Chapter 48

Josie's heart ached as she watched Daniela. Here was a young woman who had grown up without anyone truly caring for her, yet she had emerged so strong, so compassionate.

Caiden had forced his own daughter to fend for herself, while lavishing affection on a spoiled, self-centered brat like Joyce. It was beyond comprehension.

"Here, eat this," Josie said gently, pushing a dish closer to Daniela. "You're so young, yet you've had to bear so much already. You're truly remarkable. If your mother were here, she would be incredibly proud of you. But, my dear, a girl can't rely on herself all the time. Being strong is admirable, but it's also exhausting. I can't do much to ease your burdens,but I can cook. If there's ever anything you want to eat, just tell me. You've been staying up so late recently; you should go to bed early. Young women

need to take care of their health, especially if they want a happy future and to find the right partner someday."

Daniela's lips curved into a faint smile.

She had walked a long, solitary road, carrying her burdens without complaint. She didn't think of herself as remarkable-she had simply done what needed to be done.

But now, here was someone, a woman her mother's age, showing her genuine care. The warmth of Josie's words touched her deeply. Her smile grew as she met Josie's kind gaze. "Thank you, Josie."

Josie's face brightened, her smile wide and affectionate as she looked at Daniela.

Daniela was in her twenties-the prime of her youth-vibrant, radiant, and brimming with untapped potential.

A girl like her, with such a kind heart, deserved someone who would truly cherish her.

"Miss Harper, do you have a boyfriend?"

Daniela shook her head.

"I know a young man. He's handsome, well-mannered, and such a gentleman. Maybe I could introduce him to you sometime?"

Daniela let out a chuckle, shaking her head again."Thank you, Josie, but I'm not ready for that right now. I just got out of a marriage, and honestly,I think I'm a little afraid of the idea of marriage for now."

Josie's expression turned thoughtful, her head nodding. "You're right. Marriage is a big decision. It should never be taken lightly."

With that, Josie turned back to the kitchen. A moment later, Lillian wandered in from the living room with a chuckle. "Josie wants to set you up with someone? Who could she possibly know?"

Daniela glanced at her and replied, "Her intentions are kind. Don't make fun of her."

From the kitchen, Josie overheard their exchange.A

small smile spread across her lips.

She pulled out her phone and typed a message."Mr.Phillips, the person you chose is truly wonderful. But she said she's single right now and isn't considering a relationship at the moment."

The reply came almost instantly-a frustrated emoji,its expression a perfect representation of disappointment.

Caiden,as usual, sat glued to the television.

When his phone lit up with a notification, he didn't even spare it a glance. Without bothering to see who it was from, he lazily flipped the device over, leaving the screen facedown on the table.

Katrina complained, "Why don't you ever check your phone? What if Joyce has something important to tell you? How is she supposed to reach you if you're always ignoring your phone?"

She reached over, snatched up his phone, and

unlocked it.

It was a message from Daniela.

Katrina's expression soured in an instant.

Without even bothering to open the message, she swiped left and deleted it.

Caiden, still engrossed in his show, didn't notice a thing. His tone remained casual as he asked, "Is it Joyce?"

Katrina's lips curled into a sly smile as she scrolled to his contacts list and blocked Daniela's number entirely.

Finally satisfied, she let out a deep breath and smiled."Nope."

Daniela had wrapped up her tasks for the day.Fresh from the shower, she reached for her phone on the nightstand and glanced at the screen.

There was still no response from Caiden.

With a subtle frown, she opened her news app, only to find the same trending topic dominating the headlines. Curious, she tapped on the link, and a video loaded almost instantly.

The scene unfolded. Joyce, perched on a table at a bar, dancing with wild abandon to the pulsing beat of the music. Behind her hung a banner.

"Congratulations to Joyce Holt for Obtaining Floors 18th-20th of Luxor Tower!"

Daniela stared at the video, momentarily speechless.After a deep breath, she forwarded the video to Caiden, intending to remind him once again.

But just as she hit send, a small notification appeared on her screen, reminding her that she had been blocked.

Daniela froze for a moment, her gaze fixed on the notification.

Then, she placed the phone back on the bedside table, turned off the light, and slipped into bed.