Chapter 649

As Daniela stepped out of the villa, she spotted Cedric standing near the garage.

"I need to talk to you," he said.

Daniela gave a small nod and got into the car.

They sat in the back while Carol and the driver took the front seats.

"I want to move back into the villa with you."Worried she might say no, Cedric quickly added,"I used to live there with you. Back then, we weren't even married."

Daniela already knew that was what he'd come to discuss.

When she didn't say anything, Cedric kept going. "I promise I won't get in your way. I'll stay in the guest room downstairs. Just like before."

Daniela's voice was steady. "That won't work this time."

Cedric turned to her fast. "Why not? You agreed before."

Daniela looked out the window. "And now, I don't." Cedric stared at her, eyes filling with pain. "Why?"

After a long pause, Daniela answered, "BecauseI need to handle this myself."

The last time she let Cedric come home with her, the explosion happened. She lost her baby; four people were seriously hurt.

Now she was dealing with memory loss, and the person behind the explosion was still out there,waiting for the right moment to strike again.

She had to be more cautious. She didn't have too much time to worry about Cedric.

"I can handle myself," Cedric said, his eyes full of quiet resolve.

But Daniela shook her head.

The attack had happened when she was pregnant.

Whoever planned it had studied her past. They struck when she was at her weakest.

She couldn't let Cedric walk into that kind of danger again.

Daniela had already made up her mind.

"If you won't let me inside, I'll pitch a tent out front,"Cedric said. "I'm not leaving you to deal with this on your own."

The explosion had left scars on him

If he hadn't shown up in time, she wouldn't have survived.

They lost three years. He didn't want to waste another second apart.

Daniela was headstrong. So was Cedric. Neither one would budge.

Even when she got to Elite Lux, she still hadn't changed her answer.

Cedric sat at his own desk at Elite Lux, looking both pitiful and inexplicably determined.

Carol looked at Daniela. "What do we do about him?"

"Leave him," said Daniela, her voice calm.

Later that evening, Daniela got out first. Cedric followed behind.

The car pulled up to the villa. Daniela stepped out,and Cedric grabbed his tent. He set it up right at the entrance.

Carol turned to Daniela."He′Sstill a CEO. Isn't it a little much to let him camp out by the road?" Daniela narrowed her eyes. Without a word, she walked into the house.

The door opened, and Jack was already there,holding out a glass of water to her.

Joyce stood off to the side,fuming.

She had raised him herself, but he'd never treated her like that.

Still, when she thought about the inheritance he might get from Daniela one day, she felt slightly better.

"Jack's so good to you, Daniela," Joyce said, her tone bitter. "Better than he is to me, and I'm his mother.You hardly give him anything. Do you really deserve that kind of devotion?"

Caiden joined in. "He's your nephew. You should help him get into the best school."

He wasn't speaking out of kindness. He had a plan.

Step by step, he wanted to ease Daniela into doing more.

First came the school fees. Then came the tutoring After that, he'd ask her to pay for everything.

If she said yes now, the rest would be easy. But Daniela caught on before they could even finish She smiled slightly. "I'm not responsible for raising your kid."

Joyce's face tightened. She was ready to explode,"You've got money. What's the harm in helping a child?No wonder you can't have one of your own. You're too selfish."

Then came the slap-sharp and sudden.

Joyce froze."You hit me?" she gasped.

Rage boiled up in her, and she stepped forward,ready to strike back.

But Daniela reached into her pocket,pulled out a knife,and tossed it onto the table. It landed with a loud clack.

Caiden flinched. "Let's just talk, alright?"

Since she returned, Daniela had changed. Every time he saw her, he felt something cold and dangerous hovering around her.

He tried to steady his voice. "Let's sit down and have a proper conversation."

From the kitchen, Tasha peeked out. She saw Joyce and Caiden shrink into themselves. Daniela was impatient. "Blood doesn't buy you protection. The only reason I'm talking to you is because I need answers. Give me what I want, and you can stay. But if you don't, I'll throw you out on the spot."

Her eyes didn't blink. They burned with a quiet threat."You hear me?"

Jack's voice rang out from the living room. He was still on the floor, playing. "It's raining!"

Daniela turned to the window. The drizzle had started falling in thin, steady lines.

She pressed her lips together.