Chapter 5

Victoria sat beside Daisy's hospital bed, the sterile smell of antiseptic lingering in the air. The room was quiet except for the soft beeping of the monitoring equipment. Daisy, her tiny form swaddled in a blanket, slept peacefully, her head bandaged but otherwise looking serene.

Victoria watched her for a moment, her cold exterior masking the turmoil of emotions within. She leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper. "You're too much trouble, you know that? Always causing chaos."

Daisy's tiny chest rose and fell with each breath, oblivious to Victoria's stern words.

"This wasn't supposed to be my life," Victoria continued, her tone as icy as ever. "I had plans. Important plans. And now look at us—you're here because you couldn't stay still, and I'm here because of you."

She paused, her eyes never leaving Daisy's sleeping face. "You have to stop being so naughty. You're not just causing trouble for yourself but for me too. Do you understand that?"

Daisy stirred slightly, her face scrunching up before settling back into sleep.

Victoria sighed, a hint of frustration mingling with an emotion she didn't want to acknowledge. "I can't do this alone. You need to cooperate, be less...troublesome."

Despite her cold words, Victoria's hand reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from Daisy's forehead. She sat back in the chair, the hardness in her eyes softening just a fraction.

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Victoria sat in the hospital room, her phone pressed to her ear as she discussed business matters with a colleague. She glanced at Daisy from time to time, ensuring the baby was still peacefully sleeping.

"...yes, I understand. We'll need to expedite the process," Victoria said, her tone clipped and professional.

Suddenly, Daisy stirred, her eyes fluttering open. A moment later, a loud wail filled the room, breaking Victoria's concentration. She sighed, ending the call quickly. "We'll continue this later."

Victoria put her phone down and walked over to Daisy's bed. As soon as Daisy saw her, the crying ceased, replaced by giggles and bright, toothless smiles.

Victoria crossed her arms, looking down at the baby with a stern expression. "You're too troublesome, you know that?" she said, her voice cold.

Daisy continued to laugh and gurgle, clearly delighted by Victoria's presence.

"And why are you laughing while looking at me? Do I look like a clown?" Victoria asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you just crying to tease me? Do you enjoy making things difficult?"

Daisy's giggles only grew louder, her tiny hands reaching up toward Victoria. She kicked her legs excitedly, her eyes sparkling with innocent joy.

Victoria sighed deeply, shaking her head. "You have no idea how much trouble you cause," she continued, her voice still stern but softening slightly. "I have so much work to do, and here you are, causing chaos."

Daisy's laughter was infectious, and despite herself, Victoria felt a small, reluctant smile tug at the corners of her mouth which vanished soon after. "You're quite the little troublemaker, aren't you?"

Daisy cooed in response, her small hands grasping at Victoria's fingers.

"Do you realize how serious this is?" Victoria asked, lifting Daisy into her arms. "Falling off the bed, making everyone worry. It's not a game."

Daisy snuggled into Victoria's arms, her laughter turning into contented coos. She looked up at Victoria with wide, trusting eyes, and Victoria's heart softened despite her efforts to remain stern.

"You need to stop causing so much trouble," Victoria murmured, gently rocking Daisy. "I can't afford to be distracted all the time. I have responsibilities, important work."

Daisy gurgled, her tiny fingers playing with a strand of Victoria's hair. The baby’s innocent joy was a stark contrast to Victoria's controlled demeanor.

"You don't understand any of this, do you?" Victoria said quietly, her tone almost tender. "You're just... happy. Completely unaware of how much you've turned my life upside down."

Daisy responded with a soft, contented sigh, her eyes closing as she nestled into Victoria's arms.

Victoria stood there for a moment, holding Daisy and feeling the warmth of the tiny body against her. The hospital room was quiet now, the earlier tension replaced with a strange sense of calm.

"Maybe," Victoria whispered, "maybe this isn't such a bad thing after all."

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