?Chapter 456:


    With fists still clenched, Joyce inhaled deeply and looked towards where Alexander had gone.


    “Mom, I want to try again.”


    Katrina opened her mouth to respond, but Joyce cut her off.


    “I’ve decided. Don’t try to change my mind.”


    Katrina sighed, resigned.


    “Very well, but one day you’ll see. When a man really cares, he’ll go to any length for you, even risking his life. That’s true love. But when he doesn’t like you, he won’t even spare you a single nce.”


    Joyce understood this.


    Yet, the dissatisfaction within her lingered.


    In the courtyard, Dani noticed two figures drawing near. She thought it was Lillian and Ryan. A bright smile spread across her face. Her smile momentarily overwhelmed the approaching men.


    Dani’s beauty was renowned, yet her smile was rarely witnessed.


    But as soon as she realized who they were, her smile disappeared, reced by a polite expression.


    She rose, nodded at the two, and began to walk away.


    “Ms. Harper,” one of them called out.


    Turning with a puzzled look, Dani responded, “Yes?”


    g ? lnσ ν?? ?s, your storytelling home


    “We don’t know each other, but we’re familiar with your reputation. Rumors say you’re unapproachable, but seeing how you’ve socialized today, you seem quite friendly. We were hoping we might be friends.”


    Dani acknowledged with a subtle smile.


    “The rumors hold some truth.”


    Both men appeared puzzled.


    “What?”


    “I do tend to keep my distance,” Dani exined.


    “While friendship might be too much, perhaps we could consider a business partnership. Please excuse me; I must attend to other matters.” With these words, Dani left.


    The men exhaled deeply in disappointment.


    Even without Cedric, approaching Dani seemed an impossible task.


    Alexander arrived in the courtyard to find it empty.


    Dani was nowhere to be seen.


    His dreams of helping her hadn’te to fruition.


    Amidst the silence, his quickened pulse now seemed out of ce.


    Inside, Cedric was at the piano, his fingers dancing across the keys, while Dani stood by, her smile subtle yet captivating.


    Entering the hall, Lillian caught Dani’s attentive gaze and followed it to Cedric.


    “Dani, hasn’t Cedric been a bit too showytely?” Lillian asked.


    Feigning confusion, Dani responded, “Has he?”


    Noticing Dani’s amused expression, Lillian asked further, “You know he has. Thest time Cedric yed the piano was when you came back from abroad. At a function after his big deal, he declined to y.


    Yet today, here he is, performing with such ir. Doesn’t that strike you as strange?”


    Trying to discern Lillian’s point, Dani sighed.


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