?Chapter 345:


    “You have feelings for Dani, don’t you? I’ve seen how you’ve always cared for her since your childhood.”


    Cedric’s gaze slowly lifted, his face unreadable. In the sunlight, Caiden’s features appeared calcting and cold, his attitude opportunistic as he chuckled.


    “You’re the boy who grew up ying with Dani in the garden, right?”


    From a distance, Lillian observed Caiden lead Cedric into a cafe at an intersection. She quickly went to inform Dani.


    Without dy, Dani set aside her phone and made her way to the cafe. Lillian guided her through the back, seating her at a table adjacent to Cedric and Caiden’s.


    The tables were separated by a thin partition wall, which obscured their view but allowed every word to be distinctly heard.


    When Caiden said, “You’re the boy who grew up ying with Dani in the garden,” Lillian noticed an unusual reaction— Dani, typically calm, clenched her coffee cup tightly.


    Lillian stood up, ready to step in and stop Caiden from speaking any further. But Dani stopped her with nothing more than a look. A shiver ran down Dani’s spine, creeping through her entire body.


    The whole situation was almostughable, but there was no humor in it. On a bright, sunny afternoon, her own father was haggling with Cedric, trying to settle on a price to sell her.


    For years, she had given her all to Alexander, and Caiden knew why. And yet, he watched her fall even further, knowing full well that the person from her past was Cedric, but he never said a word. He constantly reminded her to return Alexander’s favor, even taking satisfaction in her marriage to him.


    He saw her chase after Alexander, only to be rejected, and eventually, he watched her go through the divorce. Caiden, someone who knew the whole truth, had seen it all unfold.


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    He was supposed to be her father, the one who should have protected her.


    Yet, he remained utterly cold and detached. The whole thing was pure nonsense.


    Everything about it made her want to scream. But Dani couldn’t find the strength tough at it; instead, she felt a deep, bone-chilling cold that seemed to freeze her from the inside out.


    She turned to look out the window, her gaze falling on therge tree outside, its shadow shifting with the breeze as sunlight scattered across the ground.


    She had never felt more foolish than she did now. And all these years, what had Caiden thought as he watched her tirelessly chase after Alexander? Did he find it entertaining? Or simplyugh at her expense? Or perhaps he took a twisted satisfaction in the idea that Brylee had given birth to such a fool.


    In that moment, Dani only wanted one answer: did Caiden truly see her as his daughter? How could he treat her like this? Dani’s hands tightened into fists, her grip bing almost painful. She remained seated, subtly signaling Lillian to stay down as well. A bitter, self-mocking smile tugged at her lips as she realized that any further questions would only make her appear more foolish.


    She looked out the window in despair. Her eyes, once warm, were now void of all softness, reced by a cold emptiness. Behind Dani, Cedric and Caiden continued their conversation, unaware of her silent presence.


    “Cedric, when I first saw you, I knew you were the boy who helped pull Dani out of her depression all those years ago,” Caiden said, pointing to a spot near his eye.


    “You have this little mole, and that’s how I recognized you right away.”


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