Nolan nearly scowled. Was that all she had to say?
"What did the police—-"
"The police can't do anything," Nolan burst out. "Can't you see that? They'll get to me again sooner or later, and who knows if they'll leave me alive next time? Ineedto pay them back, and you're the only one who can help me!"
"I only have a few hundred dollars in my bank account, but it's yours—-"
Nolan's unbandaged hand slammed down on the bedside table. "Wake up, Daisy Rae!Youcan't pay my loan, buthecan."
Daisy Rae sucked her breath in at her uncle's outburst.
"He's fucking loaded," Nolan howled, "and it's my life on the line.My fucking life,Daisy Rae! Don't you get that?"
"I do understand, but—-"
"Don't you think you owe this to me and Helena after all the years we've taken care of you? The man you're fucking is a goddamn billionaire—-"
The door suddenly opened, and Daisy Rae paled when she saw Garion stride in, followed shortly by her cousin.
Garion's furious gaze swept over Daisy Rae. "Are you okay?"
Hilda scowled. "Why wouldn't she be?"
Daisy Rae forced a smile. "Everything's fine—-"
"You were being yelled at."
Nolan cleared his throat. "I'm sorry you had to hear that. I was just being emotional." He looked at his niece. "Tell him, Daisy Rae. Please."
Hilda, who was also in on the plan, looked at her cousin reproachfully. "I can't believe it. Does this mean you're refusing to help Daddy?"
Daisy Rae bit her lip hard. "It's not like that—-" Garion suddenly took hold of her hand, and her voice trailed off. She looked up at him in confusion, but the billionaire was staring hard at her uncle.
"How much do you need?"
Daisy Rae gasped.
Nolan's pulse leapt in excitement at the unexpected offer. "I owe them close to a million dollars—-"
Daisy Rae was dismayed to hear this. Didn't he tell her earlier that he only owed the loan sharks a hundred grand?
"Alright." Garion knew he was allowing himself to be conned out of his money, but it was better than having to listen to the bastard yell at his future wife for another second.
He took one of his company's business cards out of his wallet and placed it on the bedside table. "You can text your account details to this number. The amount will be wired to you within—-"
"No." Daisy Rae's tone was low and shaken.
Hilda let out a gasp. "What do you mean 'no'?"
"It means exactly what it means," Daisy Rae said painfully. "I know you've always seen me as this clueless pushover, but I was never that. I only chose to overlook certain things because I consider myself indebted to your family—-"
"And you don't now?" Hilda shot back.
Nolan started to panic as he felt his chance to earn an easy mil start to slip away. He turned to his niece with an expression of hurt. "Why are you being like this?"
"Isn't it obvious, Daddy?" her cousin sneered. "She thinks she's above us now, just because Garion—-"
"Garion is the man I love," Daisy said quietly, "and that's why I can't in good conscience allow either of you to take advantage of him."