Chapter 174


    Outside the emergency room of the hospital, Candice sat on a bench, apanied by Dean


    Schmidt and Ss.


    Dean Schmidt noted Candice’s distant gaze and struggled to find consoling worde


    When they found Joe at the motel, he had been in a state of severe convulsions.


    The hospital’s doctors said his condition was critical. Joe had high blood pressure and a history of


    medical problems, which was why the physicians had advised him to avoid emotional stress.


    Across from them, Yvonne sat alone on a chair. Her head bowed, her hands anxiously intertwined.


    and engrossed in her own thoughts.


    Dean Schmidt let out a sigh and remarked, “Ms. Renault, you should try to stay calm. Perhaps Mr.


    Sundance will recover with some rest. He is a decent man, and fortune often favors the good.”


    Candice appeared to be in a trance, barely hearing what he was saying.


    The scene of Joe’s agonizing condition reyed in her mind. Merely sitting on that bench was.


    draining her of all her strength.


    She hid her face in agony, ovee with a sense of powerlessness and loss unlike any she had


    experienced before.


    Ka’s voice sounded in the distance, snapping Candice out of her daze.


    She slowly raised her head to see Ka approaching.


    “What brings you here?” Candice’s voice was rough and barely recognizable.


    It was unclear whether Ka understood her.


    Exhausted, Candice didn’t have the strength to ask again. She dropped her eyes and fell silent.


    At that moment, the doors to the emergency room swung open.


    Candice instantly rose up and faced the doctor as he emerged into the room.


    “The patient is elderly, with a background of high blood pressure and severeplications. Family


    members must prepare themselves mentally,” the doctor advised as he removed his mask.


    Candice’s face drained of color as she stared nkly at the doctor. She asked in a hoarse voice,


    What’s wrong with my grandpa?”


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    “He has suffered a stroke due to cerebral hemorrhage, leading to hemiplegia,” the doctor


    exined.


    The news struck Candice to the core, leaving her momentarily paralyzed.


    +15 BONOS


    The doors flung open and Joe was wheeled out on a hospital bed, an oxygen mask covering his


    face, his eyes shut. The harsh hospital lighting illuminated his wrinkled face, a sight Candice


    struggled to process.


    Joe was covered with a nket as he was wheeled past her, his hand with the IV resembling a


    fragile twig.


    Fear overcame Candice.


    She found herself unable to follow Joe to his room or face his frail and aged appearance once


    more.


    As Joe’s bed wheel passed by Yvonne, she abruptly stood, lunging towards the bed.


    Weeping, she pleaded, “Dad, please don’t scare me! I know I was wrong. I shouldn’t have upset


    you. Just open your eyes and see me. Don’t terrify me like this!”


    Her sobs were loud enough for a nearby doctor to reprimand, “Please lower your voice. The patient


    needs quiet rest.”


    Wiping her tears, Yvonne responded in a tearful, choked voice, “But he’s my father!”


    In the midst of this, Candice’s icy voice pierced the air. “Is it the money you’re after?”


    Startled, Yvonne turned toward her daughter.


    Candice’s gaze was devoid of emotion, her tone cutting and cold.


    Tears still lingered in Yvonne’s eyes, and the bruises on her face hadn’t yet healed, making her look


    both pitiable and ridiculous.


    She uttered sheepishly, “Candy…”


    “After all your efforts, isn’t it all for the five hundred thousand?”


    Numbness overcame Candice’s heart as she watched the doctor wheeling Joe’s hospital bed away.


    Her hand clutched her bag’s strap tightly.


    She faced her mother, stating, “I can give you the money. Will you leave me alone after that? I


    never want to see you again.”


    Candice’s voice was as steady as ever as she said those words. But only she understood that by


    +15 BONOS


    had now been utterly extinguished.


    She watched Yvonne silently, noticing the turmoil in her eyes.


    The woman feigned innocence, stating, “I shouldn’t have caused trouble at your office. I didn’t


    expect it to end up like this.”


    Candice briefly closed her eyes, then slowly responded, “Fine, leave now.”


    Yvonne lingered, seemingly reluctant to depart.


    Candice gazed at her mother.


    Yvonne’s lips trembled slightly. With apparent guilt, she hesitantly asked, “When will you send the


    money?”


    Candice viewed Yvonne as if she were a stranger, appalled by the ridiculousness of the ordeal.


    She had assumed that even if Yvonne didn’t care about her, she would at least show concern for


    her father. Now, Candice realized they probably meant nothing to Yvonne.


    Recalling her grandfather’s disappointed and frustrated expression, Candice paused.


    She raised her hand, covering her eyes and burst outughing. Tears streamed down her face.


    She had been so foolish. Both she and her grandfather had been fooled. How had thingse to


    this?


    “Candice,” came Ka’s tentative voice.


    Candice froze. She fell silent, then lowered her hand to look at Ka.


    Ka reached for a tissue and handed it to her. She said softly. “Don’t be upset. Your grandfather


    will pull through.”


    Yvonne was gone. Ka didn’t bring her up.


    Candice didn’t ept the tissue. She calmed her emotions before looking at Ka, barely


    managing to ask, “Is there a reason you’re here?”


    Sympathy welled up in Ka, who averted her gaze and hesitantly exined, “There’s a lot of buzz


    online. Ourpany executives needed a resolution, and you left the meeting midway.”


    She didn’t need Ka toplete her sentence to understand.


    Clearly, Alex had sent her.


    +15 BONOS


    With a nk expression, Candice replied, “You can inform Mr. Elysian that I’ll return to the office


    tomorrow with an answer.”


    Candice looked exhausted, and Ka looked at her with concern.


    “Do you need to rest somewhere? You seem unwell,” Ka said with a frown.


    Candice remained silent, signaling her disinterest in resting.


    Ka suggested. “Perhaps you should avoid the office tomorrow. Our boss is understanding, and


    besides-”


    Ka hade to the hospital on Alex’s instructions.


    After talking with Candice earlier, Ka had struggled to fullyprehend the situation, but Mr.


    Elysian had mentioned Silverstone Hospital.


    It was evident he knew Candice’s whereabouts.


    Before Ka could discuss this with Candice, Dean Schmidt hurried over.


    “Ms. Renault, your grandfather is awake. The doctor needs to see the family.”


    Candice’s expression changed at the news. She rushed to the hospital ward.


    Joe was lying frail on the bed, surrounded by medical apparatus.


    On seeing Candice enter, he tried to acknowledge her butcked the strength. He could only move


    his fingers, turning his face toward Candice.