?Chapter 1258:


    But Dani had left.


    With a sigh, Joyce looked in Cedric’s direction. He was hunched over, hands on his knees; he appeared overwhelmed by fatigue. Perhaps he had finally epted Dani’s absence.


    In the days that followed, Cedric didn’t move out of the vi as Joyce had imagined. He didn’t even transfer ownership of the vi. Without asking anyone to clear out Dani’s belongings, Cedric quietly moved into her room and ced his own clothes alongside hers, filling in the empty spaces she had left behind.


    Not once did he set foot in the kitchen again. Instead, he dressed in sharp suits each day, immersing himself in the work that came with running both Phillips Group and Elite Lux.


    By the end of the week, Phillips Group toppled Bet Group with stunning speed, securing its ce as the new titan of national wealth. Joyce, meanwhile, stayed on in the vi. Cedric gave no clear word on her presence—neither a wee nor a dismissal. He was so busy that Joyce rarely saw him.


    Her only glimpses of him came through television interviews.


    Under his guidance, Phillips Group surged forward, especially in foreign trade, establishing itself as the undisputed leader in the domestic market. Observers were amazed by the originality of his strategies.


    Only then did people realize that Cedric had never truly pursued wealth in the past—his previous leadership was passive, almost indifferent.


    Now that he poured real focus into it, thepany flourished beyond expectation.


    Phillips Group’s employees found themselves walking a fine line between optimism and worry. They were grateful for the job security, the steady workflow, and the generous raises. Even so, an unease lingered. Their once-charismatic boss now moved through the halls like a shadow of himself—sharp as ever but stripped of warmth.


    Clearly, Cedric was unraveling.


    At a morous gathering, yet another socialite made her move on him. This one, however, wasn’t shy in the slightest.


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    Breaking the silence that had lingered since Dani’s absence, the woman was the first to mention Dani’s name.


    Nearby, Cedric’s secretary remained motionless, holding his breath.


    Batting hershes with practiced sweetness, the woman leaned closer and said, “I’m every bit as attractive as Dani, if not more. My father’s a well-known tycoon in this country. Maybe I don’t have as much money as she does, but I’m still wealthy in my own right. She chose to walk away. Why keep waiting for someone who won’t return?”


    Not so much as a nce came from Cedric.


    Stillness wrapped around the room.


    All attention shifted between him and the overly confident woman. With a slow, detached smile, Cedric said, “I’m not waiting for her. I’m not so pathetic as to run after someone who has left me.”


    The woman’s eyes stretched wide at his words. Trying not to lose momentum, she smiled and said, “Then maybe we could—”


    “I haven’t reached the kind of desperation that makes me settle for anything less than what I’m worth.”


    The room fell into an uneasy hush.


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