Chapter 358 Schemes

Chapter 358 Schemes

"Daniela, aren't you coming to the amusement park with us?"

Riley had been snuggling in Daniela's arms the whole way, but she didn't expect the car to stop halfway and Daniela to get out.

Daniela leaned down, kissed Riley's forehead, and smoothed her hair. "I have something to do today. I'll go with you another time."

Riley was unhappy and pouted.

Oliver kept turning his head to look at Daniela. "Are you really going?"

Actually, he had already guessed what Daniela was going to do.

He really wanted to stop her, but he couldn't.

"Yeah."

Daniela responded, then opened the car door. Her long legs were already stepping out of the car.

"Don't tell my mom."

She turned back and tried to force a smile at Oliver.

Without waiting for Oliver to agree, she slammed the car door shut, leaving him with a cool and confident silhouette.

Oliver stared at Daniela's back as she gradually walked away. Riley also stretched her head to look out the car window in the direction Daniela had left.

"When I grow up, I want to be as cool as Daniela."

Oliver rolled his eyes and pulled Riley back into her car seat. "You don't even know what cool means."

Riley glared at Oliver angrily. "How do I not know? I'm not a little kid. That's what cool is, and when I grow up, I want to be just like her."

The more she said this, the more Daniela's image occupied Oliver's mind.

"Riley, let me talk to you. How about we don't go to the amusement park today?"

In front of Riley, Oliver was humble.

He twisted his neck and looked at her pleadingly.

This little one was spoiled by everyone in the family and was both willful and bossy. Oliver had tried to refuse her before, but each time Riley forced him to give in by crying and making a fuss.

But today, he still wanted to discuss it with her.

Actually, calling it a discussion, he had already made up his mind. Even if Riley refused, he would still do it.

"Then where are we going?"

Riley asked like a little adult, her tone exactly like Zachary's.

"Let's go with Daniela to the hospital."

"What for?"

Oliver had to patiently explain to her. "Whatever Daniela does, we'll be there with her, okay? Didn't you notice Daniela wasn't happy today?"

Riley tilted her head and thought carefully.

Although she was smart, she was still a child after all.

"Yeah."

"Daniela is alone, so she'll be very lonely. Riley doesn't like being alone, right?" Oliver coaxed her gently.

Riley nodded. "That's right."

"Then we can't let Daniela be alone. We'll keep her company, okay? After we take care of her business, we'll take Daniela to the amusement park together, okay?"

Oliver continued to persuade Riley.

"Okay, let's go with Daniela then."

Riley was a kind-hearted child, and Oliver quickly convinced her.

The car drove forward. Daniela was standing at the intersection waiting for a taxi when Oliver's car pulled up in front of her.

He rolled down the window, and Riley was already impatient. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted loudly at Daniela, "Daniela, get in the car! Uncle and I will go to the hospital with you."

Her voice was clear and had a childish quality to it.

Daniela stopped and looked at Oliver in the driver's seat with surprise.

He shrugged and showed a warm and bright smile. "We just happen to have business at the hospital. We can give you a ride."

People who aren't good at lying make such clumsy excuses.

"No need."

Daniela declined.

Riley got anxious and tried to break free from her car seat. "Uncle, go pull her in!"

She struggled unsuccessfully and urged Oliver.

Oliver finally reacted and quickly got out of the car. He walked around the front to stand in front of Daniela.

"It's fine. We respect your decision. Get in."

He opened the car door and made a welcoming gesture to Daniela.

Daniela's face still showed indifference, but many things changed in her eyes, like winter ice and snow meeting the warm spring sun.

She didn't say thank you, just bent down and got in the car.

As soon as she got in, Riley hugged Daniela again.

"Mom said that hugging together keeps us warm."

She warmed Daniela with her small body.

Daniela held Riley tightly.

When the car arrived at the hospital entrance, before Daniela got out, she saw Justin and Caroline.

Both were carrying a lot of things, walking hurriedly, their faces full of anxiety.

"I told you back then that she wouldn't save our son, but you didn't believe me. Look, isn't she exactly that kind of person?"

