Chapter 683

As Cedric gently rinsed the fruit for Daniela, a message from Mose blinked onto his screen.

"Boss, you've still got it. I thought Ghost would be a challenge for you, but you took care of it like it was nothing."

Cedric quickly typed back. "Was anyone nearby when that happened?"

With a strawberry nestled in his hand, he sent the message and casually placed his phone down.

The phone's screen stayed illuminated, still waiting for a response.

Another message pinged fromn Mose. "Don't worry, I led Shadow away. No one saw a thing. But I still don't understand. Why does Shadow guard you? And for all these years?" Cedric didn't have an answer himself.

A few moments later, Mose messaged again. "Boss,Ryan from Cealmaur says their leader wants to meet with you."

Cedric hesitated, then replied, "Why?"

Mose's response came quickly. "No clue. They said they want to thank the leader of Lone Wolf. Boss,what did you do?"

Cedric was utterly confused.

Mose inquired, "Boss, are you going to meet them?"

Just as Cedric was about to reach for his phone, a figure appeared beside him, eyes glued to his screen.

"Who's looking to meet you?" Nikolas asked, his voice curious.

With quick reflexes, Cedric slipped the phone into his pocket. "My phone's contents are private. Didn't you know that?" With that, he turned and walked off.

Nikolas squinted, his gaze following Cedric's retreatingfigure, his mind racing with questions.

He seemed to have seen "Lone Wolf" on the screen.

Was there a link between Cedric and Lone Wolf?

Did they share some kind of history?

Nikolas hurried to catch up with Cedric.

Cedric was texting Mose. "Forget it. I'm not meeting them. It's just too much hassle."

Mose responded, "Alright. Anyway, you're only focused on your wife's safety. But I don't get it.You're so capable yourself. Why spend all your wealth just to keep her safe?"

Cedric responded, "What do you know? If I acted and she saw, she would be scared. She's timid, unlike you -tough and hardened."

Mose couldn't hold back. "Do you realize how much you've spent just to avoid scaring your wife? Hundreds of billions! And ten years of your time. And you don't even care?"

Cedric genuinely couldn't care less.

He was a master at making money, but to him, wealth was the least of his concerns.

However, he couldn't bear the thought of Daniela being afraid of him.

The mere idea of Daniela discovering his past and distancing herself from him sliced through his heart like a blade.

Mose couldn't help but tease, "A hopeless romantic!That's genuinely terrifying!"

Cedric shot back, "You don't get it."

Mose replied, "Alright, if you're certain you don't want to meet with them, I'll inform them."

Cedric was about to respond when Nikolas suddenly leaned in from behind. "Who's this person you're meeting?" In an instant, Cedric powered off his phone and, with a fluid motion, sent Nikolas tumbling over his shoulder.

"Ouch!" Nikolas lay sprawled on the floor, clutching his side. "Have you lost your mind, Cedric?"

Cedric was just as surprised. It was a knee-jerk reaction. "Why do you always sneak up behind me?Are you insane?"

Nikolas, equally confused and frustrated, shot back,"How was I supposed to know you'd react so fast?Help me up! My back's killing me."

His secretary rushed to assist him. Meanwhile,Nikolas' mind raced with thoughts. "My back's just as hurt as Cedric's leg. Maybe Daniela will feel sorry for me too."

In Nikolas' eyes, Cedric being the apple of Daniela's eye felt like Cedric had claimed every ounce of luck the McCoy family could offer.

If Daniela had a soft spot for him too, he'd be the leader of the McCoy family, without a doubt.

After all, both of them shared striking good looks.Whatever Cedric had, Nikolas could have it too.

And now, he was hurt far worse than Cedric.

If Daniela could feel sympathy for Cedric, why couldn't she feel the same for him?

Nikolas, wincing with pain as he clutched his waist,pushed open the door to Daniela's office.

"Daniela, I'm hurt," he called out.

Daniela, deep in the middle of a video conference,frowned when the goofball barged in.

"If you're hurt, see a doctor. Why come to me?" she snapped.

Nikolas paused, surprised by her response. It was exactly what he had anticipated.

"My back's worse than Cedric's leg," he muttered.

Daniela immediately grasped what he meant and frowned, giving him a look that suggested he'd lost his mind. "Nikolas, you may look pitiful now, but you've forgotten something."

Nikolas stared at her, blank-faced.

Daniela explained, "Cedric's leg injury happened while saving me, so I feel sympathy for him. Your injury, however, has nothing to do with me, does it?"

Nikolas suggested, "Why not just stab me now?"

Daniela, silent, waved her hand, signaling for the secretary to throw him out.

Daniela went back to her meeting as Nikolas was escorted to the hospital. Cedric stood by the office door, a small bowl of strawberries in his hands.

Daniela felt someone at the door and looked up, only to meet Cedric's gaze.

"What's up?" Daniela asked.′′Are you coming in or going out?"

Cedric remained in the shadows, the light stretching his silhouette across the floor. "Do you treat me kindly just because you feel sorry for me?"

Daniela instinctively opened her mouth to respond,but then she saw Cedric slowly lift his eyes,something broken flickering behind them.

"But you're my wife." Cedric's voice trembled, as if the words themselves hurt him. Daniela watched as he took a long, steadying breath before quietly asking, "Is your kindness towards me all just pity?"

Cedric was aware that Daniela had lost her memories.

He also understood that, without those three years,Daniela's feelings for him now were barely there.

But still, hearing those words stung more than he expected.

He was shaken, upset in a way he couldn't quite explain.

Daniela sighed, her demeanor rational and calm.She studied Cedric's face and said plainly, "Didn't you already know? It's not entirely/pity, but there is some of that."

Daniela wasn't one. for lying. She wasn't good at it either. If Cedric's leg injury hadn't been because of her, she'd feel much more at ease.

"Besides, your injury was indeed because of me,wasn't it? Whether it's out of pity or not, it's just a label, with no real meaning. If you find that term uncomfortable, I'll change it. How doesthat sound?"