Chapter 870

Nikolas froze for a moment, caught off guard.

He stared at Daniela in disbelief, while she stayed perfectly calm and collected.

Between his shock and her steady composure, it was hard to say who really had their vulnerability laid bare.

"You know?" Nikolas asked,eyes wide with surprise as he fixed his gaze on her.

Daniela nodded calmly. "If you're going to make a move,hurry up. My lunch break's nearly over, and if I'm late,Cedric will come looking for me."

She said this while taking a casual sip of water.

Nikolas looked confused."Aren't you scared of blood?You know I'm onto your weakness,yet you still come here? Aren't you afraid of what I might do?"

Until then, Nikolas hadn't made up his mind yet.

He couldn't deny he'd long coveted McCoy Group and naturally saw himself as the rightful heir.

He was ready to dedicate his entire life to achieving that.

That had always been his mindset,unwavering.

Yet now,with everything laid out plainly, he hesitated.

It felt almost absurd.

He actually faltered.

He had only spent less than two months with Daniela and the others, but already, he found himself questioning whether the "put interests first" rule he'd lived by for years was really the right path.

The blood bag lay tucked in his pocket, yet standing face-to-face with Daniela, a wave of panic washed over him,freezing his every move.

Daniela propped her chin on her hand, studying his face carefully. "Opportunities like this don't come around often. Are you really going to let it slip by?"she asked.

Cedric hadn't shown up. Nor had Carol followed. Just as Daniela said, this was the perfect opportunity for Nikolas. Still, he stood frozen, fists tight, eyes unfocused.

Daniela tapped Nikolas' chest where the blood bag was tucked away. "Just so you know, it doesn't last forever.After thee days, it lose its potency. If I'm not mistaken, today's the third day. If you don't act now. it'll be useless."

She waited a moment longer.

Nikolas' face flushed deep red, his thoughts tangled in chaos.Daniela observed him quietly, noticing he still made no move.

She rose and said, "If you're not going to do anything,I'll be heading back."

Without another word, she walked to the door.

Just before she reached the door, Nikolas suddenly called out, "Why?"

Daniela stopped and looked back at him, confusion clear in her eyes.

"You knew all along what I planned? Why didn't you call me out, making me look like a fool? Is that some kind of joke to you?"

Daniela chuckled at his words. "Do you think I would risk my life just to prove what kind of person you are?If that's what you believe, then you've seriously underestimated both of us."

Nikolas frowned, bewildered. "Then why? You know my ambitions, how I've always wanted McCoy Group.Why take such a gamble?"

Daniela answered, "Because I want Cedric to have

someone dependable by his side, no matter what happens."

Nikolas was stunned. "Just for that?"

Daniela simply nodded.

Her pure intentions caught Nikolas off guard. "Why..me?"

Daniela smiled gently. "Because you're clever,because you're part of the McCoy family, because you share half of Cedric's blood, and because I want his path to be filled with warmth. Only then will my risk today be worth it. Nikolas, I hope you won't let me down."

With that, she walked awvay.

Nikolas sank onto the sofa, eyes vacant as he stared at the empty doorway. Slowly, he pulled the expired blood bag from his pocket.

Once more, he had been defeated by Daniela's affection for Cedric.

Who claimed she was cold and indifferent, keeping Cedric merely as a plaything?

Daniela had clearly buried her true feelings in the deepest corner of her heart.

When Daniela reached her company,Cedric was already waiting outside.

His expression was grim, and when he saw Daniela casually wave at Hamilton by the floor-to-ceiling window across the hall, his face darkened further.

Daniela smiled at Cedric. "Why are you upset? It's nothing serious."

Cedric was still unsettled. "Why did you go alone? You know how ambitious Nikolas is. No one can predict what he might do. You're risking everything, and that's unlike you."

Daniela nodded, allowing him to voice his concerns,fully aware of how deeply worried Cedric was.

She took his hand gently and led him inside the company.

Cedric pressed on, "Hamilton won't back down. We have to get rid of him."

Daniela guided him into the elevator. "We're decent people. Why must we always speak of fighting and killing?"

Cedric stared at Daniela, stunned.

Wasn'tshe the leader of Cealmaur? And now she wished to avoid bloodshed and battle?