Chapter 533: I Don't Think So

"So that's what you really think. Since she was so good, why did you betray her and choose to be with me in the first place? Maybe the truth is you didn't love her as much as you think," Yakira sneered in self-mockery. In Leo's heart, she couldn't hold a candle to Grace? But at least for all these years, it was her that was with him, not Grace.

Yakira, you're asking for trouble. I would have never cast a second glance at you if you hadn't seduced me," Leo answered coldly. Betraying Grace was a wound that he never wanted to reopen. Maybe it was just like what Yakira had said -- he didn't love Grace as much as he thought, or he wouldn't have fallen for Yakira's trickery and betrayed Grace.

You..." She loved, but was not loved -- that was the sharpest pain for any woman and that's the story of Yakira. As heart-broken as Yakira was, Leo added even crueler words. Now her heart was torn into pieces.

"Dad, how can you say that? No matter what she did in the past, she's loved you with all her heart and soul for all these years." Mary held Yakira tightly, her eyes full of ill will for Leo.

With all her heart and soul? I don't think so," Leo sneered. He threw a glare at Yakira, then walked out of the room resolutely as if he could leave Yakira forever without the slightest bit of regret. There was no affection left between them in that moment.

"Mom, are you okay?" Mary asked with a caring tone after she carried Yakira to the bedside. Now she knew that her own place in the family was threatened, as well as that of her mother.

"I'm alright. Just leave me alone. I need some time to myself," Yakira answered. She looked so weak and fragile, like a fallen leaf waiting to be swept away with a gust of wind.

The night was tranquil, but in that house their thoughts were stormy. All of them felt they'd been through a lot, and their thoughts were still roiling in their heads. Everything looked gloomy and chaotic, and the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel could not be seen.

As the morning sunshine penetrated the dark night, people woke up from their dreams. Daisy opened her beautiful eyes, her long eyelashes flapping. After a long while, her eyes finally adapted to the bright sunlight. Today being a weekend, she slept late.

She stretched her limbs and turned around, hopeful of seeing Edward sound asleep, yet nothing. The fact that Edward was not by her side quite surprised her. She wondered when Edward got up and why she didn't notice. Were her senses less sharp now? Or did it show that Edward was even more agile than her senses could detect, that he could sneak out without her notice?

Her brows knitted, Daisy felt a sinking feeling, waking up and not seeing Edward around for the first time. She was used to opening up her eyes and looking at Edward sleeping like a log; she was used to his kiss in the morning. Now without his hug and kiss, she felt quite lost, even miserable.

Yes, miserable. When that word sprang up in Daisy's mind, she suddenly realized how much she was attached to Edward. Since when had she become so glued to Edward that even for one morning without him, she began to feel her life was incomplete. Was such strong affection a manifestation of her love for Edward or she was just being too sentimental?

"Mom, you're up?" Justin trotted over the moment Daisy emerged from the stairway, his face glowing with happiness. He was so happy that Daisy didn't need to go to the army base and could play with him today.

"Hey, my boy. Did your dad go out?" Daisy bent down and held him up. She glanced around, but found no one in the house, not even the maids. That abnormality confused her even more.

"No, dad is racing with grandpa in the garden. Neither of them is willing to give up, and everyone in the house is watching the race. I wouldn't have seen you if I hadn't come in for water." Justin reported what he knew excitedly, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"What? Running in the garden with grandpa? Doesn't your dad usually go to the gym for exercise? Why would he suddenly work out at home?" Daisy asked confusedly, then she picked up Justin and walked out into the garden.

I don't know either. It seemed that at first grandpa challenged dad's physical strength, then dad started a race with grandpa to prove that he's stronger," Justin answered while he fiddled with Daisy's cascading hair. Occasionally, he sniffed the hair and found out that it smelled of jasmine, the aroma dad liked.

"Isn't your dad in rehab? Would such strenuous activity hurt him?" Daisy wondered. But next minute when she saw Edward and his father, she realized she shouldn't have worried that much, because it looked more like they were strolling than running.

