Chapter 215

Cedric held back his question, reluctant to hear the answer.

If Daniela admitted that she treated all her suitors in the same manner, Cedric feared he wouldn't withstand such a revelation.

But it didn't take long for Cedric to know the answer.

Due to a tight schedule, Daniela couldn't venture far for lunch and met Alexander at the restaurant just below.

"How unfortunate. The cuisine is superb at the other spot. Perhaps next time, I can show you."

Daniela's eyes drifted momentarily to a nearby table, spotting Ryan, Lillian, and Cedric. Her lips twitched into a fleeting smile. "The quality of a meal depends on the company. Also, there's no need for small talk.Just say what you need to say."

Alexander's usual stern facade softened into a look of mild regret. "So I guess I'm no longer the one you love?"

Daniela was aware that if she didn't settle this now, Alexander would undoubtedly revisit the topic.

Letting the silence linger, she leaned back slightly. Cedric's image surfaced in her mind, quietly stealing her focus.

Alexander detected Daniela's indifference, and a wave of disappointment washed over him, mingling with a sense of loss. "Daniela, do you remember-"

He was cut off mid-sentence as Daniela subtly raised her hand, her demeanor courteous yet detached."Let's drop the nostalgia and get straight to the point."

Alexander's expression changed, the smile dissolving as a trace of tension settled into his features. "Of course. I merely thought those days held some charm worth revisiting. I didn't intend to make you A slight, icy smile crept onto Daniela's lips. "I'm fine. It's just that reflecting on the past seems somewhat pointless."

Alexander clenched his jaw, a subtle indication of his inner turmoil.

He sensed her dismissive tone and knew pressing the issue could only lead to embarrassment. Yet,a bitter resolve bubbled up within him, prompting him to attempt another topic.

"Very well, no more about the past then. Marlin visited you today, didn't he?"

Daniela gave a brief nod.

In a voice that carried a hint of desperation, Alexander continued, "And what do you think?"

Daniela's gaze locked onto his, unwavering and cold. Her voice carried a sharp edge, each word deliberate."I don't make a habit of revisiting old relationships. And you shouldn't either."

Alexander's jaw tightened, his expression hardening further. "Haven't you given Cedric the chance to pursue you? If you can accept his advances, then why not mine? Isn't our history deeper than yours with him? Tell me,Daniela,why him and not me?"

A bitter chuckle escaped her lips, cutting through the tension in the room like a knife.

Her eyes flicked momentarily to Cedric, who had just stepped away to speak with his secretary."Alexander,we're both seasoned players in the business world. While I've never held Bennett Group in high regard, I've tried to show you some basic civility. But since you're so determined to push, let me be brutally honest."

Her eyes narrowed, her words laced with icy disdain. "You and Cedric couldn't be more different.When Cedric says he wants to pursue me, he's genuine-his intentions are clear, without pretense. But you? What you're after isn't affection. It's a guarantee, a partnership you can later exploit for your own business gains.That's not pursuit, Alexander; that's strategy. And it's pathetic. So no, you're not like Cedric. In fact, you don't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath."

Her words landed like a slap, precise and merciless. Caught by the way the sunlight lit up Daniela's features, Alexander's gaze lingered, and then, without warning, he let out a low, hollow laugh. "Isn't that interesting? I've been saying all this, and you've been calm this whole time. But the second I brought up Cedric, you got worked up."

Daniela lifted her glass of water, taking a sip before setting it down.

"So,things have changed, haven't they?" Alexander probed, his voice low and steady, a stark contrast to the intensity in his gaze as he searched her face for any sign of contradiction.

Instead, Daniela offered a slight, enigmatic smile. Her response was serene, almost detached. "Wasn't it clear all along? In terms of looks, Cedric's sophistication and allure make you look downright ordinary.In terms of talent, his brilliance outshines your own. And when it comes to power, prestige, and wealth-really,in which aspect do you think you could possibly outdo him? You wish to rival Cedric? Please, do tell-what do you possess that might possibly surpass him?"

With a faint tilt of her head and a sarcastic edge to her tone, she pressed on. "What could I possibly gain from you? Your inconsistency? Your egotism? Or perhaps it's the deceitful guise you don today, dredging up bygone days as if they hold any relevance? Alexander, save your breath. If you're searching for someone who can endure your presence, try Joyce. She's still in the dark about you, after all."

The shadow of anger swept across Alexander's face, a tempest lurking just beneath his stoic facade. Each of her scathing words struck deep, challenging his self-control, yet he anchored himself in his seat,determined to reclaim her affection without losing his composure.

Tension coiled tightly within him as he leaned forward, his voice strained but deliberate."IfI'm the villain you paint me to be, what drew you to me in the first place?"

Daniela answered without hesitation, "I've explained this before. But it seems you've forgotten, so I'll remind you. I mistook you for the boy during my darkest days of depression in youth. Does that make things clear enough for you?" J

The color drained from Alexander's face, his eyes searching hers for a sliver of the past warmth. In a voice edged with desperation, he pleaded, "And now? There's nothing left?"

"Nothing at all," Daniela shot back with an edge to her voice. "The day I asked for a divorce, I wiped away all memories of what we once were. We should be strangers from now on. The only reason we're meeting today is that your endless persistence exhausted what little patience I had left. And maybe because..."

Her voice trailed off as she lifted her eyes.

The person who had been talking to his secretary outside appeared, his tall frame backlit by the light flooding in.

Alexander's gaze drifted, following her pointed look, and his heart clenched painfully as he spotted Cedric.

Cedric, with his usual aloof and frosty demeanor, strode towards them, his presence as imposing as always.

Yet when he talked to Daniela, a soft smile played on his lips.′′Are you ready to leave? If so, let's head upstairs and have lunch."

Without a moment's delay, Daniela rose andaccompanied Cedric, leaving Alexander to stew in solitude at the table.

He watched their receding figures, a sense of finality washing over him.

It was then that realization struck him with the force of a thunderclap.

He had lost her. Completely.

Just as Cedric and Daniela were about to vanish from view, Alexander's emotions boiled over. Leaping to his feet,he bellowed after her,"Daniela! You'll regret this!"