Chapter 719

As Daniela sank into silence, Kohen stood stiffly, his nerves barely contained.

"Daniela, believe me-I'm the best choice you have. I might not have the elders' favor like Nikolas, Charles'sly wit, Damon's influential in-laws, or our father's favor like Duran. But what I do have is loyalty. I came looking for you in the middle of the night. Isn't that proof enough of where I stand?"

As he spoke, Kohen slipped a black card from his pocket and offered it to Daniela. "Two hundred million-a small gesture of the respect I have for you."

Everyone knew Hamilton kept his sons' purse strings tight. That two hundred million? It was nearly all Kohen owned. If nothing else, this was a bolddisplay of sincerity.

"You should go. I'Il think it over," Daniela said, her tone frosty but calm.

Kohen nodded eagerly. "Of course. I'll go and wait for your good news!" He backed away with a courteous bow, a polite smile plastered on his face.

Carol glanced at Daniela. "So are you actually considering supporting him? Two hundred million is no small show of generosity."

Daniela looked at the card, then spoke flatly. "The ones who smile the most often hide the deepest shadows. Kohen's ambition isn't as harmless as he makes it sound. If it were, he wouldn't be the first to knock on my door-or have a network of secret intel hubs already running."

Carol blinked, surprised. "Do you think he's worth backing?"

Daniela said nothing.

Through the window across the room, Carol spotted Cedric. She turned back to Daniela. "I honestly think Cedric is the best option.If we're talking smarts, none of the McCoy brothers can match Cedric. And when it comes to obedience, they don't even come close. There's no reason to build up a rival just to gain a foothold in the McCoy family. The brothers might be green, but the power behind them is real. If you put Cedric in charge, you wouldn't just have access-you'd control it all. You'd be holding the reins of the global economy.Isn't that a cleaner win?"

In Carol's eyes, it was the perfect play.

The world's wealthiest man had joined forces with the second richest. In their wake, everyone else was powerless.

Daniela's gaze stayed steady, her eyes fixed ahead. "You're simnplifying this far too much."

Carol turned to Daniela, a confused frown creeping across her face.

Daniela's voice broke the silence, sharp and pointed. "Do you really think Hamilton can be so easily deceived? He wouldn't just hand over the family fortune like that. Do you honestly believe the high-ranking families care about children born out of wedlock? It's always been about weighing interests and calculating the right gains. The McCoy brothers have been puppets in Hamilton's grasp for years, their finances held under tight lock and key. If Cedric joinedthe McCoy family, Hamilton would tighten his hold over him in the same way."

Daniela's voice remained even, betraying.no emotion. "It's unnecessary."

Carol absorbed Daniela's words, and that all-too-familiar feeling returned. She always sensed that Daniela wasn't as detached from Cedric's fate as she let on.

Just as Carol opened her mouth to speak, she saw Cedric rise from his seat and head straight toward them.

Without thinking, Carol stepped aside, giving him space.

Daniela's expression soured as Cedric drew nearer, his steps sure and deliberate.

She knew the words that were coming. But she wasn't ready to listen.

Without a word, she turned on her heel and headed inside.

Just then, his voice cut through the nightair, deep and resolute.

"I want to fight for the McCoy family's fortune," Cedric declared, his words unwavering. Daniela frowned slightly, a swirl of emotions passing through her. She stopped, her thoughts heavy and tangled.

She made a conscious effort to ignore him, her pace quickening as she moved forward.

But Cedric's voice rang out again, louder, more insistent. "I said I want to fight for the family fortune."

Daniela could no longer feign ignorance; his words had reached her.

Her gaze chilled, and she slowly turned back to face Cedric. "You don't need to fight for something you've never desired just because of me."

Daniela understood him completely. His only ambition had always been her.

Cedric met her gaze, unwavering, and said, "I know exactly what I'm doing."

If Daniela hadn't lost her memories, he would have poured out the truth he'd been holding inside.

The only thing he'd ever truly fought for was her. But if Daniela chose to support others, to grow close to anyone else, he couldn't let that happen.

He wasn't fighting for the McCoy legacy or its wealth. He was fighting for Daniela.

Cedric had always been certain of his desires, of what he was meant to do.

In the past, he could say it without hesitation because Daniela had cared for him.

Now, he couldn't speak it aloud, because Daniela would only feel burdened.

But no matter whether Daniela remembered the last three years or not, she would always be the one he was determined to protect.

She was his wife.

She was his partner in every sense.

She was his guiding star.

Wherever Daniela stood, that was where Cedric's heart would call home.