Chapter 681

Nikolas stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded.

His jaw dropped, hanging there as if he'd forgotten how to close it.

Not once in his life had he heard Hamilton speak with such warmth, such unsettling friendliness.

From the sidelines, he studied Daniela's sharp profile, an uneasy weight settling in his chest-his position as heir had never felt so fragile.

"Titles don't concern me," Daniela said coolly."Your actions, however, do."

It was a challenge-clear, direct, and impossible to ignore.

A chill ran down Nikolas' spine. He braced himself,fully expecting Hamilton's temper to erupt.

Without thinking, he stepped back, waiting for the inevitable-the phone slamming, the explosion of rage.

But to his shock, Hamilton didn't explode-he laughed. A rich, hearty laugh. "It was just a test, no need to be so tense. Your reputation as Cealmaur's leader is well-earned. Even handling Ghost seemed effortless for you."

Daniela's brow lifted ever so slightly.

She hadn't done a thing to Ghost.

But if Hamilton believed it, then Ghost must have made a move that afternoon.

Who,then, had dealt with Ghost?

Daniela had no answers, but she owed a silent debt to whoever had shielded Cedric.

And so, she played along, choosing to shieldthe unknown figure and feed Hamilton a lie.

Her voice remained steady, but the warning was razor-sharp. "Make sure there isn't a next time,or Nikolas might not make it back to Oiscoll in one piece."

Nikolas swallowed hard, lost for words.

Hamilton, unbothered as ever, spoke like a doting elder, his voice smooth with a smile. "Daniela,may l call you that? When will you and Cedric visit Oiscoll?I'd love the pleasure of meeting you both."

The invitation was laid out, tempting yet laced with hidden intent.

Daniela wasn't reckless enough to waltz into Hamilton's domain and hand him an advantage."We'll see. And one last thing-don't push Cedric into anything against his will. You won't like what happens if you do."

Hamilton chuckled, low and knowing.

That was precisely the confirmation he had been waiting for.

It proved what he had suspected all along-Daniela would go to any lengths for Cedric. Daniela wielded an empire of influence, razor-sharp business instincts, and a fortune vast enough to rival nations. A woman like that was the ideal successor.

As long as Cedric remained in Daniela's heart, the possibility of her joining the McCoy family was still on the table.

From the very start, Hamilton's sights had been set on Daniela.

Daniela was no fool.

She had drawn clear lines in the sand-Cedric was free to make his own choices, so long as he didn't endanger himself.

That alone won Hamilton's silent respect.

With a smile, Hamilton ended the call, his incompetent son standing there as if he'd vanished into thin air.

Nikolas gawked at the dead phone, his mind reeling,completely at a loss. "Did you just hang up on my father?" Nikolas stared at Daniela, utterly stunned. "The last person who dared to do that is dead now."

Daniela shot him a knowing look. "You're terrified of your father, aren't you?"

Nikolas nodded. "Obviously. He's the richest man on the planet."

Daniela's lips curled into a smirk. "So what? I once held that title too. Do I scare you?"

Nikolas instinctively wanted to say, "You're scarier than my father!" But he swallowed them back,unwilling to tempt fate.

At last, he spoke, his voice quieter than before."So you're saying you won't meddle in Cedric's choices?As long as he isn't harmed, you'll stand by whatever he decides?"

Daniela inclined her head. "Naturally."

Nikolas let out a dry chuckle. "I figured you'd play the 'for his own good' card to keep him out of it." Daniela shook her head. "That was never my plan. If he wants to fight, I'll stand behind him. If he doesn't,then that's his choice to make."

For the first time since meeting her, Nikolas truly looked at Daniela.

He had seen plenty of high-born women, but Daniela eclipsed them all.

Yet it wasn't just her beauty-there was something else, an enigmatic pull, impossible to ignore.

In that instant, he felt an unfamiliar pang-envy for Cedric.

Because Cedric had Daniela-someone who stood by him, no strings attached, no conditions set.

Bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun, Daniela turned to Nikolas, her voice steady. "To me, he's Cedric. No title, no name will ever change that."

A strange warmth flickered in Nikolas' chest. Before he could stop himself, a question slipped past his li