Chapter 146


    When Tamia and the others returned, Candice’s expression remained unfavorable. She


    propped her hand against her temple, eyebrows furrowed.


    Tamia asked in surprise, “Where’s Mr. Elysian? Did he leave?”


    Candice was still thinking about what Alex had said.


    Where could she find someone to rece her position?


    During the subsequent interviews, she was somewhat absent–minded. None of the resumes in


    front of her satisfied her.


    After it was all done, Tamiamented to the other manager, “These students are only good at


    embellishing their resumes. Each one seems worse than thest.”


    Candice sat for a while, then gathered her things and headed back to her office.


    Troubled by something, herplexion was so grim that when she bumped into Queenie at the


    office door, Queenie was a bit afraid.


    Taking two steps back, Queenie looked at Candice’s face and spoke softly, hesitating, “Candice…”


    Candice halted, “What’s the matter?”


    In a bad mood, she spoke inly, “If you have something to say, just say it.”


    Queenie hesitated, “I…I’m fine. Candice, please don’t overthink things.”


    Candice stopped, looking at her.


    “It’s about what’s being said in thepany. Our department knows it’s not true, so, um…”


    Queenie regretted speaking up, knowing she shouldn’t have brought it up with Candice. But now,


    with Candice looking at her, she couldn’t take it back.


    Her voice grew smaller as she continued, “There are rumors in thepany that you’re resigning


    because Sonia snatched your position, forcing you to leave.”


    As Queenie spoke, Candice’s face remained calm.


    When Candice returned to her workstation, Ka was buried in files. Upon hearing some noise,


    she looked up, her expressionplicated.


    Candice lowered hershes and asked lightly, “What are they saying?”


    “What?”


    “Are they saying I resigned because Sonia edged me out? Or that Alex kicked me out?” Candice


    repeated what Queenle had just said without changing her expression.


    Ka frowned, saying, “Candice, they’re just talking nonsense.”


    “I know they’re talking nonsense.” Candice seemed genuinely unaffected, tidled her things, and


    grabbed her bag. “It’s time to leave. Go home early.”


    Without waiting for Ka’s response, she walked away.


    Ka hadn’t quite recovered, and she looked at Candice’s departing figure in bewilderment.


    Although Candice was originally tall and slender, Ka felt she seemed even thinner now. Her


    figure appeared fragile, her shoulders slender to the point of evoking a sense of heartache.


    Candice exited thepany, encountering several familiar faces, but she wasn’t in the mood to


    engage with anyone.


    Standing at thepany’s entrance, she wasn’t sure where to go.


    She didn’t feel like going home and didn’t want to see her grandfather.


    She just felt tired.


    A kind of fatigue that emanated from the depths of her heart.


    She had been so open and fearless in front of Ka, but only she knew the amount of effort it had


    taken to suppress the unspoken anger inside her.


    The hand that had been resting on herp slowly rxed. When she had just descended the stairs,


    she had been gripping it so tightly that there were faint imprints and a slight ache.


    She exhaled silently and then dialed Jackson’s number on her phone.


    It connected quickly, and Candice asked softly. “Are you free tonight? Want to have dinner


    together?”


    The call was soon answered. “Sure. I’m with Hanley right now.”


    After confirming the time with Candice, Jackson hung up the phone.


    Hanley nced at him. “Is Candiceing?”


    “Yeah.” Jackson nodded. His brow furrowed slightly, and he asked Hanley, “You don’t have to be


    so tense with Uncle. After all, your surname is Baldwin too.”


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    Hanley’s delicate face shed with annoyance briefly before it was quickly suppressed. His


    voice was low. “Let’s talk about itter.”


    Jackson sighed. He had a good rtionship with Hanley, so he knew about the upheavals in


    his family. But in the end, he refrained from saying anything more.


    Candice arrived quickly. She had already adjusted her expression, looking perfectlyposed.


    Seeing her, Jackson put on his usual smile. “Candice, what do you feel like eating tonight?”


    “I’m fine with anything,” she replied.


    Jackson then nced at Hanley. Hanley’s expression was cold, and he straightforwardly stood up.


    “I don’t feel like eating.”


    Candice hesitated, thinking she had disturbed him.


    Just as she was about to say something, she noticed Hanley stopping beside her. “You’re not in a


    hurry to eat, soe with me somewhere.”


    Jackson was about to say something, but his phone on the table started ringing again.


    After a nce, his face darkened for a moment, but he had to take the call.


    Following him outside, it waste summer, and the evening was dark, the sky a deep blue.


    Candice paused and asked Hanley, “Is there something on your mind?”


    He nced back nonchntly. “Is something bothering you? Your face looks troubled.”


    She hesitated. “It’s nothing.”


    “Then, let’s say I’m in a bad mood.” Hanley shrugged indifferently. Checking the time on his phone,


    it was already six o’clock.


    He asked Candice, “What’s interesting in Dorrington City?”


    “Aren’t you from Dorrington City too?” Candice asked in return.


    Hanley’s expression remained nonchnt. “It’s been a long time since I returned. I’ve forgotten


    everything.”


    Though Candice was indeed from Dorrington City, she hadn’t visited many ces there herself.


    During her school days, she was the epitome of a model student, strictly bncing between


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    school and home.


    Later, when she had developed a liking for being around Alex, she had gone to various ces,


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    Thinking of Alex, her expression dimmed a bit.


    However, suddenly, the surrounding streetlights and neon signs all lit up. The entire road was


    illuminated. In the Dorrington City summer, the streetlights always turned on promptly at six in


    the evening.


    Candice paused for a moment, then lifted her gaze and saw the huge LED screen on the opposite


    square disying the two phrases “Aether Corporation“.


    Recently, Aether Corporation had been following the trend of new media and engaged in a lot of


    promotional activities. Candice had asionally glimpsed it on her way home before, but today was


    the first time she had paid such serious attention to the fifteen–second advertisement.


    Besides her, Hanley didn’t disturb her. It was only after she had collected her thoughts that she said


    to him, “Sorry, I was lost in thought just now.”


    Hanley’s tone remained the same. “Have you figured things out now?”


    Candice murmured softly, “There doesn’t seem to be anything to figure out.”


    Since she had already decided to leave, what else was there to dwell on? Why she was leaving and


    what would happen to Aether Corporation afterward were just mere words.


    She found it foolish to be upset over such matters for an entire afternoon.


    She nced again at the LED screen across the street, which had now switched to another


    perfume advertisement.


    Pressing her lips together, the frustration she’d been holding onto in her heart dissipated. She


    thought to herself that whether it was Aether Corporation or Alex, they would no longer have


    anything to do with her in the future.