Chapter 964

The sharp crack of the slap left the entire room reeling in stunned silence.

For a long beat, the group just gawked at Josh, eyes darting from his reddening cheek to Daniela's calm expression.

The shock hit Josh last-his jaw slack, then snapping shut as rage twisted his features. Slowly, color drained from his face, replaced by a venomous glare.

"Daniela, how dare you hit me!"

He looked ready to unravel, teetering on the edge of a breakdown.

Hatred darkened his gaze, turning it icy and deadly as he stared at Daniela. "You must be tired of living. Not even my father ever raised a hand to me. Who the hell do you think you are? Mark my words, Daniela-one of us isn't leaving this room alive."

Without warning,he drew a dagger, the blade catching the light as it emerged from his pocket.

Hamilton and his brothers froze, caught off guard,but before they could react, Daniela struck. In a blur, her fingers closed around Josh's wrist, squeezing so hard his hand flew open.

The dagger hit the floor with a metallic clang,skidding away.

Josh's wrist twisted awkwardly, agony flashing across his features as he dropped to his knees in defeat.Daniela barely seemed to move, her expression unfeadable, cool as ever.

She crouched down to Josh's level, her eyes hard as steel. "Clearly, your parents never taught you manners.Today, I'm giving you a lesson for their sake."

Josh, flushed with rage and trembling from the pain shooting up his wrist, found himself unable to form words.

Sweat trickled down his forehead as he fought to catch his breath. Instead,he turned his anger outward,voice raw with desperation. "Are you all blind? Can't you see she's out of control? Hamilton, what are you waiting for? Get this lunatic away from me!"

The moment his outburst ended, his complexion turned ghostly, his lips blanched to an ugly white

He was gulping for air, chest heaving as if the room itself were closing in.

For a heartbeat, the McCoy family stood frozen,Mother caught in a tense silence.

Ethan snapped out of his shock first, darting between them and raising both hands defensively. "Daniela,come on, we're not here for blood. We just want the money back. Can't you ease up a little?"

Hamilton rushed forward, his expression strained."Daniela, maybe take it easy, okay? Think about the babies you're carrying."

At last, Daniela unclenched her grip, letting Josh's arm drop.

He collapsed onto the floor, every inch of him slick with humiliation and sweat.

Fixing her with a glare, he spat out, "Touch me again and see what happens. You really think you'll get Ethan's money out of me? Keep dreaming. If you're so brave, kill me right here in Oiscoll!"

Daniela's lips curled into an amused, almost lazy smile as she stooped and plucked the fallen dagger off the floor,twirling it once between her fingers.

Josh's expression contorted, a violent tic flashing across his cheek at the sight.

Hamilton immediately rushed in, desperation in his voice. "Daniela, let's not do this here. Josh might be an asshole, but he's still family. The new McCoy Group barely has its footing. We don't need blood on our hands right now, do we?"

After that, he shot a pointed glare at Josh and demanded, "Why the hell did you pick a fight with her?Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

Meanwhile, Josh's secretary leaned close,voice barely above a breath. "Sir, you'd do well to remember-she's the mercenary leader. Watch your mouth."

Josh ground his teeth, fury simmering beneath his skin,but powerless to retaliate.

All he could manage was a shaky threat. "Daniela,don't think thisis over. I'll make you regret it."

With that, Josh stormed off.

He hunched over, shoulders tight, slinking toward the door as if he could slip away unnoticed. His retreat drew barely muffled laughter from his siblings, who found his desperation oddly satisfying.

But Daniela's icy voice sliced through the room.Without raising her head, she spoke flatly. "Did I say you could go?" The rain drummed against the window,deepening the chill that clung to her words. "No one's leaving this office until we're finished here."

Josh spun around, his temper snapping. "Daniela, are you out of your mind? Do you even realize where you are right now? This is Oiscoll! Maybe you should think twice before pushing your luck. I'm warning you-let me walk out while I'm still willing to be civil!"

Hamilton edged closer to Daniela, lowering his voice in a hurried plea. "Hey, maybe we should cool off.This isn't the right moment for a showdown. We can sort it out later, can't we?"

Brad, visibly rattled, clutched his chest as if steadying his heartbeat. "He's right, Daniela. When Josh gets like this, he loses it completely. If we take this any further,nobody wins."

Ethan, torn between resentment and resignation,finally managed to speak up, though his voice was barely above a whisper. "Dan..."

But Daniela cut him off with a wave of her hand,her expression uncompromising. "Sorry, but I don't give a damn about anyone's feelings. Josh, unless you hand over the thirty billion today, I promise you'll regret ever crossing me."

Josh's laughter spiraled into a wild, taunting shout."Daniela, tell me-does your dead mother know just how arrogant you've become?"

The instant those words left his mouth, the room turned glacial. Every breath seemed to echo off the walls, the silence punctuated only by Josh's ragged exhale."My mother..." A tremor flickered across Daniela's face as she ground the walnut in her fist until it snapped in half with a sharp crack. Her voice dropped to a chilling whisper. "You dare bring up my mother?"

Across the room, Hamilton caught the wild,flickering turmoil in Daniela's gaze-a storm of fury and old wounds.Beneath the surface,her rage churned, barely restrained.

"Daniela..." Hamilton's voice faltered, barely more than a whisper, but she didn't even glance his way.

Suddenly, Daniela's head snapped back as a cruel,eerie laugh escaped her lips.

For a moment, every person in the office braced themselves, certain Daniela would annihilate Josh on the spot.

However...