?Chapter 185:


    “I know your mother has always seen me as less because I haven’t had a child with your blood. I can ept that, but why bring Joyce into it? If I’m such a failure, maybe I should just disappear!”


    Watching Katrina cry, Joyce’s eyes welled up with tears, and she began to sob as well.


    “Alright, let it go. Mom’s getting old. Don’t argue with her,” Caiden muttered in his usual indifferent way.


    Katrina had heard this excuse so many times it grated on her nerves.


    Just as she was about to lose control, a servant entered and announced, “Alexander is here.”


    As soon as Katrina heard his name, her eyes lit up with excitement.


    For days, she’d been anxious. Richard hadn’t returned her calls, and she feared things were spiraling out of control. But with Alexander standing before her, her hope surged.


    “What a surprise, Alexander! What brings you here today?”


    Alexander wrapped the sketchbook in a ck stic bag and handed it to Katrina.


    “I borrowed this from Joyce a few days ago. It was taken from Dani’s room. Can you return it for me?”


    Katrina beamed, eager to do Alexander a favor.


    “Of course.”


    She considered inviting Alexander in for a meal, hoping to give him and Joyce a chance to connect. But the memory of Peyton’s scowl held her back.


    As Alexander was about to leave, he couldn’t help but nce over his shoulder. His eyesnded on Katrina, who tossed the bag into the trash can.


    The bag hit the bottom with a loud ng, and just like that, the trash can was full to the top.


    She then called over to a servant.


    “Rece the garbage bag and take it out.”


    The servant quickly crouched to change the bag as the door clicked shut behind Alexander.


    After taking in the scene, he walked off.


    To him, the sketchbook had done its job and was now nothing more than a burden. Since Dani still harbored feelings for him, keeping it around seemed pointless.


    He couldn’t let Dani still hold feelings for another man—even if that man was nothing more than a memory, a boy from the past.


    If Dani was going to have a future with him, she had to sever all ties with her past. It wouldn’t be hard—after all, they were just a few childish sketches, worth nothing at all.


    As he thought about Richard’s n to have Dani over for dinner in a few days, a slow smile tugged at the corners of his lips.


    A flicker of anticipation stirred within him—something he didn’t often allow himself to feel.


    Dani might not have the most exciting personality, but there was no denying her beauty. If she could settle down and be the kind of wife and mother he envisioned, he thought their marriage might just work after all.


    With that thought in mind, Alexander pushed the gas pedal, and his car sped off down the road.


    Meanwhile, Peyton waited until the doors shutpletely before ncing at Caiden.


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