Upon returning to the Buchanan residence, the first to greet her was a young child of five or six.
"Sister, sister, youre finally back! I missed you so much," Charlie Brown clung to Daisy Buchanans leg, gazing up at her with a face full of coquetry.
Facing the innocent and adorable child, Daisy Buchanan frowned slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of complex emotion.
She silently observed him for a moment, then reached out to gently push him away, her tone lukewarm as she asked, "Where are they?"
Charlie Brown staggered a few steps from her push, the previously joyful expression on his delicate little face momentarily clouded over with disappointment.
He finally toned down his earlier joy and excitement, cautiously replying, "In the house, waiting for sister to come back for dinner."
Daisy Buchanan responded with an "Oh," then proceeded towards the villa, only to be stopped after a few steps by a soft tug on her hand. She paused, and in the end, didnt have the heart to shake him off.
"Daisy, youre back," Myrtle Wilson greeted with a smile, standing in the living room. Seeing Charlie Brown holding Daisy Buchanan, she waved at him, "Charlie, come and eat now, go wash your hands."
At that moment, Charlie Brown looked at Daisy Buchanan tentatively before reluctantly letting go of her and, led by the nanny, went to the bathroom to wash up.
"I remember your flight was supposed to land at four this afternoon. Why only come back now, making your father wait for so long," Myrtle Wilson complained as she saw Daisy Buchanan.
Hearing Myrtle Wilsons grumbling, Daisy Buchanan was about to explain but saw her father, George Wilson, approaching. She straightened up and bowed her head slightly, "Dad."
George Wilson made an affirmative sound and said, "Come have dinner first, well talk about the rest later."
Daisy Buchanan wanted to say that she had already eaten at the restaurant, but fearing to cause unnecessary trouble, she simply put down her luggage and obediently headed to the living room.
Inside the living room, the long, milky white table was laden with an array of dishes that looked even more delicious under the crystal chandelier. However, having already eaten, these meticulously prepared meals did not pique Daisy Buchanans interest in the slightest. She instructed the nanny to take her luggage back to her room and went to the bathroom to wash her hands.
When she came out, she heard Myrtle Wilsons meaningfully exaggerated voice: "Oh dear, Miss Daisy, how could you only come back now?"
As she spoke, Myrtle Wilson walked around the table to greet Catherine Genovese, who stood at the entrance. Catherine glanced at her mother, Myrtle Wilson, then at Daisy Buchanan, sitting upright at the dining table, her brows furrowing slightly in displeasure.
With a gloomy expression, she entered, saying, "I had some work to finish, so I stayed late at the office."
"No matter how important work is, its not more important than your health..." Myrtle Wilson feigned concern, "You havent eaten yet, have you? Come and have dinner with us."
"No, thank you," Catherine Genoveses voice sounded tired as she changed her shoes, "Ive already eaten out, you go ahead without me."
As she was about to head back to her room, George Wilson called out to her, a hint of displeasure in his tone, "Your sister has just returned, and you dont even greet her?"
Recalling the events that had transpired earlier, Daisy Buchanan inwardly scoffed but remained seated at the dining table, her expression unchanged.
"Catherine just got back from overtime, she must be exhausted..." Myrtle Wilson muttered discontentedly, but to protect her daughter, she put on a stern front and criticized Daisy Buchanan, "What do you mean by that? Your father called you back to resolve the companys issues, not to interrogate him. If you dont have the ability, then go back to America..."
"Mrs. Wilson..."
Her words were cut short by Daisy Buchanan, who looked at her with a gaze so cold and sharp that Myrtle Wilson unconsciously fell silent.
Daisy Buchanan smiled faintly and said with patience, "My father, my sister, and I are discussing company matters. Could you please be quiet and give us some space?"
George Wilson also looked up and gave Myrtle Wilson a cautionary glance, and she finally retreated to the side, knowing better than to speak.
George Wilson sighed and asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Very simple," Daisy Buchanan replied indifferently, her tone bordering on demanding, "Whoever made the mistake should bear the responsibility. I dont believe that an amateur celebrity could so easily pass the inspection of Buchanan Enterprises under our name. There must be someone covering up and protecting him. Would you agree, sister?"
Catherine Genovese, taken aback, looked up and retorted, "Are you trying to make me abandon him to protect myself?"
"If you have a better solution, sister, Id be more than happy to take a step back. Right now, the situation online is already so severe, and our Buchanan Enterprises reputation has suffered an immeasurable blow. Its already difficult to protect you, and youre still thinking about protecting him too? Do you want to completely ruin Buchanan Enterprises?"
Catherine Genovese fell silent, and seeing Daisy Buchanans cold and angry expression, George Wilson realized their demands were somewhat excessive and scolded Catherine, "Look at what youve done!"
Catherine shrank back, and Myrtle Wilson, trying to defend her daughter despite her own guilt, spoke up with a shrill voice, "Oh, its not all Catherines fault. Shes young and inexperienced, and her older sister refuses to guide her..."
Daisy Buchanan seemed not to hear her, took out her phone, swiped the screen a few times, and the product scandal of Buchanan Enterprises was still trending on Twitter, with another person being criticized alongside them.
Tom Robinson, a so-called post-90s fresh meat, was somewhat handsome and pursued by many young girls, but in Daisy Buchanans eyes, he was nothing more than an eighteenth-tier celebrity.
Yet it was this man who had plunged Buchanan Enterprises into such an awkward situation.
"A layman who doesnt understand anything, actually opened a facial mask factory, and could even be listed under our Buchanan name, may I ask, how did this happen?"
She looked at Catherine Genovese, who appeared guilty and stood there with her head down, not uttering a word.
"Daisy..."
