Chapter 154

"Whatdid you just say?" Katrina burst out, her voice seething with rage inside the hospital walls.

She had just ended a phone call and her first impulse was to unleash her fury on Caiden, but she restrained herself.

Taking several deep, calming breaths did little to soften the icy edge in her voice. "Caiden, my cousin just called. Have you really dismissed their whole family from the company?"

Caiden was seated on a bench, distress evident as he ran his fingers through his hair. "Daniela stormed into the office today and completely overran my authority!"

Katrina had braced herself for Daniela's bold moves against Caiden, yet the extent of the purge took her by surprise. All her carefully placed allies within Harper Group had been ousted overnight.

To the outside world, it might appear that only her cousin's family was tied closely to her,but she had strategically positioned individuals across crucial departments like finance, marketing, and public relations. Now, they had all been swept away wvithout exception.

Daniela's audacity left Katrina reeling. In that moment,she understood just how much she had underestimated Daniela's capabilities.

"Daniela even mentioned that the villa we acquired for Jack needs to be sold off and the assets liquidated,"Caiden continued, a mix of anger and disbelief in his voice. "She's also demanding that all the embezzled funds and transferred assets be returned to the company."

"How on earth does she know all these details about our business?" Katrina pressed, incredulity lacing her voice.

"How should I know? There's got to be a spy among us!" The very idea of Daniela tearing apart the company he'd nurtured for more than ten years hit Caiden like a punch in the gut,leaving him seething with unease.

In that regard, Daniela was a carbon copy of her mother-cold, calculating, and utterly heartless.

A deep frown creased Caiden's brow, his mind a whirlwind of disarray.

Daniela's assertive actions earlier had filled him with dread, planting seeds of profound anxiety within him "The funds have been transferred, and the villa's in our name now. You're still her father, Caiden. Even if she cuts you off, she wouldn't drag you into court.Just let her be!"

Katrina, ever the optimist, clung to the hope that Daniela would not abandon Harper Group.

Caiden's voice was a low murmur, tinged with certainty. "No, Katrina, you don't understand Daniela.She's relentless, just like her mother. If we don't meet her demands,she'll take legal action without a second thought."

Though Katrina scorned Caiden's timidity inwardly,she maintained a cheerful demeanor. "Alright, let's not rely on her then. What if I manage it? I can sell the villa and bring back the overseas funds. Would that work for you?"

This suggestion finally brought a sense of relief to Caiden.

Once Caiden had left, Joyce turned to Katrina with a hint of reluctance in her voice. "Mom, all this should be mine. Why should I have to return anything to Daniela?"

As she sat beside Jack's cradle, Katrina's gaze rested on the newborn, her lips curling into a soft, serene smile. "Don't worry; I know what I'm doing. What belongs to you will always remain yours. No one can take that away."

Katrina then leaned forward, engaging playfully with Jack,who responded with joyful giggles.

When Daniela returned from her meeting at Harper Group,her demeanor was noticeably subdued.

Observing this, Lillian turned to Cedric, her voice tinged with concern. "What should we do now?"

Cedric didn't respond; instead, he walked purposefully into the kitchen. Moments later, he returned, bearing a plate of Daniela's favorite pastries, and gently tapped on her office door.

Inside, the business certificate that had been tarnished and trampled upon lay cleaned and flattened on the desk.

Setting the pastries aside, Cedric picked up a damp cloth and began to cleanse every speck of dirt from the certificate.

Only after restoring it to pristine condition did he place it in a new frame and returned it to its rightful spot on Daniela's desk.

"Things that get dirty can be cleaned. What's important is ensuring that what's taken is always returned."

Daniela looked up at him, her eyes reflecting the warm,ambient light of the office. In Cedric's serene expression,she recognized something deeply familiar."Cedric, you remind me of someone I once knew in my childhood."