He Didn’t Kidnap Me. Not Exactly novel Chapter 126

Chapter 126

(Daisy’s POV)

I returned home with one intention.

Cut off DeLuca.

It sounded dramatic when phrased that way, but technically speaking, it was the smarter option. The safer option. The alive-and-not-

imprisoned-in-a-basement option.

Which usually ranked highest on my list of preferences.

The morning hallway felt colder than usual as I walked toward the apartment, my thoughts heavy and unusually organized.

That alone should’ve worried me.

Because my brain was normally chaos with decorative lighting.

But today everything felt too clear.

Too sharp.

DeLuca’s father had given me two choices.

And I had chosen.

I had a life before Adrian DeLuca entered it.

A stressful one?

Yes.

Financially tragic?

Also yes.

But still mine.

And if I survived before him, then I could survive after him too.

He just had to leave first.

I swallowed hard at that thought and immediately hated the heaviness that followed it.

Ridiculous.

This was survival.

Not heartbreak.

I unlocked the apartment and stepped inside.

Silence greeted me immediately.

My eyes searched the living room automatically.

Empty.

Something tightened unpleasantly in my chest before I could stop it.

Then-

“Daisy?”

I turned quickly.

Lillian practically rushed toward me from the kitchen, relief washing over her face so fast it startled me.

“Oh my God. Where have you been?” she asked immediately. “Are you okay? We’ve been worried sick.”

“I’m fine,” I said quickly.

Too quickly.

Because her eyes narrowed instantly.

“You disappeared,” she continued. “And Adrian looked like he was about to kill somebody.”

My stomach twisted slightly.

Annoyingly.

“Where is he?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Lillian blinked.

“He left early this morning,” she said. “Probably looking for you again.”

Again.

Something about that word sat strangely in my chest.

“He barely even spoke,” she continued. “I’ve genuinely never seen him like that before. It was actually kind of terrifying.”

I looked away slightly.

“That sounds dramatic.”

“No,” she said immediately. “I’m serious. He was calling people and leaving constantly and-”

“I’m fine,” I interrupted again.

Softer this time.

Lillian studied me carefully now.

Really carefully.

And I instantly hated that look because it meant she was noticing things.

Things I didn’t even want to notice myself.

“What happened?” she asked quietly.

“Nothing.”

Lie.

A huge lie.

A kidnapping-sized lie.

But I didn’t have the emotional strength for explanations right now.

So instead, I pulled out my phone and texted DeLuca immediately.

“Where are you?”

The reply came in less than three seconds.

Not a text.

A call.

I stared at the screen briefly before answering.

“Are you okay?”

No greeting.

No pause.

Just immediate urgency.

“Are you hurt?”

My throat tightened unexpectedly.

“Where are you?”

“I’m home,” I said quietly.

There was silence.

Then movement on the other end. Like he was already leaving wherever he was.

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