George Wilson couldnt help but sigh, "Your sister was careless and got deceived by that man. We are, after all, family. For my sake, you must protect your sister at all costs."
Hearing his own father say "we are, after all, family," Daisy Buchanan sneered and calmly replied, "Fine, if you want to protect her, given the current situation, theres only one way: make her tell that man to take responsibility for everything, no matter what others ask him."
"What?"
Catherine Genovese looked up, displeased, "Are you trying to make me sacrifice him to save myself?"
"Sister, if you have a better plan, Id be happy to take a break. Right now, the situation online is already so severe, and our Buchanan Enterprises reputation has suffered an immeasurable blow. Its already difficult to protect you, and youre still thinking about protecting him too? Do you want to completely ruin Buchanan Enterprises?"
Catherine Genovese didnt say anything more. Seeing Daisy Buchanans cold and angry expression, George Wilson also realized their demands were a bit excessive, so he scolded Catherine, "Look at what youve done!"
Catherine shrank back, and Myrtle Wilson, trying to defend her daughter despite her own guilt, spoke up with a shrill voice, "Oh, its not all Catherines fault. Shes young and inexperienced, and her older sister refuses to guide her..."
Daisy Buchanan seemed not to hear her, took out her phone, stood up, and bowed to George Wilson, "Dad, Im a bit tired, Im going to rest first."
She walked up the stairs, and then heard Myrtle Wilsons shrill voice, "We waited for her until now, and prepared so many dishes, who is she trying to act high and mighty with?"
Daisy Buchanans steps slightly paused, but she continued towards her bedroom upstairs without turning her head.
That night, Daisy Buchanan had a restless sleep, haunted by a nightmare about the time when Myrtle Wilson and Catherine Genovese first arrived at the Buchanan household.
Back then, their family was still happy; she had a mother, a lovely younger brother, and although her father was usually busy, he still cared for the family.
It was her father, George Wilson, who brought them in, saying that Catherine Genoveses father, Lennie Small, was a brother and good friend from years ago. Unfortunately, the Small Group went bankrupt, Lennie Small also died in a car accident, all the familys savings were used to repay debts, even the house was sealed by the court for auction, and they could only temporarily live in their home.
At first, they were very welcoming to this mother and daughter, even feeling that they were pitiful, taking very good care of them in life.
When she was young, she was as naive and simple as her mother, weak and timid in interpersonal interactions, and seeing that Catherine Genovese had lost her father and family, she was very pitiful. Out of sympathy, no matter what Catherine Genovese liked, she would give in with a good temper. Gradually, Myrtle Wilson became the mistress of the house, and Catherine Genovese became the young lady of the Buchanan family. She and her mother, as well as her six-year-old brother, lived in their own home but were like outsiders.
Later, they discovered the affair between George Wilson and Myrtle Wilson. Her mother decided to divorce in anger. It was George Wilson who knelt on the ground, begging pitifully, saying it was the first and last time, and then Myrtle Wilson became pregnant and gave birth to her so-called brother. Her real brother died in an accident in their own swimming pool, and her mother, overwhelmed with grief and unable to bear the torment and humiliation of Myrtle Wilson and her daughter in the house, suffered from depression and ultimately chose to commit suicide by jumping off a building one night.
"Sister Daisy, your dress is so beautiful, I like it, can you give it to me?" The little girl looked at her with a flattering expression.
"Sister Daisy, Im sorry, I accidentally hit you just now, but your mom has depression, the doctor said being unhappy can kill, so dont let them know about this, okay?"
The little girl spoke while stepping hard on her already injured finger, yet she made an innocent expression: "Otherwise, my mom and I will drive you out, beg me, kneel down and beg me, and I will let them keep you here. If you do, no matter how much I hit him or scold him, you wont know."
"Sister Daisy, your mom committed suicide, oh, how pitiful, just died a younger brother, and now even mom is gone..."
The girl pushed her to the ground and looked down at her helplessness and pain, as if enjoying her most proud work.
She was still laughing arrogantly: "Your dad said he wants to send you to the countryside, beg me, kneel down and beg me, and I will let them keep you."
Daisy awoke from the nightmare, her body covered in cold sweat. She calmed herself down, took a few deep breaths, and thought about the events of the dream just now, and couldnt help but narrow her eyes.
There was nothing more foolish than her past self, who always thought that people had moral bottom lines and that her repeated compromises and concessions would bring temporary peace, but she didnt realize that people are creatures that bully the weak and are hard on the strong. The weaker you are, the more you are bullied, and the more you compromise, the less the other party knows how to restrain.
She got up from the bed, stumbled around the bedroom in the dark, found the cold water on the table, and drank a glass of it, which truly calmed her down.
The chill of the night penetrated through her thin silk pajamas, making her shiver uncontrollably. She stood for a while, then went to the dressing table, opened the locked drawer, and there was a photo inside.
The curtains were not closed properly before going to bed, and the moonlight shone through the gap and fell on the photo.
In the photo, there were three people, a graceful and beautiful woman sitting on the chair, a girl student standing behind her, and the little boy under six years old was held in her arms.
The little boy was very cute and looked a bit similar to the girl. The three of them were smiling at the camera, their faces full of happiness and joy.
Daisy slowly touched the photo, then put it back, reached for the crumpled drawing in the drawer. Due to the soaking of the pool water, the watercolors on the drawing had blurred and formed a mess, but you could still see that there were three people in the drawing, the mother sitting on the chair, the brother and sister one before and one after, accompanying the gentle mother.
"Phil, its sister who didnt protect you, who didnt protect mom..."
Daisys choked voice rang out, tears hitting the drawing, and she murmured: "Dont worry, soon, sister will avenge you..."