Chapter 25: The Guardian

Dylan Windell's POV

I was putting all the clothes that I will be bringing on the expedition into the suitcase that I have opened up for my journey. I was a mess. I have to get my thoughts together but I cannot do it because I know that Daisy will be around males and I know how they felt toward her.

She was the perfect Southern Belle and no one would not flirt with her.

I went downstairs with them when my butler was looking at me strangely. I was holding the suitcase before he came and carried it before I was hopping into the jeep that I will bring to the Midwest across the country.

I hope I will not be too late.

"May I know where you will be gone too, sir? It will be easier if Master Samuel asked me later," my butler said as I was looking at him.

"Midwest," I said shortly before I was starting the ignition and I was looking at the rearview mirror before I was putting on the sunglasses. The sky was darkened but I know it will not if I don't think about Daisy right now and how I wished to break any neck of a guy that will be looking her way.

I gritted my teeth before I shifted the stick into D and sped off from the garage into the road that will lead me to the expedition. But first, I have to do something. I looked at the address that I have put inside the GPS and it was tracking me the fastest route.

Aunt Milly.

I sighed as I will be facing with Daisy's guardian, the old lady that I saw on the first day when I saw Daisy. It was 2 years ago and still, her image burned in the back of my mind. I shivered when I thought of her calculating eyes over me. I don't think she liked me that much.

I was looking ahead of the road before I was driving away and I think I might have to stop for a couple of miles to refill and maybe stay the night. I sighed before I was looking forward to the next moment of my life, asking for a hand of marriage for a girl that I liked and had bedded her.

Hope Aunt Milly would not be mad.

"Well, I don't think I would be seeing you here, young man," the old lady said as I was standing on the porch of her ranch house. I was gulping as I did drive for 18 hours with a couple of pit stop and I was looking like a total mess.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Aunt Milly asked me. I blinked my eyes at her before I was clearing my throat.

"Am I not allowed to be in the house then, Aunt Milly?" I asked her before she scoffed at me. She was opening her door wider to let me step inside. I thanked her before she was guiding me to the living room.

It was a simple ranch house actually, I saw the fireplace and the sofas that were in front of it. I was taking a seat before Aunt Milly was going to the kitchen to brew some coffee. After a while, she came into the living room before I stood up as she entered.

"Sit, boy. I know you're exhausted," she said as she was pouring some hot coffee into the cup. She gave it to me as I thanked her.

"Thank you,"

She nodded before she settled on the sofa that was opposite me. I took a sip of her coffee and it was nicely balanced.

"I'm sure you're here to talk about something, considering how early you are," Aunt Milly said as she was looking at the clock. It was 8 AM. I did not sleep the entire way I was coming here. I just took a nap and I went to drive again until I arrived just a few minutes ago.

"I must say, I am impressed. No one would find this place unless they know where to look," she said as she was looking at me before she sipped her coffee. Her brown eyes, just like Daisy's, were staring at me over the rim of the cup. I gulped before I put the cup down.

"I have come with a purpose. I hope you will hear it until the end," I said as I was looking at her. She arched her eyebrow before she put her cup down.

"Proceed,"

She looked calm and I was a nervous wreck. I cannot think but I know that I have to make the right choice. Just like Cam said, own this shit and be proud of it

"I did something horrible to your niece," I started before Aunt Milly was silent, listening to every word I said.

"We were out one night and the next thing happened that lead to one another and—"

"Do you even know where you're going, boy? Just spit it out already," she barked at me that made me jumped in my seat. I rubbed my face as I was looking at her before I sighed.

"I wish to marry your niece," I said before the silence was there. Aunt Milly did not say anything as she was looking at me. Merely looking before she nodded.

"I see. Well, now that was not so bad, is it?" She asked as she was picking up a biscuit before I was looking at her, arching my eyebrows.

"You're not mad?"

"Ah, young love. What can I say? I was once like you and I think this will be the best thing could ever happen to any woman. Tell me, boy, do you love her?" She asked me as I was turning sharply at her. I know what she saw in me but she wanted me to say it out loud.

"Very much and with all my heart," I said before aunt Milly nodded at me.

"Now, what are you waiting for? Go after your love then. But on second thought, I think you should get some sleep first. You look like a mess. You can use Daisy's room," she said as she was getting up from the sofa.

"Aunt Milly? I don't think that would be wise—"

"Shut up and just do what I said you to do. You will sleep in your fiancée room and that's that. End of the question," she said as she was ushered me to the room. I was about to protest before she closed the door and I was looking around the room. It was nice and neat. I can see that Daisy did live here and she was a sweet girl.

I went to the vanity that she used to use when she was at the ranch. I saw the perfume that gives the sweet floral scent that I liked so much. It was Daisy by Marc Jacobs. I think I will buy her much more of this as I smiled.

Then I frowned as I saw someone in the picture with her. It was a boy that was my age when she was a teenager. Why would she have this picture on the vanity if she did not have any feelings for him?

I felt the fury was inside me again before I was taking a deep breath. I have to make sure that I will be calming down before I meet Daisy. Then I saw the bed and my eyes automatically felt heavy. I yawned before I was walking to bed.

"Well, I think some nap would not hurt for now," I said as I was removing my shoes before I was on the bed. The moment I hit my head on Daisy's pillow, I was out cold.

After a few hours of sleeping, I felt energetic before I was washing my face and cleaned up my mess. I was looking at my shallow face as I was smiling at myself.

"Look what you got yourself into, Windell," I mused before I was putting the towel down before I was getting out of the bathroom. Aunt Milly was sitting on the bed before she was handing me out a letter.

"I wanted you to have this and maybe all the answers that you have accused of Daisy's father will be answered," she said before I was looking at the scientific journal of one Jayson Will Dyer.

"I don't think—"

"No, you only read one side. That would be unfair for Daisy's father who was also your father's best friend. If you read both, you will understand them better of why their relationship goes astray," aunt Milly said as I was looking at her.

"Are you sure I can have this?" I asked as I was gripping the journal. She nodded.

"Absolutely, after all, Jayson might want his godson to have it after all. And later when you were his son-in-law, I only see it was fitting for you to have it," she said before she was out of the room.

"Oh, one more thing," aunt Milly said before she was turning at the door as I looked at her.

"Your barn door was flying open. Make sure to close it before you go to see Daisy," Aunt Milly said before she smirked. I looked at my pants and immediately I closed it. I felt blush was creeping on my face before I cleared my throat.

Damn this old lady to make fun of me!