?Chapter 1116:


    At the dining table, Caiden, Joyce, and Jack sat across from Dani and Carol. Cedric joined them shortly after.


    “I like calm,” said Dani, picking up her fork. “So if you’re going to live here, stay quiet. I don’t tolerate drama. And if you test me, you already know what’ll happen.”


    As soon as she said it, Caiden leaned back, his face pale. Joyce tensed up, grabbed Jack, and stormed away. A chair screeched as she kicked it back.


    From the kitchen doorway, Tasha watched Dani eat, unfazed. Caiden, who usually had aint ready, sat frozen in ce.


    About thirty minutes passed after lunch. Joyce came down with Jack and faced Tasha in the kitchen. “Make me something else. I’m still hungry.”


    Tasha nced over. Dani sat in the living room, flipping through channels as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Her face remained cold and unreadable. “The kitchen’s closed after meals. Miss Harper made that clear,” Tasha said, locking the kitchen door right in front of Joyce.


    Joyce’s face turned red. She stormed off to confront Dani. “Are you seriously nning to starve me and Jack?”


    Dani kept clicking the remote. The TV light flickered across the room, casting shadows on the walls. She didn’t speak, her expression remaining sharp and unreadable.


    Then her gaze cut to Joyce.


    Joyce froze. A chill crept up her neck, and she backed up half a step. “Dani, don’t go too far. You acted like a victim out there, but this is the real you.”


    Dani turned her eyes back to the screen. “Here’s how it is, Joyce. Tasha works for me now. Her job is to serve me and my people. Once meals are done, the kitchen is off-limits. Also, you and Caiden will be paying ten thousand a month. If you can’t afford it, I’ll show you the door.”


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    Joyce snapped, “You’re charging me to live here? Aren’t you afraid I’ll take Jack and leave, never to return? Think this through. Jack, Dad, and I are the only family you’ve got. You can’t have kids. That means no heirs, no one to care for you when you’re old. Are you really ready to lose us?”


    Three years ago, Dani might haveughed. These days, she rarely did. She stared at Joyce like she wasn’t even alive. “I’ve already thought it through. I live in the now. Some problems? I’ll handle them when I’m old. And didn’t you say you were leaving anyway? Tasha, go help her pack Jack’s things. Make sure everything is wrapped up neatly.”


    Joyce burst into tears and ran outside to find Caiden. He was hiding in the yard, hoping not to get dragged in.


    “Why did you have to rile her up? Keep your head down. Dani’s got money, power, and no patience. If she kicks us out, where are we going to find another ce like this?”


    Joyce clenched her jaw. “Fine. She wins—for now. But one day, she’ll need Jack, and when that dayes, I won’t make it easy for her.”


    Caiden nodded. “Right. She can’t have children. All we need to do is wait. Once she’s out of the picture, her stuff bes ours. No point in fighting now.” Deep down, he knew the truth. Nobody could match Dani when it came to being ruthless.


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