?Chapter 1454:


    “She’s gone,” said Cedric. “Dani’s missing.”


    Damon appeared behind him. “I’ll get someone to help look.”


    Carol looked panicked. But Cedric didn’t stop to talk. He headed straight to the surveince room. As soon as the footage yed, Damon leaned forward.


    “She went to the eighth floor? That’s the rooftop.”


    His expression darkened. “Shit! Who is exploiting her weakness?”


    Before he could finish, Cedric was already gone.


    The elevator ride was the slowest he’d ever known. Each second dragged.


    As soon as the doors parted, he rushed out.


    And there she was. Daniy motionless on the floor. Blood streaked her face. On top of her, Alexander was unbuttoning her blouse.


    Something in Cedric snapped. He charged forward and drove a fist into Alexander’s face.


    Without pause, he followed with a vicious kick.


    A knife glinted on the floor. Cedric grabbed it and pointed it straight at Alexander’s eye. His grip was steady. He was ready to strike. Just then, Dani’s hand closed around his sleeve.


    He turned quickly. Her body looked so small, so weak. Seeing her in that state nearly broke him. His eyes burned, but no tears fell.


    He slipped off his jacket and covered her gently. Then he pulled out a wet tissue and wiped her face clean, taking his time.


    His hands couldn’t stop shaking.


    Dani whispered, “It’s not my blood.”


    Cedric fought to steady himself, shoving aside the chaos churning inside.


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    The moment Carol and her group arrived upstairs, they were greeted by the sight of Cedric crouched beside Dani, gently wiping streaks of blood from her cheek.


    Cedric was determined to shield Dani’s vulnerabilities from prying eyes.


    Without hesitation, he scooped Dani up in his arms,nded a brutal kick on Alexander, and stepped into the elevator to head downstairs.


    Behind them, a swarm of reporters gawked at Dani’s condition, their cameras clicking incessantly.


    Cedric carried her to the waiting car, carefully wrapping a nket around her shoulders before stepping back out and facing the mob of cameras.


    Gone was the man content to be a mere shadow at Dani’s side. In his ce stood someone formidable—untouchable and sharp-edged.


    His voice rang out, steely and upromising. “I have no ties to the McCoy family and I never will. Mr. McCoy, stop interfering in my life. I want nothing to do with you. And I’ll hold every single person responsible for what happened today. I don’t care how long it takes. Justice ising.”


    Cedric’s eyes locked with Hamilton’s from across the crowd—his stare icy and unyielding.


    A beatter, Cedric slipped into the waiting car and vanished down the street. No one there could have imagined the venom coiled in Cedric’s heart, least of all Hamilton.


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