Chapter 714

Alexander struggled to keep his balance.

A dry, bitter laugh slipped from his lips. "You're afraid Cedric might hear me? Do you care about him that much?Daniela, do you remember how much you used to care about me? Do you even remember who I was to you?"

Daniela didn't have the patience for a drawn-out fight. "I've moved on. Just go." She turned around and reached for the car door.

But Alexander wasn't done yet. "Just give me one chance, Daniela. That's allI'm asking."

"You already had more than enough," Daniela said, her voice cold and steady. "I never loved you, not really.You know that. I chased after you because I thought you were that boy from my childhood.But were you?"

Alexander's eyes welled with a sudden sting of emotion. "So you figured it out? I had a feeling you would.But even if I wasn't the one from back then, does that really change everything?"

Her expression tightened. There was no anger-just the weary weight of honesty. "You can't force love,Alexander.Or hate, for that matter. Some things in life just don't work the way we want. Let's not drag this out more than we already have."

Nothing rattled Alexander more than the calm finality in her tone. Whenever she spoke like that, it usually meant the door was shut for good.

"Is that really your answer?" Alexander asked, jaw clenched. "Cedric's lame. He hasn't beenrunning the Phillips Group. I'm the one in charge now. Are you really choosing to walk away from me for him?"

Daniela gave no reply. Her silence told him everything he needed to know.

"Alright then," he said, lowering his gaze. "Just don't come crawling back when it all falls apart."

A quiet nod was all Daniela gave him. "Sure. Don't bother showing up." She glanced up to the second floor.Cedric's window was dark. That was enough for her. With a shove, she pushed Alexander out of her way and slipped into the car.

The engine roared to life, and the car sped down the long driveway, away from the villa.

Behind the wheel, Carol scoffed, "Alexander's a damn fraud. He already squeezed everything he could out of the McCoy family. Why the act? What's he pretending to be heartbroken for now?"

Daniela didn't care about these things.

Meanwhile, Carol was fuming. "He's acting like letting go is some kind of noble sacrifice. Like you don't know his worth. It's pathetic."

Her irritation seeped into each word she spoke.

Eyes fixed on the open stretch of road ahead, Daniela spoke in an even tone. "We're being followed."

Carol frowned, her eyes darting to the rearview mirror. "Is he serious right now? Didn't you already make things clear to him? What more does he want? I swear, l've never seen someone so shameless!"

Without waiting for an answer, Carol slammed on the brakes, flung the door open, and marched straight to the car behind them.

Alexander's car rolled to a stop a second later.

Carol didn't waste time. "Enough, Alexander. What the hell do you want now?"

Alexander had no real answer.Following them had been a gut reaction. Now that he was being called out,the words wouldn't come.

"You said you love Daniela,remember?"

Lifting his gaze slowly, Alexander met Carol's eyes through the windshield."|do." Carol let out a cold, mocking laugh."Oh, really? Enough to put your life on the line? That's funny. You sure didn't look brave when you ran off that day."

The comment hit a nerve. Alexander's expression shifted, clouded by guilt.

"You still think you've got a shot? That she'll take you back?"

Instead of denying it, Alexander stared at Carol. "Will you help me?"

To his surprise, Carol gave a quick nod. "Sure. But you don't need to throw yourself off a cliff to doit.You want to prove something? Give back everything the McCoy family ever handed you."

At her words, Alexander's hands clenched tighter around the steering wheel.

Carol caught the hesitation on his face and let out a laugh. "What's the matter? Having trouble letting go?"

Alexander's tone became icy, carrying a hint of detachment. "That's not it. The cooperation with the McCoy family has nothing to do with my relationship with Daniela."

With a sharp tilt of her head, Carol gave him a once-over. "Oh, please. You expect me to buy that? If Cedric or Daniela wasn't in the picture, the Bennett family wouldn't even be on the McCoy family's radar.Alexander,have you no shame at all?"

That hit its mark. His mouth pressed into a hard line, and the color drained from his face.

"Fine. There's a connection," he admitted after a pause. "But I can keep it in check."

Carol tapped her hand's palm gently against his car's hood. "Don't try to dress it up, Alexander.We're not here for your excuses. You want help? End the deal with the McCoy family. Do that, and I'll consider giving you a hand with Daniela. Maybe even let you move into her villa."

Thoughts swirled in his head. News headlines flashing praise. Richard's smug grin. Bennett Group's stock climbing like never before.

He couldn't give her an answer.

Carol saw it all in the way his eyes wavered. "Figures," she said with a scoff."You're just full of it. If Cedric were in your place, he'd already be halfway/to cutting ties. That's the difference-you hesitate. You cling to safety. That's why you'll never win. And honestly? You're exhausting. Leave Daniela alone if you've got even a shred of dignity left."

Without giving him another look, Carol turned on her heel and walked away. Sliding back into the driver's seat, she told Daniela, "Done!"

No emotion crossed Daniela's face. "Drive." Her voice was colder than the night air.

Carol gave a curt nod and started the engine. After a few minutes, her eyes flicked up to the mirror.

With an irritated sigh, Carol clicked her tongue.

Daniela's patience had run dry. "Get rid of him!"