Chapter 100

Peyton's authoritative tone rang out, making Ronald and Wyatt grin like fools as she piled on ridiculous demands for Daniela.

Inside, Ronald's child was practically leaping with excitement. "I'm going abroad!"

Katrina observed from a distance.

Daniela stood poised at the doorway, waiting for Caiden's return with the sketchbook.

Noticing Daniela's quiet demeanor, Peyton frowned slightly and pressed her lips together in mild annoyance. "Daniela, you're awfully quiet. What's the matter? You're not having second thoughts,are you?Remember, you're a Harper. A little expense shouldn't make you bat an eyelid."

But Daniela remained silent,her expression unchanged.

Peyton's frustration grew, and she bit her lip, feeling a twinge of guilt for her past harshness towards Daniela. "Alexander is willing to remarry you. Can't you manage a smile for that?" At these words, Daniela struggled to contain her emotions. "To begin with, I never sought your intervention.Furthermore, I've severed all ties with the Bennett family, so kindly refrain from involving yourself."

Katrina, who had been listening, nearly burst into laughter.

Irritated by the exchange, Peyton's face darkened,and she abruptly slapped Daniela's hand.

The slap was sharp enough to leave Daniela's hand visibly reddened.

Daniela barely flinched, her eyes remaining locked on the staircase,ignoring the sting on her hand.

Caiden was yet to make an appearance.

From the corridor, his voice resounded, calling out,"Josie! Could you help me look for Daniela's sketchbook? It seems to have vanished."

To everyone in the family, it was clear that the sketchbook was Daniela's most treasured item.

The absence of it sent a wave of anxiety crashing over Caiden.

Josie hastened upstairs and embarked on an extended search.

Peyton craned her neck, her voice laced with concern."What's happening? Why is this taking so long?"

Unable to contain her frustration any longer, Daniela stormed inside. A throng of curious onlookers trailed behind her, all cramming into her tiny room.

A mere ten minutes later, every corner of Daniela's room had been upended.

"Where could it be?" Daniela demanded,her tone icy and her expression steely.

Caiden, not giving up, turned to Josie once more."Any idea where it is?"

Josie, overwhelmed and close to tears, admitted, "I honestly don't know. Mrs. Harper told me Ms. Harper should tidy her own room, so I steer clear of it.Besides, it's quite stuffy in here-no windows, no sunlight. It's usually deserted."

Caiden's brow furrowed in response. Trying to reassure Daniela, he said, "Don't worry. Josie hasn't touched anything in here, so it's bound to be somewhere around. We don't have many visitors, so it surely hasn't been misplaced."

Upon hearing that, Daniela halted mid-motion, her eyes narrowing as she fixed a piercing gaze on Katrina.

"Why are you staring at me like that? I..." Katrina suddenly remembered the black plastic bag Alexander had delivered just days prior. She had carelessly tossed it into the overflowing trash bin, commanding Josie to dispose of it.

A flicker of panic flashed through Katrina's eyes, a detail Daniela didn't miss.

"Where is it now?" Daniela demanded, her expression stern and unyielding.

Peyton grabbed Katrina by the arm and pressed,her voice laced with frustration. "Where the hell is it?"

Unfamiliar with the upper floors, Peyton was oblivious to the fact that Daniela had been relegated to such a modest room.

In the grandeur of such a vast villa, it was astonishing that Daniela resided in a mere storage room.

Katrina exchanged a helpless glance with Caiden, her eyes begging for assistance.

Caiden asked, "Where is it?"

Katrina's response was hesitant, her words tumbling out awkwardly. "That day, Alexander brought it here,encased in a worn-out garbage bag. When I felt it, it was stiff, like thick cardboard. So I tossed it into the cash can."

Turning abruptly towards Josie, Katrina rebuked her sharply. "Josie! How could you let this happen? I threw out something important, and you didn't even care to check? What's wrong with you?"

Josie was caught off-guard.

Katrina whirled to face Caiden, her unease palpable."Alexander's at fault too. How could he be so careless with something that mattered so much? At the very least, he could have packaged it properly. And really,what interest does a CEO like Alexander have in Daniela's sketchbook? If he hadn't taken it in the first place, I wouldn't have dismissed it as trash so thoughtlessly."

Daniela stood nearby, her fists balled in silent fury,her gaze fixated on Katrina. She glanced towards the door,noticing the lock that had long been weak, and her eyes darkened with a deep, unsettling shadow.

Worried about facing Peyton's reprimand, Katrina hastily grabbed her phone and called Alexander.

"Alexander, was the black garbage bag you brought over last time the one with Daniela's sketchbook in it?"

Alexander, interrupted during a meeting, took a moment to confirm. "Yes, that was it."

"Why on earth didn't you specify? I assumed you had brought actual garbage, so I threw it out. Now Daniela has returned and is looking for it. Can't you tell how this mess is making me look bad?"

Seated in the conference room,Alexander hesitated before instructing Katrina, "Please pass the phone to Daniela."