Chapter 139

Lillian raised an eyebrow. "Is this really such a big deal? You know, if you two ever tie the knot, you'll be a hen-pecked husband, Cedric. All this drama just because you went back to the office? Keep this up and you'll shatter that aloof, invincible persona everyone admires!"

Cedric chuckled, shaking his head. "Persona? I've never cared about that."

Just as Lillian was about to reply, Cedric turned to Daniela. "Alright, alright, I admit it-I didn't go back to the office; I had something else to take care of.Please, forgive me this time.I promise, no more lies."

Daniela gave him a skeptical look, her eyes dropping to his hand. "Were you in a fight? Your hand looks hurt."

Lillian leaned in, her curiosity escalating. "Oh wow you're right."

Cedric, the epitome of composure and precision,had gotten into a brawl? It seemed out of character, but then again, considering his often cold and distant demeanor with others, maybe it wasn't so far-fetched after all.

Cedric embodied contradiction, a blend of extremes that rarely made sense.

Around Daniela, he was gentle and attentive, yet around others, he was like a simmering volcano on the verge of eruption.

Cedric was oblivious to the fresh scrape marring his knuckles until Daniela pointed it out. He offered a feeble, uncomfortable grin, tucking his hand out of sight behind his back.

"Why don't you head down to the lobby and have the manager get you some iodine for that?" Daniela suggested, her tone laced with concern.

Cedric was about to dismiss the fuss with a shake of his head, but the sight of Daniela's earnest expression halted him. He rose and said, "Alright, I'll do that."

Lillian, unable to suppress her amusement, leaned towards Daniela. "You know, you two really have the whole old married couple act down pat."

Upon returning, Cedric paused in the doorway,his gaze landing on Daniela, who was quietly sampling the dishes he had placed on her plate.

He watched her for a spell, a surge of simple happiness bubbling within him. He didn't understand why he loved her so deeply.

Shaking off his reverie, Cedric finally proceeded to his chair and resumed his place.

Daniela said lightly, "You really should avoid getting into fights, you know."

Cedric's face softened, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "How about a deal? Be my girlfriend, and not only will I avoid fights, but I'll hang on your every word and devote myself entirely to you," he whispered in a voice that no one else could hear. Lillian cast a quick glance at Cedric and asked Daniela, "What is wrong with him?"

Daniela shook her head. "I'm not sure. He seems to be in a world of his own."

At the same time, Alexander was wheeled into the emergency room. His return to consciousness was marked by agonizing screams of pain that echoed through the sterile corridors.

Richard arrived moments later and was met with a harrowing sight: Alexander's face, a horrifying tableau of bruises and swelling, distorted beyond recognition. He let out a heart-wrenching cry.

Their cries resonated through the hospital,compelling nurses, doctors, and even other patients to peer into the room, curious about the source of such distress.

They were met with the grim visage of Alexander,sitting on the bed, his features battered and raw.

That evening, the incident captured the attention of the media. Reporters descended on the hospital, eager for a sensational story. However, Alexander was in no state to confess that he had been mercilessly beaten by a single individual who had nonchalantly continued his evening as if nothing had occurred.

The thought of acknowledging such a humiliating defeat was mortifying.

The turmoil within him mounted, pushing Alexander to the brink of madness.

As the room emptied and quiet settled once more,he dragged himself to the mirror.

Confronting his reflection, he was rooted to the spot,the severity of his injuries mirroring the turmoil inside him.

Every inch was marred by bruises and swelling,turning his features into those of a man who'd suffered a grave calamity.

Now, he realized the source of the excruciating pain that shot through his skin with even the slightest movement. "Cedric is envious because Daniela preferred my looks! That's why he targeted my face!"

Richard found himself utterly speechless.

At the doorway, their secretary asked, "Should we call the police?"

Richard whirled around, his eyes blazing as he fixed the secretary with a stern glare. "Call the police?Have you lost your senses? Just look at his face! If word of this gets out, it'll be said that the president of Bennett Group was assaulted. Do you want to tarnish our company's image?"

The secretary stood there, dumbfounded. Cedric was stepping on their dignity, and yet, their primary concern was the company's image? This was not the Richard and Alexander he knew.

Usually, they wielded their power ruthlessly, lording it over those beneath them. Only last month, Richard had visited a construction site and a mere speck of dust had settled on his suit. Infuriated, he had demanded that the worker responsible compensate him with 100, 000 dollars. That amount represented a whole year's worth of dedication and labor for the employee.

The man had sunk to his knees, pleading for forgiveness with desperate eyes, yet Richard remained unmoved, his resolve as cold as steel.

The unfortunate worker had driven himself to illness,tirelessly gathering every penny he could muster.

And now? Alexander's features were so brutally marred that his own mother wouldn't recognize him.Yet here they were, forced to digest this bitter pill of defeat without so much as a whimper of resistance.

The secretary, witnessing the scene, couIdn't suppress a twisted sense of satisfaction mingled with curiosity. Who held such sway that they could compel such a complete and humiliating retreat?

With a dismissive gesture, Richard signaled for the secretary to leave.

Once the door clicked shut behind him, Richard's gaze hardened as he addressed Alexander. "Don't hold it against me for not involving the police. You're aware, just as I am, that our family's clout has waned.Since we lost the partnership with Elite Lux, we're not the titan we once were. Crossing Cedric now would spell our doom in Olisvine. For the company's sake,you must endure this."

Alexander's face, swollen and distorted from the assault, betrayed no emotion. Yet, beneath that battered exterior, a fierce hatred simmered,threatening to boil over.

Gesturing towards his disfigured face, he snarled "Dad! Cedric didn't just attack me-he wrecked my face. He's envious because Daniela shows interest in me, so he targeted every strike at my face. Now, with my face like this, how will I ever win Daniela's affection back? And what about my standing? Cedric reduced me to nothing. IfI don't retaliate or even report him, what will others think of me once they hear? They'll call me a goddamn coward! A spineless loser! How the hell am | supposed to lead when everyone thinks I've got no balls?"

Richard remained silent for a moment, his expression unreadable. He sat there, contemplating deeply as Alexander's anger simmered.

With a sigh, he finally suggested, "Listen, here's what you need to do-go to Daniela. This chaos all began with her, didn't it? Demand that Cedric apologize to you. But not just a simple apology-he must also handle all your medical bills."

A sly, calculating gleam flickered in Richard's eyes."And while you're at it, tell Daniela that if she really wants to resolve this situation, she must give us the airport project. That will be the cost of our silence."