?Chapter 1443:


    As she stepped inside, she nced at Damon. “Aren’t youing in? Do I have to ask you?”


    The difference was obvious—Kohen was told to leave; Damon was invited in. The favoritism was clear.


    Damon eagerly stepped inside after her, while Kohen lingered outside, humiliated and fuming.


    Kohen’s fist tightened at his side, his eyes shing with anger and spite in the shadows.


    He seethed silently, vowing to deal with Dani tomorrow.


    Kohen stepped inside to find Dani quietly serving Damon food.


    Kohen mouthed, “Shame on you!”


    Damon, unfazed, clutched his bowl like an overgrown child and obediently shoveled food into his mouth. The sight made Kohen blink, caught off guard for a heartbeat.


    For a fleeting second, he was transported back to their childhood. Damon had always been the troublemaker, driving their father to drag him from house to house, making endless apologies on his behalf. Each time they came home, Damon would sob, and their mother wouldfort him.


    Watching the scene now, Kohen couldn’t shake the feeling that Damon was still the troublemaker and Dani wasforting him like their mother used to do.


    Kohen lingered in the doorway, caught in the memory. When reality snapped back, he convinced himself he was going insane. How could Dani possibly see them as family? If Dani and Cedric joined the McCoy family, there would be no ce for him.


    Morning arrived, and Kohen was already waiting in the living room, car keys in hand, determined to take Dani to the construction site himself. He didn’t believe for a second that Damon had the guts to lie to their father. All that mattered now was finding out just how crippling Dani’s fear of heights really was.


    After they’d wrapped up breakfast, Kohen escorted Dani to the car. But just as he was about to start the engine, Damon slid in beside them, grinning.


    “What do you think you’re doing?” Kohen snapped. “Get the hell out!”


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    “Why? Am I not allowed to go?” Damon shot back, his tone almost teasing.


    Kohen squeezed his eyes shut, fighting back irritation. “The car’s already cramped, and the site’s a dust bowl. Don’t you have business to run at the casino?”


    He kept making subtle gestures, practically begging Damon to get out. Before Damon could say a word, Cedric climbed in as well.


    Damon, worried Carol would squeeze in next, stepped on the gas and drove off without another word.


    Inside the car, the air grew thick with tension.


    Kohen forced a strained smile and aimed for small talk. “Cedric, how’s work going? You’ve seemed really busytely.”


    Cedric didn’t bother turning his head. He just stared out the window, offering nothing.


    It hit Kohen then—Cedric hadn’t said a single word to him. Cedric had chatted with everyone else in the house, but never once looked his way.


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