Chapter 167


    Before entering the office, Candice first went to the tea room and poured herself a cup of hot water


    to warm her stomach. It was feeling a bit upset again


    Back at the office door, she heard amotion inside, as if something was being e


    Candice slowed down before entering. However, as soon as she stepped in, the previously eas


    office fell abruptly silent.


    Candice hesitated for a moment, but she was not in the mood to pay much attention to the changes


    around her. Instead, she went straight to her desk, called Kafa over, and handed her the reports on


    the table, saying, “Check the data. If everything is fine, send it to the finance department.”


    Ka stared at her hesitantly.


    Candice raised an eyebrow, “What’s wrong?”


    “Candice, have you checked thepany group chat?”


    There were dozens of internal groups at Aether. “Which group? What happened?


    “The private anonymous group.” Ka looked at Candice, who seemed unaware, and hesitated


    before speaking. “You and your mom were photographed at the Silverstone Hospitalst night.”


    Candice stopped cleaning up her desk. She had thrown her bag aside when she got homest night


    and had not checked her phone.


    Ka said, “Many people were discussing it in the groupst night. Candice, you should be


    prepared.”


    Ka’s words were quite tactful.


    In the restroom cubicle, Candice opened the group chat. People were still discussing, but all


    anonymously.


    [I really didn’t expect it. Candice usually acts so swiftly and decisively, I thought her family


    background was quite good.)


    [So, this is the reason why Mr. Elysian and Sonia got together. After all, the original family


    background can also influence a person.]


    +15 BONOS


    Candice looked at the messages, her lips tightly pressed, and then began scrolling upward.


    Thousands of messagester, she finally saw the video.


    Candice’s fingers trembled as she clicked on the video. When the video started, the pitiful begging


    voice of Yvonne came from the phone.


    “I beg you, can you lend me five–hundred thousand dors…”


    Candice felt like she had been struck by lightning, her mind exploding. She stood there nkly.


    The video had already finished ying and the screen returned to the chat.


    The group of people below exploded, saying all sorts of things. asionally, there were a few


    morally questionable individuals who sneaked in some secretly recorded videos, but most were


    just spectators.


    Her gaze was unfocused as she stared at the phone screen, feeling chilled to her bones. Even


    breathing felt like being stabbed in her chest.


    The phone rang, and Candice was so startled she jumped as though electrocuted and almost threw


    it away.


    She quickly regained herposure however, and saw that the caller ID was Hanley.


    Candice stayed silent for a moment, then answered the call.


    There was a pause from Hanley’s end before he spoke. “Candice?”


    “Yeah, I’m here.”


    “I’ve arranged to have dinner together tonight with Blue Artifact. Do you have any ns?” Hanley


    had previously mentioned connecting her with Blue Artifact.


    Candice’s mind was in chaos now, and her voice was tense. She tried hard to keep her emotions


    stable. “Hanley, sorry, I might not be in a good state tonight.”


    She still did not know what would happen with Yvonne. Candice felt that she might not be ready to


    deal with anything else for the time being.


    She needed some time to calm down.


    Hanley could hear that her tone was off. He hesitated for a moment before speaking. “What


    happened?”


    “Nothing much.” Candice pressed her fingers against her temple helplessly. Her voice was very dry.


    “Family matters. My my mom came over.”


    +15 BONOS


    Hanley had also met Yvonne before and knew what had happened between her and Candice. His


    tone was a little surprised as he asked, “Isn’t she in Noxville?”


    Candice did not exin, just informed Hanley that she would hang up.


    When she returned to the office, her expression had returned normal and only her fs still felt stiff.


    Quite a number of people sent her judgemental looks, but Candice kept her back straight, acting as


    if she did not see them.


    Her face was taut, and she continued with her work calmly until Julie gave her a call and asked her


    to make a trip up.


    Candice did not know why else Alex would want to see her. Her mind was in a daze.


    When she went up, she realized that Sonia was there too. No wonder she hadn’t seen her in the


    office today.


    Candice pursed her lips. “Is anything the matter?”


    Alex had his head lowered, looking at something. He spoke without raising his head. “Hand over


    all your information on Blue Artifact.”


    Candice fell silent.


    Alex waited for her response, and when none came, he tapped his slender fingers on the table and


    raised his head, speaking to her expressionlessly. “Candice, you do not have the right to reject my


    request. You are only a secretary.”


    Candice’s body shook a little. She bit the bottom of her lip and said softly. “I have a way to deal


    with Mr. Matthias‘ issue. As long as you are willing to let me try once more.”


    If Candice could secure the coboration with Blue Artifact, she would not only gain a mary


    reward, she would also gain connections. She had no desire to give it up.


    Alexughed coldly and looked at Candice. “Do you still have the energy to deal with Blue


    Artifact’s matters?”


    Candice’s face turned pale. She knew Alex was referring to Yvonne.


    “Candice, your mom seemed to be in an urgent statest night. Why don’t you deal with your family


    matters first?” Sonia stood to the side obediently, speaking sincerely. “And it seems like everyone in


    thepany is paying attention now. Candice, don’t overthink it. Everyone cares


    about you.”


    +15 BONOS


    Her words sounded sincere, as if she was genuinely concerned about Candice.


    The video clip of Candice had been taken by an employee who had been taking a child to the


    hospital.


    What really stirred up discussion in the group was when someone asked Sonia wh


    disheveled woman was.


    That screenshot was still hanging in the group.


    Certainly. Sonia could im not to know why they were asking or assume that everyone knew.


    Either way, she had too many excuses.


    However, Candice could not even think of any me to ce on her.


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


    Because it was a fact.


    Yvonne Sundance was her mother.


    Even if she was hateful and pitiful even if she was like a blood–sucking leech, she was still


    Candice’s mother.


    Her biological mother with the same blood flowing in her veins.


    Candice’s expression did not look good. Alex’s cold voice echoed in her ears. “Aether is not a


    charity and doesn’t want to take any risks for you.” His chilly gazended on Candice’s face. After a


    moment, he added. “I can’t clean up after you every time either.”


    Candice closed her eyes and, after a while, whispered, “Okay, I understand.”


    Alex was determined not to let her touch the Blue Artifact project again, and Candice had no


    choice.


    She went downstairs to bring up the materials she had organized, but Sonia unexpectedly followed


    her down.


    She directly took the few documents from Candice’s hands, speaking crisply. “Candice, give them to


    me. I’ll continue to work on Blue Artifact. Since we’re in the same office, if there’s anything I don’t


    understand, I can still ask you.”