Chapter 732

It was Alexander who had sent the message.

Daniela fixated on it, the hours slipping awNay as sleep eluded her the whole night.

The next day, as she opened the door, she saw the man who said he wasn't waiting for her.

Daniela froze, rooted to the spot, her thoughts spiraling in stunned silence.

Cedric gave her a once-over. He spoke fast. "Are you feeling unwell?"

Daniela blinked, her mind slow to catch up.

Cedric added, "Carol texted me and said you weren't feeling well. I called back, but her phone was dead.What's going on?"

At that, Daniela turned to Carol with a questioning look.

Carol, mid-bite, flashed a cheeky grin. "She didn't sleep all night. No surprise she looks like a zombie now."

Cedric's brows drew together as he studied Daniela closely. He could see the dark circles around her eyes.

His frown deepened. "Why didn't you sleep? Is it Hamilton or his sons giving you trouble?"

Daniela narrowed her eyes at him. "How did you even get here?"

She had asked Charles to issue a ban-if Cedric got close to Oiscoll, the plane had to go back immediately.

"How did you even make it here?" Daniela asked again, disbelief shadowing her voice.

Cedric's lips thinned. "If I want to be here, nothing's stopping me. I flew myself in-skipped the usual runways." Daniela's brows drew into a tight line. Her voice was ice. "There's a wicked wind out there, Cedric. You can't fly in this-it's insane. Have you completely lost

it?"

Cedric folded his arms across his chest. "Didn't you say you were done with me? Well, I guess I've gone nuts."

Daniela shut her eyes, just for a breath. "I told you to stay home. I never asked you to throw your life into the wind."

Cedric cut her off. "The forecast says this wind won't quit for a week. If you don't want me here, I'll be gone before you blink."

Daniela frowned, worry creeping into her voice. "And just how do you plan to leave?"

Cedric shrugged. "I'll hop into my battered old plane -the one that nearly dropped a wing when I landed.Let's see if it decides to get me home."

Daniela stood there, stunned, words swallowed by the weight of what he'd said. Behind her, Carol threw Cedric a dramatic thumbs-up, grinning like he'd just won a medal.

Cedric raised both hands in mock surrender. "Your call."

Carol cut in cheerfully, "The wind's been wild all week. No flights are getting out of Oiscoll."

Unless they hurled Cedric into the sea and wished him luck swimming back, he was pretty much stuck here now.

Daniela clenched her jaw. "I told you not to come,didn't l? You know exactly who Hamilton is. Now that you're in Oiscoll, getting out won't be so simple."

Cedric gave a nonchalant shrug. "In that case, I'm not going anywhere. So, you're here backing Charles,huh? Well, I'll just stick around. Whenever you head out, I'll go too."

Daniela glanced at Cedric, a wave of resignation sweeping over her. She then turned to Carol and said, "When the flights are running again, get him on one and send him back home." Carol lounged against the staircase banister with a grin. "Consider it done!"

When Daniela arrived in Oiscoll, she bought a super-luxurious seaside villa. The place was massive,with a front-row seat to the sea and a breeze that felt like nature's own lullaby.

Cedric grabbed a float and dove into the waves, then spent over an hour jogging the shoreline like it was his personal track.

When he returned, he made a beeline for the kitchen like a man on a mission.

Carol let out a happy sigh and said to Daniela, "It's nice having someone around. He's got so much energy-makes the place feel alive. Plus, we've got real meals now. I'm loving it!"

Daniela sat at the dining table, eyes settling on her favorite dishes. Whatever irritation she felt melted away with the aroma.

After the meal, Daniela stepped out and called Cedric to join her. Cedric stood under the open sky, sea breeze brushing past him, clad in relaxed shorts-he looked completely at home.

"I'm dead serious," Daniela said. Cedric's laid-back attitude gnawed at her nerves-he was far too calm for a place like this. She had to spell it out again."Oiscoll belongs to Hamilton. If he wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, he won't think twice about doing something reckless. So when the storm settles in a week, you're flying back. Until then, you don't leave this villa. Not even a step."

Cedric gave a quick nod, agreeing without the slightest pause.

Then, still in those shorts, he spun around and hopped into the open-top minivan with the housekeeper,heading off on a grocery run.

The two chatted easily, as if they were old friends reunited-regretting they hadn't crossed paths earlier.

Carol looked on, a wide, amused grin lighting up her face. Daniela lowered her voice and asked, "Did you message him?"

Knowing Cedric, he could've stayed mad for ages.There was no way he would've turned up this fast on his own.

Carol smiled warmly. "You stared at your phone the whole night. I figured you missed him, so I called him.There aren't that many things we really want in life.Why make it harder on yourself?

Life's already tough. You've got to find your own happiness. It's too short to spend chasing things you pretend not to want. That knd of longing-it just chokes you."

Daniela glanced toward Cedric, who was laughing and chatting with the housekeeper in the kitchen.She sighed. "Living on your own terms isn't easy.Maybe you've just never had to learn that."

Carol nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe I don't. But the moment Cedric arrived, I saw you smile for the first time since you got to Oiscoll."