Married to The Ice King: Pampered Princess' Survival Guide-Chapter 186: The Forgotten Memories

Three Months Later...

The moment the call ended, Daisy could barely keep still. Her heart raced as she hurried down the hospital corridor, her heels tapping rapidly against the polished floor. "He moved his fingers, Theo," she said breathlessly, almost tripping in her haste. "The doctor said Dad moved his fingers!"

Theo followed a step behind, his longer strides easily matching her pace. "That’s good news," he said softly, before holding onto her arm, "But don’t run, you might fall and we would get bad news next..." he tapped on her nose.

Daisy let out a small laugh despite her nervous energy, brushing his hand away lightly. "You’re impossible. How can I walk calmly when it’s been almost a year since he..." Her voice trailed off, the words catching in her throat.

Theo’s expression softened. "I know," he said quietly. "Let’s just go in together, alright?"

She nodded, taking a steadying breath before pushing open the hospital room door. The familiar beeping of the monitor greeted her, along with the faint smell of antiseptic. Thomas lay in his usual position, eyes opened, but the faint twitch in his right hand made Daisy’s heart skip.

"Dad..." Her voice trembled slightly as she stepped closer, reaching out to touch his hand gently. "Can you hear me?"

Thomas blinked, and for the first time in a long while, there was a subtle movement on his lips, a faint, almost unnoticeable smile forming there.

"Theo!" Daisy gasped, her voice bursting with joy. "Did you see that?! He’s smiling! He’s smiling at me! Dad!" She jumped in excitement, her hand clutching his.

Theo’s lips curved into a warm smile as he stepped closer, watching the scene quietly. "I see it," he said softly, his voice low but full of relief. "He’s definitely smiling."

Daisy turned back to her father, eyes glistening. "You did great Dad! You did great." She wiped the tear that dropped unexpectedly. "I think you might be able to walk soon..." She teased, smiling warmly.

Theo chuckled quietly, the sound low and fond. "Careful, you’ll have him trying to stand up tomorrow if you keep teasing him like that."

Thomas’s eyes moved slightly toward Daisy, then to Theo, as if he understood. The faintest twitch of his fingers followed, subtle but full of intent.

Daisy gasped again, covering her mouth. "Theo! He moved again!" she said in disbelief, her voice trembling with excitement.

Theo leaned in a little, his expression softening. "He’s responding well... that’s a good sign." Then, glancing at Thomas, he added with a gentle smile, "You’ve got quite the fighter’s spirit, Mr. Sinclair."

"Of course he does," Daisy said proudly, brushing her thumb over her father’s hand. "He’s my dad."

Theo’s gaze lingered on her, the affection in his eyes unmistakable. "And now I see where you got it from."

She blushed faintly, ducking her head. "Don’t start getting all sentimental now, Mr. Kingsley," she teased softly, though her voice still trembled with emotion.

Theo smiled, holding her hand. "This might be too late to introduce myself, but Mr. Sinclair, nice to meet you, I am Theo Kingsley, your daughter’s husband." He bowed slightly.

Thomas’s eyes shifted toward Theo, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His eyes blinked again, slower this time but steady, as if trying to respond.

Daisy’s throat tightened at the sight. "He’s responding," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I guess he is approving of you..."

Theo straightened and nodded, his tone turning gentle. "I’ll take care of her, sir. You can rest easy knowing that." He glanced slightly at Daisy before continuing, "I learnt that you are the one who sent her to me, thank you so much and I’m glad you did that."

Daisy’s head snapped towards Theo, "Where did you learn that?"

"Hello Mrs. Kingsley, I have Miles and Marla and my information bank..." He smirked proudly.

Daisy’s smile faded, her gaze softening as she studied him. "Theo," she murmured, her voice low, "are you really going to continue like this? Without... all the memories of the past?"

For a moment, the air between them stilled. Theo’s expression shifted, something unreadable flickered in his eyes, a quiet shadow dimming the warmth that had just been there.

"If the Theo from before chose to erase them," he said finally, his tone calm but laced with something heavy, "then maybe it’s because those memories were filled with pain." He looked down, thumb brushing over her knuckles gently. "Maybe he just wanted to stop hurting."

