The door to the room swung open to reveal a manila envelope clutched in Calpurnia Finchs hands. Inside were a stack of photographs, each depicting a tangle of limbs, the woman unmistakably Daisy Buchanan.
Atticus Finchs gaze turned murderous as he glared at Daisy. "You dare to claim that child as mine when its a bastard from another man?"
Daisy snatched the photos, her eyes scanning them frantically before she shook her head vehemently. "Atticus, these are lies! Ive never met that man, Ive never done such a thing! The child in my womb is yours!"
Calpurnia had one more trick up her sleeve, it seemed.
"Atticus, you must listen to me. It was Calpurnia who manipulated me into drugging you. The accidents with your car, the minor injuries, all of it was at her command to turn you against me!"
At this point, Daisy could no longer hold back. Her final line of defense was her child, and for the child, she could risk everything!
"Minor injuries?" Atticus scoffed, gripping her chin with a force that spoke of his barely contained rage. "Leaking company bids, causing me to lose a billion dollars is minor? When I fell and needed treatment for my leg, you found a folk remedy using leeches that nearly cost me my limb. Are those minor harms?"
There were so many other incidents Atticus didnt mention because he truly loved her, willing to believe she didnt mean it, that everything was just an accident.
Now, with her attempt to drug him for her brothers revenge, his trust in her crumbled to dust.
To think he had tried to melt a heart that despised him with love alone was sheer folly, and he had finally awakened to that fact.
He flung her aside with a viciousness that left her reeling, his entire being radiating a chilling aura.
"I didnt mean that, Atticus. I just want to tell you, I never had the intention to harm you. It was all Calpurnia who forced me to do those things..."
Daisy was desperate to make him understand, but her heart was in turmoil, no matter how she explained, those injuries were inflicted by her on Atticus, even if it wasnt willingly, it was to protect him.
How could she tell him that his most trusted and beloved sister, driven by unrequited love, had committed such heinous acts against him!
All her endurance, all her compromises were for him, yet she couldnt speak the truth.
She could only glare at the instigator, who stood there like a delicate flower, feigning innocence next to Atticus, her brows slightly furrowed in a show of feigned distress, without uttering a word.
"Dont call me Atticus, youre not worthy!"
He had loved her deeply, defying his parents wishes to marry her, but it turned out he was just a self-deluded jester. She accepted him merely to avenge her family!
"Atticus, please dont be like this. Listen to my explanation, things..."
Daisy was in a panic, lunging forward to embrace him, hoping to buy some time to clear her name.
But Atticus pushed her away with a force that left her reeling. "Get away from me, dont touch me! You disgust me!"
"Atticus, I think Daisy must have just been confused for a while, and did these things. As a sister, I know you love her, and you dont want to pursue many things. Originally, I didnt plan to reveal her today, but I saw her drugging you..."