Once again, Daisy Buchanan found herself in the antiseptic-smelling hospital room. As she opened her eyes, she saw Atticus Finch sitting beside her, and for a moment, she was disoriented.
"Atticus Finch, have you ever liked me, even a little bit?" During their two years of marriage, Daisy had never dared to ask this question because she knew she was always just a substitute for Catherine Capulet in Atticuss eyes. But even a pet would develop some affection after being cared for over two years, so what about her, who had been sharing his bed every day?
Atticuss heart seemed to crack, and an inexplicable emotion surged uncontrollably into it. He rubbed his chest, his face as cold as frost, "Before we got married, I told you that the only one I love is her. If you can accept that, then we stay together."
"And now?" Daisy pressed on, unwilling to accept his cold response.
"The same," Atticus replied, looking at her with a steady gaze.
Daisy felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, chilled from head to toe, but the coldness of her body was nothing compared to the icy pain in her heart. She felt that all her companionship over the past two years had become a ridiculous and unforgettable past.
"What about Charlotte Capulet?" Daisys feminine intuition told her that the womans hatred for her did not stem from Catherine.
"None of your concern," Atticus retorted, not interested in explaining. He slightly moved his thin lips.
"I dont want to be Catherines substitute anymore. How can I make you willing to let me go?" Daisy propped herself up, crying out with difficulty, tears streaming down her face like broken beads.
"Let you go? Daisy Buchanan, you must be delirious to say such a thing," Atticuss voice dripped with sarcasm. This was the second time Daisy had mentioned divorce, and Atticus felt a surge of anger welling up inside him each time he heard it.
"Your mother just asked me for three million this time, and she was quite demanding. Do you have the money to pay me back?" Atticuss tone was gloomy.
"Three million?" Daisy was clearly shocked, not realizing that Atticus had changed the subject.
Hadnt her mother only ever asked for sums in the hundreds of thousands before? Why so much this time?
"She said that you were carrying the Gatsby familys eldest grandson, and without her, there would be no you. Naturally, she wanted more money as a token of gratitude..." Atticuss lips were filled with ridicule, and the thought of Calpurnias greedy face made his disgust spill over towards Daisy.
"Atticus Finch, I dont want to be Catherines substitute anymore. What do I have to do for you to be willing to let me leave?" Daisy struggled to sit up, her voice strained as she pleaded with Atticus. There were other women who could become his鐚庣墿 just by resembling Catherine, and there were other women who could please him in bed while dressed as Catherine, not just her.
"Youre finally telling the truth," Atticuss gaze was piercing, and the veins on his forehead throbbed with restrained fury. "You dont want to be Catherines substitute anymore, so you tampered with the scenes cameras and then sabotaged the wires, right?!" Atticuss teeth ground together, and the anger in his eyes was unstoppable as he violently shook Daisys frail shoulders, showing no concern for her still-healing body, nor any regard for the woman who had carried his child.
"I said I didnt... cough, cough, cough..." Daisy was so anxious that she gasped for air but couldnt catch her breath and started coughing uncontrollably.
"The police are restoring the surveillance content, Daisy Buchanan. Stop arguing! I was blind to let such a heartless murderer stay by my side!" Atticus roared like an enraged lion, eager to swallow the woman before him whole and leave no trace of her existence.
"Is it only if I die that I can prove my innocence?" Daisy had a fruit knife in her hand, which she placed across her own white neck, bypassing Atticuss hand.