Chapter 95

Chapter 95

"Yeah, I ate already. Just grabbed something at the office."

Teresa set down her bag and wearily rubbed her shoulders.

"What about Daisy? Is she asleep?"

"She went to bed early. She was pretty wild today."

Samantha gestured toward the bedroom, lowering her voice.

"But she made a fuss before bed—insisted on finding some cartoon badge to pin by her pillow before she'd sleep."

"A badge?"

Teresa froze.

"Yeah, that shiny one with the little rabbit on it. She said it was a magic badge Anna gave her that protects her from nightmares."

Samantha pursed her lips.

"No idea what Anna's been putting in her head, but she can't stop talking about it."

Hearing once again that Daisy had mentioned Anna, Teresa felt like something had slammed hard into her heart, leaving a dull ache.

She gently pushed open Daisy's bedroom door. In the faint light seeping through the crack, she saw Daisy sleeping soundly.

Daisy's little face was peaceful, one small hand outside the covers, clutching tightly a badge that gleamed faintly in the darkness.

It was the cartoon badge Samantha had mentioned, the one Anna had supposedly given her.

She stood quietly in the doorway, watching Daisy's dependence on that badge, feeling a sense of helplessness spreading slowly and densely through her heart.

Teresa stood there, blinking her dry eyes.

She had done so much, tried so hard to pull Daisy away from Anna's influence, but one small badge had easily shattered all her efforts.

Daisy's trust in Anna—she still couldn't change it.

As this thought surfaced, Teresa felt a tightness in her throat, struggling to breathe.

She quietly closed the door and walked back to the living room, her face somewhat pale.

"What's wrong, Teresa?"

Samantha noticed her expression and looked over with concern.

"Nothing, just tired."

Teresa shook her head and sat down on the sofa, covering her face with both hands.

She couldn't break down, couldn't show weakness.

But Daisy's situation always managed to easily break through all her defenses.

"Is it about Daisy?"

Samantha understood Teresa after all. She now regretted bringing up the badge so carelessly.

At such a critical time, Teresa must be swamped, and these words only distracted her more.

Thinking this, Samantha pressed her lips together, her eyes full of sympathy.

She sat down beside her, put an arm around Teresa's shoulders, and sighed softly.

"Teresa, don't push yourself too hard, and don't push Daisy too hard either. She's still little—whoever's nice to her, gives her candy, plays with her, that's who she'll remember."

"That bitch Anna just took advantage of that. But it's fine—given enough time, Daisy will naturally figure out who really cares about her."

"I know,"

Teresa's voice was low. She looked up at Samantha and forced a smile, her tone somewhat bitter.

"I'm just scared that no matter how hard I try, I can't erase the mark Anna left in her heart."

"Samantha, am I a failure? I can't even protect or raise my own daughter properly."

"That's nonsense!"

Samantha smacked her firmly, speaking indignantly.

"You're the best mother. It's that bastard Simon and that bitch Anna who are wrong. Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I won't let that bitch get anywhere near Daisy again."

She got angrier as she thought about it: "That stupid badge—I'll throw it out tomorrow!"

"Don't,"

Teresa stopped her, taking a deep breath to calm down.

"If you throw it away by force, it'll only make Daisy more rebellious and miss it more. Just keep it for now, take it slow."

She needed a more professional approach to resolve Daisy's unhealthy attachment to Anna.

Maybe it was time to consult a child psychologist.

Over the next two days, the project department was incredibly tense.

Teresa's team completed the final adjustments and reinforcement of the proposal under extreme pressure. Everyone was exhausted physically and mentally, but their eyes held a stubborn refusal to give up.

The night before the final presentation, Teresa finally finished reviewing the last version of the presentation materials and sent them to Michael for final confirmation.

After clicking send, she slumped in her chair, feeling like every bone in her body had fallen apart, her temples throbbing.

Her phone screen lit up with a bedtime video of Daisy from Samantha. Daisy was hugging that rabbit badge, smiling sweetly at the camera.

Watching it, Teresa's eyes grew hot, and some of her exhaustion seemed to fade.

She gathered her things to go home—at least tonight she needed to sleep with Daisy.

Just as she walked out of her office, she saw Michael also coming out of his temporary office, his face showing the same weariness, but his eyes gentle.

"Done?" Michael asked.

"Yeah, I sent you the final version."

Teresa nodded, jingling her car keys.

"I'm going home to be with Daisy. You should rest early too—tomorrow's going to be tough."

"I'll walk you down."

Michael said naturally, and the two walked toward the elevator together.

As the elevator descended, they were alone in the small space.

Michael looked at the dark circles under Teresa's eyes and couldn't help saying, "After tomorrow's presentation, whatever the result, you need to take two days off. You look too worn out."

Hearing this, Teresa pulled at the corner of her mouth, trying to smile but lacking the energy.

"Okay, once the project's done, I need to take Daisy to see a psychologist too."

She said quietly, her voice carrying barely perceptible exhaustion and worry.

Michael's gaze darkened. He knew about the badge situation.

"Need me to help arrange it? I know a few good child psychology specialists."

"Thanks, I might really need to trouble you when the time comes."

Teresa didn't refuse.

When it came to Daisy's issues, she needed all the help she could get.

The elevator reached the first floor, and they walked out of the building.

The cold night wind hit them in the face. Teresa instinctively hunched her shoulders, and seeing this, Michael immediately took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"You don't need to, Michael. I'm not cold."

Teresa tried to refuse.

"Just wear it. You're dressed too lightly. Where's your car? I'll walk you there."

Michael wouldn't take no for an answer. His hand gentlemanly hovered near her back as he guided her toward the parking lot.

Not far away, a black sedan sat quietly in the shadows.

The window was half down, Simon holding a cigarette between his fingers, the red ember glowing and fading in the darkness.

He didn't know why he'd driven here on impulse—maybe driven by some inexplicable restlessness and unease in his heart.

Then he saw Teresa and Michael walking out of the building together, saw Michael draping his jacket over her, saw the natural understanding and care between them.

Complex emotions rose in his heart—jealousy mixed with bitterness surging up together.

He saw the unguarded exhaustion on her face, an expression she had never shown him.

Around Michael, she could actually be so relaxed.