Chapter 175


    Ss moved aside, signaling Candice toe closer.


    But Candice struggled to move her feet, her eyes fixed on her grandfather, lying weakly on the


    hospital bed.


    She grew up with Joe. Her childhood memories with him were vivid. He would apany her in


    puddle jumping on rainy days and kite flying on sunny ones, telling her stories and crafting toys. for


    her.


    Now, her grandfathery frail on the bed, too weak to even speak.


    Joe had been a handsome man in his younger days, with both Yvonne and Candice inheriting his


    attractive features.


    Candice was trembling. She stood beside the bed, gazing at the elderly man. The stroke had


    twisted his face, drooping one side of his mouth abnormally.


    He appeared to be trying tomunicate with Candice, his lips moving slightly.


    Candice bent down. She put her ear close to Joe’s mouth to listen, but his oxygen mask and facial


    distortion made it difficult for him to speak.


    She listened closely, but couldn’t decipher any words.


    Joe’s eyes had turned cloudy and dim. He focused on Candice, a tear forming as his anxiety grew.


    Candice’s eyes welled up, but she resisted showing her feelings in front of Joe.


    She gently wiped away his tears with a tissue while attempting to sound cheerful.


    “You’re over seventy. Why are you crying?”


    Joe weakly raised his finger, silently gesturing to Candice to observe his hand movement.


    Initially puzzled, Candice soon understood and positioned her hand under his fingers.


    Joe could barely move his fingers, making each letter he wrote a slow,borious effort.


    Once hepleted his message, his hand dropped to the bed, and he closed his eyes in


    exhaustion.


    Before leaving the hospital, Candice arranged for a caregiver to tend to her grandfather. Ka had


    Joe had written on Candice’s hand, instructing her to go back to the nursing home and check the


    second drawer in the wardrobe.


    Unsure of what she would find, Candice drove there in a daze.


    Opening the small box from the indicated drawer, Candice’s pent–up emotions overwhelmed her.


    She sat on the floor, leaning against the cab, clutching the box, her head buried in her


    knees, her tears silently streaming.


    Inside the box, Joe had left two bank cards, each with a note in his handwriting. One wasbeled,”


    Candy’s dowry,” and the other. “This is also for Candy,” with an added line stating,


    “Don’t give it to your mother. I’ve already given her


    r part.


    Holding the box, Candice cried quietly, feeling a deep sense of injustice.


    She caressed the bank cards, envisioning Joe at his desk, carefully writing each word.


    Candice remained in Joe’s room until the evening, understanding his intent with the bank


    cards.


    He feared he wouldn’t live long enough to tell her himself and worried about leaving Candice


    unsupported in case something happened to him.


    Later, Candice returned to the hospital.


    Joe was asleep, with the caregiver present, so she refrained from entering.


    She lingered at the door for a moment before departing.


    Unexpectedly, upon arriving home, Candice encountered the property management team at her


    doorstep.


    Hesitatingly, she queried, “Is there a problem?”


    The property manager approached with documents, exining. “Hello, are you nning to rent out


    your apartment? We’re here to record the details.”


    Taken aback, she questioned, “Renting out my apartment?”


    “I’m sorry. You’re the one who contacted us earlier, right? As a policy in our upscalemunity, we


    document the details of everyoneing in and going out. We’d appreciate your cooperation,”


    +15 BONOS


    Confused, Candice gently pushed the property manager aside, apologizing, “I’m sorry, but I’m not.


    aware of this matter.”


    “Are you not Ms. Moira Kennedy?” the property manager probed.


    Candice hesitated briefly before rifying, “There’s a misunderstanding. That’s not my name.”


    The property manager, initially dubious, rechecked the details and realized a mistake in the floor


    numbers–confusing the seventeenth floor with the eleventh.


    After the property manager apologized and departed, Candice entered her apartment.


    Inside, a sudden realization struck her. She remembered the property management mentioning that


    Alex had the authority to reim the house at any time. She wondered if Alex would allow her to


    stay there after leaving thepany.


    After feeling down throughout the day, Candice felt the full brunt of her exhaustion as she returned


    home.


    She slumped onto the sofa, quickly sumbing to sleep.


    Waking up in the middle of the night, chilled, Candice realized she had been sleeping awkwardly on


    the sofa.


    Half her body was numb, rendering her immobile.


    After a struggle to get up, she checked her phone and noticed a message from Yvonne asking


    about transferring money the next day. She cited a deadline by the following Monday set by those in


    Noxville.


    She must have been asleep when the message arrived. She dismissed it and then checked her


    bank bnce.


    She had saved a considerable sum over the years, but expenses like Peach’s medical bills and


    Joe’s nursing home fees had taken a toll.


    Coupled with Yvonne’s recent hefty demands, Candice found herself financially strained.


    She also had to consider Joe’s ongoing medical expenses.


    Rubbing her temples to ease the headache, Candice tried to focus.


    +15 BONOS


    Arriving at Aether Corporation the next morning, well past the usual time to start work, she noticed


    several curious nces as she entered the building.


    Unperturbed, she was intent on settling her affairs quickly.


    Entering the same meeting room as the day before, Candice was greeted with stares from the same


    attendees.


    Sonia took the lead and asked, “You left abruptly yesterday. Is everything okay?”


    Lacking the energy for lengthy discussions, Candice straightforwardly proposed, “Instead of the


    options discussed yesterday, I have a different idea.”


    At this, Alex’s piercing, cold stare shifted toward her. Dressed in a ck suit, his expression was


    unreadable, and his demeanor was aloof. “Proceed.”


    Candice’s gaze dropped to the desk as she spoke, “Aether Corporation can fire me.”


    After voicing this, she inwardly smirked bitterly, finding it easier than expected to express her


    thoughts, despite her years of dedication and her role as a victim of the situation.


    All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.


    Her statement caused a stir, like a stone thrown into a calm pond.


    Resigning was vastly different from being terminated. If Aether Corporation fired her, it would.


    seemingly validate the negative rumors from the video.


    With a dismissive scoff, Alex tapped on the table andmented cynically. “Trying to y it smart


    to get a settlement?”