Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon Chapter 162

Daisy's POV:

"You wouldn't dare," I whispered.

"Try me," Eleanor hissed, her eyes glinting with desperation.

"Your parents already hate us. What do I have to lose by telling them their precious Daisy paid me to keep their biological daughter away from them?"

I felt trapped, cornered by my own schemes.

"Fine," I conceded through gritted teeth. "I'll... I'll figure something out. "

I took a deep breath, trying to think clearly despite my panic.

"We could work together to make sure my parents never truly accept Audrey," I suggested in a hushed tone.

Eleanor's eyes lit up with understanding.

"Exactly. The more they dislike Audrey, the safer we both are," she whispered urgently.

Suddenly, we heard a faint sound from the hallway—like the creak of a floorboard.

Eleanor and I exchanged alarmed glances before she hurried to open the door.

We peered into the empty hallway, seeing no one.

"We should get back. We've been gone too long already—they'll get suspicious."

When we returned to the living room, Father was already informing George that he would use his Wall Street connections to ensure the Baileys regretted crossing the Cole family.

---

The car ride home was agonizingly silent.

I kept stealing glances at Ethan, trying to read his expression, but his face remained impassive, revealing nothing.

My heart hammered against my chest, realizing that something had shifted.

The tension in the air was so thick I could barely breathe.

When we finally arrived home, I excused myself to my room, needing a moment to collect my thoughts.

The mirror reflected a pale, frightened girl I barely recognized.

*Get it together, Daisy. Everything will be fine.*

Exhaustion washed over me as I lay in bed and closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, night had already fallen.

By the time I emerged from my room, everyone had gathered in the living room.

William sat stiffly beside his wife, Clara looked uncomfortable, and Finley stood by the window with an unreadable expression.

Dad and Mom occupied the loveseat, their faces grim.

The moment I stepped into the room, all eyes turned to me, and I felt my stomach drop.

Ethan stood in the center, his posture rigid.

"Now that everyone's here, there's something we need to discuss."

I plastered on a smile, hoping to diffuse the tension.

"Is everything okay?"

"No, Daisy, it's not."

Ethan's voice was cold, colder than I'd ever heard it.

"I heard your entire conversation with Eleanor."

My smile froze on my face.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You paid Eleanor Bailey thirty million dollars to keep information about Audrey from us," Ethan said, each word like a knife to my chest.

"And you were even planning to work with Eleanor to drive wedges between Audrey and us. "

The room spun around me.

"That's not—I didn't—"

"Don't lie to me!"

Ethan's voice boomed through the room, making me flinch.

"We have investigated the bank transfers, the recording, everything. "

Tears welled up in my eyes.

"I was just scared," I whispered.

"This goes beyond fear, Daisy."

Ethan's eyes were hard, unyielding. "You've disappointed me more than I can express."

Those words cut deeper than any physical pain I'd ever experienced.

"I've made a decision," Ethan continued.

"I will send you to Europe."

The room tilted beneath my feet.

"No," I gasped. "Please, Ethan, don't send me away. This is my home. You're my family."

This time, Ethan remained completely unmoved.

His eyes were cold, distant—nothing like the protective older brother I'd always known.

"I gave you a chance, Daisy. And you threw it away."

Desperate, I looked toward Mr. and Mrs. Cole, searching for any sign of support, any willingness to intervene on my behalf.

But they both averted their eyes.

Just as despair threatened to swallow me whole, William stepped forward.

"Ethan," he began, his expression somber.

"Daisy did wrong, I won't dispute that. But sending her to Europe alone? For a young lady who's been sheltered and pampered her entire life? That seems unnecessarily cruel."

Gratitude flooded through me as I looked at William with hope blossoming in my chest.

Perhaps there was still a chance I could—

William paused, then continued, "I can accompany Daisy to Europe. "

"What?" I stared at him in disbelief.

Ethan considered this, then nodded.

"That's fair. I appreciate your willingness to step up, William."

*No, no, no.* I couldn't leave. I wouldn't.

I dropped to my knees in front of Ethan, grasping his hands.

"Please," I sobbed, my pride completely forgotten.

"I'll do anything. I'll apologize to Audrey. I'll make it right. Just don't send me away."

Ethan looked down at me, his expression unmoved by my tears.

"You need time away to really reflect on your actions, Daisy. I want you to understand the gravity of what you've done. With William there, at least I know you'll be looked after properly."

The finality in his voice made something break inside me.

This time, there would be no reprieve, no last-second pardon.

The room grew uncomfortable with my continued sobbing.

Clara whispered something to Finley, and they both made polite excuses to leave.

Dad mentioned feeling unwell and retreated to his suite upstairs, Mom following close behind, her eyes filled with tears she refused to shed in public.

One by one, they turned and walked away.

I remained frozen, slumped on the floor where I'd fallen to my knees, staring blankly at the empty doorway.

The mansion that had always been my sanctuary now felt cavernous and cold.

The tears that had flowed so freely moments ago dried on my cheeks as a strange numbness washed over me.

With trembling fingers, I pulled out my phone and dialed Audrey's number.

Each ring echoed my racing heartbeat until she finally answered.

"Hello?" Her voice was cautious.

"Are you happy now?" I spat, my voice cracking.

"Daisy? What are you talking about?"

"Don't pretend! Isn't this exactly what you wanted to see? Your bestie Clara must have tipped you off, right?"

"Everything I loved, everything I was proud of—it's all gone because of you! And now you can just move right into the Cole house and be their perfect new daughter. One big happy family without the troublesome Daisy in the picture."

"What?" Audrey sounded genuinely shocked.

"Daisy, I have no idea what you're talking about. "

"They're sending me away!" I nearly screamed into the phone. "And it's all because of you!"

There was a pause, then Audrey's voice came through, calm but firm.

"I never wanted to take anything from you, Daisy. "

"I've been in your position before—in the Bailey house. Being replaced, being pushed aside. I would never wish that on anyone, not even you."

"Whatever is happening between you and your family has nothing to do with me."

Before I could respond, she continued.

"I'm sorry you're hurting, but I won't be your scapegoat. Goodbye, Daisy."

The line went dead.

I sat there, phone still pressed to my ear, listening to the silence.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I finally lowered it.

"Even now, you make me look like a fool," I whispered to no one.

My laughter grew more hollow, more desperate.

"The perfect Audrey Lane. So noble. So understanding."

But somewhere beneath my resentment, her words had struck a chord.

*Being replaced, being pushed aside. I would never wish that on anyone, not even you.*

Had I been wrong all along?