Daisy’s throat tightened. "But those memories... they made you who you are."

Theo met her gaze, a faint, wistful smile touching his lips. "Then I guess I’m still learning who that person was... and whether I still want to be him."

"Theo..." Daisy held his hand.

"No... really... if it is about our memories, we can create a new one... and I am sure, you also don’t want to reminisce on our past memories right?" He bit his lip lightly.

He learned everything that had been happening over the past few months and noticed how Daisy would always tense up whenever someone mentioned having a baby. The weight of those memories still lingered, like a bruise that hadn’t quite healed.

"You still flinch every time someone mentions pregnancy," Theo said quietly, his thumb tracing gentle circles on the back of her hand. "Maybe forgetting isn’t always bad, Daisy. Maybe it’s just... starting over differently this time."

Her lips parted, the protest caught somewhere between her heart and her throat. "Starting over..." she echoed softly, looking down at their joined hands. "But what if you forget the part where you loved me?"

Theo’s expression softened, the corner of his mouth curving slightly. "Tch... you’re probably wrong on that one. Do I look like someone who doesn’t love you right now?"

"No... I mean—"

"You’re wrong," he interrupted gently, not letting her finish. "I’ve always loved you, whether I was nineteen or twenty-nine. So don’t worry. Even if my stupid mental health acts up again, I’ll make sure your name stays carved in my heart."

"Ah, wait... that suddenly sounds cringe," she said, squinting her eyes playfully, "but I’ll take your words as a promise."

"Hm..." Theo murmured, his fingers brushing through her hair gently.

The sudden sound of the door opening made both of them turn. Jasmine stepped inside, holding a glass vase filled with a few freshly cut roses. Her head was bowed as she walked, but when she looked up and met their eyes, she froze.

"I—I’m sorry," she stammered, bowing slightly. "I didn’t realize you two were here."

She turned quickly, ready to retreat, but Daisy’s voice stopped her.

"Dad... should we bring you back home?" Daisy asked softly, her eyes on Thomas, though her tone was edged with something sharper. "You know..." She glanced toward Theo. "Can I? I think since he’s improving, it might be better if I monitor him closely myself, right?"

Jasmine hesitated near the door, fingers tightening around the vase. She cleared her throat softly. "Daisy..." she began carefully, "please... let me stay for a while. Just until he’s better."

Daisy’s shoulders stiffened.

"I made a promise to him," Jasmine continued, her voice trembling. "To take care of him for as long as I could. I owe your father so much. I just... I need time to return all the kindness and love he gave me." She swallowed hard, her eyes glistening. "After that, I’ll go."

Daisy turned her head slightly, looking at her with a sharp, sidelong glance. "He’s been doing better for months now," she said quietly. "Even before you came back. What difference would it make having you here, Mom?"

The word Mom came out almost like a whisper, it was soft but laced with old resentment.

Jasmine’s breath hitched. "Daisy..."

Theo stepped closer, sensing the tension thickening in the air. His hand brushed against Daisy’s arm, but she didn’t look at him. Her eyes stayed fixed on her mother.

"I really can’t buy your pitiful act anymore," Daisy said coldly, her voice trembling despite her effort to sound calm. "Because all I can remember is how easily you told me to pay off your debts...how cruel you were, pushing me toward a loan shark just to clean up your mess." She took a shaky breath, her tone rising. "And you did it all without a flicker of guilt, even after ruining Dad’s business just to please your insane father."

Jasmine’s lips trembled. "I know you can’t forgive me," she whispered, her voice shaking. "And I don’t deserve either of your forgiveness. But can you at least give me a chance to..." Her words faltered as emotion caught in her throat. She pressed a trembling hand to her chest, struggling to steady her breath. "To make amends for my sins."

"No."

Daisy’s response was sharp, cutting through the air before Jasmine could finish. Her eyes burned not just with anger, but with years of buried pain.

"Go back to your father," Daisy continued, her tone steady but cold. "Ask him to amend his sins, because you know what, Mom? I’m sure that evil man is still plotting even now."

Her words hung in the air like shards of glass, sharp and final.