?Chapter 1268:


    Dani waved him off. “I don’t need a bodyguard. Sit your butt down and peel me some shrimp—I’ll be back to eat them.”


    Cedric could only obey, sinking back into his seat with a small sigh of surrender.


    Just as Dani turned to leave, Charles sneered at Cedric, his tone dripping with mockery. “Weren’t you the one looking down on me not too long ago? And now look at you—following her orders without question. Seriously, Cedric, is she really worth turning into her loyal little servant?”


    Before Cedric could respond, Dani whipped her head around and fixed Charles with a cold, cutting re. “Shut up,” she snapped. Charles immediately shut his mouth. Dani tossed Cedric a firm look. “Don’t move.”


    Then, without another word, she strode off in Hamilton’s direction. As soon as she was out of range, Charles exhaled hard and slumped in his chair, poking at his te like a sulking child.


    The moment his fork aimed for the shrimp, Cedric pulled the entire te toward him, iming it like a prize. The message was loud and clear—back off.


    “Cedric,e on. Do you really have to y the loyalpdog?” Charles looked baffled. “We’re brothers, remember? Can’t you give me just one shrimp?”


    Without looking up, Cedric peeled another shrimp. “Ask Hamilton if you’re that desperate.”


    Charles mped his mouth shut, silenced.


    Hamilton gazed out at the rolling waves. “Dani, you’re no fool. People with your intellect don’t waste time with niceties. The wise always recognize which road leads to the greatest gain.”


    Dani met his gaze without flinching. Through the ss, she spotted Cedric, quietly peeling shrimp with full concentration.


    She knew this about Cedric—whatever he did, he poured himself into itpletely.


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    She answered evenly, “Then I guess I’m not as clever as you think, because I haven’t a clue which path you believe is right for me.”


    Hamilton’s smile faded just slightly—he never liked when people didn’t bow to his authority.


    People with too much fire in their spirit always shed with control, and Dani was the embodiment of defiance.


    “Very well,” Hamilton said smoothly. “If that’s how you want it, I’ll get straight to the point—I’m selecting a sessor.” As he spoke, Hamilton’s eyes stayed locked on Dani, searching her face for the slightest flicker of greed or ambition.


    But in the end, he saw nothing.


    Her expression remained unchanged—cool, unreadable, like a still pond hiding its depth.


    Hamilton’s patience thinned, and a chill entered his voice. “At first, I nned to choose from my five sons. But now that Cedric’s stepped out of the shadows, I’m offering him a ce in the running.”


    His tone rose like a man used to being obeyed, crisp with authority and entitlement.


    Dani met his gaze without flinching.


    Hamilton pressed on. “The terms are clear. Cedric must return to the family fold, take the McCoy name, and step into his rightful ce among us. From that moment, he’ll fall under my guidance. Whether he ascends to the top depends entirely on his own merit.”


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