?Chapter 169:


    Would she bid him farewell with a gesture of gratitude as her parting act?


    Absolutely not—she wasn’t the type to do that.


    For Joyce, her own well-being always took precedence over anything or anyone else.


    At the dinner table, Katrina, wreathed in guilt, shed sheepish, apologetic smiles at Richard and Alexander, while Caiden watched Joyce closely.


    Joyce seemed preupied with herself, fussing and failing to see the bigger picture. She had potential for so much more, yet she seemed to settle for less.


    During this tense moment, Katrina shot Caiden a significant look, silently prompting him to speak up.


    “Alexander, please, have peace of mind. As long as you marry Joyce, everything from the Harper family will be yours and Joyce’s, considering she’s our only child. Isn’t that right, Caiden?”


    In that instant, Caiden acutely sensed the possibility that Joyce’sck of foresight might actually drain his personal resources to rectify her blunders.


    All the wealth of the Harper family had been painstakingly umted by Dani’s mother, and while he had reaped the benefits, the idea of redistributing it, as suggested in hushed tones by the servants, was contrary to Dani’s mother’s wishes—and certainly not in line with Dani’s expectations.


    Faced with the prospect of Joyce neglecting him in hister years, Caiden wondered desperately whom he could depend on.


    His thoughts whirled in confusion as the eyes of everyone at the dinner table turned to him.


    Richard, ever the opportunist, shed a concerned yet calcting smile and probed, “Caiden, is everything alright? You seem a bit off.” His presence was not just social; he was there to secure a promise from the Harper family and to unearth the childhood sketches Dani had created with that boy from years ago. His gaze, filled with faux concern, subtly urged Caiden for answers.


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    Katrina initially beamed a smile, which soon dissolved into a look of puzzlement.


    “Caiden, didn’t you mention you intended for everything to be left to Joyce and her future spouse? Wasn’t that your n?”


    Caiden smiled and took a sip of his wine.


    “Richard, you must try this wine; it’s exceptional.”


    At his response, Richard raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    Katrina’s face stiffened, her smile vanishing as she reined in her brewing irritation, her features settling into a frosty mask.


    Joyce tugged on Caiden’s sleeve, her expression fraught with anxiety. When she could no longer contain her impatience, she leaned in and whispered urgently, “Dad, why did you suddenly change the topic? Richard was only asking for your opinion. Just make it clear that the Harper family’s assets are mine. Who else would you consider?” She stated this as though it were the most natural conclusion,pletely ignoring Dani’s existence.


    Previously, Caiden hadn’t given much thought to her dismissive attitude. However, this time, it stirred a sense of difort within him. Both women, living under his roof and spending his money, seemed to constantly belittle and undermine his daughter.


    A sharp glint shed in Caiden’s eyes, noticeable enough to make Katrina frown.


    She leaned closer and hissed, “Caiden! What’s gotten into you?”


    Caiden merely shrugged off her concern with a scoff and took another sip of his drink, ignoring her question.


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