Chapter 125

Daniela declared with a smile, "I've made my stance clear. I don't like entangling emotions with interests.Imagine us, intertwined as lovers and yet adversaries in business, whispering endearments in solitude and clashing vehemently at work-it would just rip me apart."

Her smile was there, yet her eyes betrayed no trace of warmth.

With an almost mocking sweetness, she glanced at Alexander. "I yearn for a relationship that remains untainted.Is that too much to hope for?"

Her question, profound and stirring, left Alexander utterly speechless.

He stood, bewildered, realizing for the first time the depth of Daniela's reservations.

Could it really be that she harbored such thoughts? Nearby, Cedric was rooted to the spot, equally taken aback by the revelation.

Alexander, though hesitant, wasn't ready to let go.Everything had been aligning perfectly; how could it crumble so unexpectedly?

Struggling to keep his voice steady, he questioned,11SO1what you're saying is, if I want a chance with you, I need to stay away from the project of the South and East Districts?"

Daniela nodded, her smile turning cunning. "Yes,and it's not limited to that. Any endeavor tied to Elite Lux is off-limits for Bennett Group. Moreover, should there be any competition between us, you must quit.After all, if you're pursuing me, competing against me for projects wouldn't be proper, would it? But let's be honest-even if you did try to compete,you wouldn't stand a chance. I prefer to state this upfront to spare youany embarrassment."

Daniela leaned forward slightly and explained, "Elite Lux has scaled back its ventures recently, focusing only on luxury goods, construction, education, tourism, aerospace, and a bit of high-tech involvement."

Alexander's eyes widened, a clear sign of his astonishment. "Doesn't that complicate matters for me? So, are you saying I should just shut down Bennett Group entirely?"

"Absolutely," Daniela replied, her grin brimming with cheerfulness. "Didn't my parents do just that back in their day? It was quite the role reversal. Ultimately,they still had me."

Daniela's gaze turned distant, tinged with nostalgia."That way, a man is less likely to wander. How perfect! I've always yearned for that kind of life. I vowed when I was little that if a man ever cooked for me, I'd marry him right away!"

Her heart swirled with sarcasm, yet her expression remained utterly sincere.

Her eyes sparkled with a glimmer of hope as she pressed on. "Do you think you can handle that,Alexander?"

Alexander felt a pang of despair. "Wouldn't that reduce me to a man who lives off a woman? In our circles, that's just pathetic."

"Is that so? A man who would go to such lengths for love is truly praiseworthy, isn't it? That's exactly the kind of devotion I'm looking for!" Daniela exclaimed with conviction.

Alexander's chuckle was hollow, devoid of real amusement. "You never expected this from me before." Alexander was not ready to surrender.He gazed up at the imposing structure before him. Its majesty and grandeur were undeniable.

"I did before," Daniela lied. "It's just that we hadn't reached this point back then."

Alexander was taken back.

Daniela went on, "Moreover, I've secured my assets with legal ties. If something were to happen to me in the future, I could leave you one percent of my assets. That's hardly insignificant; that one percent could be worth over a billion." himself at a loss for words. Legal ties? But Daniela appeared in perfect health. When would she even need such provisions?

Seeing the shock on Alexander's face, Daniela's smile was tinged with irony. "This is a serious discussion. Why not go home and talk it over with your father? I can wait."

She offered one last piece of advice with feigned kindness. "I'm tied up these days. If you agree, you won't need to attend Elite Lux's bid the day after tomorrow. Well, that's all. I'm off to bed."

With that, Daniela turned on her heel,leaving Alexander no chance to reply as she strode away with an air of triumph.

Alexander remained, filled with suspicion that Daniela might boe messing around with him, yet he didn't have proof.