?Chapter 416:


    Caiden opened his mouth to speak, but Dani cut him off.


    “Back when I was a kid, other children were picked up by their parents on rainy school days, but I was alone. I’d sit on a tiny bench, wondering why other dads loved their kids, while mine seemed to care more about someone else.”


    Caiden’s face stiffened, difort washing over him.


    Dani smiled faintly, a smile that carried a sense of release.


    “I was stubborn back then. I wrestled with this question for almost ten years before finally letting it go. I just wanted to escape a ce that never felt like home. Part of why I treated Alexander well was because I thought he was that boy from my childhood. But mostly, I wanted to leave, to find a ce where I could finally feel like I belonged.”


    Caiden’s voice turned bitter as he spoke.


    “You never said any of this to me.”


    “There was nothing to say,” Dani replied, meeting Caiden’s eyes.


    “I told you long ago that I’ve outgrown looking up to my father and seekingfort from him whenever I feel hurt. Don’t expect anything more from me now. I’ve already given all I can. Honestly, I don’t owe you anything else. And if you have any decency left, don’t bring up my mother again.


    You have no right to.”


    After that, Dani returned to her documents without another nce. Caiden’s fists tightened as the realization hit him—no amount of words could undo the damage he’d done.


    He couldn’t help but admit Cedric was right; there was no hope left for mending his rtionship with Dani.


    g?lnσν???s﹒??o?? is where stories live


    In the end, he left without a word.


    The living room fell back into its calm silence until a second ss of milk was ced beside Dani.


    Before she could nce up, someone took the chair Caiden had just left, resting his head on folded arms on the table. Dani looked at Cedric, surprised to see he was still awake.


    “Did I wake you?” she asked.


    “No,” Cedric replied, his voice rough, carrying a weight that felt heavy in the silence of the room.


    “Dani.”


    “You once told me I did a great job on the North District project.


    You made a promise back then. Do you remember?”


    Dani nodded, her expression softening.


    “Yes, I remember.” Cedric had poured countless hours into that project, crafting andmark building that exceeded every expectation. Dani had been grateful for his dedication and had promised that if he ever needed anything, he could ask, and she would do everything in her power to make it happen.


    “You told me that you’d always keep your promise. Does that still stand?” Cedric looked at Dani.


    Dani tilted her head slightly, her eyes meeting his as she asked, “What is it you want, Cedric?”


    Earlier, Cedric had lingered at the staircase, the weight in his chest almost too much to bear.


    In his mind, he saw an image of a stormy night—Dani sitting all alone in a deste corridor, waiting for the rain to end. The image gripped his heart like an unseen hand squeezing it tight.


    He had been gued by doubts before, questioning if he had acted too rashly, if his choices had been too extreme, or if things were slipping beyond his control.


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