Chapter 203 You are free

Chapter 203: Chapter 203 You are free

Cedric’s jaw tightened but he didn’t speak. He couldn’t. His grandfather’s words had struck him like a physical blow and he had no defense against them.

James then looked toward Jessica. "Then marry her."

Jessica’s eyes sparkled. This was what she wanted. This was what she had been waiting for. She wanted to become Mrs. Evermont and now the path was finally clear. Her lips curved into a small smile and her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Grandpa James continued before anyone could interrupt. "And Daisy..."

His voice softened.

"You are free."

Daisy’s eyes immediately became wet. Tears welled up, blurring her vision. She blinked rapidly, trying to keep them from falling.

"You can do whatever you want with your life from tomorrow onward. You don’t need my permission to choose your future."

He paused. His tired eyes were filled with affection. His gaze was warm, the way it had always been when he looked at her.

"I will always stand behind you."

Daisy stared at him. She could see it clearly in his eyes. There was no accusation there. No hatred or suspicion. He just trusted her. Even after everything he had witnessed tonight, he wasn’t looking at her like she was some unfaithful wife who had betrayed his grandson. He believed she deserved the freedom to choose her own life.

Her lips trembled. She quickly shook her head and moved closer to him, taking his hand. His skin was warm against her cold fingers.

She gestured anxiously, her free hand moving quickly. But you...

James understood. "You’re worried about me?"

Daisy nodded immediately. Her eyes filled with tears, and her fingers tightened around his. She didn’t want to leave him. He was the one person in this family who had always made her feel safe, accepted and loved. The thought of walking away from this house, even if it meant freedom, made her heart ache.

James gave her a faint smile. "My health isn’t your responsibility, sweetheart."

Daisy shook her head more firmly. Her eyes were pleading, desperate for him to understand.

James gently patted the back of her hand. "You’ve spent enough time worrying about everyone else."

He looked at her with quiet affection. "It’s time you thought about yourself."

Daisy lowered her gaze. Her fingers tightened around his. She wanted freedom. She wanted a life where she wasn’t trapped in a marriage without love. But leaving Grandpa James behind felt almost impossible.

Across the room, Alessio watched her silently. His heart tightened when he saw the tears in her eyes.

Suddenly, Cedric spoke.

"Grandpa, you can’t put all of this on me."

His voice carried a mixture of anxiety and frustration as he looked at James. His eyes were wide, almost desperate, and his hands gestured vaguely as he tried to find words to defend himself.

"I told you from the beginning that I didn’t want to marry her but you didn’t listen to me."

James stared at him in disbelief. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw tightened.

Cedric continued, almost as though he needed to defend himself before anyone could judge him. His voice rose slightly, the words tumbling out faster and faster. "So if this became a loveless marriage, you can’t blame me for that. I told you I wasn’t ready. I told you I didn’t want to get married. But you—"

Silence.

Grandpa James’s expression slowly hardened even more, if possible. His eyes bored into Cedric’s with an intensity that made the younger man falter.

"I never forced you, Cedric."

His voice was calm but there was clear disappointment beneath it.

"I wanted Daisy to have a family. Yes, I wanted you to marry her because I believed you would take care of her. But if you truly didn’t want to marry her, you could have refused."

Cedric looked away, unable to meet his grandfather’s eyes. His jaw tightened and his shoulders hunched slightly.

James continued, his voice growing colder. "Do you remember what happened back then?"

Cedric’s jaw tightened. He didn’t answer but his silence was enough.

"Your cousin was ready to marry Daisy."

Cedric’s expression darkened. His eyes flickered with jealousy, perhaps or regret.

"He was willing to accept her. He didn’t care that she couldn’t speak. He was prepared to marry her."

James shook his head slowly, his disappointment deepening. "But suddenly, you changed your mind."

Cedric remained silent. His hands curled into fists at his sides and his breathing became uneven.

"I didn’t come to you and force you," James said. "You came to me."

Cedric’s fingers curled against his palm. His knuckles turned white.

James’s eyes narrowed. "You said you were willing to marry Daisy. You told me you would take responsibility for her."

Cedric’s face became increasingly tense. His jaw ached from clenching it so hard.

Because James was right.

He remembered exactly why he had suddenly agreed.

At that time, he had learned that his cousin was seriously considering marrying Daisy. And Cedric had immediately understood what that could mean. If Daisy married his cousin, that man would become much closer to Grandpa James. And if Grandpa James trusted him enough, there was a chance the old man’s share of the family property would eventually fall into his hands.

Cedric couldn’t allow that. He had already been thinking about Grandpa’s inheritance and how to secure his own position.

So he had changed his attitude. He had gone to Grandpa James himself. He had agreed to marry Daisy because he wanted Grandpa James on his side. And because he didn’t want his cousin taking the place he believed should belong to him.

Cedric’s expression became darker as the memory returned. His chest felt tight and knotted.

James watched him carefully. "I didn’t force you," he repeated. "You made that choice yourself."

Cedric couldn’t answer. His throat felt tight and his mind was tangled mess.

"And Daisy," James continued, his voice becoming softer, "never asked you to marry her."

Daisy lowered her eyes. She said nothing. She didn’t need to. The truth was already written on her face.

James looked back at Cedric. "So don’t tell me now that I forced you into a loveless marriage. If you didn’t want her, you should have been honest from the beginning."

Cedric’s throat tightened. His eyes burned, and his chest ached.

Because the truth was far uglier than simply not loving Daisy. He had chosen her for his own benefit. And now, after three years, he was finally losing her.

Yet the most confusing part was that the thought of losing her no longer felt like losing a convenient marriage. It felt like losing something he had somehow begun to consider his. Something he didn’t want another man to have.

His eyes slowly shifted toward Alessio. And the jealousy returned immediately.