Chapter 155

The moment Daniela's words hit him, Cedric's shoulders went rigid, his tension palpable.

He remained hunched over for an extended period, his heart racing wildly in the oppressive quiet.

Then,he gradually straightened, his eyes locking with Daniela's for a brief moment before he could utter a word.

Abruptly, the office door burst open.

Katrina appeared in the doorway, her face buried in her hands,sobbing uncontrollably.

Daniela's brow furrowed in response.

Out of breath, the secretary burst into the room,her voice trembling. "Ms. Harper, I'm so sorry! I tried to stop her, but she pushed right past me!"

Katrina collapsed against the desk, her tears falling uncontrollably as she begged, "Daniela, your father is in a dire state! You need to go to him."

Shock rippled through Cedric's face, his features twisting in disbelief.

Peering through her handkerchief, Katrina caught Daniela's gaze-cold, detached, her piercing eyes unflinching as they stared back.

A relentless pounding filled Katrina's chest, her heartbeat surging with raw emotion.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Katrina demanded, her panic barely masked by a sharp edge in her tone.

She sensed an unspoken accusation in Daniela's steady gaze, an intangible something she couldn't identify.

"Oh dear!" Katrina's distress intensified, her actions becoming more theatrical. "Daniela, you can spew all the nonsense you want about cutting ties, but at the end of the day, his blood still runs in your veins. Your father's about to die, and you act like it's nothing What the hell is wrong with you? How can you be so ruthless?"

Daniela rose slowly, her eyes narrowing,scrutinizing Katrina as if she were a suspect under interrogation."Yes, I am ruthless. Knowing that, why bother coming to me?"

Katrina, taken aback, had not anticipated such calm composure from Daniela, nor such a chilling retort. For a brief moment, she was momentarily speechless,the thick layers of makeup unable to mask the crimson spreading across her cheeks. "You..."

"Funny how this works," Daniela declared, her voice sharp and emphatic. "Caiden was perfectly healthy before.Now,suddenly, when I take over the company,he becomes sick? Katrina, don't you think it's a little too convenient to be a coincidence?"

At her words, Cedric glared at Daniela, his mind racng.She had the chance to destroy the Harper family and turn the company inside out, but instead, she only took 51% of the shares.

Katrina's heart raced, yet she managed to maintain a composed facade. "Daniela, what exactly do you mean by that? Are you implying I harmed your father?Even if you refuse to acknowledge me as your stepmother, my devotion to your father is genuine.I couldn't possibly want any harm to come to him just for some minor profit. If you truly doubt his condition,perhaps you should verify it yourself."

Daniela's gaze was icy as she fixed it on Katrina."Harper Group means more to you than a 'minor profit,' doesn't it? You'd stop at nothing to get what you want,right?"

A luxury villa and offshore assets-how could anyone reduce those to minor profit? Daniela turned and made her way downstairs, Cedric on her heels.

As she approached the car, she swung the door open and found Cedric already waiting inside.

Daniela tilted her head slightly, a faint, amused smile playing on her lips. "Cedric, honestly, you don't have to follow me around like this. They wouldn't dare touch me."

Cedric's face was a mask of icy severity, contrasting sharply with Daniela's demeanor. He fixed her with a piercing gaze and questioned, "What are you suspecting?"

Upon hearing Katrina's mention of Caiden's illness,Daniela had remained unmoved. But Cedric's question made her hesitate momentarily. Then, with a faint smile, she responded, "What could I possibly suspect?Didn't Katrina accuse that I suspect she refused to return the money and decided to hurt Caiden over it?"

Cedric crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering and full of curiosity."And?"

Daniela blinked, chuckling. "And what more is there to say?"

"What do you think? Is there more?" "I'm not sure."

The car was gripped by a suffocating stillness, thiek with unspoken tension.

The driver stole glances at them through the rearview mirror, picking up on the charged atmosphere.

What exactly were they discussing?

He could grasp each word, but their conversation seemed like a puzzle, the pieces not quite fitting together.

Halfway through the rde. Daniela started to think Cedric had given up on conversation entirely.

However,Cedric exhaled sharply, turning to face her more fully. "Why did you only claim 51 percent of Harper Group's shares? Why weren't you surprised about Caiden's condition? And why did you confront Katrina in such a manner?"

Daniela was bombarded with questions, each one striking with increasing intensity.

The driver,eavesdropping with a mix of curiosity and confusion,found himself pondering the same things.

He stole another glance at her through the rearview mirror. This time, Daniela remained silent, her usual poise replaced by a visible unease.

For the first time, she seemed genuinely troubled,sparking a flicker of intrigue in the driver. He was about to look again when Cedric's intense gaze turned from Daniela's perturbed expression to the driver.

Sensing Cedric's scrutiny, the driver quickly straightened up, his attention snapping forward.

"Then..." Daniela began, her voice lacking its usual conviction. "Why do you think that is?"

"I don't know! But there must be a reason you're keeping from me!" Cedric's voice brimmed with frustration.

As someone who held a high position, he was accustomed to masking his emotions. But now, his fury was unmistakable,coursing through him alongside the sting of betrayal.

"Daniela, you don't need to explain yourself, but until I grasp your intentions, don't assume you can operate independently. I'll be keeping an eye on you!"

He was resolute about not leaving her side until he had neutralized any threats. His intuition hinted at the motives behind Daniela's actions, though he remained uncertain. Clenching his jaw, his grip tightened on his knee.

He turned to look at her, the interplay of light and shadows from the passing streetlamps casting her features in a dramatic relief. Her eyes,usually vibrant,now appeared dim and weary.

The sight softened his resolve momentarily, and he found himself reluctant to press her further.