?Chapter 444:


    “She’s gone? Wait, don’t tell me she’s done with Cedric,” she asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.


    “She thinks Cedric might be into men,” Katrina said, feeling like her luck couldn’t get any worse.


    Joyce’s eyes lit up with a mischievous glint.


    “Oh, really?” Then without another word, she headed downstairs.


    Downstairs, the living room was alive with the hum of the TV. Cedric sat off to one side, his long fingers idly stroking the fluffy head of a little dog resting by his side.


    Joyce had never confessed it to anyone, but she had a peculiar fascination with hands.


    The very first time sheid eyes on Cedric, her attention was immediately drawn to his hands.


    They were striking, long, and impably clean, with neatly trimmed nails that gleamed faintly under the light. His hands were a perfect blend of strength and elegance, exuding an effortless grace in every movement, no matter how mundane.


    Now, as she watched him gently stroke the head of a fluffy little puppy, a strange flutter stirred within her. Shirley had dared to approach him, so why shouldn’t she? With Dani momentarily out of the room to take a phone call, Joyce made her way downstairs and took a seat beside Cedric.


    Mindful of his reputation for valuing personal space, she maintained a polite distance—close enough to speak, yet far enough to avoid making him uneasy.


    “Cedric, do you like Dani?”


    It was a question that didn’t really require a response. Cedric’s feelings for Dani were practicallymon knowledge. But Joyce had her reasons for asking.


    Predictably, Cedric stayed silent.


    “Shirley filled me in about you,” Joyce pressed on.


    “Cedric, let’s make a deal.”


    Cedric kept his eyes glued to the television, showing no interest in her words.


    Joyce, certain that Cedric was listening despite his indifference, carried on.


    “I’ll leave Alexander and marry you. Someone of your status will need to settle down eventually and have a family. I’ll give youplete freedom, and all I ask is ten million a month. What do you think?”


    Cedric finally turned his head, giving Joyce a cool nce before chuckling.


    “Not much to look at, but your ambitions sure are bold.”


    Convinced she had an edge, Joyce pushed further.


    “No matter how close Dani is to you, she’s only interested in men. She’s no help to you.


    You’d be better off choosing me.”


    Dani walked back into the room, catching the tail end of Joyce’s statement.


    Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “Choose who?”


    Joyce was fully aware of how crucial it was to stay on Dani’s good side, especially now that Dani was running the roboticspany.


    “Oh, it’s nothing. We were just chatting about a TV show.”


    Joyce rose to leave but leaned close to whisper to Cedric, “Think it over,” before making her way upstairs.


    Dani took her seat, but before she could say a word, Cedric gently tapped her fingers.


    Their fingers were just about to intertwine when Lillian unexpectedly turned around.


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