Chapter 233

Thirty minutes later, Katrina came back. She stormed through the door, fixing Caiden with a withering look before scolding him.

"Uninvited, you impose yourself at Daniela's dinner table. Humiliated for a mere meal, how do you justify that? Serves you right! Caiden,you're not a young man anymore. How could you let her humiliate you just for the sake of a meal? If she were willing to give you her attention, that would be one thing. But she doesn't care about you, yet you still think there's some lingering father-daughter connection between you? It's absurd! Can't you see the truth, Caiden?She no longer sees you as her father. She texted me in the middle of the night to settle your bill,threatening to cut Joyce's shares in the robotics company if I don't. If you're so troubled that you're dragging your daughter into your mess, why not take the same path as Brylee? Spare others the pain!" Having vented her frustration, Katrina angrily sent a thousand to Josie, grabbed her suitcase, and ascended the stairs, leaving Caiden standing there,nothing more than a cold, unfeeling silhouette.

From the living room, Daniela turned to Caiden with a smirk. "Do you remember how my mother died?"

Caiden's face turned pale at her question. He ran upstairs, his footsteps erratic, almost tripping over as he ascended.

Life for Caiden grew more suffocating from that day forward.

With Katrina's return, their relationship deteriorated further; she found him increasingly unbearable, and her verbal assaults intensified.

In desperation, Caiden reached out to Alexander,using his influence to secure a few minor deals for Harper Group. He then begged Daniela to transfer the profits from these deals to his account.

Subsequently, Caiden ventured into business independently.

After several initial setbacks, he finally secured some contracts through Cedric.

Having never encountered significant professional obstacles in his earlier years, Caiden now faced them head-on. Often returning home intoxicated from networking events, he found the bedroom locked by Katrina and resigned himself to sleeping on the sofa.

Daniela was busy scrutinizing a business proposal.

By the time Caiden stirred from his uncomfortable sleep, dawn was breaking.

Daniela remained focused on her work at the dining table while Caiden lingered in the living room, his gaze fixed on her. For a fleeting moment, he imagined he saw Brylee.

He tried to speak, but his words caught in his throat.

Realization hit him; he didn't know how to face Brylee. She had entrusted Daniela to him, expecting him to cherish and protect her. Yet, he had let her down,failing both as a spouse and a father.

Under his watch, Brylee's once prosperous company had declined.

The shame was too much for him to bear.

Caiden stood motionless for a while, gradually sobering. He then moved to the kitchen, warmed some milk, and set it next to Daniela.

"I heard from Cedric you've been having trouble sleeping. This milk's from your fridge, but it's on me.Have some; it might help you rest," Caiden said,placing a hundred-dollar bill next to the mug.

Daniela didn't look up from her work. "No need."

"Why turn down a simple act of kindness? It's just milk."

Daniela had been reading all night, her eyes showing signs of strain. She blinked and then resumed wearing her anti-fatigue glasses. "Can we drop the act?"

Caiden felt a sting from her cold tone. "I'm not acting. I saw you were tired and thought the milk might help. Why would you think I have ulterior motives?"

Daniela offered a faint smile, her attention returning to the documents, though she seemed less interested.

She had long understood that she must rely on herself in this world.

Without looking up from her reading, Daniela spoke."I'm beyond the point where small gestures affect me. I wear a coat if it's cold, and turn on the air if it's hot. I'm fully capable of looking after myself. I don't need you, got it? To me, anything unnecessary is just an act. Keep your money and give me space, or l might have to ask you to leave to spare us both any unease. Perhaps then, you'll grasp the true cost of losing what little dignity you have left."

Caiden's face was etched with sadness as he looked at Daniela.

In his eyes, she remained the joyful little girl who once hugged his leg, but she had grown so distant and cold.

"Regardless of what you believe, I truly wish to do right by you," he said.

Daniela remained expressionless, offering no reply to his heartfelt plea.