. She just said that. Don't take it to heart."

I looked at his earnest apology, and my heart ached as if someone was clutching and twisting it.

It was then that I realized Eleanor had never cried, never even talked about her eldest son. She didn't act like a mother who had lost a child.

So, Eleanor knew the truth. She knew the child was Caleb's.

In the end, everyone knew the truth, and I was the only one being fooled. They were making a fool of me.

"Oh, dear." Daisy suddenly let out a soft cry.

Caleb immediately turned, "What's wrong?"

Daisy's small face was crumpled, "Nothing, the bowl was too hot."

Caleb quickly went over, took her hand, and examined it thoroughly, "You're pregnant, how can you be so careless?"

He called Mr. Jenkins for burn cream and personally applied it carefully to Daisy's hand several times.

After that, he continued eating, constantly serving Daisy food, spooning soup for her, and testing its temperature, terrified she might get hurt again.

He never thought of me again.

That night, we all stayed at the family estate.

Back in the room, Caleb took my hand and apologized earnestly again, "Willow, Daisy is carrying Oliver's child. Oliver passed away, so Eleanor and I both have to protect her. Please don't be mad."

Listening to that familiar excuse, my heart felt submerged in ice water, chilling me to the bone.

I avoided his gaze and whispered, "Yeah, you said that."

Caleb leaned closer, his hand resting on my waist, intending to kiss me.

I turned my head, "I'm too tired today."

I turned over and lay down, my back to him.

Caleb didn't insist but still wrapped his arms around my waist from behind.

I don't know how long passed, but I woke up thirsty.

The space behind me was empty. Caleb wasn't there.

I got up, intending to get some water.

As I reached the hallway, the door to the next room was ajar, and muffled sounds came from within.

"No, Willow is right next door. It wouldn't be good if she heard us," Daisy's voice was sweet and soft.

Caleb let out a low, husky laugh, "Then you'll have to bear it. Be quiet, okay?"

A series of hurried gasps.

"Don't, Caleb, the baby..."

"It's already four months." Caleb's urgency was barely contained, "I asked the doctor; it's fine. I've missed you terribly lately."

Then came the rhythmic thudding sounds and the woman's suppressed moans.

I was frozen solid, losing sensation inch by inch from my feet upwards.

I remembered our wedding night, Caleb holding me, saying, "Willow, I'll never want anyone else in my life. You're all I need."

And now, just a wall away, he was giving the same tenderness and intimacy to another woman.

I was chilled to the bone, and my stomach churned violently.

I clutched my mouth and stumbled back to my room, dry-heaving over the toilet.

Willow's POV

I couldn't sleep anymore.

I lay in the darkness with my eyes open, my body rigid as a board.

After an unknown amount of time, the door gently pushed open, and Caleb softly walked in, lifted the covers, and hugged me from behind.

As if nothing had happened.

He smelled of an unfamiliar perfume.

My stomach churned again. I gritted my teeth, pushing down the nausea again and again.

Caleb's arms tightened, his lips pressed against the back of my neck, and he mumbled vaguely, "Willow."

I lay still, pretending to be fast asleep.

He fell asleep quickly.

But I kept my eyes open until dawn.

The next morning, as we were leaving the family estate, Daisy timidly said, "I can just take a cab. No need to trouble you."

Caleb immediately shook his head, "No way. You're pregnant, and there are a lot of reporters out there. It's not safe. Come with us."

The three of us walked to the car. I habitually reached for the passenger door.

From behind me, Daisy's timid voice came again, "The front seat is more spacious, and it's a bit uncomfortable for me since I'm pregnant. Willow, could I sit in the front?"

I didn't say anything, turned, walked to the back seat, opened the door myself, and got in.

Caleb looked at me, ultimately said nothing, and then opened the passenger door for Daisy.

As the car drove onto the main road, a truck suddenly lost control and overturned, causing a multi-car pileup.

Caleb slammed the steering wheel, and the car violently crashed into the guardrail.

The massive impact flung me toward the car window, and blood streamed down my forehead.

Daisy in the front seat shrieked in terror.

Caleb immediately turned sideways to shield her stomach, "Daisy! Are you okay? The baby? Does your stomach hurt?"

Daisy trembled all over, shrinking into his embrace, shaking her head.

The road was blocked, and the ambulance wouldn't be able to get through for a while.

The accident scene quickly gathered a crowd, and people started recognizing them.

"Is that Caleb Owen?"

"The woman next to him, is that Willow? Mrs. Owen?"

"Mrs. Owen? They're divorced, everyone knows that. The other one is Caleb's current girlfriend. Didn't you see that photo of them kissing at the concert?"

"Wait, why is that woman's belly so big? They just got divorced, right? Her belly is already so big, the timing doesn't add up."

"Isn't she just his mistress then? Cheating during marriage!"

"That mistress has no shame."

Caleb's face instantly darkened.

He unhesitatingly pulled Daisy into his embrace, then turned to me, his gaze cold and sharp, and loudly snapped, "Stop following me! We divorced a long time ago!"

My body trembled.

He publicly lied, pushing me out to take the blame for Daisy.

Sure enough, the onlookers immediately changed their tune.

"Oh, so they were already divorced. She's not a mistress then, we misunderstood her."

"So what's the deal with this Willow? Divorced but still clinging to her ex-husband? His new girlfriend is even pregnant."

"What else could it be? She can't let go of the Owen family money. She came from an ordinary family; how could she willingly give up such a rich family?"

"So she's a gold-digger? Mr. Owen used to spoil her so much; he should have divorced her sooner."

I lowered my head, closed my eyes, unable to utter a single word.

The pain from my injuries made me break out in a cold sweat, but none of it compared to the ache in my chest.

It felt like someone had torn my heart from my chest, thrown it on the ground, and stomped on it.

Caleb's gaze fell on my pale face. He was about to say something.

"My stomach hurts so much." Daisy clutched her belly, her voice trembling.

Caleb immediately pulled his gaze away and held Daisy even tighter. "Don't be afraid, Daisy. The ambulance will be here any minute."

The ambulance finally arrived.

I lifted my heavy eyelids and saw Caleb carrying Daisy onto the ambulance.

All his attention was on Daisy. His steps were hurried. He didn't look back once.

My vision grew increasingly blurry. The sounds around me faded away, finally plunging me into darkness.