?Chapter 635:


    “Hmmm?”


    “I said, this doesn’t add up.” Cedric rarely spoke so seriously.


    In all their time together, he had always been gentle with Dani—patient and considerate, never raising his voice or challenging her like this. But now, his expression was grave, his face devoid of its usual warmth or even a hint of a smile.


    Although there was only a sofa separating them, Cedric suddenly felt as though Dani was an ocean away. For the first time, he realized he might not know her as well as he thought.


    “You’repletely convinced that Katrina killed your mother,” Cedric continued, his voice steady and deliberate.


    “If you wanted to take action against her, there are countless ways you could’ve ensured her death—or even made her suffer a fate worse than death.”


    Dani listened quietly, her gaze steady.


    “But you never made a move. It wasn’t out of fear—fear has never held you back.


    You’ve always known that some things are worse than death, like a life filled with misery.


    You made sure Caiden saw who Katrina truly was, exposed her real self to Joyce, and let everyone witness her selfishness.


    You cut her off from everyone, leaving her utterly alone.


    You wouldn’t have gone to such lengths just for her story to end so abruptly today.”


    Dani’s lips curled into a soft, almost yful chuckle.


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    “But she’s gone now, isn’t she?”


    The open window let the curtains dance in the breeze, giving the room an almost haunting atmosphere and making the figure near the doorway seem otherworldly.


    Cedric felt a sharp twinge of sorrow.


    “Yes, Katrina is dead, but you don’t seem surprised.


    You’re not unsettled, and it’s clear her death hasn’t thrown off your ns. That can only mean you knew this was going to happen all along.”


    Dani arched a brow, caught off guard by Cedric’s perceptiveness. There was more than just warmth in her gaze—there was a quiet admiration as well.


    “I didn’t kill Katrina,” Dani exined.


    Cedric responded without hesitation, “I know. If you let Katrina die, it means there’s a bigger n at y. It has to tie back to the conspiracy surrounding your mother’s death.”


    In that moment, the carefully guardedyers of Dani’s secrets were stripped away.


    She offered a soft smile.


    “Anything else?”


    Cedric’s voice was steady as he asked, “What do I mean to you?” Dani had braced herself for a biting remark, expecting Cedric to unleash his frustration.


    But instead, his tone softened, losing its usual sharpness, as he asked quietly, “Dani, what am I to you?”


    Dani’s smile fadedpletely. She stood rooted to the spot, unable to move. In the stillness of the vi, bathed in harsh lights, Dani could almost feel the vulnerability hiding beneath Cedric’s usually imprable exterior.


    He hadid his heart out for her to see. His voice, though soft, carried an edge of pain.


    “I’ve never tried to control what you do.


    You’ve always known the only line I draw is your safety. I thought you understood that, but now I see you don’t.


    You never value your own life. Whether it was confronting Katrina on the rooftop, putting yourself at risk with the real culprit, or chasing after that man in ck alone tonight—it’s always the same. Dani, I don’t ask for much, but I need to know this: What do I mean to you?”


    Dani bit her lip, her hand at her side tightening into a fist. She wanted to brush it off, like she always did, but this time, she couldn’t bring herself to smile or pretend it didn’t matter. Cedric’s words were too heavy, too honest.


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