Chapter 168

If Daniela had not brought up the past, Caiden wouldn't have remembered it at all.

Now confronted with the undeniable truth, he remained tight-lipped.

Katrina caught the weight of his silence, her teeth gritting as she realized there was no escaping the task of moving Joyce from her current room today.

With a contrived tenderness, she turned to Cedric, softening her expression in a bid to seem reasonable.

She coaxed Daniela in a sugary tone dripping with insincerity. "Daniela, think about what you're saying.Accusing your father over something as trivial as a room? Very well, if the room means so much to you,consider it yours. Marilyn, would you please start packing Joyce's belongings and take them out?"

Marilyn, still clutching her cheek, stormed upstairs in frustration.

Daniela's lips twisted into a subtle, sconful smile. "I see you haven't lost your touch. Your words glide as smoothly as ever, and your skin seems thicker than stone."

Her words were piercing, sharp enough to cut through the air.

Katrina's hand, resting lightly on her lap,curled into a tight fist.

Her face held a serene, amiable smile, but underneath, a storm of fury raged within her.

She had always known handling Daniela was a challenge. Looking back, she regretted not having killed Daniela.

Joyce began to voice her objections, but Daniela's frosty glare instantly silenced her. With her head bowed,she meekly withdrew to stand behind Katrina, her resolve completely evaporating.

An hour later, Ryan and Lillian pulled up with a moving van in tow. A flurry of movers bustled in and out,hauling an assortment of furniture and boxes into the house. Katrina watched the procession wih a growing sense of annoyance churning in her stomach."Really, is afl this necessary? Just look at all these things! Caiden, is Daniela planning to stay here for good?"

Caiden watched, his face clouding over as he saw movers hauling in a bed, a desk, a piano, and various other pieces of lavish furniture. A wave of irritation squeezed his chest, yet he felt powerless to intervene.With a frustrated snort, he spun around and retreated into the house.

Joyce,on the other hand, gaped in astonishment as the movers hauled a brand-new bed upstairs. Unable to contain her frustration any longer, she called out to Daniela, "Daniela, this is absurd! The bed in my room is almost new. Was there really a need to replace it with another?"

Daniela, leisurely peeling an orange that Cedric had given her, didn't even bother to glance her way."l′′ma bit obsessive when it comes to keeping things clean."

Just then, Josie arrived,accompanied by a squad of professional cleaners. She addressed Daniela with deference before ushering the cleaners upstairs.

Joyce stared in disbelief at the unfolding chaos. She turned sharply, her eyes blazing with fury as her voice exploded. "What the hell is this supposed to mean? They've got disinfectant tools! Are you implying that I'm filthy?"

Daniela didn't even glance up from her task."NO,"she responded flatly.

A wave of relief washed over Joyce, but it was short-lived.

"I'm merely concerned that you might be carrying some contagious illness," Daniela continued, her tone indifferent.

"Daniela, that is beyond inappropriate!" Joyce exploded in outrage.

For the first time, Daniela met her gaze squarely.′′YS1, I am being inappropriate. So, what are you going to do about it?"

It was a question that cut straight to the core.

Joyce stood rooted to the spot, her thoughts scrambling for a comeback.

Eventually, she had to accept the hársh reality-she was powetless to change Daniela's course of actior.

Once the upstairs room was arranged, Caiden and the others thought the chaos was finally over.

Suddenly, Daniela's crew burst into the kitchen, commencing a ruthless dismantling of the space.

Caiden and the others were shocked, their disbelief written all over their faces.

Katrina demanded, "What in the world are you doing?”

Josie,standing confidently with her sleeves rolled up and overseeing the workers, pivoted to face her."Daniela prefers not to share her kitchen space with you. She requires more room. Thus, we are enlarging this area."

She pointed to a modest sink nestled in the corner and assured,"Don't worry, that area is designated for your use."

Marilyn, who was visibly agitated, advanced with determination, her sleeves also now rolled up in readiness."Why does she get all this space? Joyce has just welcomed a new baby and needs wholesome soups! How do you expect me to manage in such a cramped spot?"

"That's not my concern. Why are you bringing this to me? If you're struggling with your responsibilities,maybe you need to reconsider your position here. Sort it out on your own." Josie's loyalty to Daniela was unwavering. Despite her son's substantial financial success, she had opted to remain steadfastly by Daniela's side.

She often said that Daniela had faced many challenges in life, and she was willing take care of Daniela.

Furthermore, Tyler's prosperity was deeply intertwined with Daniela's encouragement and support. Filled with gratitude, Josie had committed herself to always protect and support Daniela.①

Every so often, tales about the Harper family's mistreatment of Daniela would reach Josie through whispers from Ryan or Lillian. These stories invariably ignited a fiery anger within her.

Upon learning of Daniela's return, Josie wasted no time in rushing to her aid, anxious that Daniela might once again fall prey to the family's cruelty. Her worries were slightly alleviated when she saw Cedric standing protectively by Daniela's side, yet Josie remained vigilant, her defenses firmly up.

Marilyn, Katrina's aunt, had made herself quite at home in the residence. She savored the best foods,claimed a prime spot at the family dining table, and enjoyed the comforts of their lavish home.Now,with her dominance challenged by an outsider, her patience was wearing thin.

"Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that? This is the Harper family!" Marilyn snarled, her voice trembling with rage.

"Oh, so you do know this is the Harper family?" Josie responded with a piercing, mocking laugh. "That's amusing. From the way you've been comporting yourself, one might assume we're in your home. You've leeched off your employers for so long, you've completely lost sight of your actual standing here."

Marilyn, incensed, drew her hand back, poised to strike.

But before her hand could meet its mark, the sharp sound of a slap rang out, stopping her in her tracks.

Marilyn stood there, utterly speechless, her body rigid with shock. In that moment, the world seemed to mute around her, leaving her enveloped in a disorienting buzz.

The shame of Daniela's slaps earlier was still fresh-a deep, stinging humiliation. But now, struck by a mere servant? It was utterly unthinkable.

Overcome with fury, Marilyn lunged towards Josie, her face twisted in anger.

However, Josie, with her years of laborious service sculpting her into a formidable force, did not retreat.With a swift and skilled motion, she delivered a series of sharp, echoing slaps to Marilyn, each one leaving her more dazed and unsteady.

Katrina noticed the escalating chaos and stepped in, hoping to defuse the tension.

Daniela, lounging on the couch with her eyes fixed on the television, finally spoke. "If it's just the servants quarreling, let them handle it. Katrina, if you interfere, you force my hand as well. And don't come crying to me if l act against you." Her casual tone belied the gravity of her words, which seemed to linger heavily in the air.

Katrina halted abruptly, her body quivering slightly with the weight of Daniela's warning. She found herself unable to move forward.

On the floor, Marilyn, now subdued and pinned down by Josie, broke down completely. Her cries filled the room as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Katrina! Katrina! Help me!"

Katrina, caught in a tumultuous internal struggle, remained still. Her eyes darted from Marilyn, lying battered and crying on the floor, to Daniela, who remained disinterestedly on the couch, seemingly oblivious to the commotion.

Though her jaw was locked with strain, Katrina made the deliberate choice to remain still, unwilling to get involved.