Chapter 252

Katrina couldn't get an answer from Cedric, so she turned to Shirley for it.

At first, Shirley seemed determined to keep her lips sealed.

But under Katrina's relentless questioning, she finally relented. "Cedric likes men."

The confession landed like a thunderbolt, leaving Katrina utterly stunned and scrambling to process it."Excuse me,what?"

Shirley, sensing there was no point in sugarcoating, laid it out plainly. "He told me himself. And I even had someone look into it-Cedric has never dated a woman."

Katrina's nerves frayed as she pressed, "Has he dated men?"

"No,but..."

Katrina felt a flicker of relief, but Shirley continued, "His secretary? They've been together for over ten years. Before that, they were classmates. And yes, he's a man."

Katrina quickly dismissed it. "That hardly proves anything."

"His driver, too," Shirley added. "Another man who's been by his side for just as long."

Katrina bit her lip, stubbornly insisting, "That still doesn't mean anything significant."

"And what about Ryan?" Shirley pressed. "Cedric gets along with him too. Think about it-Cedric may seem distant, but he has close ties with many men. Women approach him all the time, given his status, but he's never chosen one. Why do you think that is?".

Katrina struggled to come up with a reply.

"Aunt Katrina, if you were a man with a good job, plenty of money, and lots of influence-everything looking perfect-but you never got married or even had a long-term girlfriend, what do you think that would mean?" That doesn't prove he's into men," Katrina said, refusing to back down.

"Maybe, but doesn't it at least suggest he has little interest in women? I even hired a private investigator.Did you know all his secretaries are men? For a company of that size, it's practically unheard of! Not a single woman. In a country this big, where else would you find something like that? Doesn't that raise a flag?"

Her rapid-fire explanation left Katrina in a daze. She faltered for a moment, barely managing to murmur, "But Daniela is a woman, isn't she?"

"Daniela's the exception, the only one," Shirley replied firmly. "Even with Lillian, Cedric is distant. Maybe he doesn't see Daniela as a typical woman. To him, she's more like a man, someone strong enough to manage an empire that massive. She's anything but ordinary."

Katrina sat in silence for a moment, only to realize Shirley had already hung up.

With that conversation still lingering in her mind, Katrina went back to observing Cedric.

He seemed unbothered by her watchful gaze, as long as she didn't interfere with Daniela.

A few days passed, and Joyce stormed into the house with tears streaming down her face as she vented her frustrations.

When no one downstairs gave her the attention she craved, she marched upstairs to find Katrina.

"Mom, I've had enough! I want a divorce!" Joyce burst out the moment she stepped into the room.

Katrina sighed, already weary, as Joyce launched into a tirade. "Alexander doesn't love me at all! All he ever thinks about is work. He just got back from a trip two weeks ago, and now he's saying he has to leave again.I even checked-he barely traveled for business before. It's so obvious he's just avoiding me."

Katrina let out another sigh. "Didn't I tell you to adjust your attitude last time? Did you do that?"

"Of course I did!" Joyce shot back indignantly. "I followed your advice-l even offered him a massage after work. And you know what he said? He didn't even look at me and just muttered something about not being into massages!"

Katrina sighed yet again. "And what happened next?" "Of course, I got mad! Mom, Alexander has completely changed. He's not the same person anymore. If I'd known he'd turn out like this, I would've never married him. I'm still young, and I didn't sign up for a marriage where I'd feel so ignored. I'm serious, Mom. I want a divorce. If this continues, don't be surprised if I have an affair.

Katrina's eyes widened in shock as she slapped Joyce's hand. "Are you out of your mind? You can't just say things like that! If word gets out, your reputation will be ruined."

Joyce pouted, her defiance apparent. "Then you figure it out. I've got my own money now. The first dividend from the robotics company just came in-over three million! I don't need the Bennett family anymore, so why should I be scared of Alexander?"

Joyce's sudden confidence was fueled by the unexpected windfall.

While the robotics company's dividends weren't regular, the payouts were undeniably substantial.

With three million already in her account, just a few more payouts would ensure she was well off.

She wasn't about to live like a widow while still so young.

If Alexander insisted on ignoring her, she'd make her own fun elsewhere.

After all,Alexander would be the one losing face.

While talking, Joyce transferred five hundred thousand to Katrina before asking, "Where's Shirley?"

Katrina nodded as she noticed the transfer. "She's gone."

Joyce's head snapped up at the response. "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.