Chapter 4
Archie swept her into his arms, teasing her with a helpless smile. "Be careful. Don't you know your foot is still injured?"
Daisy pouted her soft lips. "I couldn't help it; I was just so happy!"
Archie gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "If I'd known you'd be this happy, I would've given it to you much earlier."
The last bit of light in my eyes was gone.
I couldn't listen anymore. My spirit floated out.
I returned to my body's side. I didn't want to go anywhere else.
That evening, Curtis came back with a contract.
"Mr. Wilcox wants to transfer the island to Daisy. It's what you owe her anyway," he said.
I stared at Curtis, listened to him mutter through his explanation, then watched him imitate my handwriting to sign the name and press my thumb onto the signature for a fingerprint.
"Mr. Wilcox is taking Daisy to the heart-shaped island for a vacation. Don't feel bad, okay? I'll keep you company for the next few days," he said.
After he finished, he seemed to notice how cold I was, so he pulled out a blanket and gently draped it over me.
Honestly, he didn't seem quite himself.
That night, Archie got the contract back.
He went through it carefully, making sure I hadn't tampered with anything, then nodded, satisfied.
"She didn't make a fuss?" he asked.
Curtis replied, "No."
Only then did Archie turn on the phone he kept just for me. Not a single call or text from me. I hadn't caused any trouble.
He let out a sigh of relief, but he also felt this weird, restless annoyance.
"Tell her there's nothing between Daisy and me. I want her to be happy, to marry whoever she loves. Think of the island as an early wedding gift," he said.
Archie always did whatever he wanted and never bothered to explain himself to me. This was probably the most he had ever bothered to explain himself.
But honestly, it didn't matter anymore.
*****
Early the next morning, Archie took Daisy to show her around her precious island.
This time, for once, Archie didn't bother turning off the phone he kept just for me. Normally, he always kept it off so I couldn't bother him.
Before getting on the plane, he pulled out the phone almost out of habit, but there still wasn't a single call or text.
After a two-hour flight, they finally reached the island. He took out the phone again to look. Still nothing.
He suddenly became quite annoyed.
"Archie, are you waiting for an important call? If you've got work to do, you really don't have to stay here with me. Your work is more important," Daisy said.
As she spoke, she hooked her arm around his and leaned into him, half her weight resting on his side.
Archie glanced at her injured foot and instantly forgot all about me.
Without a second thought, he tossed the phone he kept just for me straight into the trash.
No contact? Fine, you'd better never contact me again.
Archie gave Daisy a gentle smile. "Should I carry you?"
Daisy smiled shyly. "Thank you, Archie."
Archie carried Daisy to the rose garden I had planted myself.
He set Daisy down on the rose throne, and with all the seriousness of a man about to propose, Archie held the contract out to her with both hands.
"Daisy, from the moment I first laid eyes on you, I wanted to give you all the best things in the world," Archie said.
Just listen to that; what a moving confession.
Daisy fidgeted with her fingers, looking a bit embarrassed. "Archie, you know I already have someone I care about."
Archie gazed at her with a gentle, bittersweet smile. "I'm not asking for anything. I want you to be happy. Daisy, you must be happy in this lifetime. Otherwise, I won't be able to rest easy."
Daisy's eyes brimmed with tears, overwhelmed by emotion.
She took the contract, then stood on her tiptoes and gave Archie a quick peck on the cheek.
"Thank you, Archie, and I'll never forget how kind you've been to me," Daisy said.
They shared a smile, a picture-perfect moment.
By the third day on the island, Archie was getting more irritable. He reached for the phone he used to keep just for me, only to realize he had tossed it in the trash.