Chapter 174

Katrina maintained her plastered smile, barely managing to navigate through the tension.

Just as she was concocting an excuse, Joyce, without a glance away from Lillian's phone, said nonchalantly,"Mom, there's a pen in the cabinet. Fetch the black one-it leaves a clearer mark."

Katrina's heart nearly stopped. She gawked at Joyce, her mind whirling in disbelief. Was this dumb girl truly her flesh and blood?

Caiden, seeing no escape, reluctantly picked up the pen and started to write the IOU.

When it came to specifying the amount, he hesitated.Instead of the staggering 80 million, he penned just 1million.

Daniela caught the figure and chuckled.′′Amillion? How lavish!"

"Daniela, you're aware of my plight. I'm not getting any younger, and funds are tight. This is all I could muster-saved penny by penny."

Daniela hardly batted an eyelid. She hadn't returned for their wealth. With a dismissive wave, she turned and called,"Josie."

Josie emerged promptly from the kitchen, her smile radiant as she presented Daniela with a plate adorned with fruit. "What's the matter?"

Daniela then handed her the IOU.

Josie glanced at the paper.

"This is one million," Daniela stated plainly. "Spend it on snacks for Dodo!"

Caiden's mind short-circuited. "Who?" he blurted out, flabbergasted.

Who was Dodo? Spending a million on snacks? Absurd! Joyce, still engrossed in the game, added without looking up, "Dodo is Daniela's dog."

Caiden's face flushed a deep red with anger, but before he could erupt, Katrina seized his arm, pulling him back with a cautionary squeeze.

Taking a deep breath, Caiden composed himself but remained planted in his spot, his pride wounded but intact.

Daniela sensed his lingering urge to speak.

Sure enough, after a tense silence, Caiden ventured cautiously, "Daniela, now that you've accepted the money, it shouldn't matter what it's for-what matters is that it's yours. About that contract we signed to dissolve our father-daughter bond-can we declare it null and void?"

Daniela paused, a slice of fruit poised halfway to her lips. She met his gaze, her smile tinged with sarcasm."Oh? Having second thoughts? Realized that your daughter knows her way around money, and now you want her back after casting her aside?"

That was exactly how it went down, though Caiden would never admit it.

But Daniela's words always had a way of slicing to the core, and he couldn't see why. This wasn't the same sweet, wide-eyed little girl he once knew.

"Daniela, how can you be so cynical about your father?" Katrina interjected hastily, her voice dripping with insincerity. "You're his blood. He's regretted severing ties ever since. Regardless of your financial status, he would've welcomed you back."

Daniela nodded. "Is that so?" Her response dripped with disinterest, barely indulging Katrina's plea.

Katrina persisted, undeterred. "You're not yet wed, Daniela, and don't understand. A daughter needs her kin. The support of your family is your shield against mistreatment in marriage." Her words were calculated,cloaked in concern.

Daniela let out a soft laugh."Oh,really? I was married once, remember? And wasn't it around that time Caiden chose to cut me loose?". Katrina was at a loss for words. How could she have overlooked that? She fidgeted with her hair awkwardly."Well,perhaps there were some misunderstandings back then."

"Enough!" Daniela státed, her voice cold as she tossed a pomegranate onto her plate. "Misunderstanding or not, it's immaterial to me. But if you want me back in this family, it has to be on my terms. I'm not the unknown I once was. I'm now CEO of Elite Lux. You can't just cast me aside and pick me up when it's convenient."

Katrina's eyes sparkled at Daniela's declaration. "Absolutely, Daniela! You've not same anymore-truly a tale of triumph. You deserve every bit of respect. We'll do everything to reclaim your place in the family. I'll have your father contact a lawyer to draft a reinstatement agreement."

Internally, Katrina was already plotting. If she orchestrated this agreement, she might manage to carve out a share of Daniela's wealth for the family. That would be the real windfall.

But before Katrina could revel in her scheming, Joyce, still tethered to Lillian's phone, spoke up without raising her head. "Mom, you're overcomplicating things. Elie Lux has top-notch lawyers. If Daniela wants,they can draft that agreement in no time. Why bother with all this fuss?"

Joyce remained fixated on her game, oblivious to Katrina's machinations.

Daniela gave a small smile, and before Katrina could object, she chimed in, "Joyce is correct. Let Elite Lux's legal team handle it."

Katrina stiffened, her features hardening. Elite Lux's legal team would take over? How could she manipulate the situation then?

Before storming upstairs, Katrina shot Joyce a venomous glance, who remained blissfully unaware of her mother's turmoil.

Joyce, meanwhile, was kneeling beside Daniela, grinning like an ardent admirer."Daniela, could you grant me a glowing skin? Please?"

Katrina inhaled sharply, appalled at the scene. Was this really her daughter?

Daniela responded by simply handing over her phone to Joyce. Joyce was stunned. "You're letting me use your phone?"

Daniela nodded nonchalantly.

After all, this was merely a beta test-the more user feedback, the better.

Joyce nearly dropped to her knees in gratitude. "Can I share this on my social media?"

Free advertising? Why not? Daniela nodded again.

Later, as Katrina descended for a drink, she was met by the surreal sight of Joyce kneeling before Daniela.

Daniela sat regally before her, her cold gaze radiating authority.

"Joyce! What are you doing?"

Katrina had devoted her life to boosting Joyce's status, yet here was her daughter, discarding it all to grove before Daniela.

It appeared as though she was atoning for some dire transgression.

Katrina felt her sanity slipping away.