?Chapter 286:


    “It doesn’t seem to be life-threatening at this point.”


    Dani gave a curt nod, her voice polite but distant.


    “I appreciate your efforts.”


    The doctor stole another nce at Dani. Seizing a moment when no one was watching, he stood near the door and discreetly snapped a photo of her.


    Cedric spotted it right away. He marched out of the room towards the doctor, reaching for his phone, but the man effortlessly evaded him.


    Cedric let out a frustrated sigh.


    “Fine, keep the photo, but don’t you dare post it anywhere.”


    Russell Steele, the doctor, smirked and waved his phone teasingly.


    “Toote. Quick fingers—I’ve already shared it in the group chat.”


    Grinding his teeth, Cedric grabbed his phone. As expected, his group chat was now flooded with endless notifications, his friends mercilessly teasing him.


    Cedric’s expression turned stormy as he typed a curt, icy reply.


    “Cut it out, or I’m leaving the group.”


    Russellughed and shook his head.


    “Cedric, with a temper like that, do you honestly think you’ll win her over? No wonder you’ve been single for over two decades. At this rate, you’ll end up growing old alone.”


    It was the second time that day his attempts—or failure to woo a woman—had been ridiculed. Cedric could feel his irritation boiling over.


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    Russell cast a look toward the hospital room, one brow lifting in amusement.


    “You’ve set your sights pretty high, haven’t you? She’s the head of Elite Lux, and her wealth could probably buy an entire nation. So, what’s your angle? Marrying into her family or settling for the role of a hidden admirer?”


    Cedric’s mouth tightened in frustration as he murmured, “That’s assuming she’d even consider letting me marry in.” Russell stopped in his tracks, his eyes going wide with disbelief.


    “Hold on, are you still Cedric? Did you seriously just say that? She must really be one of a kind.” He chuckled and began making his way towards the hospital room, but Cedric reached out and yanked him back by the arm.


    Russell turned back, puzzled.


    “What is it now?”


    Cedric clenched his jaw.


    “Don’t go saying anything dumb. She’s shy.”


    Russell arched an eyebrow as he leaned slightly to peer into the room.


    Dani radiated authority, like a queen overseeing her domain, while two nervous women in the corner looked as though they barely dared to draw breath.


    “Shy?” Russell asked, clearly unconvinced.


    “Are we even talking about the same person?”


    “Not shy in that sense,” Cedric replied with a weary sigh.


    “She avoids forming deep connections.”


    It stemmed from losing her mother at a young age. Deep down, she believed rtionships were fleeting, so she naturally kept her distance.


    Cedric had watched her closely for years. Dani unconsciously maintained a distance from everyone. Beyond a select few senior members at Elite Lux, she rarely let anyone get close. She was always courteous but emotionally distant, never revealing her true self. Her firm emotional barriers weren’t intentional—they were instinctive, buried deep within her psyche.


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