Chapter 249

While Shirley bided her time, she was far from inactive.

In the game of seducing men, Katrina believed Shirley played a smarter hand than Joyce.

As Shirley circled Cedric like a hawk, Caiden warned, "Take this seriously, Katrina. Don't stir the pot with Cedric."

Katrina paused, turning to give him a curious look. "Well, well, I thought you had taken a vow of silence.Seems you can still speak after all!"

Her eyes danced with mockery as she probed, "What's the matter now? Think Daniela's your new champion, and you're ready to curry favor? You certainly know how to sail with the wind, Caiden."

"I'd love to curry favor with her, but that would require Daniela giving me the time of day," Caiden retorted with frankness. "I'm not here to chat with you. I'm warning you-don't poke the bear with Daniela. Shemay not sweat the small stuff, but cross her lines, and she can make your life a living hell."

Caiden eyed Katrina's scornful smirk and added, "Don't underestimate her. I'm concerned you might just get us thrown out of this villa. It's always the still waters that run deep."

Katrina smirked, unimpressed. "Oh really? And just how terrifying might that be?"

"A woman like her didn't climb to her current heights by playing the damsel. Get the picture?" Caiden replied,his tone matter-of-fact.

Without a knack for cutthroat tactics in the business realm, one would quickly be swallowed whole, leaving not a trace behind.

Katrina, cloistered from the corporate battlefield, wouldn't grasp such complexities. Before her marriage to Caiden, she was but a housemaid.

What could she truly comprehend? Her expertise lay solely in the arts of coquettlsh manipulation.

Her counsel to Joyce and Shirley on handling men was invariably woven from the same thread.

Realizing further conversation was futile,Caiden awaited Daniela at the door as she finished her day's work.

"What's up?" Daniela inquired, not lifting her gaze from her phone. "I'm swamped right now. If it's trivial,please step aside."

Caiden asked, "Is Cedric trivial enough for your time?"

That caught her attention. Her eyes flicked up fromn her phone to his face.

Caiden stole a glance at her phone, noting a screen filled with figures.

Daniela pocketed her device."Speak!"

Caiden divulged, "Shirley is attempting to charm Cedric."

Daniela's initial reaction was dismissive, but her hand paused midway to her pocket as Caiden continued,"They're going to make Cedric take an aphrodisiac."

Daniela's fingers slowly uncurled. Her face clouded over for a brief moment before she regained her usual poise."Understood," she acknowledged, then entered the house.

Watching Daniela's composed figure, Caiden couldn't help but contrast her with Joyce and Shirley.

The difference was night and day.

He suddenly questioned what he ever found appealing in Katrina.

What was she, after all?

Daniela returned home.

Josie mentioned that Cedric had just returned from his business trip.

As she spoke, the door to Cedric's room swung open. "You're back." Daniela nodded. "I thought you were on a business trip! Why are you back so soon?"

Cedric approached, taking her bag as they ascended the stairs together. His voice, low and husky, carried a hint of warmth. "I wanted to be back early. And I missed you."

A small smile played on Daniela's lips.

Shirley observed their ascent to the room. The apple she had peeled, originally intended for Cedric, seemed redundant now; she ended up eating it herself. Suddenly, a thought struck her.

Turning to the servant, she remarked, "Don't you think Daniela and Cedric seem almost too comfortable with each other? So relaxed..."

"They look like a couple!" Josie chimed in cheerfully.

Shirley nodded in agreement. "Exactly! Like a couple!"