?Chapter 74:


    Dani responded tly, “I won’t.”


    Caiden’s eyes went wide with shock.


    “What did you say? You ungrateful little brat!”


    His anger red up, and, as usual, when he couldn’t win an argument, his hand shot up, poised to hit her.


    Dani had endured this enough times. Instinctively, she stepped back, bracing herself to dodge the blow.


    But just before his hand couldnd, another hand reached out from behind her, gripping Caiden’s wrist with a vice-like hold.


    “Ah!” Caiden screamed, his face twisting in agony as a sharp, burning pain shot up his wrist.


    “Let go! Let go! Let me go!”


    Dani was taken aback. The new housekeeper, Josie, had an unexpectedly firm grip.


    In a single, fluid motion, Josie pulled Dani behind her, cing one hand on her hip and pointing at Caiden with the other.


    “You call yourself a father? How can you be so unreasonable? Joyce is your daughter, but Dani isn’t? Where’s your sense of logic? Joyce misbehaved, so why are you taking it out on Dani? You’re always trying to y the peacemaker, but you do it in the worst possible way. Is this what being a father is all about? No wonder kids are so ungrateful these days. After all, it’s parents like you who create them!”


    As soon as Josie began speaking, Caiden stepped back, his fists clenched tightly.


    Katrina moved forward, but Josie shot her a sharp, using look.


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    “And you must be the stepmother, right? You brought Joyce into the Harper family, didn’t you?”


    Katrina stood frozen, her gaze fixed in disbelief on Josie’s pointing finger. Still dazed, she nodded, as though swept away by the force of Josie’s words.


    “So you’re agreeing with me, then? Let me set the record straight. This is the true daughter of the Harper family. And yet, you’ve moved into her home and act like you own the ce? Who do you think you are? The Harper family fortune isn’t just Caiden’s to im. It was his first wife who single-handedly kept their business thriving. Everyone knows that. Now that Dani’s mother is gone, you’re here to cash in? Do you have no shame? And as if reaping the rewards wasn’t enough, you have the gall to push your luck?”


    Katrina had been married to Caiden for years, and in all that time, no one had ever spoken to her like that. Being confronted so boldly left herpletely stunned and without words. For what felt like an eternity, she simply stood there, staring at Josie, whose imposing figure stood guard in front of Dani.


    “You’re bullying Dani like this. Aren’t you scared her mother wille back to haunt you in your dreams?” Josie’s voice dropped to a chilling tone, her wide eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. Just hearing Dani’s mother’s name, whose tragic death still lingered in Katrina’s memory, sent a cold shiver down her back.


    Without sparing them another nce, Josie stormed over to the door and threw it wide open.


    “Out! If you don’t leave immediately, I’ll call the cops. Let’s see how you handle the humiliation!”


    Grabbing a broom, Josie began pushing them toward the door. By the time Lillian stepped off the elevator, she was met with the sight of Katrina’s face, streaked with tears.


    Alexander hesitated for a moment, and just as the door was closing, he turned back to face Dani.


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