Chapter 891

Joseph gave a quiet nod.

Annoyance flickered in Hamilton's eyes. "Can you believe it? I set Nikolas up with some of the most eligible women in the country, and he turned every one of them away. Now he's chasing after Daniela's assistant?What a disgrace."

He glared at Joseph and shouted, "By this time tomorrow, I expect you to dig up everything there is to know about this Carol. Don't miss a thing."

Satisfied that he had given clear orders, Hamilton decided he should see Daniela in person.

Uncharacteristically, he chose a courteous approach this time.

By sunrise, Hamilton was already outside her office, dismissing the secretary's attempts to hold him back as he strode right into the office.

"I made sure Cedric was out before coming here. There are a few things we should talk about privately-and the sooner, the better," he said.

Daniela, having predicted Hamilton would eventually come, hadn't expected him to arrive so abruptly.

Something about his urgency told her that Loglil must have dangled an irresistible offer, pushing Hamilton to act.

A calm smile formed as Daniela picked up her phone. "Since you made a point to visit while my husband's away, I take it this isn't a conversation you want him overhearing. Let's continue downstairs in the cafe."

Surprise flickered across Hamilton's features. Daniela usually stood her ground, but today, she appeared unusually accommodating.

Without another word, Hamilton followed Daniela out of the office and down to the cafe.

Inside the cafe, Hamilton wasted no time cutting to the heart of it. "I'Il be blunt. Think of this as a peace offering. I want you to end your marriage to Cedric. If this sum doesn't meet your expectations, you're free to suggest a number."

A check slid across the table to Daniela, its amount written in bold-a million dollars.

An amused smile tugged at her lips. "I have to say, I didn't realize Cedric meant that much to you."

Hamilton's laugh came out cold and dismissive. "You know as well as I do that Cedric is sharp when it comes to business. My family has plenty of money. If he leaves you and gets nothing, you'll walk away with the windfall."

Her gaze drifted to the check, considering his words.

The facts, uncomfortable as they were, rang true.

Should a straightforward divorce ever occur, Daniela and Cedric would split their assets right down the middle-leaving Cedric with tens of billions. Hamilton's plan, though, aimed to strip Cedric of everything,forcing him to walk away empty-handed.

A deal like that would make Daniela the clear winner, at least by anyone else's standards. Accepting the offer would be the logical move.

The truth, though, was that nothing about her marriage to Cedric fit into neat categories.

A light chuckle slipped from Daniela as she flicked the check across the table, her eyes sharp with amusement. "No denying Cedric's got a talent for building fortunes. Why would I let him go when he's still making me richer by the day?"

That answer wiped the patience off Hamilton's face. "So you're finally admitting you married Cedric for the money!"

He said that on purpose because he spotted Cedric's silent arrival out of the corner of his eye.

Despite the theatrics, Daniela kept her cooI. She had no interest in Hamilton's petty games.

Her reply was crisp and cold. "You might want to refine your strategy. Underhanded moves like that don't impress me." Embarrassment reddened Hamilton's cheeks, his anger mounting by the second.

A gentle smile lingered on Daniela's lips. She wasn't here for a shouting match.

She turned to Cedric with a calm nod and said, "You can go back upstairs. I'll take care of things here."

Hamilton's original hope had been to keep Cedric in the dark, but now that the truth was out, he switched tactics, wanting Cedric to stay and listen.

To Hamilton's disbelief, Cedric didn't even pause-he simply nodded and made his way out, trusting Daniela without question.

The sheer obedience left Hamilton rattled.

Cedric just listened and left-no questions asked, no arguments.

A visible tremor ran through Hamilton's expression, his frustration barely kept in check as he stared after Cedric's retreating figure.

A low, amused laugh slipped from Daniela. "Keep your check. Money isn't something you can outmatch me with. But there's something else you need to hear."

Impatience radiated from Hamilton, but his annoyance faded as soon as Daniela pulled out her phone and tapped play.

Every detail of McCoy Group's confidential meeting rang out, each word echoing with undeniable clarity.

A jolt of disbelief rooted Hamilton to the spot, leaving him motionless. "How did you get your hands on this?Is there a traitor in McCoy Group? Who's feeding you our secrets?"

With an air of indifference, Daniela slipped her phone back into her bag. "What's with the shock? Surely you've planted a few of your own inside my company too, haven't you?"

Darkness clouded Hamilton's expression. "Tell me, who's leaking information? Someone on the board? Or the secretary?"

A gentle smile curved Daniela's lips. "This isn't the moment to worry about how I got it. We should be

discussing what's on that recording."

Stubborn defiance flared in Hamilton's eyes. "'There's nothing to discuss. That's all ancient history."

Not a flicker of uncertainty crossed Daniela's face. "Really? Are you sure this is the approach you want to take with me?"

Hamilton bit back his retort, his lips pressed into a thin line. "What exactly do you want from me?"

Calm and unwavering, Daniela's answer landed like a final verdict. "Blood for blood."