Chapter 79

"Richard, I appreciate your time, so I'll get right to the point. You see, after Alexander and Daniela's marriage -which, frankly, was less than ideal-they ended their union just days after the ceremony," Katrina explained, her smile unwavering. "I admit, some of the blame falls on Caiden and me. We failed to guide Daniela appropriately. Her temperament really isn't cut out for domestic life. We could see Alexander and Joyce are a match made in heaven. Their chemistry is undeniable, and frankly, I'm quite fond of Alexander.I'll be blunt since everyone's here. Alexander is the perfect fit for my daughter, and I'm not settling for less.Richard, wouldn't it make sense to let him and Joyce be together?"

Richard was visibly stunned by her frank approach. He thought Katrina would wait for him to bring up the topic, but she mentioned it herself.

As the eyes of everyone around the table bore into him, he felt the weight of the moment.

Undeterred by Richard's silence, Katrina continued, "Of course, our approval isn't enough;your blessing is essential. But I know you have the foresight to look beyond our family's superficial prestige. Take Daniela,for instance. Despite her wealth, what does it truly amount to without her family's support? Does she even have anyone left to lean on? Any parents? Wealth is fleeting, and Daniela's fiery spirit hardly makes her manageable. Even during her time with Alexander, she maintained her distance. Did Alexander ever truly get close to Daniela?"

Richard pivoted, catching sight of Alexander's furrowed brow.

Katrina's laughter held a sly undertone as she teased, "No hand-holding, no kissing-what sort of romance is this? Merely Platonic? Despite her strong feelings for Alexander, she never wavered from her beliefs.There was a time when she had nothing to her name. Now, as the head of Elite Lux, she commands respect from hundreds of employees. Do you think she'd bother listening to you? Bennett Group's performance this year isn't even a third of what Elite Lux has achieved. In a family, the main earner often holds the reins. Had Alexander remained with Daniela, he certainly wouldn't be the one making decisions today."

Katrina's eyes flickered with triumph as she observed Richard's hardened gaze and pressed on. "However, Joyce is a different story. She's been nothing but sweet and endearing since her youth, maturing gracefully like fine wine." Her stare intensified as she spoke.

Richard was on the verge of responding when Katrina leaned forward to fillhis glass once more.

"My daughter now stands as the sole heiress to the Harper famil. You grasp the weight of that, don't you?Unlike Daniela, Joyce isn't idly waiting. Should today pass without a resolution, we will seek alternatives. As the heiress to the Harper family, she'll have no difficulty securing a match."

With a gentle smile and a look of sly confidence, Katrina's expression was enigmatic.

Richard was stuck in a tricky situation with no easy way out.

Katrina was keenly aware that Daniela's burgeoning success might tempt the Bennett family to mend fences.

Could she simply stand by and watch Daniela's and Alexander's lives remain intertwined?

Resolved, Katrina had determined that should the Bennett family spurn this chance, she would seek alternatives.

She was resolute: Joyce's golden years would never be sacriiced for a worthless, unfaithful fool.

Richard raised his glass to his lips, savoring a brief sip before attempting to set it down, only to find Katrina proffering her glassright in front of him.

With an unwavering smile, she suggested, "Shall we toast to new beginnings?"

Richard perceived Katrina's gesture as a call to take a stand.

The allure of the advantages Daniela offered was strong, yet thoughts of Joyce lingered...

Casting a sidelong glance at Alexander, who was absorbed in his phone and detached from the unfolding drama,Richard exhaled a resigned sigh, his fingers poised to clink glasses with Katrina.

But just as their glasses were about to meet, a disruptive retching noise halted the moment.

Katrina's gaze followed the near-touch of their glasses, thwarted unexpectedly. Richard placed his glass back on the table.

"Joyce, is everything alright?" he inquired, his tone laced with worry.

Joyce had been straining to tolerate the discomfort, yet the pervasive fishy odor overwhelmed her senses.

She flapped her hand in front of her face, her complexion ashen, and suddenly shoved her chair back,bolting towards the restroom of the secluded dining area.

A loud,gut-wrenching retch echoed from within.

An awkward hush descended over the room.

The continuous sound of gagging stripped the appetite from everyone present.

Katrina's brow creased in concern. "What could she have eaten to react like this? What's happening?Everyone, please, keep eating." She stood, attempting to smooth over the disruption.

Across the table, Ronald's wife leaned closer to him and murmured,"Why is Joyce so violently ill? Could she be pregnant?"

No sooner had she voiced the thought than a chilling silence fell over the room.

Oblivious to the sudden focus on her, she went on, "When I was expecting my first, the morning sickness was dreadful. Didn't Joyce mention the fish smelled particularly strong today? Though she's usually fond of it. If she's turned against it, perhaps she is indeed pregnant."

The speculative whispers triggered a vivid memory among the Harper family members.

Katrina had once remarked with absolute certainty, "Joyce is the epitome of innocence, never so much as held hands with anyone. She's never dated anyone at all."