Chapter 33

The moment Daniela descended the stairs, her icy,aloof demeanor extinguished Caiden's tentative smile.

For a fleeting second, he contemplated chastising her,yet his attention diverted to Cedric, who was firmly planted in his chair.

No longer engrossed in his phone, Cedric nonetheless seemed rooted to the spot, exhibiting no signs of departure.

Concealing his iritation, Caiden managed a polite smile and turned to Cedric. "Mr. Phillips, now that Daniela has joined us, was there something particular you wished to discuss with her? Perhaps you could have a word with her first?"

With a lazy stretch, Cedric settled deeper into his seat his voice smooth and unhurried. "We're set for lunch later. There's no need to rush. You two chat-I'll stay out of the way. When you're finished, I'll take her along."

His insinuation was unmistakable: he wasn't leaving anytime soon.

Caiden,suppressing his annoyance, shot Cedric a wary glance before facing Daniela again.

A subtle yet undeniable edge of criticism colored his voice this time.

"Unbelievable, Daniela. Getting up this late? With your pathetic work ethic, it's a joke that you're even running a business."

Daniela delayed her response, instead strolling into the kitchen and serving herself a glass of milk.

With a brief glance at Katrina and then Joyce,a smile danced on her lips.

Caiden's jaw tightened. "What's so funny?"

Dressed to perfection and carrying an air of unshakable authority, Daniela returned to the living room and settled elegantly into the cushions.

"I'm laughing because I'm dying to know-what bullshit plan are you cooking up this time?" Her tone dripped with sarcasm, a subtle smirk on her lips accentuating her clear disdain.

"Daniela!" Caiden's voice hardened, his eyes narrowing with a warning edge. "Mind your words!"

Unfazed, Daniela retorted, "If my memory serves me right, you were the one who publicly declared our father-daughter ties cut. It was in the newspapers,wasn't it?Perhaps you've forgotten. It's understandable,given your lovely new wife and darling daughter are now in the picture. Don't worry-I saved a screenshot of that announcement. Would you like to see it?"

Caiden's expression tensed visibly.

Undeterred, Daniela pressed on. "Since we're nothing to each other anymore,let me ask-what twisted logic made you think bringing your pathetic family into my home was okay?"

Her gaze briefly swept over to the housekeeper and then to the movers. "You've hit my staff and started seizing my possessions. So, I must ask-what is this,if not daylight robbery?"

Stepping up,Joyce interjected sharply, "Daniela, don't twist it into something terrible! We're taking your stuff because you actually matter to us!" 2

Daniela's frosty expression didn't waver as she fixed her piercing eyes on Joyce. "Oh, really? Should I applaud you for that?"

For a moment, Joyce stumbled, her composure cracking like fragile glass.

Stepping in, Katrina coaxed, "Daniela, you're being overly harsh. I understand you're hurt because your father declared he's cutting ties with you,but consider his age-he can be rash at times. Do you truly want to cling to resentment? Bonds between father and daughter aren't so easily dissolved by a mere public statement. You've been part of the Harper family for over twenty years-don't pretend you made it all on your own. Let's not ruin family ties with needless stubbornness."

Katrina was the epitome of hypocrisy-sweet on the surface,venomous underneath.

Unaware of her duplicity, Caiden absorbed only the words that suited his narrative.

He truly thought Katrina was the peacemaker of the family.

His expression hardened further, his eyes locking on Daniela with a freezing intensity.

In his eyes, she was nothing more than a spoiled brat who didn't know how to appreciate a damn thing.

Daniela, however, was no stranger to Katrina's manipulations. She lifted her hand, signaling an end to the discussion. "Stop pretending this was all some impulsive mistake. Let's face it,Dad-you couldn't wait to cut me loose, could you?"

Caiden was obsessed with his image, and the idea of eating his words, especially with Cedric watching,was utterly humiliating.

To concede a mistake in such a scenario was unthinkable.

His expression grew darker, a storm brewing in his eyes. As he parted his lips to protest, Katrina slid gracefully into the seat next to him, her fingers lightly pressing his, and whispered, "If we upset Daniela, how will we convince her to give those floors to Joyce?She's your daughter. What's the point of holding a grudge against her? After all these years of raising her,would you really want to see all your efforts go to waste?"

Caiden's jaw tightened, a visible tremor of frustration rippling through him. "Are you suggesting I should just submit to her demands now?"

With a serene smile, Katrina embodied both innocence and empathy. "She's your daughter. Is it really that demeaning to yield a little for her? But if the thought is too bitter for you, allow me to be the peacemaker."

Rising with deliberate grace, Katrina bent forward into a deep, respectful bow. "Daniela, I accept the blame for everything that has transpired. As your stepmother,I've let you down. Please, don't punish your father for my mistakes. I see youI're upset, and I want to apologize. I'm sorry. Can we move past this and focus on what's ahead?"

Her voice, soft and pleading, was laden with feigned self-abnegation. She assumed the guise of a benevolent,loving stepmother with flawless precision.

Caiden, observing this, was overwhelmed with a rush of pride and tenderness for Katrina. His heart swelled with appreciation for her display of "kindness," and he made a silent promise to himself to provide even greater support for her and Joyce in the coming days.

How could they, so innocent and righteous, livein this dangerous world without him watching over them?