Chapter 43


    Upon hearing these words, Candice nced at the photo.


    In the picture, a man and a woman stood outside the lobby of a hot spring hotel. Alex was


    embracing the woman from behind, and she looked back at him.


    The picture was taken from a distance, making it hard to discern their expressions. However, the


    ambiguous emotions between the two could be clearly felt in the photo..


    Ka’s eyes clearly sparked, obviously eager to gossip.


    Candice said, “That day when I almost fell, he was the one who pulled me up.”


    Ka wasn’t the only one who had seen this photo. Most of the people in thepany had seen it.


    Sonia’s face remained pale the entire day.


    Alex, on the other hand, showed no reaction. He didn’t even spare a nce at the photo.


    Instead, he averted his gaze.


    Seeing his indifferent response, Sonia felt a bit relieved.


    In the afternoon, someone from the finance department approached Candice, handing her a


    paycheck to sign.


    Due to Candice losing the coboration with Humphrey, three months of her sry would be


    deducted ording to Aether Corporation’s regtions.


    Candice’s monthly sry was already substantial, and the total amount for three months looked


    somewhat


    staggering.


    Ka casually nced at the figure and couldn’t help but exim, “Candice, this amount of


    deduction could serve as a down payment for a house in my hometown.”


    Candice, however, hesitated to sign. She stared at the amount with a furrowed brow and pursed


    lips.


    It was only after the finance person urged her that she finally signed.


    Ka was aware of the situation, and she felt it was unfair to Candice. “You can’t be solely med


    for losing


    this deal. Why should you bear the punishment alone? That’s too unfair!”


    Candice remained silent, Conveniently, her phone rang, and she checked it before standing up.


    “I have to take this call.”


    In the pantry, a young girl’s tender and fragile voice came through the other end of the line when


    Candice answered.


    “Candice, when are youing to see me?”


    The girl, Peach, was Candice’s half-sister. They had the same mother but a different father. Peach


    was only eight years old and suffering from congenital leukemia. She needed expensive treatments


    every month.


    Thest time Candice saw her was when Peach’s mother had brought her before Candice, with


    tears streaming down her face.


    Over the years, aside from the monthly payments, Yvonne Lee, Candice’s mother, rarely called her.


    Back in the office, after Ka mentioned going upstairs to deliver some documents, Candice


    thought for a moment and said, “I’ll go.”


    Sonia bit her lip when she saw Candice upstairs and asked, “Candice, is something wrong?”


    “Thave a document for Mr. Elysian,” Candice said as she gestured to the papers in her hand.


    Sonia stood up and offered, “I’ll hand it to him.”


    “It requires his feedback” Candice calmly replied.


    Sonia stiffened and sat back down.


    When Candice pushed open Alex’s office door, he was engrossed in work. Hearing the disturbance,


    he looked up, and Candice handed him the documents.


    “I need your feedback and signature on these.”


    Alex acknowledged with a grunt, “Leave it there; I’ll look at itter.”


    He continued working, but Candice remained in ce without moving.


    After a moment, Alex paused and asked, “Is there something else?”


    “It’s about the three months’ sry deduction,” Candice said. She lowered her gaze to Alex’s desk


    and spoke slowly.


    Alex paused, then he folded his hands on his desk. He replied, “That’spany policy.”


    “I’ve mentioned that I can remedy the situation.”


    “Have you seeded in remedying it?” Alex sneered coldly, then looked meaningfully at Candice,


    “Candice. you’re not an exception.”


    After saying this, he briefly nced through the documents Candice had handed him, then casually


    tossed them onto the desk.


    “So, it’s not worth making an exception for you.


    Recently, Candice and Ka had been having meals together in thepany cafeteria, opting for


    the most ordinary meals.


    In terms of employee benefits, Aether Corporation was generous and took good care of its


    employees. Ka asked curiously, “Candice, why have you beening to the employee cafeteria


    lately?”


    Before Candice could respond, Ka answered her own question, “Oh, I see. Is it because of the


    sry issue?”


    Candice nodded.


    Ka was not the only one who felt that Candice was being treated unfairly; others in the


    department shared the sentiment. However, they didn’t dare question Candice about it directly and


    only discussed it privately


    behind her back.


    As Candice was about to push open the restroom door, she heard people outside discussing. She


    hesitated


    and stayed inside.


    “If I were Candice, I’d be furious. Three months’ sry! And it’s not even her fault! If it were me, I’d


    quit. Besides, Candice is so capable. Whichpany wouldn’t want her?”


    “I don’t think she’s able to resign,” another person said, “Candice seemed to have signed a non-


    compete agreement with thepany.”


    The voices outside gradually faded, and Candice finally emerged from the cubicle.


    N?velDrama.Org owns ? this.


    Indeed, she had signed a nonpete agreement with Aether Corporation. It was something


    Daniel had


    urged her to do back then.


    On Friday. Candice went to the sanatorium. She paid for another quarter and transferred Peach’s


    monthly medication expenses.


    As she left. Joe slipped a passbook into her hand.


    Candice frowned, “Why are you giving me this?”


    “How can I let you keep spending money on Peach? I am, after all, her grandfather.” The old man


    sighed, There’s not much in there, just enough for a few months.”


    When Candice returned home, she coincidentally ran into Alex, who looked like he was about to


    leave.


    Alex paused when he saw Candice. He asked, “Took the afternoon off?”


    “Yeah. I had some errands to run.”


    Alex’s dark gaze lingered on her for a moment before he said, “Tomorrow night. Southern Gin


    Hotel,”


    Tomorrow was Helen’s birthday, and Candice thought he would ask Sonia to go with him. But before


    she could


    ask if they should go together, Alex had already left.


    The next day. Candice waited at home. She waited until half past five, but there was still no sign of


    Alex. So,


    she decided to drive to the Southern Gin Hotel herself.


    Upon arrival, she discovered that Alex had already been there for a while.


    Sonia was elegantly dressed and stood by his side. She was weing guests together with Alex


    as they


    followed Helen.


    Candice stood frozen in ce. She closed her eyes briefly, and then slowly approached them.


    Upon seeing her, the smile on Helen’s face instantly turned mocking.


    Candice handed the gift to Helen, “Happy birthday, Helen.”


    She knew Helen looked down on her and wasn’t interested in what she brought.


    While Daniel might not appreciate Candice’s background, he wouldn’t be petty with a young girl.


    With a stern expression, he said, “Since you’re here, go on in.”


    When Sonia heard Daniel’s words, she walked over with a smile. She took Candice’s gift and said


    with a polite smile, “Candice, let me take you inside.”


    It was Helen’s birthday, and many of Alex’s friends were present.


    Upon entering. Candice immediately spotted Sieg and the others.


    Sonia brought her over and whispered to Sieg. “Sieg, Candice is here. Lex is busy, so take care of


    her for a bit. okay?”


    This was the first time Candice was in the position of the one who was being cared for at the


    Elysian family’s banquet.


    She looked down and took a seat.


    Shortly after she had sat down, Alex entered. He gestured towards Candice, tapping his fingers


    twice on the table in front of her.


    Looking down at her, he said indifferently. “Come and help.”