Chapter 927

Daniela and Cedric couldn't believe their eyes when Hamilton's attitude changed completely.

Not long ago, Hamilton could hardly stand to be in the same room as Daniela. Now he seemed determined to treat her like a treasure.

A wide grin broke across Hamilton's face as he looked at her and remarked, "You're making me proud,Daniela."

Whenever he remembered how Josh and his siblings had stormed out, their faces twisted with frustration,the thought nearly made him want to crack open a bottle and celebrate.

Despite all this, Daniela still couldn't get a read on Hamilton's mood.

Several members of the McCoy family had already settled down, and Hamilton's second son was already a father. Why did Hamilton behave as though the very concept of a child was brand new to him?

With her hand on her chin, Daniela spoke up, her voice cool and steady."Don't get too excited. Just so we're clear, this baby is mine. The McCoy family has no claim."

The instant those words landed, Hamilton's good mood evaporated.

His secretary reached for his arm and whispered,"You need to think about her feelings. She's pregnant, and it's not good to upset her. You don't want the baby to develop a temper."

That gentle reminder brought a spark of cheer back to Hamilton's eyes. "Let's not talk about anything else right now. Your well-being is all that matters. I'll make sure every appointment and all your care is handled."

After that, Hamilton left the villa with energy in his step. He announced that he would start a production line of clothes to provide exclusive outfits for his grandson.

Carol had been watching the whole thing in disbelief.She turned to Daniela and said, "Did he forget you work in fashion? Elite Lux already makes high-end clothes for kids. His factory can't compete with that."

Nikolas came in at that moment, waving his phone in the air. "Dad has asked the factory to start producing everything for the baby. He just sent a message.You're now the most important person to everyone in our branch, and nobody is allowed to give you any trouble."

Nikolas clicked his tongue and grinned. "Now the entire family is supposed to revolve around the baby.I just saw Dad in the hallway. He was smiling so much he didn't even notice me walk by. I've never seen him act like that before."

Daniela seemed unfazed by the fuss. With a soft smile, she glanced-at Cedric, who looked completely dazed. "What's the matter? Are you so happy that you can't find the words?"Cedric kept staring, as though he was afraid that Daniela would disappear if he looked away.

With a playful glimmer in her eyes, Daniela leaned forward. "Tell me, would you rather have a boy or a girl?"

There was no hesitation from Cedric. He beamed at her and answered, "A girl! I hope she's just as clever as you are."

From across the room, Nikolas couldn't help but laugh. "You know, if it turns out to be a girl, Dad might be crushed."

It never even crossed Cedric's mind to care about that. Boy or girl, it made no difference to him.

The only thing that truly mattered was that this child would be Daniela's.

His greatest hope was for Daniela to stay healthy and safe.

If a child came into their lives, that would be a wonderful gift. If not, Cedric could accept that too. Somehow, the news had left Cedric in a bit of a fog He wandered through the day as if caught in a dream.

The maid tried to stifle a giggle. "Mr. Phillips looks like he's still recovering from the shock."

Watching Cedric shuffle through the halls, Daniela's lips curved into a gentle, amused smile.

The spell didn't last, though. Cedric soon returned to his senses and surprised everyone by offering the maid an extended holiday.

Nobody in the house saw that coming. The mnaid stared at him in disbelief.

"Is there a reason, sir? Did I do something to upset you?" she asked, wide-eyed.

Cedric simply shook his head. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Along with the time off, he slipped her an envelope with a generous bonus inside. With that settled, Cedric turned his attention to Nikolas and Damon.

Damon's voice echoed from the living room. "Wait a second, you want us out of here? What's this about?"

Cedric sat back, arms folded as he regarded the pair across from him. "My wife is expecting."

Curiosity flickered in Nikolas' eyes. "We're already aware, Cedric. Are you worried about Daniela? We would never-"

Surprise washed over Nikolas, who had assumed Cedric would handle the situation with subtlety.

Instead, Cedric spoke with unwavering directness."That's right. I am concerned you might harm her.Let me put it plainly. The last time my wife was pregnant, a problem arose because of a servant."

Nikolas protested, "We're family, Cedric. We would never put your child in harm's way."

A slow shake of Cedric's head followed. "The servant who caused trouble last time was someone I'd trusted for many years. She practically raised me.Still, she betrayed me. I can't risk that again, so for the next nine months, I have to keep Daniela as safe as possible. That means removing every risk, no matter how small."

Shock flickered between Nikolas and Damon as they traded glances. "But we're nothing like that servant.Daniela's safety means everything to us, too."

Unmoved, Cedric set his jaw. "This isn't a debate. I'm not asking. I'm telling you how it's going to be."

A glance at his watch punctuated Cedric's resolve."You'll have two hours to pack."

Confusion swept over Nikolas and Damon as they began gathering their belongings. On their way out,they passed Hamilton's secretary guiding in a whole parade of experts. There were nutritionists, a doctor,a chef, and more. Each one had been personally selected by HHamilton.

All eyes in the hallway lingered on Cedric as he closed the door behind him.

"Cedric, are you seriously planning to look after Daniela around the clock? Do you honestly think you can manage everything on your own-her meals,her health, her check-ups? That kind of responsibility just isn't practical."