Chapter 1005

Daniela stepped outside into the courtyard to take a phone call.

As she was about to step inside, she saw Cedric,his hands full of lemons he'd just plucked from the garden.

Pregnancy had given her a relentless craving for all things sour,and Cedric knew exactly what to bring her.

Grabbing one of the lemons, Daniela lifted it to her nose,breathing in the crisp, tart aroma.

Suddenly,the frot door swung wide.

Carol stood there, visibly tense.

Daniela was about to ask what was wrong when a subtle, metallic tang crept into her senses-a faint trace of blood lingering in the air.

For a moment, the lemon hung motionless in Daniela's hand.

Time seemed to slow as she traded a loaded glance with Cedric. Both of them felt the tension sharpen.

Not hesitating, Daniela slipped into the house and found the housekeeper busy in the kitchen.

An impulse to investigate pulled Cedric toward the source of the scent, but Daniela caught his arm,holding him back.

A look passed between them. Daniela's knuckles whitened around the lemon, its sour fragrance now mixed with the sinister smell fillng the room.

"We can't do anything for him now," she murmured."It's been too long-over thirty minutes at least."

Cedric's concern wasn't for the victim,only that something so grim had happened here, in their home.

Bad luck seemed to haunt their doorstep today.

Leading Cedric toward the couch, Daniela tried to brush off the gravity. "It's already done. With blood like that, there's no hope. Let's see how he gets himself out of this mess."

Her words had just faded when Hamilton came in,wrinkling his nose at the air. "What's that smell? It's awful."

Spotting Daniela, Hamilton's attention shifted away from the stench. "Daniela, are you really just going to let this go? Nikolas refuses to eat or drink. If this keeps up, he'll waste away. What should I do now?"

Throwing open the floor-to-ceiling window, Hamilton Let in a gust of air and grumbled at the housekeeper,"Did you use too much disinfectant? This smell is strange-or maybe that mop hasn't been rinsed out properly." The housekeeper shook her head. "No, I didn't use any disinfectant."

Pausing, she took a deep sniff, trying to trace the odor. "Maybe there's some construction happening nearby. The air does carry a bit of something odd."

Wasting no time, she grabbed her mop and disappeared into the bathroom, determined to wipe the floor down once more.

Some of the lingering scent faded after her efforts.

Only then did Hamilton ask Daniela again, "So, what are you going to do about Nikolas?"

As he spoke, his gaze flickered to Carol, who stood by,unmoved by the chaos, as if none of it concerned her.

Frustration boiling over, Hamilton pointed at Carol."That idiot's starving himself for your sake. Are you just going to ignore him? Do you care at all, or is this just his hopeless crush?"

A storm of anger brewed in Hamilton's voice.

Was this how the McCoy men were fated-to chase after Daniela's approval or suffer for her whims?

Was this really all their lives amounted to?

Fury left Hamilton breathless, his chest rising and falling sharply.

Unbothered, Carol replied, "I do like Nikolas. But you were the one who said we're not a good match,right?Since he's moved on and is seeing someone else,why should I feel guilty? I'm loyal to those who belong to me. If he isn't mine, I don't owe him anything."

There had always been a chill about Carol, as if warmth had never found a place in her.

Years beside Daniela had taught Carol to be icy and ruthless, both to herself and others.

Confidence shaped every word, leaving no doubt about her stance.

Despite his mounting frustration, Hamilton couldn't muster a comeback, left searching for words that wouldn't come.

A sudden creak broke the tension as the door to Brad's room swung open and Brad stepped into the hallway.

Hamilton gave Brad a sideways look. "You're showering in the middle of the day? And you didn't even bother to dry your hair. Is that cologne I smell?Seriously, how much did you use? The whole room reeks."

Running the towel through his hair, Brad shrugged. "It was hot, so I jumped in for a quick rinse. Couldn't find the hairdryer.Anyway,Hamilton,what brings you here?"

Nikolas' situation was on the tip of Hamilton's tongue,but embarrassment made him change the subject. His attention drifted around the room. "Has anyone seenEthan?"

That simple question brought everything to a standstill-Brad stopped mid-motion, towel frozen above his head.

Looking up, he met a wall of stares from Daniela,.Cedric, and Carol. Daniela's gaze lingered longest.

Something about her eyes-cool, sharp, just a hint of mockery-sent a chill through him.

No matter what story he came up with, Brad felt completely exposed under her scrutiny.

A shaky smile surfaced."What's with the intense looks?Don't ask me about Ethan, I have no clue where he went."

Nerves flickered in his eyes as he looked away.

Doubt creased Hamilton's brow as he pulled out his phone. "You're sure? Ethan invited me over, said he had news. Now he's vanished. What's he up to? I'll just call and check."