?Chapter 1708:


    Those words told Dani right away that this wasn’t going to be simple. Niks continued, “I was brought up knowing I’d have an arranged marriage someday. Back then, marriage didn’t mean much to me. I thought I’d just follow whatever my father wanted. Things are different now. I’m not sure what I want anymore. I’m confused and I need time to figure things out.”


    Dani’s brow tightened as she watched him. After a pause, she said, “If you’re feeling this lost, you really ought to stop chasing Carol.”


    Hearing her words, Niks jerked his head up, uncertainty flickering in his eyes as he looked at her.


    Words flowed evenly from Dani as she continued, “You’re not Cedric, and you’re still under your father’s thumb. Carol isn’t me—she hasn’t had to go through what I did. The two of you aren’t even together yet. She’s not bound to you, and you shouldn’t have to torture yourself like this.”


    Flustered, Niks retorted, “That’s not what I meant. I didn’t mean it that way.” Refusing to drag the conversation out, Dani turned and walked straight into the vi.


    Just before the door closed, she nced back to see Niks standing alone beneath the tree.<fnce1e> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find·novel</fnce1e>


    Inside, Brad had just begun to rise from his chair to check on her, but stopped as Dani reappeared.


    In a casual tone, he asked, “You’re back already?”


    Dani sent him a calm, steady look, her expression unreadable.


    That was enough to make Brad shift uneasily, unsettled by the quiet intensity he saw in her eyes.


    No sharp words left Dani’s lips, yet the coldness in her gaze made the whole world seem insignificant.


    Speechless, Brad simply observed as Cedric quietly offered Dani a ss of milk.


    A slow countdown continued in Brad’s head. Today was the second day.


    Feel the thrill at g aln  ov el s .


    When Carol returned from the office, Dani was still in the living room. Carol handed her the document. “Why are you still downstairs? I thought you’d be in your room now.”


    Darkness filled the room, broken only by shes of light and shadows from a horror film flickering across the television.


    Brad had already waved the white g, fleeing to his room long before; the horror was simply too much for him.


    Without a word, Dani passed the document along to Cedric, who disappeared upstairs into his study.


    Realization lit Carol’s face. “You were waiting for me, weren’t you?”


    “That’s right.”


    Hesitation crept into Carol’s posture as she lowered her gaze. “So, what is it you wanted to talk about?”


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