The Ex-Wife They Begged To Keep - Chapter 56: Chapter 56

"Hey." Erika swaggered over and pointed at Daisy, then, with a flick of her wrist, tossed a stack of files onto Daisy's desk, sending papers flying everywhere. "Clean up this mess."
The sound of scattering papers pierced the office silence, making Daisy flinch. She looked up to see Erika's smug face looming over her. "These aren't my responsibility," Daisy stammered.
"It's your responsibility now. What, you got a problem with that? Or are you thinking of quitting?" Erika glared at her.
Daisy bit her lip. She definitely didn't want to do this menial work, but she dared not offend Erika. "N-no, I don't," she stammered.
With resignation, Daisy silently crouched down to gather the scattered documents, meticulously sorting them page by page.
"Hurry up. Stop dawdling. What kind of attitude is that?" Erika rolled her eyes.
Daisy kept her head down, too afraid to talk back, and quickened her movements.
"Go get me an iced Americano," Erika barked. "And make it snappy."
"Yes, right away," Daisy replied meekly.
Daisy hurried over to a coffee shop, queued up, placed her order, paid, and then stood there fidgeting while she waited anxiously for her coffee.
When she finally got it, she dashed back to the office, breathless, and placed the coffee on Erika's desk, her chest still heaving from the rush.
"God, what took you so long? Speed it up next time," barked Erika.
Daisy stood rooted to the spot, words dying in her throat, her heart aching with humiliation.
Without a word, she turned and hurried back to her cubicle. The moment she sat down, the floodgates opened—tears she'd been holding back now streaming down her face.
Over the past few days, Erika had been finding every excuse to boss Daisy around, making her print documents one moment, fetching coffee the next.
Daisy never dared to push back; she silently completed one demeaning task after another. Their coworkers saw what was happening but chose to look the other way, pretending nothing was wrong.
Whenever Erika hurled her sarcastic remarks, Daisy would lower her head slightly, jaw clenched tight, never saying a word in her own defense.
One noon, Daisy rushed down the hallway, arms full of files, so distracted she nearly collided with a coworker.
"Daisy, wait up," Serena called out when she saw her, but Daisy kept walking, quickening her pace as if she hadn't heard.
Serena frowned as she watched Daisy looking so distracted, suspicion creeping in.
'What's been going on these past two days? And that strange reaction when I called her just now? What is she trying to avoid?' she wondered.
Serena frowned, quickly circled around the design desk, and blocked her at the pantry door. "Hey, what's going on? You look pale. Are you feeling sick or something?"
Daisy shook her head again and again, not even daring to look Serena in the eye. Clutching a paper cup tightly, she mumbled in a low voice, "It's okay, really. Just haven't been sleeping well lately. I'll be fine soon."
With that, she sidestepped Serena like a startled deer bolting from danger.
"Just haven't been sleeping well lately?" Serena repeated softly, unconvinced by the flimsy excuse.
But she decided not to press further, knowing Daisy's timid nature, which meant she'd bottle things up until she couldn't take it anymore.
Making a mental note, Serena turned and walked back to her workstation.
After lunch, Serena pushed open the office door. As she passed the pantry, the faint murmur of voices inside made her pause mid-step.
Inside, Daisy stood pale-faced, clutching several steaming cups of coffee, while Erika lounged indifferently against the counter.
"What the hell? Are you trying to scald me to death with this boiling coffee? Are you out of your mind?" Erika snapped.
Daisy shrank back, shoulders hunched and head lowered, mumbling in a barely audible voice, "Sorry, I didn't mean to."
Erika let out a cold, mocking laugh and reached out to take the cup from Daisy's hands. Under Daisy's panicked gaze, she deliberately tilted the cup, letting the scalding coffee pour out.
The hot liquid splashed across the back of Daisy's hand. A wave of searing pain shot through her. She stifled a whimper, her fingers trembling violently as she clenched her jaw, refusing to cry out.
"Oops, my hand slipped. Why didn't you move? I'd feel so sorry for you, you know," Erika said with a vicious smirk.
Daisy fought back tears and murmured, "I'm sorry."
"Useless trash." Erika pushed off the counter with deliberate slowness, then gave Daisy a hard shove on the shoulder.
"The cups of coffee are cold. Get me a fresh one. Otherwise, well, I can't guarantee what accidents might happen to the design team tomorrow," Erika threatened.
Daisy stood frozen in panic, not daring to utter a word.
Standing at the doorway, Serena clenched her fists at the sight before her. She strode in without hesitation, positioning herself protectively in front of Daisy.
"Erika, this is a workplace, not your personal playground," Serena snapped. "You got dumped. Why take it out on Daisy?"
Erika paused for a moment, then turned around with a sneer. "Well, well—if it isn't our great heroine. Can't you see your lackey hasn't even said a word? Stop meddling in other people's business."
"Erika, do you really think you can bully others with your position just because no one can put you in your place?" Serena was furious.
"Serena, who the hell do you think you are?" Erika abruptly changed tack, casting a sidelong glance at Daisy and arching a brow. "She just stood there like a statue and let the coffee spill. How's that my fault, right, Daisy?"
"It was my fault. I spilled it myself." Daisy managed a forced smile, shaking her head repeatedly. "Serena, really, I'm fine. I'm doing it voluntarily."
"So-called voluntarily?" Serena said firmly. "Daisy, you don't have to be afraid of her."
"Thank you, Serena." Daisy looked up slightly, her eyes pleading. "But I'm really fine."
Erika let out a triumphant laugh and shot Serena a challenging look. "See? She said it herself. She's fine, and it's all voluntary. Mind your own business."
With her chin raised in smug defiance, her eyes full of provocation, she waved her hand dismissively and strode straight out without a backward glance.
Serena watched Erika walk away, her gaze falling on the back of Daisy's slightly trembling hand.
The area scalded by the hot coffee was already red and swollen. Gently, Serena took Daisy's hand and checked the wound. "Does it hurt?" she asked softly.
Daisy quickly hid her hand behind her back and forced a weak smile. "It doesn't hurt, Serena. Really, it's nothing—just a tiny scratch."
"Daisy, you've got to understand something," Serena said firmly. "The less you stand up for yourself and the more you give in, the more she'll bully you. She'll just see you as an easy target."
"But I just don't want any trouble," Daisy mumbled hesitantly.
"Not standing up for yourself is the real trouble, understand? Some people—the more you fear them, the more they'll push you around," Serena pressed.
Daisy kept her head down, nervously picking at the rim of her cup, yet still shook her head stubbornly. "I get it. I'm really fine, Serena. Thank you."
Serena knew Daisy's nature all too well—timid, conflict-averse, always meekly accepting things just to keep the peace. But this very passivity would only embolden Erika to escalate her bullying.
"Get that hand treated first." With those words, Serena turned and headed back to her workstation.