Daisy's Code Novel by Amelia Bennett

Lance was lost in a memory that made him smirk-Daisy, so absent-minded she’d once tumbled into his car by mistake. He’d wondered then if she was some family’s secret runaway. Now, it seemed the reality wasn’t much different. He looked her over, taking in the details.

“Homeless? You wouldn’t be considering coming back to my place, would you?” he teased, his eyes sparkling with the jest.

Daisy’s eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically, her gaze silently pleading, “Can I?”

Lance felt an unusual catch in his throat. He was drawn to Daisy, curious and even fond, but he wasn’t one to act on a whim. Yet there she was, her eyes sparkling with a plea that was hard to ignore.

He tapped her head gently, a mock scolding in his voice, “Not a chance. I’ll get you home safe and sound.”

With that, he lifted Daisy and walked towards the hospital exit, heading for the building beyond. But ‘home’ wasn’t a place she longed for. It was filled with the likes of Fiona and her condescending family, making Daisy wish for distance.

“Actually, take me home,” Daisy said suddenly, her tone bright and commanding, as if it was the most obvious request.

Lance was puzzled by her sudden change in demeanor, but when he saw the playful smile on her face, his confusion cleared. One thought remained: Her joy was all that counted.

Harley idled by the car in the quiet of the parking garage, his posture casual but ready. As Daisy and Lance emerged, he promptly opened the door, the picture of a reliable chauffeur.

With everyone inside, Harley took his place at the wheel and glanced back. “What’s our destination?”

“Serene Estate,” Lance answered without a beat.

Daisy winced at the mention, recalling the mix-up from last time. She corrected -herself, “Actually, that was incorrect. Take me to the Wilder mansion, please.”

“The Wilder family? You’re the prodigal heiress?” Harley’s voice hit a higher pitch, his eyes meeting Daisy’s in the mirror, wide with disbelief.

His loud reaction drew a puzzled look from Daisy. “Is there a problem?”

She grumbled under her breath, more to herself than anyone else, “How does everyone know about the ‘prodigal heiress’? It’s going to complicate my plans to distance myself from the Wilder family”

Lance overheard, surprised by her desire to break away. Most would cling to such a revelation, especially with the promise of security it held. Daisy, however, seemed to be pushing back. Her thoughts were definitely out of the ordinary.

“Just saying, you two are quite the pair,” Harley added, a teasing grin in his voice as he caught Lance’s eye in the mirror.

Lance returned the smile. Harley’s humor was constant, but his comment on the undeniable connection between him and Daisy rang true.

Turning to Daisy, Lance inquired, “May I know the name of the lady I’ve had the pleasure of rescuing?”

“Daisy,” she replied, matter-of-fact. She owed him that much for his help.

Harley’s smooth driving had them at the Wilder mansion in a flash. He peered out the window at the stately entrance, his interest piqued.

“Here we are,” Harley said, opening Daisy’s door. Once she was safely inside, Lance gave the signal to move on, and they pulled away, leaving the grand estate behind.

Fiona was on her way to a well-deserved nap after lunch when she spotted Daisy limping through the front door, a stark contrast to her usual put-together self.

“You’ve barely been at school today. What happened? You look like you’ve been through a war zone,” Fiona remarked, her voice laced with a mix of concern and annoyance.

Without bothering to respond, Daisy rolled her eyes and continued her awkward ascent up the stairs, cach hop a silent plea for Fiona to let her be.

“Excuse me, are you ignoring me?” Fiona demanded, cutting Daisy off mid-hop and blocking her path with an air of authority.

Daisy sighed, her patience wearing thin. “I’m hurt, and I’d like to get off my foot. Could you please move?”

“Hurt? Is that your way of getting out of school? You’re a small-town girl, and I didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet to get you into Narston High,” Fiona retorted, her frustration mounting.

Daisy chose not to rise to the bait. Instead, she sidestepped Fiona and continued her slow climb upstairs, the sound of Fiona’s complaints fading into the background noise of her life-something she’d grown accustomed to ignoring.

Meanwhile, Mary, the housekeeper, had caught wind of the commotion. One glance at Fiona’s thunderous expression was enough to send her scurrying back to the safety of the kitchen, well aware of the storm brewing in the living room.

Daisy was just about to dive into some mobile gaming to pass the time when her stomach let out a loud growl, reminding her that it was dinner time.

As she was about to head out in search of a bite, her phone buzzed with a call from an unfamiliar number. She picked it up swiftly, thinking it might be her grandmother.

“Daisy, I’ve sorted out your leave with your school for today. Take it easy at home,” a deep, gritty voice resonated on the other end. The voice was familiar-Lance,

“Lance?” she questioned, her tone reflecting surprise.

His laughter was a low rumble. “Yeah, it’s me. Did I ever tell you my name?”

“Got it, from your driver. Thanks for earlier,” Daisy replied, trying to ignore the embarrassingly loud growl from her stomach that filled the silence.

Lance checked his watch, his voice showing concern. “It’s late. Have you eaten?”

“Not yet. It’s not my place to be a bother,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of dismissiveness.

Lance felt a pang of empathy. She was the one who’d been wronged, yet she was so careful not to cause trouble. He made a me**al note to address it later. “Go get something to eat. I’ve got to get back to work.

“Harley, dig up everything you can on Elden. I need details,” Lance ordered, his brow furrowed. With his intelligence network, the investigation would be straightforward.

Daisy ended the call and found a light snack downstairs, planning to have a proper meal with everyone later. But she was well aware that plans could quickly change.

“Sis, you’re back! You missed school today and sk**ed PE. Ms. Levine is pretty upset. She asked me to tell you something,” Laura said, approaching Daisy with her backpack, her face showing concern.