?Chapter 149:


    Katrina fixed her with a stern look. Now? At this critical moment while she wasvishing praise?


    Joyce sat there, her face ashen, overwhelmed by the strong scent of the fish she normally loved. Now, it was repulsive, the smell invading her senses, triggering waves of nausea that coursed through her.


    She pushed the te away and muttered, “Please, go on.”


    Katrina’s irritation was palpable as her eyes narrowed, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile, turning back to Richard.


    “Now, where was I? Oh yes, Joyce’s character is impable. She’s truly a wonderful—”


    “Urgh!” Joyce gagged again, cutting Katrina off a second time.


    Katrina’s expression turned stormy with frustration.


    “Remove that fish!” shemanded the waiter sharply, her annoyance spilling over onto the staff.


    When she faced Richard again, her expression had reset to one of calm and control, as if the previous outbursts had never urred.


    Richard couldn’t help but be struck by her ability to maintain poise. Despite the awkward interruptions, she appeared utterly unruffled. Internally, he cringed, feeling a secondhand embarrassment for her situation.


    “Richard, I appreciate your time, so I’ll get right to the point.


    You see, after Alexander and Dani’s marriage—which, frankly, was less than ideal—they ended their union just days after the ceremony,” Katrina exined, her smile unwavering.


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    “I admit, some of the me falls on Caiden and me. We failed to guide Dani appropriately. Her temperament really isn’t cut out for domestic life. We can all agree that 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 Dani, 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 Dani’s fiery spirit hardly makes her manageable. Even during her time with Alexander, she maintained her distance. Did Alexander ever truly get close to Dani?”


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


    Katrina’sughter held a sly undertone as she teased, “No handholding, no kissing—what sort of romance is this? Merely tonic? 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, shemands respect from hundreds of employees. Do you think she’d bother listening to you? Bet 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 Dani, 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 fill his ss once more.


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