Chapter 416

Daniela sat at her desk, her hands resting motionless before her. Her eyes, sharp and distant, fixed on Nina. "Go on."

"Years ago, Aunt Brylee managed to secure a national agency for a major brand. She became the wealthiest person in the country. My mother,acting on someone's orders, reached out to Katrina,who was then working as a maid in your home. She promised that after the celebration banquet, a hypnotist would be brought in to make Aunt Brylee jump off a building."

Daniela's fingers curled around the edge of the desk,tightening with unspoken fury. "Who gave the orders to Elyse? How long has this been in the making?"

Nina bit her lip, her gaze falling to the floor before slowly lifting to meet Daniela's. A trace of pity flickered in her eyes. "My mother always spoke with that person in private. Neither Natalie nor I have ever met him, but I overheard my mother call him Mr.Perry... It felt like an organization, not just a man. As for how long this plan has been brewing..."

Nina hesitated, her eyes flickering up to gauge Daniela's reaction.

For reasons she couldn't place, Daniela's cold calmness at that moment felt like the stillness before an inevitable storm.

"The scheme to eliminate your mother began the moment Caiden got close to your mother."

At the mention of his name, Daniela's grip on the table tightened instantly. "Are you saying Caiden was a pawn? That he was sent to seduce my mother?"

Nina gave a small nod. "I overheard my mother talking about how, as Aunt Brylee's business grew,those people sent many to get close to her. But none succeeded until your father appeared. That's when Aunt Brylee fell for him." Daniela's hand began to tremble, her control slipping as the weight of Nina's words sank in. The room, so large and spacious, suddenly felt stifling. She had long resigned herself to the idea of Caiden's betrayal, but hearing it spoken aloud twisted a fresh pang of pain through her chest.

"Aunt Brylee truly gave her heart to Caiden. They say there's no deeper pain than betrayal from someone you love. On the day she passed, my mother showed her a video. Aunt Brylee had drunk heavily at the banquet, and in that state, she was easy prey for the hypnotist."

Daniela absorbed each word in silence, her expression unreadable.

A woman betrayed by both her husband and sister. In the face of such treachery, Brylee was manipulated,walking blindly towards her demise.

What had Brylee thought as she left this world? Was she aware of the manipulations behind her fate?

And what of Caiden? Had he ever felt remorse for what he'd done, even once, during all the years that passed?

Later,Daniela returned to the Harper family home.

In the yard, Caiden basked in the warmth of the sun,looking completely at ease. When he spotted Daniela, his face lit up with exaggerated enthusiasm."Ah, my dear daughter. I hear you've been making waves, starting new companies left and right.Everyone's talking about you. I'm so proud! Now that you're rolling in wealth, how about raising my monthly allowance?"

Before Daniela could respond to Caiden, Cedric arrived, breathless from his hurried rush. His sharp eyes immediately spotted the fruit knife Daniela had tucked into her coat pocket.

"Ah, Cedric's here too, I heard you married Daniela?Well, now I'm your father-in-law, so don't forget to support me, too," Caiden said with a grin, completely oblivious to the tension building in the air.

Cedric, still uneasy, moved closer to Daniela, his gaze filled with concern.

Some individuals, no matter how turbulent their emotions, possessed a calmness that seemed untouched by the storm inside.

Daniela was such a person. The more furious she felt, the more composed she appeared.

Without a flicker of emotion, Cedric exclaimed,"Shut up!"

Caiden was insignificant to Cedric, but he was deeply concerned about Daniela.

Daniela's past struggles with depression lingered in Cedric's mind. If Caiden's words pushed her too far,Cedric would not wait for her to act. He would take matters into his own hands and end Caiden himself.

Deciding to help her rest, Cedric escorted Daniela upstairs for a nap.

When Cedric finally awoke, the night had fallen. His hand reached for the space beside him, but it was cold. The absence of Daniela's warmth sent a ripple of unease through him.

His heart pounded as panic set in. With urgency,he threw off the covers and rushed downstairs.

The first floor, typically aglow with light, was now shrouded in unsettling darkness.

As Cedric descended, the moonlight outside illuminated a tense scene: Daniela sat rigidly on the sofa, staring at Caiden, who was bound to a chair.

Just as Cedric prepared to move forward, Lillian and Ryan stepped in his path and raised their hands to halt him.

"Daniela has her own way of handling things. You promised her that, didn't you?"