Chapter 58


    The silence in the car stretched on.


    Candice waited for Alex’s decision. If he chose to drive, she would have to make her way back to


    the hotel alone.


    Sensing Alex’s hesitation, Nina offered apromise while smiling, “It’s okay if you don’t want to


    drive; I can take the wheel.”


    Alex had little room to decline. He briefly nced at Candice.


    Perceiving the situation, Candice statedposedly, “I’ll head back to the hotel on my own.”


    “Alright,” Alex replied softly.


    Candice collected her belongings and stepped out of the vehicle.


    In Stugan City, the intense ultraviolet rays from the ring sun made the day ufortably bright.


    Initially, she attempted to hail a taxi through a ride–sharing app, but with no cars


    avable, she had no option but to walk under the baking sun.


    Midway through, Jackson called her, still eager to introduce her to his friend.


    “I’m still in Stugan, so it might be difficult,” Candice exined.


    “That’s fine. Hanley’s in Stugan too; he’s just returned to the country,” Jackson detailed. “If you’ve


    got some free time, you should meet him. Hanley’s quite skilled in his field and has his own team.”


    Grateful for Jackson’s efforts, Candice appreciated him pulling the ties. She took Hanley Balwin’s


    number and promised to meet him if she had time.


    Jackson chuckled contentedly. He reminded her, “Hanley has been a friend since childhood. Be


    aware, though, that his temperament can be a little entric.”


    Back at the hotel, Candice reached out to Hanley Baldwin on WhatsApp. However, he did not reply


    immediately, and she did not think much of it.


    Jackson’s call served to remind her of Stugan’s rich ethnic culture, which features numerous art


    exhibitions and distinctive handicrafts.


    After spending some time in her hotel room, she eventually ventured out to a nearby historic street


    to shop.


    There, she discovered various fascinating handcrafted items, sharing photos of them with Jackson.


    She purchased a few because he spoke so highly of the craft in question.


    She returned to the hotel when she had almost finished seeing the city, but Alex and Nina had not


    yet returned.


    After having dinner alone, she noticed that Hanley had finally epted her friend’s request.


    She greeted him, but received no reply.


    Candice was about to step into the shower when she heard a knock at the door.


    Opening it, she found Nina standing there.


    Nina was taken by surprise when the door opened far faster than she anticipated.


    “Alex appears to have an upset stomach,” she exined after a little pause. “Can you get him some


    medicine?”


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Alex’s stomach was weak since he waspelled to drink a lot of alcohol throughout his early


    career, and this led to chronic issuester on.


    Candice quickly went downstairs to the pharmacy to get his usual medication.


    Her room was on the eighth floor, and Alex’s on the tenth. When she arrived at his door, which was


    slightly ajar, she thought Nina might be inside, so she knocked softly.


    She heard footstepsing from within.


    Without ncing at the person who opened the door for her, she gave the prescription bag and


    stated, “Here’s the stomach medicine.”


    No one took it from her, but Alex’s voice echoed with a hint of sarcasm, “I’m sure it was quite the


    task for you to fetch this for me.”


    She saw Alex d in a bathrobe, his demeanor somewhat condescending.


    He had just gotten out of the shower, with his hair still wet and carelessly pulled back, disying his


    smooth forehead.


    Ignoring the medicine Candice brought, Alex retreated further into the room.


    Candice, still holding the medicine, hesitated before following him in.


    Inside the spacious business suite, she ced the medicine on the table, advising, “Please take


    one tablet from each type.”


    Alex, quietly drying his hair, gave no response.


    His loosely tied bathrobe revealed a glimpse of his waist, prompting Candice to look away and head


    for the door.


    Before she could exit, Alex remarked, “It seems like you’re treating this business trip as a vacation.”


    The t tone of his voice left Candice feeling uneasy. His remark was ironic; she was sidelined


    because of Nina, yet now it sounded like she was the one taking it easy.


    Frustrated, Candice pursed her lips and replied sharply, “Isn’t Ms. Burgess avable to assist you?”


    After pausing midway through drying his hair, a cold snort escaped him as he gazed sharply at


    Candice.


    “Is there a problem?”


    Candice lowered her gaze and replied, “No.”


    He sat on the sofa and tossed the damp towel at her. Hismand was devoid of emotion, “Come


    here and dry my hair. I’m exhausted.”


    Despite holding the towel, Candice remained motionless.


    Alex’s slight raise of his eyebrows hinted at his growing impatience.


    “Must I personally invite you?”


    Her fingers gentlybed through his soft hair, presenting a striking contrast to his serious


    demeanor. Candice had always thought that this greatly contradicted his nature.


    She was preupied and, inadvertently, applied too much force. His gasp jolted her back to


    reality.


    Alex shifted, evading her touch, and asked, “What’s on your mind?”


    “Nothing.”


    He paused briefly before sarcastically asking, “Are you thinking about Jackson?”


    She was puzzled and slightly irritated by his constant mention of Jackson and shot back, “And you?


    Perhaps your thoughts are with Sonia or Ms. Burgess?”


    His eyes narrowed. The scorn on his lips increased as if he were about to say something sarcastic.


    Before he could speak his thoughts, he frowned deeply, his body curling inward and trembling


    slightly.


    Noticing his movement, Candice paused at hers and recalled that he had been feeling unwell.


    She had assumed his being so energetic earlier meant he was well.


    Setting the towel aside, she quickly fetched the medication she had purchased and offered him a


    ss of water.


    Alex rxed a little and took the pills quietly.


    After setting down the ss, his gaze hardened on Candice, and he abruptly ordered, “Get out!”


    She was yet to put down the medicine when his icymand continued to echo, ” Sonia or Nina?


    When did it be your business to meddle in mine?”


    Indeed, it was not her ce to intrude into his personal matters.


    Quietly exiting the room, Candice encountered Nina in the hallway.


    Nina paused, eyeing Candice curiously, before peering into the room and asking, “Did you bring


    Alex his medicine?”


    “He has taken it,” Candice replied, preparing to leave.


    Nina stopped her with a bright smile, instructing, “Postpone his schedule for tomorrow morning and


    let him rest, okay?”


    The implication of her remark was clear.


    Candice, maintaining a stoic expression, retreated to her room, where she noticed Hanley had


    finally responded to her message with a simple question mark.


    She briefly introduced herself.


    After some waiting, Hanley acknowledged her message, and there was no further interaction.


    Meanwhile, Nina entered Alex’s room.


    Alex raised his eyes when he heard the door open.


    ”


    When he realized it was Nina, he looked down again and asked in a t tone, What brings you


    here?”


    Undeterred, her gaze lingered on Alex’s bare skin. She dered, “I’m here to take


    Alex paused with his movements, lifted his eyes, and gazed at her meaningfully. Nina sat beside


    him, suggesting tentatively, “Shall we give it a try?”