Page 138 of The Rogue and His Flower

“That’s not what I’m saying. He’s just trying to protect you, Daisy.”

“Oh God,” I cry, hating that he needs to lie, that he’s probably thinking the same thing as I am, that I may never carry his child, that everything we’ve done is for nothing.

“Listen, don’t do that. Don’t spiral. Dalton cares about you so, so much, Daisy. Please know that.”

I swallow hard, trying to tell myself that the connection we have is strong enough to weather this storm, but the truth is, I don’t know if it is. I love him, and yet I don’t truly know how he feels about me. On our honeymoon I’d felt his love, I’ve felt it here in this room these past few days, but there’s a huge part of me that thinks he’ll decide that I’m not enough, that his feelings will change. Why would he stay with me now? He could lose everything he’s ever wanted, his inheritance, his lifestyle, his riches. Why would he do that?

“What are you thinking, Daisy?” Lia asks me as I shift in bed, trying to regain some control over my emotions.

“I love Dalton,” I whisper, clinging onto these feelings I have, hoping that’s enough whilst knowing that it might not be.

“That’s good, Daisy. That’s amazing,” she replies, her fingers tightening around mine as she gives me a gentle smile.

“But I don’t know if…”

“You don’t know if he loves you back?” she asks tentatively.

“Exactly.” I drop my chin, staring at our clenched hands, unable to look her in the eye. “On our honeymoon, I thought, maybe he did. But now… How can he love me now?”

Lia reaches for me, her fingers resting beneath my chin as she urges me to look at her. “Dalton has been here almost every hour of every day. He’s rallied around you, Daisy. That man has questioned every doctor. He’s made sure you’ve had the best possible care. He’s fended off questions from his father. He’s done everything in his power to keep you safe. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.”

“But this changes everything,” I say, my heart sinking. “Even if we weren’t bound by this contract, why would he want to stay with me if I might not be able to have his child? Why would I take his ability to be a father away? I won’t let him do that.”

“That’s not up to you, Daisy. You can’t make decisions for Dalton based on what you think he needs or wants. You have to trust his feelings for you. You have to trust in your feelings for each other, and believe in the strength of your relationship,” Lia says, her voice filled with conviction.

“You make it sound so easy, but we both know life isn’t like that,” I counter. “It’s not that simple, you know that.”

“You don't have to have all the answers right now," she says softly. "Just focus on healing and taking care of yourself. The rest will fall into place in its own time."

Lia’s words echo in my mind as I lay in the hospital bed, my thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind of doubt and fear. All I know right now is that nothing seems certain. Not my future with Dalton, not my ability to conceive a child, and not his feelings for me.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

DALTON

“Mr and Mrs Gunn, it’s good to see you both,” Dr. Wigmore says, as we sit opposite him in the office of his private practice. He’s the best reproductive endocrinologist there is, and he’s been dealing with Daisy’s case since she was rushed to hospital two weeks ago for emergency surgery.

“Thank you for seeing us,” I say, curling my hands around Daisy’s as she sits quietly next to me. “We appreciate it.”

Since her discharge from the hospital, Daisy has become increasingly withdrawn, struggling to process everything that has occurred. I’ve tried to reassure Daisy that I’m with her, that I support her but, bit by bit, she’s shut down, and I can’t seem to reach her. I love her so damn much and I’m not ashamed to admit that this distance between us is killing me.

Yet, Istillhaven’t told her how I truly feel, and that’s not because I’m afraid of my love for her, but because I can’t seem to find the right time. The last thing I want is for her to think I’m just saying it out of pity after what she’s been through, and I get the distinct feeling that if I say those three words now, that’s exactly how she’ll feel. So I arranged for this appointment today to see how we move forward, hoping it will give us both someclarity, or at the very least encourage her to open up, so we can talk.

Dr. Wigmore looks between us both, “I understand that this has been a difficult time for you, and I want to reassure you that I am here to support you both on this journey.”

“Thank you,” Daisy whispers.

“As you’re aware, the lesions we removed from your left fallopian tube have greatly affected its functionality,” he begins gently, his eyes full of compassion as he looks between us both. “Combined with the removal of your right ovary, this will make natural conception extremely difficult.”

Daisy’s breath catches in her throat as her fingers grip mine tightly, and I feel my own heart breaking for her, knowing how much she’s wanted a child of her own. As Daisy struggles to keep her composure, Dr. Wigmore clears his throat.

“But there are other options that we can explore, given you still have a functioning ovary,” he says softly. “We can discuss the possibility of In Vitro Fertilisation if you’re willing to consider it.”

“Is that foolproof?” I ask. “IVF, I mean?”

“Nothing is foolproof, there are many factors that can affect the success of IVF treatment,” Dr. Wigmore explains. “You need to consider the success rates, and emotional toil that the process can have on the both of you. It’s a significant decision that requires careful consideration. I have some leaflets here that you should read through before making a decision.”

“Is there absolutely no chance I can conceive naturally?” Daisy asks, her voice wobbling as she takes the leaflet from him.

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