I'm not sure. Wow, I just went in to drink some water, and now they slow down again." Justin pouted his lips and glanced around, his eyes wide open.

"Are you sure they are running, not walking?" Daisy put Justin down. Lips curled, she looked thoughtfully at them. They walked while staring at each other, chests heaving. Somehow this scene touched her.

"At first they were running. But now two hours later they are too tired to keep going and too stubborn to give in. They wouldn't stop no matter how hard grandma have tried to persuade them," Justin replied with a bright smile. He felt his father and grandfather were even more childlike than him.

"What? They've been running for two hours? Is your daddy okay?" Daisy looked worriedly at Edward. He was sweating heavily. That made her even more nervous. Should Edward run for such a long time? After all, he hadn't completely recovered yet.

"Don't worry. He knows when to stop. Let's just wait and see how long they can hang on. I've called Tom and he said a little exercise won't hurt anything," Cynthia said in a soft tone the moment Daisy came to the garden. She looked at Daisy affectionately.

"I know. I just don't want him to hurt himself. By the way, why are they suddenly competing against each other?" Daisy sat down, but never shifted her eyes from Edward.

"Huh. That's what confuses me as well. But it's better than the time when they gave each other the cold shoulder, isn't it?" Cynthia answered and sipped the coffee. It was her utmost wish to see the whole family live harmoniously and happily. She would consider it an improvement as long as they talked to each other. She wouldn't mind them competing with each other, because at least they would talk.

Sounds fair. But should they continue? They seem too tired to even walk." Daisy was never able to just stand by when Edward was suffering. She loved him too much.

They will stop. Rest assured. It's just a matter of time. Let's see who quits first." Cynthia wasn't worried about them walking now. After all, she had seen them sprinting.

"Mrs. Mu, I fetched your breakfast for you." Mrs. Wu was always the most considerate. The minute she saw Daisy, she had already went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast for her. Since all the other people, except Daisy, had eaten breakfast, preparation didn't take a lot of time.

"Thank you, Mrs. Wu. I'm the only one who hasn't had breakfast yet?" Daisy asked and blushed for being the last one getting up.

"Yes. Mr. Mu told us not to wake you up so that you could sleep late on the weekend. The breakfast is also prepared according to Mr. Mu's specifications. If you don't like it, I will make you something else." Mrs. Wu laid out the breakfast dishes one by one. They are all light food, perfect choices on such a day.

"They're all good. Cynthia, do you want some?" Daisy asked. She was a bit embarrassed to dine alone while the others all sat or stood aside.

"No, I'm good. You should eat them now. Or they won't taste so good when they get cold." Cynthia looked at Daisy's outfit. She looked more approachable without the military uniform.

"So do you give up?" Jonathan looked at Edward beside him and asked provocatively. No matter how young he looked, he had aged after all. That was why he sounded breathless now.

"Why would I quit? You're still in the game. Of course I won't give up," Edward said, his teeth grinding bitterly. He would have already defeated Jonathan if he had been completely recovered. But he was still injured. So now they were stuck in this stalemate. Hares may pull dead lions by the beard.

"Son, wouldn't it be too much for your recovering body?" Jonathan asked while complaining deep down, 'why can't he just think of me and give up? I'm not young anymore. There are so many people around. He could just quit to save my face. If I were younger, I would be running far ahead of him and win the race. This way we wouldn't be stuck in such a dilemma.'

"Don't worry about me. I'm okay. Just tell me, you give up or do we keep racing?" Edward frowned and cast a look at Daisy. She was being inconsiderate. He could barely walk anymore, let alone run. But Daisy just sat there and ate her breakfast. Was she enjoying watching him making a fool of himself?

Huh. Indeed, like father, like son. But being stubborn is no good thing. Alright, I will be the big man and quit first, just to save your face. After all, I'm your father.

So I give in, Jonathan said presenting himself as a fine gentleman. But the truth was that he couldn't hold on anymore. He was almost dehydrated. He needed water. You could hear it in his voice, along with the labored breathing. After all, sweat came from the water in his body. For the past two hours, he didn't even drink a little bit of water. His mouth was already parched.