?Chapter 842:


    Both women could easily discern the other’s motives.


    Casual flings were tolerable, but a direct threat to her status as Doug’s wife was not—only over her dead body.


    A look of fierce resolve swept over Joyce’s features.


    She approached Doug and kissed him in Natalie’s presence.


    Despite the scene, Doug’s passion remained undiminished. He embraced Joyce, his breath ragged.


    In a hushed tone, Joyce murmured into Doug’s ear, “Ask Natalie to leave! She’s rted to Dani. Dani won’t approve, and it couldplicate your rtions with her.”


    Doug momentarily froze, his actions halting. His gaze, still lustful, met Joyce’s eyes.


    Joyce added, “Hold off. Alexander is working on something bigger. Why settle for less when the genuine article is within reach? Natalie can’tpare to Dani, can she?”


    After a brief pause, Doug resumed holding Joyce tightly, their kiss resuming with renewed enthusiasm in the pavilion.


    Natalie’s cheeks burned with both shame and fury, feelingpletely degraded.


    Joyce nced over, her smile smug as she caught Natalie’s eye.


    Breathlessly, she mocked, “Still here? nning to watch us all evening?” With a teasing smirk, Joyce turned back to Doug. He shot a re at Natalie before snapping sharply, “Get lost!”


    Linden lurked in a shadowy corner, silently observing the unfolding scene.


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    His expression grew stormy, his brows knitting together in a scowl.


    Dani, having watched the spectacle, descended the stairs with a sense of boredom. As the event’s host, she was bound to stay until the end.


    She wandered to a secluded part of the courtyard and settled on a bench in an empty arcade.


    Casually sipping her drink, she barely noticed a pair of shoes stop in front of her.


    Without raising her eyes, Dani spoke with a chill in her voice. “I’m otherwise engaged this evening. Please, enjoy the wine inside.” Her words hung in the air, but the shoes remained unmoved.


    Dani, uninterested, stood up to leave.


    “Seem a bit gloomy?” A deep, familiar voice cut through the quiet, causing Dani to snap her head up in surprise.


    “Oh, it’s you.” Dani narrowed her eyes at the figure.


    Alexander couldn’t understand.


    He had undergone surgery to be Cedric’s mirror image. Everyone whoid eyes on him insisted he was Cedric, and even Joyce often struggled to tell the difference.


    And yet, no matter how perfect the resemnce, Dani always saw through him in an instant.


    Despite his confusion, Alexander offered a smile. “Yes, it’s me. You seem troubled?” He adopted Cedric’s characteristic tone, easing down beside her on the bench. “How about a conversation? We could be like two strangers sharing their burdens. Your secrets are safe with me.”


    His features mirrored Cedric’s so closely, it was almost uncanny.


    Even his smallest habits, the cadence of his speech, and the way he smiled were an exact match.


    His eyes gleamed intensely, looking at her, causing Dani a moment of confusion.


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