Chapter 51

From the moment Katrina's gaze fell upon Cedric,her smile was unwavering. She regarded him as an exemplary choice for a son-in-law.

Leaning towards Caiden, she murmured, "Cedric really is something else, isn't he? Look how polite and considerate he is. We haven't even officially started, and here he is, already bearing a gift."

Caiden, watching Cedric's poised and respectful manner, nodded in acknowledgment.

Katrina's grin broadened with pride. "You see,honey? This is all my doing. Had I not nurtured Joyce so well, she might have ended up like Daniela. Think about it-when we're old, who will we depend on?Certainly not Daniela."

With an eager nod, Caiden responded, "You're absolutely right. Joyce is all we've got. Daniela?She's a lost cause, utterly unreliable for the rest of her pathetic life."

Katrina felt a surge of elation, her beaming smile proof of her delight.

She advanced a few paces towards Cedric, her focus turning to the vase the building manager held.A glimmer of recognition danced in her eyes. "Hang on... Isn't that from last night's auction?"

Curiosity flickered in Katrina's eyes as she leaned toward the vase. Yet, as she approached, the manager recoiled instinctively, clutching the vase closer to his chest.

Katrina's expression hardened with irritation, but she smoothed it over with an overly sweet smile as she pivoted towards Cedric.

"Oh, Cedric! How incredibly thoughtful of you! This vase is the one from last night's auction,right?remember it fetching a million. How lavish of you! Tell me, is this splendid piece meant to celebrate Joyce's store opening? Your generosity knows no bounds!Yet, how can we justify accepting such a prized treasure?"

Despite her words, Katrina closed the distance once more, her hands seizing the vase from the flustered manager, who found himself helplessly cornered.

With the vase pressed to her chest, she flashed a radiant smile, her face glowing with a sense of triumph.

The building manager stood frozen, a look of utter disbelief painting his face as he gazed at his now-empty palms, then turned to Cedric.

Cedric's features turned stormy. His eyebrows drew together, casting his face into an icy, uninviting expression.

The manager, overwhelmed by the moment,exclaimed, "Seriously? Are you out of your mind?What on earth are you doing? This isn't just reckless -it's outright robbery!"

He was in complete shock, questioning whether this was typical behavior for women of affluent backgrounds.

But Katrina couldn't care less. To her, the vase was already hers. She believed Cedric was going to be her son-in-law. Why couldn't she take that vase.

She felt not just justified, but determined, having already selected the perfect spot for the vase-in the living room of their home. This was more than decoration; it was a declaration. Her daughter was now Cedric's cherished.

Approaching, Caiden lightly grasped Joyce's elbow,his expression full of quiet approval. "This is such a wonderful gesture. Thank you so much!"

"Thank you, Cedric," Joyce chimed in with a shy smile.

Maintaining his composure by a thread, Cedric resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

His patience wearing thin, he turned to Katrina with a cold stare. "Who gave you permission to be here?"His tone cut through the air, sharp and unforgiving.

Caiden, taken aback, blinked in confusion. After a moment, he chuckled awkwardly. "What do you mean by that? The entire floor is ours now. Actually,not just this one, but the two above it too. Daniela handed over all three floors to us."

At the mention of Daniela's name, Cedric's demeanor turned to one of solemnity, and he turned sharply to confront the building manager.

The manager, his forehead slick with sweat,hastened to clarify, "No, Mr. Phillips, their shop isn't located on this level."

Katrina, her brow furrowed in bewilderment,interjected sharply, "Our shop isn't here? Then where on earth is it supposed to be?"

Exhaling a deep, weary sigh, the building manager tapped his phone with a sense of urgency. "Jerry,come upstairs and escort them to their designated space," he instructed, before turning to Katrina with a stern gaze. "I must urge you to be careful as you exit. Every item here is a valuable antique, with each piece carrying a significant price tag."

He stepped towards Katrina, his hands extended,ready to ease the vase from her desperate grip. "Mr.Phillips, I'll ensure this vase is delivered to Ms.Harper's office."

Cedric watched the exchange, his eyes darkening as he viewed the vase. "It's already dirty," he declared,his disdain palpable.

The manager paused, his bewilderment plain on his face."Sorry.What did you say?"

Cedric offered no further explanation. "Just get rid of it," he stated dismissively.

In his eyes, anything Katrina defiled with her touch was as good as garbage, a disgrace to Daniela's name.

He entered the elevator without another word,his expression unreadable, yet his revulsion was clear.Katrina made a half-hearted attempt to reach out, to halt his departure, but the elevator doors sealed shut before she could utter a single plea.

The building manager exhaled a deep, tired sigh and ambled over to the trash can. With a resonant clang,he dumped the vase into it without a second thought.

Katrina's eyes stretched wide in shock. Casting aside any semblance of composure, she dashed to the trash can and leaned over, her arms plunging in to rescue the vase.

Cradling it protectively, she muttered in disbelief,"How could anyone toss away such a stunning vase?It's worth a fortune! Oh, no-look, there's a chip on the rim!"

Caiden and Joyce stood by, utterly mortified, their cheeks burning with embarrassment as they observed Katrina's frantic actions.

Behind them, Joyce's friends exchanged glances,their eyes wide with shock, their whispers intensifying as they struggled to mask their astonishment.

"This is utterly disgraceful."

"She has completely tarnished the image of every dignified lady! Can you believe Cedric refused the vase just because she handled it, and now she's scavenging it from the garbage? Did you see the desperation in her actions?"

"Truly, though, it's hardly shocking. I heard that Katrina only secured her place in the Harper family after Daniela's mother passed away. Before that,she was merely a humble villager, busying herself with pickling vegetables. It seems she employed every cunning tactic available to seduce Daniela's father."

"All that money, and she still can't shake off the pitiful aura of someone who'll grovel for scraps."

"Indeed, coming from modest means is no fault of her own. But where is her sense of pride? Has she no self-respect at all?"

"Self-respect? Please. It's doubtful Katrina even understands the concept. I heard that right after Daniela's mother died, Katrina moved in. Driven by fear of missing her chance at wealth, she disregarded how blatantly disgraceful it appeared. A woman of her sort-do you really think< she possesses any self-respect?"