?Chapter 433:


    The living room was full of people—Caiden, Dani, Cedric, Ryan, Lillian, Shirley. They were all watching, but no one intervened.


    Slowly, the maid that Dani had brought in opened the door.


    Katrina was determined to defend Joyce, but she knew better than to confront Alexander on her own. Venturing into the Bet family’s territory uninvited would be a recipe for disaster.


    “Will you apany me to the Bet family’s?” Katrina asked.


    Caiden’s attention remained glued to the television in the living room, his responseced with derision.


    “Me? Why on earth would I? Who am I to you?”


    Katrina’s eyes widened, her voice tinged with incredulity.


    “How can you even ask that? You’re Joyce’s father.”


    “Am I, though?” Caiden retorted.


    “When you need me, I’m Joyce’s father, but when everything’s fine, I’m nobody. No, I can’t y this part-time father role any longer!”


    Katrina, her frustration mounting, stepped closer.


    “What are you saying, Caiden? How can you call yourself nobody?”


    Nearby, Cedric, sensing the tension rising, instinctively drew Dani closer to protect her. Dani, previously absorbed in the unfolding scene, felt Cedric’s pull andplied without question.


    Ryan munched on popcorn, seemingly uninterested in Katrina’s drama yet intrigued by the interaction between Cedric and Dani.


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    Katrina continued to plead her case, but Caiden’s patience had frayed to its end.


    “Oh, really? Have you forgotten your own words? You were the one who told me to turn to Dani in times of crisis, that she was my true daughter, and not to drag Joyce into anything. Remember how Joyce didn’t even visit me in the hospital? Does that seem like a daughter’s duty? Ha! I’m not blessed with such a daughter!”


    “You…” Katrina stuttered, lost for words, overwhelmed by the ghosts of past arguments. She had thought that once Joyce was married, she could sever her reliance on Caiden, never anticipating a day like this. If only she had known, she would have fostered a stronger bond with him.


    “Joyce is just a child. Why hold a grudge against her?”


    “Really? Is Joyce a child? How old is she now, still ying the child? She’s a married woman with a child of her own, yet still immature? Perhaps what she really needs is a lesson in maturity. And weren’t you being so arrogant a few days ago? If I hadn’t kept my cool, I’d have died of rage by now!”


    Tears began to stream down Katrina’s cheeks.


    “What are you implying? Are you leaving us now? I’m still your wife!”


    Caiden rose from his seat, his face a mask of indifference.


    “Whatever the case, I refuse to wade into Joyce’s quagmire. She’s not my biological daughter. If you wish to remain here, she may too. But if you’re considering divorce, take Joyce with you. There’s no room for either of you here.”


    Katrina’s face crumpled with despair at his words. Perhaps she hadn’t expected Caiden to say such things, or she hadn’t expected to be at a disadvantage.


    Cedric leaned over and whispered to Dani, “When did Caiden get so clear-headed?”


    Dani shook her head.


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