Caroline complained to Justin as they walked.

He had none of his usual high spirits, only a barely concealed dejection.

In fact, Daniela felt that in just a few days, Justin seemed to have aged several years. His hair, which was usually combed meticulously, was now messy and gray, swaying in the wind.

"Didn't we agree back then? Who knew her heart would be so hard that she wouldn't even save her own brother? She's really an ungrateful wretch. We shouldn't have had her in the first place."

Justin was still shamelessly blaming Daniela.

Oliver turned to look at Daniela. A trace of hurt flashed in her eyes.

He reached out, without warning, and just held her small hand.

Her fingers were slender and thin, her palm soft and thin, with hard calluses.

He held that hand, both soft and rough, in his palm and gradually tightened his grip.

Daniela didn't struggle, but she didn't hold back either.

"You can still change your mind. We respect that too."

Oliver said in a low voice.

Daniela lowered her eyelids. At this moment, she felt extremely sad.

But soon, she raised her head, and a fleeting shadow passed through her eyes.

"I'm not doing this because of him."

She was a decisive person. After saying this, she pulled her hand back from Oliver's large hand.

"Let's go."

She opened the car door and stepped out with one leg.

Oliver quickly picked up Riley and hurried after her.

At the elevator, Daniela ran into Justin and his wife.

Caroline glanced at Daniela, hesitating to speak. She had stopped pretending, no longer showing the warmth and flattery she had displayed a few days ago.

As for Justin, his face was clearly full of embarrassment.

"Daniela, are you here to visit Sunny?"

He moved closer to Daniela with a thick face.

But Daniela treated him like he was invisible.

"Get lost."

She threw these words at him, cold and harsh.

Justin was stunned, as if he couldn't believe his ears.

Daniela was his own daughter. Even though he hadn't raised her for a single day, it still didn't change the fact that he was her father.

"What did you say?"

Justin shouted sternly.

Daniela remained extremely cold. "Get lost."

She repeated it again.

This time, Justin was absolutely furious with humiliation. "Do you know who you're talking to? Daniela, let me tell you, I'm your father, your elder. Didn't your mother teach you properly? You should be polite when talking to your elders."

"Do you even count as one?"

Daniela didn't waste words. She let out a cold snort from her nose and simply threw out those three words.

Justin was furious.

"You—"

He pointed his finger at Daniela, but unexpectedly, Daniela moved extremely fast and grabbed that finger.

He cried out in pain, his face immediately twisted in agony.

But Daniela didn't let go, only narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Daniela, what are you doing?"

Caroline stepped forward to defend him.

Daniela didn't respond. She just glared fiercely at Caroline.

Caroline shivered and couldn't help but step back.

"You... don't do anything crazy. If you won't save your brother, fine, we're not forcing you, but don't hurt us either. I'm telling you, if you do anything crazy, I'll call the police right now."

Though clearly scared, she still pulled out her phone, making a show of being ready to dial.

Daniela hated being threatened most of all.

She increased the pressure on her grip, and Justin cried out in pain.

Just then, Oliver appeared.

When Justin saw Oliver, it was like seeing a savior.

"Mr. Oliver, please save me!"

His face was already twisted in agony, looking both pitiful and hateful.

Oliver walked coldly to Daniela's side and put his arm around her shoulder.

"I'm with her. How can I save you?"

Only then did Justin realize who he had offended.

"Daniela, I was wrong, I was really wrong. Please let go, okay?"

He started pleading.

"You don't deserve to be my father."

Daniela said sharply and suddenly let go.

Justin quickly distanced himself from Daniela, staring at her warily.

The elevator door opened, and Daniela stepped in.

Justin and Caroline were about to enter the elevator too, but seeing Daniela go in, they stood at the door without entering.

Since they weren't getting in, Oliver carried Riley inside.

Children's worlds are simple. Riley noticed that Daniela didn't like this couple, so she kept making faces at them.

The elevator door closed, and Daniela and Oliver rode up together.

Sunny was lying alone in the hospital room. When Daniela entered, Oliver followed.

