Chapter Twenty-Promises
1512 Words
Daisy froze.
The figure standing in the kitchen doorway didn’t move.
For one terrifying second, she couldn’t tell who it was.
Then the light from the hallway fell across his face.
“Alexander.”
He immediately noticed the fear in her eyes.
“What happened?”
Daisy rushed toward him, holding up her phone.
“Someone sent me messages.”
Alexander took the phone from her.
His eyes moved across the screen.
The more he read, the darker his expression became.
“Where did you see them?”
“On my phone.”
“I mean before that.”
Daisy pointed toward the kitchen window.
“There was someone outside.”
Alexander immediately walked toward the window.
He pulled the curtain aside.
Nothing.
Only darkness stretched across the fields.
He checked the locks before turning back to her.
“Did you recognize the person?”
“No.”
“Did they say anything?”
“No.”
Alexander returned to her.
“Daisy, listen to me carefully.”
She nodded.
“From now on, you don’t walk anywhere alone.”
“Alexander…”
“I’m serious.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know you can.”
His voice softened.
“But this isn’t about whether you’re strong enough. Whoever is doing this knows things about your family that you don’t even know.”
Daisy looked down.
“I’m scared.”
Alexander stepped closer.
“You don’t have to be.”
She looked at him.
“I don’t know what’s happening anymore.”
“I do.”
He gently took her hands.
“Someone wants something your father left behind.”
“But what?”
“We’ll find out.”
“And if it’s dangerous?”
“I’ll still be there.”
Daisy’s eyes filled with tears.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I mean it.”
She stared at him.
“What if one day you get tired?”
“Of you?”
She nodded.
Alexander shook his head.
“You don’t understand.”
He lifted her hand to his lips.
“I’ve spent most of my life avoiding attachments.”
Daisy remained silent.
“I built my company, protected my name and made sure nobody could get close enough to hurt me.”
He looked directly into her eyes.
“Then you came along.”
A small smile appeared on Daisy’s lips.
“You make it sound like I ruined your life.”
“You did.”
She laughed through her tears.
“In the worst possible way.”
Alexander smiled.
Then his expression became serious again.
“You changed it.”
The room became quiet.
Daisy squeezed his hand.
“I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“I can promise that I’ll fight.”
“For how long?”
“As long as it takes.”
She looked at him.
“And if things become difficult?”
“They will.”
“And if people try to separate us?”
“They’ll try.”
“And if my family becomes a problem?”
“Then we’ll deal with it together.”
Daisy took a shaky breath.
“You make everything sound so easy.”
“No.”
Alexander shook his head.
“I’m telling you it won’t be easy.”
He stepped closer.
“But I’ll choose you every time.”
Daisy’s eyes filled with tears again.
She had spent so much of her life worrying about losing people.
Her father.
Her home.
Her future.
Now she had someone who was promising to stay.
She didn’t know whether she deserved it.
But she wanted it.
“I choose you too,” she whispered.
Alexander’s expression softened.
“What did you say?”
“I choose you.”
He smiled.
“Say it again.”
“I choose you.”
He pulled her gently into his arms.
Daisy rested her head against his chest.
For the first time that night, she felt safe.
But neither of them noticed the shadow moving outside the window.
Someone was watching.
Someone who had heard everything.
⸻
The following morning, Alexander woke early.
He had barely slept.
He sat at the kitchen table with Ethan on the phone.
“I want the full history of Daniel Harper’s business dealings.”
Ethan’s voice came through the phone.
“We’re still searching.”
“Search harder.”
“There is something else.”
Alexander’s expression tightened.
“What?”
“The company that purchased the debt isn’t acting alone.”
“Who are they working with?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Alexander looked toward the stairs.
Daisy was still asleep.
“Find out.”
“There’s one more thing.”
“What?”
“The old company records mention something called the Wildflower Project.”
Alexander went silent.
“The Wildflower Project?”
“Yes.”
“What’s that?”
“We’re trying to find out.”
Alexander ended the call.
His eyes moved toward the field.
The wildflowers.
The message.
Daisy’s father.
Everything seemed connected.
But he still didn’t know how.
A few minutes later, Daisy came downstairs.
She looked tired.
“Good morning.”
Alexander stood.
“Good morning.”
She noticed the serious expression on his face.
“What happened?”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“Your father’s old business records mention something called the Wildflower Project.”
Daisy froze.
“The Wildflower?”
“Yes.”
She looked toward the field.
“That can’t be a coincidence.”
“I don’t think it is.”
She walked toward the window.
“My father used to talk about wildflowers all the time.”
“Did he ever mention a project?”
“No.”
“Think carefully.”
Daisy closed her eyes.
Then something came back to her.
“Wait.”
Alexander looked at her.
“When I was little, Dad had a wooden box.”
“What kind of box?”
“Small. Dark brown. He kept it locked.”
“Do you know where it is?”
Daisy shook her head.
“He used to keep it in his study.”
Alexander stood.
“Let’s look.”
They went upstairs.
The study hadn’t changed much since Daniel’s death.
Dust covered the shelves.
Old books filled the walls.
Daisy slowly walked toward the desk.
She opened one drawer after another.
Nothing.
Alexander searched the shelves.
“Daisy.”
She turned.
He was holding an old photograph.
It showed Daniel standing beside several men she didn’t recognize.
Daisy took it.
“My father.”
“Do you recognize anyone else?”
She stared at the photograph.
Then her eyes widened.
“That man.”
“Who?”
She pointed.
“He came to the farm yesterday.”
Alexander’s expression hardened.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He took the photograph.
“We need to find out who he is.”
Daisy continued searching.
Then she noticed something strange beneath the desk.
A loose wooden panel.
She crouched down.
“Alexander.”
He came over.
Together, they lifted the panel.
There was a small compartment underneath.
Inside was an old wooden box.
Daisy’s heart began pounding.
She reached for it.
Alexander stopped her.
“Wait.”
“Why?”
“We don’t know what’s inside.”
She looked at him.
“This belonged to my father.”
He nodded.
“Then we’ll open it together.”
Daisy slowly unlocked the box.
Inside were several documents.
A flash drive.
And a single envelope.
Her name was written across it.
DAISY.
Her hands began to tremble.
“My father wrote this.”
Alexander stood beside her.
“Open it.”
Daisy carefully tore the envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
She began reading.
My darling Daisy,
If you’re reading this, something has gone wrong.
Her breathing stopped.
Alexander moved closer.
Daisy continued.
There are things I should have told you, but I wanted to protect you.
Her eyes filled with tears.
The farm is more than land. It is the reason certain people will never stop looking for what I left behind.
She looked at Alexander.
Then returned to the letter.
Trust carefully.
There are people you know who are not who they appear to be.
Daisy’s heart raced.
Then she reached the final line.
And whatever happens, never let them find the wildflower.
The letter slipped from her hands.
Alexander picked it up.
“What does that mean?”
Daisy shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Then the sound of a car engine came from outside.
They both turned toward the window.
A black vehicle was approaching the farmhouse.
Daisy’s face went pale.
“Alexander…”
He looked outside.
His expression immediately changed.
“Stay here.”
“Who is it?”
Alexander stared at the approaching vehicle.
“I don’t know.”
The car stopped.
The door opened.
A woman stepped out.
Daisy’s heart stopped when she recognized her.
It was Rose Bennett.
And she wasn’t alone.
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