Chapter 308

Daniela lifted her shirt as she spoke.

Deeper grew the night outside.

On the table, a glass perched precariously shook, causing subtle ripples to dance on the water within.

Low whimpers echoed through the room, stretching the night into an endless void.

The following day dawned.

Cedric awoke, his spirit completely rejuvenated.

Snuggling close to Daniela, he admired the gentle curve of her lashes.

A profound sense of relief swelled in his chest.

Echoes of an almost surreal thought lingered in his mind.

Daniela was lost in a deep sleep, dreaming of a comforting warmth pressing against her.

When the warmth turned stifling, she shifted, only to feel it persist.

A hot breath against her skin then dragged her back into a suffocating sleep.

Half-asleep, she caught Cedric's low chuckle as he murmured, "Once I completely owned you, I never want to let go of you."

She slept on, undisturbed.

Cedric went downstairs to cook for Daniela when Caiden returned from the hospital.

"Cedric, you need to pay up. I can't shoulder these hospital bills."

In loose white loungewear, Cedric watched the soupsimmer. Caiden, fraught with anxiety, inquired, "Where's Daniela?"

"In her room," Cedric replied calmly. "But I advise against going up there right now."

Caiden paused on the stairs upon hearing that. "Why don't you pay the bills then? I's only thirty grand, a mere slice of your bank balance."

Content, Cedric responded lightly, "I don't control my finances."

"Then who does?" Caiden blurted out, realizing his question's futility afterward. He groaned in frustration."You're content not controlling your money?"

Cedric's assured demeanor might lead one to think he let Daniela manage his finances.

"You're just dating, yet she already controls your money?" Reconsidering, Caiden chose not to ascend the stairs. Instead, he attempted to reason with Cedric. "Listen, every man should have some accessible cash.You're not even married to Daniela yet. If she wants to control your finances, you can refuse. Besides, with your business, surely you've got some reserves?"

Cedric responded, "No, there's only about ten dollars left in my account."

The previous night, while embracing Daniela, he had transferred all his funds into her account.

He subscribed to the belief that a true man, once married, should relinquish financial control, living modestly under his partner's vigilant supervision.

Caiden was baffled by the joy evident on Cedric's face. "You're a CEO and you're down to ten bucks?"

Cedric gestured towards the phone on the table.

Approaching, Caiden peered at the screen and saw the balance was a mere cent.

"Not even ten dollars!" Caiden gasped in disbelief.

Cedric glanced at the display. "Looks like they charged a fee. I'll need to ask Daniela for lunch money later."

Caiden's astonishment grew. "Billions at your disposal, and you can't even afford lunch? Does Daniela really control your finances that tightly?" Cedric simply smiled. "Yes, she's quite strict."

Caiden,observing Cedric's increasingly satisfied expression, clicked his tongue twice. Despite his concerns for Cedric's well-being, a sense of solidarity emerged.

"Would Daniela cover Joyce's hospital expenses if I asked? She must, right? Saving is tough on my budget."

He then showed Cedric the paltry sum in his account. "This is all that's left."

Cedric, while serving soup, nodded. "Ask her, if you feel bold enough."

Caiden hesitated, wishing Cedric would offer to ask instead. Noting Cedric's passive compliance as he carried soup upstairs, Caiden abandoned the thought.

'"Forget about it."

He realized that Cedric's predicament might be more severe than his own.

Unfortunate man.

Meanwhile, Daniela nestled within Cedric's hold, briefly awoke to sip some soup before drifting back to sleep.

As darkness enveloped the outside, she stirred once more.

Opening her eyes slowly, she noticed Cedric sitting quietly beside her.

His laughter greeted her awakening.

"Welcome back."

Daniela turned away from him, her eyes closing once more. "I'm done with that."

Cedric,sitting on the bed's edge like a devoted dog, panicked slightly."What?Why not?"-

He carefully turned Daniela to face him. "Didn't you like it? Wasn't it enjoyable?"