"Guard outside. Don't let anyone near."

She gave the order.

Oliver was startled, but quickly agreed readily.

"Okay, don't worry. Leave this to me."

He stood guard outside the room with Riley in his arms.

On the bed, Sunny was weak and frail. Seeing Daniela walk toward him, he tried hard to squeeze out a smile.

"Daniela, you came."

He reached out a hand toward Daniela, but she stopped about three feet from the bed.

She didn't take that hand. She just looked at Sunny calmly.

"How are you?"

Sunny asked again.

Daniela didn't answer. She took a deep breath.

Sunny's condition wasn't good. He needed a bone marrow transplant immediately, so what Daniela needed to do was get tested for compatibility right away.

"Rest well."

She had many things she wanted to say, but at this moment, she couldn't say anything.

Daniela quickly turned and walked out of the room.

Seeing her come out of Sunny's room, Caroline panicked.

She rushed over recklessly. "If you have any grievances, take them out on me. Don't hurt Sunny, he's innocent."

Caroline cried uncontrollably.

Justin also hurried over and held Caroline's arm. "Stop crying. She wouldn't do something so cruel."

Cruel? Justin actually used such a heavy word.

Daniela felt like a cold knife had been stabbed into her heart.

It hurt so much, yet she forced herself to bear it.

"So you would? Abandoning your wife and daughter, and now scheming against your own biological daughter? The person lying in there is your child, but isn't the person standing in front of you now also your child? If Daniela were the one lying in there, would you work this hard to save her life?"

Oliver couldn't stand it anymore. He bravely stood up to speak for Daniela.

Justin was suddenly left speechless.

His face was full of embarrassment and shame.

"Since they don't appreciate it, let's go."

Oliver grabbed Daniela's wrist and forcibly dragged her away.

Just as they were about to enter the elevator, Daniela broke free again.

"What I'm doing has nothing to do with him."

"Is it worth it?"

Oliver asked with concern.

Daniela let out a slight breath. "Who knows."

She showed a bitter smile, staring at some spot with such loneliness.

The testing room.

Daniela appeared there. She began the compatibility testing process.

Oliver was very worried, but he knew this was what Daniela wanted to do.

"Uncle, Daniela is having so much blood drawn. Doesn't it hurt?"

Riley had been very well-behaved. Seeing Daniela lying there having blood drawn, she asked quietly.

Oliver held Riley tighter. "It hurts, but Daniela never says so."

Riley seemed thoughtful.

Then she pushed away from Oliver and walked toward Daniela on her short little legs.

Walking right up to Daniela, she pulled a candy from her pocket, unwrapped it, and put it in Daniela's mouth.

"Daniela, my mom says when you're unhappy, eat a candy and your heart will feel really sweet."

"Thank you, Riley."

"Don't be scared. I'll stay with you the whole time."

Oliver said something touching.

Although he didn't know that Daniela wasn't an ordinary fragile girl—she was very strong, and blood tests were no big deal to her.

But strength was just an outer shell. Her vulnerability still needed protection.

"I'm not scared."

Daniela slowly closed her eyes.

Oliver's presence was too strong, constantly lingering around her. She couldn't remain completely indifferent.

Worst of all, after closing her eyes, her mind was filled with his handsome and refined face.

She shook her head hard, but Oliver's image wouldn't go away.

All the tests couldn't be completed in one day.

Daniela scheduled to continue the next day.

On the way back, Riley fell fast asleep again.

Oliver turned to look at Daniela several times, but she kept her gaze fixed outside the car window.

He wanted to break the silence again and again but couldn't find an opening.

The car stopped at the entrance of Maple Estate. Before Oliver could get out, Daniela leaned into the back seat and lifted Riley out.

"Thanks for today."

After saying this, she was about to walk away.

But Oliver called out to her. "Daniela, you dropped something."

Daniela paused. She traveled light and wasn't in the habit of dropping things.

So at that moment, she thought it was something of Riley's that had been left behind.

Before she could turn around, Oliver suddenly walked over and pulled her into his arms.