Chapter 268

The next morning, Cedric stepped out of Daniela's room.

It was still early, five o'clock in the mnorning.

The house was eerily quiet.

As Cedric made his way downstairs, he found Caiden lingering near the door to his own room.

Cedric hesitated, caught off guard by the unexpected sight.

He stood still for a moment, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation, but before he could speak,Caiden broke the silence. "Hey, Cedric. Got any work trips coming up? Maybe something you could send me on?"

Cedric gave him a confused look. "What do you mean by that?"

Caiden's unease was evident, and he seemed desperate. "I just need to escape for a while. Katrina's making me lose my mind, and a business trip is the perfect excuse. No matter what happens between you and Daniela, I'm still her father, right? While you're trying to win her over, you can't forget about me."

Cedric's face hardened as he heard those words. His contempt for Caiden deepened.

Just moments before, he had come downstairs fromn Daniela's room, yet Caiden didn't ask a single question,showing no concern as a father.

Instead,Caiden seemed focused on exploiting the situation for his own benefit.

How could someone like him ever be fit to be a father?

Cedric's expression remained frosty as he washed up and replied flatly, "There is a trip, but it's quite far."

Caiden's face immediately brightened. "Really? Perfect! Just send me then!"

Cedric answered in a detached tone, " I'll have my secretary check if it can be arranged." Caiden seemed thrilled. "You're the boss, after all. If you tell your secretary to book me a flight, she'll get it done, won't she? Perfect! I'll go pack right now."

Without waiting for a response, he hurried off to prepare for the trip.

Cedric went for his usual morning run and then made breakfast. By eight o'clock, he made his way upstairs and knocked softly on Daniela's door.

As he entered, he found Daniela still deep in sleep.

The cold edge in Cedric's gaze softened instantly.

He knelt beside the bed and lightly tapped Daniela's nose. "It's eight. Time to wake up?"

Still half-asleep, Daniela grabbed his hand, pulling it under the covers with hers. She drifted for a moment longer before finally blinking her eyes open.

Once she had dressed and freshened up, Cedric spoke up. "Caiden asked me to set up a trip for him. I told him it'd be quite far, and he seemed pretty excited about it."

Daniela gave a small nod, unfazed. "Sure. Let him go then."

She thought that adding another person to the war between her and Katrina would only make her plans more complicated.

The questions from the previous night had unsettled Katrina just enough for Caiden to pick up on it. Now, he was eager to make his escape.

That confirmed everything Daniéla had suspected from the start.

Cedric glanced at Daniela. "Aren't you going to tell me what you're planning?"

Daniela smiled faintly. "Haven't you already figured it out?"

Cedric wasn't as oblivious as Joyce. He likely had his own suspicions and was just waiting for Daniela to confirm them.

"I take care of my own vengeance," Daniela said with conviction. Cedric nodded. "As long as you stay out of real danger, do what you need to do. I've got your back. But if you push it too far and risk your safety,I'll step in."

For him, that was the one line he wouldn't cross. His priority was making sure Daniela remained safe.

That day,Caiden boarded a private jet owned by Cedric's company, his excitement barely contained as he imagined the "work trip" ahead. Just before the plane took off, Cedric asked, "Anything else?"

Caiden waved a hand nonchalantly. "Just make sure the local branch handles my meals. I'm a bit particular about what l eat."

With that, Cedric gave him a nod, turned on his heel, and walked away.

When he returned home later, Lillian, who had been waiting for him, gave him a curious glance. "So, where exactly did you send him off to?"

Cedric's expression darkened. "It was the City of Romance."

Lillian's grin widened. "And now?"

"A desert," Cedric replied.

On the plane, the moment Caiden realized his actual destination, his face turned pale. He erupted in disbelief, "A desert? Are you kidding me? I came here to enjoy life, not to mess around with sand."

The plane had already crossed into another country.

Up in the sky, no matter how much he shouted, the plane's course couldn't be altered.

Katrina believed Caiden was away on a business trip. She thought he had buried himself in work due to financial struggles, so she had no reason to suspect anything.

Early that morning, she returned home with a young man in tow.

He appeared to be in his mid-twenties, with a bright smile and dimples that added to his charm, making the whole room light up.